Praggnanandhaa Triumphs Over Carlsen in Norway Chess Tournament

In a stunning display of skill, Indian Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa defeated world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen during Round 3 of the Norway Chess tournament. The match showcased intense moments, including a dramatic comeback by Carlsen before a critical blunder led to his resignation. Meanwhile, reigning champion Gukesh Dommaraju faced Alireza Firouzja in a tense draw, with Firouzja ultimately winning in the tie-break. The women's tournament also featured exciting matches, with all games ending in draws before being decided in Armageddon. Read on for more details about this thrilling chess event.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 28, 2026, 11:54 IST

Praggnanandhaa's Stunning Victory

In a thrilling match during Round 3 of the Norway Chess tournament, Indian Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa achieved a remarkable victory against world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen. Praggnanandhaa showcased a steady performance, gradually applying pressure and maintaining control for significant portions of the game. However, the dynamics shifted dramatically during a critical time crunch when Carlsen made a comeback and briefly took the lead, as reported by ESPN.

The tide turned again when Carlsen made a crucial mistake, leading him to resign immediately and granting Praggnanandhaa one of the most significant wins of his career. After the match, Praggnanandhaa expressed his excitement on X, stating, "Happy to have played out a crazy fighting game against Magnus. Fortunate to have come out on top. Looking forward to play more fighting games!"

Gukesh and Firouzja's Encounter

In another notable match, reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju faced off against tournament leader Alireza Firouzja in a gripping encounter that concluded in a hard-fought draw. Firouzja later triumphed in the Armageddon tie-break, securing additional points and solidifying his position at the top of the leaderboard.

The third classical game of the round, featuring Vincent Keymer and Wesley So, also ended in a draw. So then went on to defeat Keymer in the Armageddon tie-break, earning a bonus point. After three rounds, Firouzja remains at the forefront of the standings following another successful performance in Stavanger.

Highlights from the Norway Chess Women's Tournament

In the Norway Chess Women's Tournament, all three classical matches concluded in draws, leading to Armageddon tie-breaks to determine the winners. Women's world champion Ju Wenjun and Zhu Jiner played a tense match that ended in a draw after Zhu missed a potential winning opportunity. Zhu rebounded to win the Armageddon game, securing extra points.

Anna Muzychuk triumphed over Humpy Koneru in Armageddon after their classical game ended in a tie, while Divya Deshmukh defeated tournament leader Bibisara Assaubayeva in Armageddon following another drawn classical match. Despite the loss, Assaubayeva maintained her lead in the women's standings, although Divya and Zhu closed the gap with their important victories.