R Praggnanandhaa Shocks Alireza Firouzja at Norway Chess 2026

R Praggnanandhaa Triumphs Over Firouzja

In a thrilling Round 7 of Norway Chess 2026 held in Oslo, R Praggnanandhaa achieved a remarkable victory against Alireza Firouzja in classical chess. This win significantly altered the tournament standings as the Indian prodigy outmaneuvered Firouzja in a lengthy and challenging match, ultimately converting his advantage with skillful precision. This victory not only tightens the competition at the top but also marks Firouzja's second classical loss in the tournament.

In another match, World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen faced Vincent Keymer, resulting in a hard-fought draw. Despite the stalemate, Carlsen secured victory in the Armageddon tie-break, earning extra points and maintaining his position near the top of the leaderboard.

The classical match between World Champion D Gukesh and Wesley So also concluded in a draw, but Gukesh triumphed in the Armageddon tie-break, adding crucial points to his tally.

Current Standings in the Main Event

After Round 7, Wesley So leads the standings with 12.5 points, followed by Alireza Firouzja with 10 points. Close behind are Magnus Carlsen, Vincent Keymer, and R Praggnanandhaa, all tied at 9 points, setting the stage for an exciting finish as the tournament progresses.

Assaubayeva Dominates Women's Tournament

In the Women's Tournament, Bibisara Assaubayeva delivered an impressive performance, securing a vital classical win against Zhu Jiner. This victory solidified her lead in the standings as she expertly navigated a challenging middlegame to claim three points.

In another match, Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh ended in a tense draw, but Deshmukh bounced back in the Armageddon tie-break, winning with the black pieces and narrowing the gap to the leader.

Reigning Women's World Champion Ju Wenjun and Anna Muzychuk also drew their classical match, with Muzychuk later winning in Armageddon, gaining essential points to stay competitive.

Women's Tournament Standings

As of Round 7, Bibisara Assaubayeva leads the Women's Tournament with 12.5 points, followed by Divya Deshmukh at 10 points, and Anna Muzychuk closely trailing with 9.5 points.