Norway Chess 2026: Firouzja Leads, Gukesh and Carlsen Struggle in Oslo
The 2026 Norway Chess tournament in Oslo features major upsets and intense competition. Alireza Firouzja leads the open section with a perfect score despite an ankle injury, defeating Magnus Carlsen, D. Gukesh, and R. Praggnanandhaa. Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa exchange wins and losses, while Carlsen recovers from early defeats. In the women’s event, Divya Deshmukh takes the lead after strong performances, while Bibisara Assaubayeva and Koneru Humpy also feature prominently.
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Praggnanandhaa beats Keymer to win Norway Chess title
Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa defeated German Vincent Keymer in the final round of the Norway Chess 2026 tournament in Oslo to claim the title, becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious event. The 20-year-old won four consecutive classical games to finish with 18 points, one ahead of American Wesley So, whose chances ended after a draw with Alireza Firouzja. Praggnanandhaa staged a remarkable turnaround after slipping to last place mid-tournament. In the women's event, Kazakhstan's Bibisara Assaubayeva won the title with 16.5 points, despite losing her final game to world champion Ju Wenjun. China's Zhu Jiner took second place, and Ukraine's Anna Muzychuk finished third.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.In Focus Podcast: Praggnanandhaa Makes History at Norway Chess, Beats Carlsen Twice
The article reports on 20-year-old Indian chess prodigy R. Praggnanandhaa's historic victory at the Norway Chess tournament, where he became the first Indian to win the prestigious event. Praggnanandhaa staged a remarkable comeback from near the bottom of the standings, winning four consecutive games and defeating world champion Magnus Carlsen twice on his home turf. The piece, part of The Hindu's In Focus podcast, features guest C. Shyam Sundar discussing the significance of the triumph, the tournament's unique Armageddon format, its famous confessional booth, and the innovative atmosphere of the event. It also examines Carlsen's poor performance in light of his recent results.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Mother knows best: Praggnanandhaa triumphs at Norway Chess after June reset
Indian chess grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa won the prestigious Norway Chess tournament, defeating world champion Magnus Carlsen in the final round. The victory came after a strategic reset in June, advised by his mother, which helped him regain focus and form. Praggnanandhaa's triumph marks a significant milestone in his career, highlighting the role of family support and tactical preparation in elite chess competition.
"site:indianexpress.com" - Google NewsPraggnanandhaa says winning Norway Chess title ‘more special’ than beating Magnus Carlsen
Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa won the 2026 Norway Chess championship, becoming the first Indian to do so. He defeated world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen twice and won four consecutive classical games to secure the title. In an interview, Praggnanandhaa said the victory was more special than any individual win over Carlsen, citing the tournament's prestige and his clutch performance. He credited a conscious effort to play faster for his turnaround after two early losses. Carlsen praised Praggnanandhaa as an 'incredible fighter.' The champion was mobbed by fans but took time for autographs and photos. His mother, a constant supporter, had encouraged him before a key match.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Praggnanandhaa Beats Keymer to Win Norway Chess 2026 Title
Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa, aged 20, defeated German Vincent Keymer in the 10th and final round of the Norway Chess 2026 tournament in Oslo on June 5, 2026, to claim the championship title. He topped the leaderboard with 18 points, one ahead of American Wesley So, becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious event. Praggnanandhaa won four classical games in a row to secure the top spot after So's draw with Alireza Firouzja ended his title hopes. The victory marked a remarkable turnaround after Praggnanandhaa had slipped to last place mid-tournament. In the women's event, Kazakhstan's Bibisara Assaubayeva, who had already secured the title, finished with 16.5 points after losing to world champion Ju Wenjun. China's Zhu Jiner took second place, and Ukraine's Anna Muzychuk finished third.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Praggnanandhaa Beats Keymer to Win Norway Chess Title
Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa, aged 20, won the Norway Chess 2026 title by defeating German Vincent Keymer in the 10th and final round in Oslo. He topped the leaderboard with 18 points, one ahead of American Wesley So, becoming the first Indian champion in the tournament's history. Praggnanandhaa achieved a remarkable turnaround after a mid-tournament struggle, winning four classical games in a row. So's chances ended after a draw with Alireza Firouzja, who also could not win. World No.1 Magnus Carlsen beat D. Gukesh to avoid last place. In the women's event, Kazakhstan's Bibisara Assaubayeva, who had already secured the title, lost to Ju Wenjun but finished first with 16.5 points. China's Zhu Jiner took second place, and Ukraine's Anna Muzychuk finished third.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Norway Chess 2026: Praggnanandhaa Defeats Gukesh, Title Race Goes to Final Round; Assaubayeva Wins Women's Crown
In the penultimate round of Norway Chess 2026, Indian grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa defeated world champion D. Gukesh in 34 moves with black pieces, propelling himself into second place with 15 points, just half a point behind leader Wesley So. So edged out Magnus Carlsen in the Armageddon to maintain his lead. The title race will be decided in the final round, with Praggnanandhaa, So, and Alireza Firouzja all in contention. In the women's event, Kazakhstan's Bibisara Assaubayeva secured the championship with a round to spare despite losing the Armageddon to defending champion Anna Muzychuk. Indian players Divya Deshmukh and Koneru Humpy both suffered defeats. Praggnanandhaa expressed pride in his victory, noting he had bounced back from last place with three consecutive wins.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Norway Chess: Gukesh, Magnus Carlsen in race to avoid last place on final day
The article reports on the final day of the Norway Chess tournament, where Indian Grandmaster D. Gukesh and world champion Magnus Carlsen are both in contention to avoid finishing in last place. The tournament, featuring a strong field, has seen both players struggle, leading to an unusual scenario where the two top-rated competitors are battling near the bottom of the standings. The final round will determine the ultimate standings, with both Gukesh and Carlsen aiming to escape the last position.
