A dramatic scene from the 2024 FIDE Candidates Tournament involving Magnus Carlsen has become a social media phenomenon. The incident occurred not during a crucial chess maneuver but as a result of Carlsen’s reaction to a loss against D Gukesh. Following his defeat, Carlsen showed his frustration by slamming his hand on the table, an event that was recorded and widely shared. The match, part of the sixth round, saw then-17-year-old Gukesh secure a dominant win against the five-time world champion. Although the chess community was stunned by the outcome, it was Carlsen’s dramatic reaction that garnered attention. The clip soon spawned numerous memes and video edits, many of which were set to music and included comical alterations. Gukesh shared his response to Carlsen’s outburst, saying he “was laughing for like 10 minutes.” One specific meme, featuring a relaxed cat reacting to the table slam, caught Gukesh’s eye, and he acknowledged it as his favorite. Gukesh’s career has since seen remarkable progress. He is currently the World Chess Champion, the youngest ever to hold the title. At 17, his FIDE rating is 2750, making him the youngest to reach that milestone and the third-youngest to surpass 2700 Elo.