Praggnanandhaa Triumphs Again Over Carlsen in Norway Chess 2026

Exciting Developments in Norway Chess 2026

Oslo (Norway), June 3: The eighth round of Norway Chess 2026 proved to be pivotal, showcasing two decisive classical matches and an Armageddon showdown, heightening the competition for the championship title.

R Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu achieved another remarkable victory by defeating Magnus Carlsen once more during the tournament, further intensifying the title race. The 20-year-old, who previously triumphed over Carlsen with the white pieces last week, replicated his success with the black pieces in Round 8, marking his second classical win against the World No. 1 in this tournament.

This accomplishment makes Praggnanandhaa only the second player, following the legendary Viswanathan Anand from India, to defeat Carlsen twice in a single tournament. He also joins an exclusive group of players who have managed to beat the five-time World Champion three times in classical chess.

In another significant match, Alireza Firouzja secured a crucial classical win against World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju. Playing as White, Firouzja skillfully navigated a tense endgame under mutual time constraints to clinch a vital victory, bringing him within one point of the tournament leader, Wesley So.

The final classical match between Wesley So and Vincent Keymer ended in a draw. However, So later triumphed in the Armageddon match, earning additional points and preserving his lead in the standings.

After Round 8, Wesley So leads Norway Chess with 14 points, closely followed by Firouzja with 13 points, while Praggnanandhaa remains a strong contender with 12 points, making the title race increasingly competitive as the tournament nears its conclusion.

In the Women’s section of Norway Chess Round 8, two decisive classical games and one Armageddon tiebreaker were held, with Bibisara Assaubayeva extending her lead. Assaubayeva secured a crucial classical victory against Divya Deshmukh. Playing as black, she withstood pressure and gained the upper hand as Divya faced time constraints, ultimately securing the full point.

Zhu Jiner also achieved a notable classical victory by defeating the reigning Women’s World Champion, Ju Wenjun. She maintained consistent pressure throughout the endgame and converted her advantage in the final phase, tying with Divya Deshmukh on 10 points.

The game between Anna Muzychuk and Humpy Koneru ended in a classical draw. The Armageddon tiebreak was fiercely contested, but Humpy Koneru ultimately emerged victorious with the black pieces, earning extra points.

Following Round 8, Bibisara Assaubayeva leads the Women’s standings with 15.5 points. Anna Muzychuk follows with 10.5 points, while Divya Deshmukh and Zhu Jiner are tied at 10 points each.