"site:indianexpress.com" - Google NewsMagnus Carlsen Faces Unexpected Disaster at Norway Chess Home Game
Former world chess champion Magnus Carlsen suffered a surprising defeat streak at the Norway Chess tournament in Oslo, losing four of eight games and facing criticism over his rare tournament appearances. Critics, including rival Hans Moke Niemann, had questioned Carlsen's continued top ranking despite voluntarily giving up the World Cup title over three years ago. Carlsen dismissed the criticism before the tournament, asserting his dominance, but then lost to Wesley So, Alireza Firouzja, and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu. After a defeat to Praggnanandhaa, Carlsen admitted an unusual mistake, saying he 'simply forgot' about a bishop move. Meanwhile, world champion Dommaraju Gukesh also struggled, carrying the red lantern with eight points. German player Vincent Keymer performed well in tournament games but lost points in Armageddon tiebreaks, sitting one point ahead of Carlsen with ten points.
taz.de - taz.deMagnus Carlsen's Home Game in Oslo Turns Into Unexpected Disaster
At the Norway Chess tournament in Oslo, former world chess champion Magnus Carlsen suffered a shocking performance, losing four of his eight games and reacting with visible frustration, including pounding his fist on the table after a defeat to Dommaraju Gukesh. Critics, led by Hans Moke Niemann, had questioned Carlsen's ranking dominance due to his sparse tournament play, but Carlsen dismissed them before the event. Meanwhile, world champion Gukesh also struggled, sitting last with eight points. German player Vincent Keymer performed solidly but lost points in Armageddon tiebreaks. The tournament saw Wesley So, Alireza Firouzja, and Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa leading the standings.
taz.de - taz.deNorway Chess: Praggnanandhaa beats Carlsen again, closes in on lead
Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa defeated world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen for the second time in the same tournament during the eighth round of Norway Chess on June 2, 2026. Playing with black pieces, Praggnanandhaa won the classical game, earning three points and moving into third place with 12 points, two behind leader Wesley So (14 points). Alireza Firouzja is second with 13 points after defeating world champion D. Gukesh. Praggnanandhaa, 20, becomes one of the few players to beat Carlsen three times in classical chess. In the women's event, Bibisara Assaubayeva of Kazakhstan extended her lead to five points after defeating Indian GM Divya Deshmukh. The tournament resumes on June 4 after a rest day.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Norway Chess: Gukesh drops to last spot; Divya Deshmukh chasing title
The article reports on the latest developments at the Norway Chess tournament. Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh has fallen to the last position in the standings after a series of poor results. Meanwhile, Indian female player Divya Deshmukh is in contention for the title, performing strongly in the women's section. The tournament features top international players and is being closely followed in India.
"site:indianexpress.com" - Google NewsNorway Chess 2026: Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh, Divya Deshmukh Register Wins in Seventh Round
In the seventh round of the Norway Chess 2026 tournament held in Oslo, Indian Grandmasters R. Praggnanandhaa, D. Gukesh, and Divya Deshmukh secured victories. Praggnanandhaa defeated Alireza Firouzja in the classical game, handing the Frenchman a second straight loss. World champion Gukesh won his Armageddon tie-break against Wesley So after a drawn classical game. In the women's section, Divya Deshmukh beat compatriot Koneru Humpy in the Armageddon. World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen drew his classical game with Vincent Keymer but won the Armageddon to stay close to the leaders. Bibisara Assaubayeva extended her lead in the women's section by defeating Zhu Jiner. Wesley So continues to lead the open section with 12.5 points.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Norway Chess: Indian quartet endures miserable day as all four suffer defeats
In the sixth round of the Norway Chess championship held on May 31, 2026, in Oslo, all four Indian players suffered defeats. In the Open section, world champion D. Gukesh lost to Germany's Vincent Keymer, R. Praggnanandhaa fell to American Wesley So, and Magnus Carlsen defeated Frenchman Alireza Firouzja in a revenge match. In the women's section, Koneru Humpy drew in classical play but lost the Armageddon tiebreak to Bibisara Assaubayeva, while Divya Deshmukh lost to world champion Ju Wenjun. The results reshuffled the leaderboard, with Wesley So leading the Open section and Assaubayeva topping the women's standings.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Magnus Carlsen pulls out ‘proper old guy move’ in win over Alireza Firouzja
At the Norway Chess tournament in Oslo, Magnus Carlsen defeated Alireza Firouzja in a classical game by employing an old-school opening trick, which he described as a 'proper old guy move.' The line, sharpened during his 2016 world championship match against Sergey Karjakin, caught Firouzja off guard and gave Carlsen a significant time advantage. Carlsen, a notorious slow starter, had suffered three losses earlier in the tournament but climbed to fourth place after this win, surpassing Indian players D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa, who both lost their matches on the same day. With four games remaining, Carlsen is four points behind leader Wesley So. In the women's section, Divya Deshmukh and Koneru Humpy also lost, with Bibisara Assaubayeva overtaking Deshmukh at the top of the leaderboard.
