Oslo: Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious Norway Chess title, completing a remarkable comeback with a final-round victory over Vincent Keymer in Oslo.
The 20-year-old chess prodigy sealed the championship after a dramatic late surge in one of the strongest tournaments on the international chess calendar, further cementing his status among the world’s elite players.
Praggnanandhaa’s triumph marks a significant milestone for Indian chess, as no Indian player had previously won the Norway Chess title since the tournament’s inception.
The elite event featured a star-studded field including World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, reigning world champion D Gukesh, Alireza Firouzja, Wesley So and Keymer.
Overcoming such a high-quality field makes the victory one of the biggest achievements of Praggnanandhaa’s young career.
The Indian Grandmaster’s title challenge appeared to be fading midway through the tournament after a series of setbacks left him trailing the leaders.
However, Praggnanandhaa produced a sensational recovery during the closing stages of the event.
He registered a string of crucial classical victories, including wins against Firouzja, Carlsen and Gukesh, to move back into contention before the decisive final round.
His victory over Gukesh in Round 9 proved particularly important, keeping him within striking distance of the leaders and setting up a thrilling finale.
Entering the last round, Praggnanandhaa was involved in a tense three-way title battle with Wesley So and Firouzja.
Needing a strong finish, the Indian defeated Keymer in the final round to secure the championship.
Although So kept his hopes alive by defeating Firouzja in Armageddon, Praggnanandhaa’s victory ensured that the American could not overtake him in the standings.
The result completed one of the most memorable comebacks in the tournament’s history.
One of the defining features of Praggnanandhaa’s campaign was his impressive record against Magnus Carlsen.
The Chennai-born Grandmaster defeated the Norwegian superstar twice in classical chess during the tournament.
The achievement made him only the second player after Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand to beat Carlsen twice in classical games during a single event.
He also became the first player to register two classical victories over Carlsen in the same tournament in 2026, underlining the quality of his performance.
Despite enduring a difficult tournament by his standards, Carlsen concluded the event on a positive note.
The former world champion completed a classical double over Gukesh in the final round and moved ahead of Keymer to finish fourth in the overall standings.
However, the spotlight firmly belonged to Praggnanandhaa, whose consistency and resilience ultimately delivered the title.
The Norway Chess triumph adds another major achievement to Praggnanandhaa’s rapidly growing résumé.
Already regarded as one of the brightest talents in world chess, he has established himself among the game’s elite players and secured qualification for the Candidates Tournament.
His latest success further highlights the emergence of a new golden generation in Indian chess, led by stars such as Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh.
With one of the sport’s most prestigious titles now to his name, the young Grandmaster has strengthened his reputation as a leading contender on the global chess stage and a key figure in India’s continued rise in international chess.
