R Praggnanandhaa Makes History by Winning Norway Chess Title
Historic Victory for Praggnanandhaa
Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has made history by becoming the first Indian to secure the esteemed Norway Chess title, concluding his remarkable journey with a decisive win against Germany’s Vincent Keymer.
Starting the final day in third place with 15 points, Praggnanandhaa rose to the occasion, achieving a classical victory that earned him three crucial points, bringing his total to 18 and allowing him to claim one of the most prestigious awards in the world of chess.
This 20-year-old from Chennai accomplished something that even Indian chess icons like Viswanathan Anand and current world champion D Gukesh could not achieve since the tournament began in 2013.
Participating in Norway Chess for just the second time, Praggnanandhaa had a slow start among the elite six-player lineup but gained momentum in the latter half, securing four consecutive victories.
His campaign was particularly notable for defeating Magnus Carlsen, a seven-time Norway Chess champion and World No. 1, twice in classical matches—a rare feat that showcased his resilience after a disappointing performance in the Candidates Tournament earlier this year.
As reigning champion Gukesh fell out of the race in the final stages, Praggnanandhaa kept India’s hopes alive, ultimately leading to his historic title win.
The opportunity arose when American Grandmaster Wesley So, who was leading with 15.5 points before the last round, was held to a draw by Alireza Firouzja, resulting in an Armageddon tie-break.
This scenario opened the path for Praggnanandhaa, who understood that a win over Keymer would elevate him to the top of the leaderboard and secure the coveted title.
While Wesley So triumphed in the Armageddon tie-break, it only awarded him 1.5 points, leaving him with a total of 17 points—just shy of Praggnanandhaa’s winning score of 18.
Alireza, who also had title aspirations entering the final round, finished in third place with 15.5 points.
On the other hand, Gukesh’s disappointing performance continued, as his third attempt in the tournament did not yield the success he was aiming for, especially with his world title defense against challenger Javokhir Sindarov approaching.
In the final round, Carlsen, playing with the white pieces, managed to defeat Praggnanandhaa in a classical match, earning three points. However, this victory was insufficient to place him in title contention, as he ended the tournament in fifth place with 13 points.