"site:indianexpress.com" - Google NewsNorway Chess: Gukesh beats Praggnanandhaa; Divya Deshmukh tops women's standings
In the fifth round of the Norway Chess tournament held on May 30, 2026, in Oslo, Indian Grandmaster D. Gukesh defeated compatriot R. Praggnanandhaa in an Armageddon playoff, moving to third place in the open section. World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen suffered another setback, losing in the classical game to American Wesley So and dropping to last place. In the women's event, Indian GM Divya Deshmukh defeated Zhu Jiner to take the lead with 8.5 points, while Koneru Humpy secured her first win by beating World champion Ju Wenjun in an Armageddon. Gukesh expressed relief and confidence after his win, while So celebrated his second classical victory over Carlsen.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Norway Chess 2026: Carlsen Defeats Gukesh; Indian Women Suffer Losses
In the fourth round of the Norway Chess 2026 tournament in Oslo, Magnus Carlsen secured a crucial victory over World champion D. Gukesh, punishing late errors to win three points and move out of the bottom spot on the table. Carlsen expressed relief after the win, having lost two of his first three matches. R. Praggnanandhaa provided a bright spot for India by defeating Vincent Keymer in an Armageddon tiebreak, moving into second place behind leader Alireza Firouzja, who lost to Wesley So. In the women's event, Indian players Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh both lost their Armageddon games to Zhu Jiner and Anna Muzychuk, respectively. Bibisara Assaubayeva defeated world champion Ju Wenjun to extend her lead in the women's standings. The tournament will resume on Saturday after a rest day on Friday.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Norway Chess 2026: Praggnanandhaa Upsets Carlsen; Firouzja Leads After Defeating Gukesh
In the third round of the Norway Chess tournament in Oslo, Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa defeated world number one Magnus Carlsen, securing only his second classical-format victory over the Norwegian. Meanwhile, French GM Alireza Firouzja beat world champion D. Gukesh in an Armageddon tiebreak, maintaining his lead at the top of the standings with 7.5 points. Praggnanandhaa moved into second place with 4.5 points. In the women's event, Indian player Divya Deshmukh continued her strong performance, winning her third consecutive game by defeating Bibisara Assaubayeva of Kazakhstan in Armageddon. Assaubayeva still leads the women's standings with 5.5 points, one ahead of Deshmukh. Top Indian woman Koneru Humpy suffered her third straight loss, falling to Anna Muzychuk. The next round features Gukesh against an off-form Carlsen and Praggnanandhaa facing Vincent Keymer.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Norway Chess 2026: Firouzja Defeats Praggnanandhaa; Gukesh Loses to Wesley So in Round 2
In the second round of the Norway Chess tournament held in Oslo on May 26, 2026, world champion D. Gukesh lost to American Wesley So in an Armageddon tie-break after a 116-move classical draw. India's R. Praggnanandhaa was defeated by in-form French GM Alireza Firouzja, who maintained a perfect 6/6 score despite an injured ankle. Home favorite Magnus Carlsen bounced back from his opening round loss to beat Vincent Keymer in the Armageddon. In the women's event, India's Divya Deshmukh defeated top Indian player Koneru Humpy in the Armageddon, following her earlier win over world champion Ju Wenjun. Kazakhstan's Bibisara Assaubayeva took the women's lead with 4.5 points after defeating Zhu Jiner.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Norway Chess 2026: Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa Win; Carlsen Stunned by Firouzja in Round 1
The opening round of the 2026 Norway Chess tournament in Oslo saw major upsets and strong performances. World champion D. Gukesh defeated Vincent Keymer after a tense Armageddon tiebreak, while compatriot R. Praggnanandhaa beat Wesley So. In a stunning result, French GM Alireza Firouzja defeated world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in the classical game, taking the lead with three points. In the women's event, Indian GM Divya Deshmukh surprised world champion Ju Wenjun in the Armageddon, while Bibisara Assaubayeva defeated Koneru Humpy in the classical format to lead the standings. The article also notes Firouzja played through an ankle injury.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.