New Delhi: Indian chess sensation R Praggnanandhaa produced another remarkable performance at the prestigious Norway Chess 2026, defeating world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in a classical game for the second time during the tournament.
The historic victory not only strengthened Praggnanandhaa’s chances of becoming the first Indian champion of Norway Chess but also made him the first Indian player to beat Carlsen twice in classical chess at the same edition of the event. He is also the first player this year to register two classical victories over the Norwegian superstar.
The result was another significant setback for Carlsen, who appeared visibly disappointed after the game. The seven-time Norway Chess champion acknowledged the defeat before leaving the playing arena, reflecting on a tournament that has been unusually difficult for the world’s top-ranked player.
With the win, the 20-year-old Indian moved to 12 points and climbed to third place in the standings. More importantly, the result dealt a major blow to Carlsen’s pursuit of an eighth Norway Chess title. With only two rounds remaining, the defending champion now faces a challenging path to retaining the crown.
Carlsen’s campaign has been marked by rare inconsistency, suffering four classical defeats during the tournament, including two losses to Praggnanandhaa. The Indian prodigy has emerged as one of the strongest contenders in the field and has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to challenge the long-standing dominance of the Norwegian legend.
At the top of the leaderboard, Wesley So continued his impressive run by defeating Vincent Keymer in an Armageddon tie-break, extending his tally to 14 points. Meanwhile, Alireza Firouzja moved into second place on 13 points after securing a classical victory over reigning world champion D Gukesh.
The defeat left Gukesh on eight points and effectively ended his title hopes. Even victories in his remaining games would likely not be enough to challenge for the championship.
For Praggnanandhaa, however, the dream remains alive. His stunning victories over Carlsen on home soil have transformed the title race and ensured a thrilling finish to one of the year’s most competitive chess tournaments.
Sorry, there was a YouTube error.
