Indian Chess Stars Shine in Norway Chess 2026 Round 7

Key Developments in Round 7

Round 7 of the Norway Chess 2026 tournament marked a crucial moment for Indian players, with three prominent competitors keeping their title aspirations alive amid intense matches in Oslo. R Praggnanandhaa rejuvenated his chances with a significant classical win, while World Champion D Gukesh and Divya Deshmukh displayed remarkable poise to secure essential sudden-death victories. These results have notably influenced the tournament standings as it approaches its climax.

R Praggnanandhaa Achieves a Major Victory

R Praggnanandhaa emerged as the highlight of Round 7, triumphing over Alireza Firouzja in the classical segment. After navigating a lengthy and intricate battle, Praggnanandhaa showcased his skills and secured a full three points, boosting his total score to 9 points. This victory propelled him from the bottom of the leaderboard to third place, reinvigorating his title chase.

D Gukesh Defeats Tournament Leader in Sudden Death

World Champion D Gukesh faced off against Wesley So, the current leader of Norway Chess, in a gripping match that ended in a draw during the classical round. However, in the sudden-death Armageddon game, Gukesh seized the opportunity to claim victory with a bold queenside pawn maneuver, earning crucial tie-break points against the American player. Despite this impressive win, Gukesh remains in last place with 8 points.

Divya Deshmukh Triumphs in All-Indian Encounter

The women's tournament featured an exciting clash between Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh. Their classical game concluded in a tense draw, leading to an Armageddon tiebreaker. Divya, playing with the black pieces, secured victory in the tiebreak, while Humpy settled for a single point from the classical match. This win solidified Divya's position in second place with 10 points, making her a strong contender against the overall leader, Bibisara Assaubayeva, who has 12.5 points. Meanwhile, Humpy remains at the bottom of the standings but continues to fight as the tournament nears its conclusion.