R Praggnanandhaa added another glittering chapter to Indian chess history, becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious Norway Chess title after a remarkable late surge in Oslo. The 20-year-old Grandmaster sealed the crown with a final-round victory over Germany’s Vincent Keymer, completing one of the most memorable comebacks in the tournament’s history.
Praggnanandhaa’s triumph is particularly significant given the quality of the field. The elite tournament featured World No.1 Magnus Carlsen, reigning world champion D Gukesh, Alireza Firouzja, Wesley So and Keymer, making it one of the strongest events on the international calendar.
So kept his title hopes alive by beating Firouzja in Armageddon, but Praggnanandhaa’s final-round victory denied the American the championship. Elsewhere, Carlsen finished a challenging tournament on a high, completing a classical double over Gukesh and overtaking Keymer to secure fourth place.
Praggnanandhaa’s title challenge appeared in danger midway through the event after a series of setbacks left him trailing the leaders. However, he produced a sensational turnaround when it mattered most.
HOW PRAGGNANANDHAA WON THE NORWAY CHESS TITLE
Praggnanandhaa reeled off a string of crucial classical victories, including wins over Firouzja, Carlsen and Gukesh, to thrust himself back into contention heading into the final round.
His victory over Gukesh in Round 9 proved especially decisive, keeping him within touching distance of the leaders and setting up a dramatic final-day showdown. Entering the last round, Praggnanandhaa was locked in a tense three-way battle with So and Firouzja for the title.
One of the defining features of his campaign was his dominance over Carlsen. Praggnanandhaa defeated the Norwegian superstar twice in classical chess during the tournament, becoming only the second player after India’s legendary Viswanathan Anand to achieve the feat in a single event. He also became the first player to beat Carlsen twice in classical games in 2026.
The achievement further underlines Praggnanandhaa’s rise as one of the leading figures of a new golden generation in Indian chess. Having already qualified for the Candidates Tournament and established himself among the world’s elite, the Chennai youngster has now added one of the sport’s most coveted titles to his growing resume.
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