Poland's Jan-Krzysztof Duda has become the first player to beat Magnus Carlsen in a classical game for over two years ©Norway Chess

World chess champion Magnus Carlsen’s record-breaking run of 125 matches undefeated has come to an end after he lost to Poland's Jan-Krzysztof Duda at the Norway Chess event.

Duda, the world number 15, is the first player to beat the Norwegian star in a classical game for more than two years.

Carlsen, who has won nine tournaments this year, last tasted defeat in July 2018, when he lost to Shakhriyar Mamedyarov at a competition in Biel in Switzerland.

"I’m very happy obviously," said Duda. 

"I didn’t expect to win this game at all.

"I almost blundered checkmate in one move.

"I wasn’t very happy with my play so I thought losing to Magnus is okay, it’s nothing terrible and that was relaxing me, considering the games I played earlier in this tournament."

Magnus Carlsen said it was
Magnus Carlsen said it was "very, very disappointing" to lose his unbeaten run ©Norway Chess

The game took place at Norway Chess, the first in-person event in the sport since the coronavirus pandemic forced competitive chess online.

The loss for the 29-year-old Norwegian saw him drop from first to third in the tournament's standings.

"It had to happen at some point," Carlsen, also the reigning world champion in the rapid and blitz formats, said.

"But in any case, it's very, very disappointing."