Praggnanandhaa scripts history, becomes 1st Indian to win Norway Chess crown
Oslo, June 6
India's R Praggnanandhaa added another landmark achievement to Indian chess by becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious Norway Chess title after a strong late surge in Oslo.
The 20-year-old Grandmaster clinched the crown with a final-round victory over Germany's Vincent Keymer, capping off one of the most impressive comeback runs in the tournament's history.
The elite tournament featured a world-class field, including World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, reigning world champion D Gukesh, Alireza Firouzja, Wesley So and Vincent Keymer, making it one of the strongest events on the international chess calendar.
The victory over Keymer came on the back of Praggnanandhaa's wins against Alireza Firouzja, World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and reigning world champion D Gukesh over the previous four days. The tournament also saw Praggnanandhaa complete a rare double over Carlsen.
Entering the round half a point behind Wesley So, Praggnanandhaa knew that a win would put him in a strong position to seize the title. Playing with the white pieces against Vincent Keymer, the Indian Grandmaster made full use of his opportunity, converting a crucial victory.
The result earned Praggnanandhaa a maximum of three points and took his tally to 18, enough to secure first place in the standings.
Wesley So, who had led the tournament heading into the final day, drew his classical game against Alireza Firouzja in a balanced contest.
He later prevailed in the Armageddon tiebreak to collect additional points, while Firouzja finished third after a strong campaign in Oslo.
The remaining game between World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju ended with a classical win for Carlsen. The Norwegian star kept pushing in a long battle and finished the event on a winning note.
After Round 10, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu wins Norway Chess 2026 with 18 points. Wesley So finishes second with 17 points, while Alireza Firouzja takes third place with 15.5 points.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Absolutely incredible! To beat Carlsen, Gukesh, and Firouzja in successive rounds shows the kind of mental toughness this kid has. At just 20 years old, he's already achieved what many legends couldn't. The way he handled the pressure against Keymer in the final round was pure class. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
Fantastic performance by Pragg! The way he came from behind to overtake Wesley So in the final round was masterful. This is a huge moment for chess in India - the talent pipeline from Anand to these young GMs is just incredible to watch. Can't wait to see him challenge for the world championship!
While this is undoubtedly a fantastic achievement, I feel we should also appreciate Wesley So's consistent performance throughout the tournament. Pragg's late surge was incredible, but So showed remarkable composure leading the pack for most of the event. Still, what a final day comeback! This bodes well for India's chess future. 🔥
As a chess enthusiast, watching Pragg's rise has been absolutely magical. From beating Carlsen in the Airthings Masters to now winning the Norway Chess title - his growth is phenomenal! The way he calculates in time trouble is reminiscent of Anand in his prime. So proud to see another Indian conquering the chess world! 🤩♟️
Okay, I have to say it - why did it take so long for our chess players to get proper recognition and support? Look at the talent pool we have now: Anand, Pragg, Gukesh, Vidit, Harika - the
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