Praggnanandhaa Triumphs Over Firouzja in Norway Chess Showdown
Exciting Developments in Norway Chess
File image of Divya Deshmukh(Photo: @ChessbaseIndia/X)
Oslo, June 2: Indian chess prodigy Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu achieved a significant victory against Alireza Firouzja in classical chess, while reigning world champion D Gukesh triumphed over Wesley So in an Armageddon match during the seventh round of Norway Chess.
Praggnanandhaa demonstrated exceptional skill, outmaneuvering Firouzja in a lengthy contest and skillfully converting his advantage for a vital win. This result intensifies the competition at the top of the leaderboard, marking Firouzja's second classical loss in the tournament.
In another thrilling match, Gukesh and Wesley So ended their classical game in a draw, but Gukesh secured victory in the subsequent Armageddon game, earning crucial additional points.
World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen faced Vincent Keymer in a hard-fought classical draw, with neither player able to gain the upper hand. Carlsen later won in the Armageddon game, keeping him in close contention with the leaders.
After round seven, Wesley So leads the tournament with 12.5 points, followed by Alireza Firouzja with 10 points. Magnus Carlsen, Vincent Keymer, and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu are closely trailing with 9 points each.
In the women's division, Humpy Koneru and Divya Deshmukh concluded their classical game in a draw. However, Divya emerged victorious in the Armageddon match, enhancing her position as the closest competitor to Bibisara Assaubayeva.
A standout performance came from Bibisara Assaubayeva, who achieved a classical win against Zhu Jiner, solidifying her lead in the standings. Assaubayeva took charge after a challenging middlegame and confidently converted her advantage, earning a crucial three points as the tournament approaches its conclusion.
Reigning Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun and Anna Muzychuk also played to a draw in their classical encounter, but Muzychuk later triumphed over Ju Wenjun in the Armageddon game, gaining vital points and remaining competitive near the top of the leaderboard.
As it stands after round seven, Bibisara Assaubayeva leads the Norway Chess Women with 12.5 points, while Divya Deshmukh holds second place with 10 points, and Anna Muzychuk closely follows with 9.5 points.