Praggnanandhaa Makes History as First Indian to Win Norway Chess Title

R Praggnanandhaa scripted history in Oslo today, becoming the first Indian to win the Norway Chess title after a stunning final-round performance capped a remarkable tournament for the 20-year-old Chennai Grandmaster .

Praggnanandhaa finished the tournament on 18 points , having stormed through the closing rounds with four consecutive classical victories each worth three points in Norway Chess's unique scoring format. Going into the final round in second place on 15 points, he delivered a clinical classical win over Vincent Keymer to leapfrog overnight leader Wesley So and claim the title.

So, who had led the standings entering the final day on 15.5 points, was held to a draw by Alireza Firouzja and picked up just 1.5 points from the subsequent Armageddon tiebreak, finishing the tournament on 17 points one point shy of the champion. Firouzja rounded out the podium in third place on 15.5 points.

The defining feature of Praggnanandhaa's campaign was his pair of classical victories over World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, a rare and remarkable achievement against the Norwegian legend on his home soil. After a slow start, the young Indian steadily built momentum through the second half of the event, growing stronger precisely when the stakes were highest.

Competing at Norway Chess for only the second time , Praggnanandhaa's triumph also served as a powerful response to a disappointing Candidates Tournament earlier this year, where he had failed to meet expectations.

Reigning World Champion D Gukesh endured a difficult week, struggling for consistency and finding himself out of the title race in the closing rounds. He finished last in the field. Carlsen, meanwhile, closed his tournament on a high with a final-round classical win over Gukesh, but ended fifth overall on 13 points well out of contention.

For Indian chess, the moment carries enormous significance . Having already produced a world champion and multiple elite contenders, Indian chess has now added one of the game's most coveted titles to its growing collection.