World Chess Weekly: Sizzling Norway Chess Was One For The Ages—And Pragg A Worthy Winner

When you beat the great GM Magnus Carlsen twice on his home turf, you should expect to win the tournament. Many people would even say you deserve it.

And so it was for India's own upcoming superstar GM Praggnanandhaa R who won the prestigious Norway Chess elite event in the final round.

Pragg, as he's known, delivered a decisive three-point classical victory over GM Vincent Keymer to claim the title, a crown which the exalted Carlsen has won seven times.

The spectacle was wonderfully dramatic—a perfect end to a week of brilliant chess taking place for the first time in Oslo, after Norway Chess relocated from Stavanger.

Pragg entered the last round on the back of three straight wins and positioned half a point behind the American GM Wesley So. He knew a victory would put him in a strong position to overtake the leader.

Facing Keymer with the white pieces, the 20-year-old Pragg made the most of his opportunity and converted a crucial, ultimately tournament-winning, victory.

The full three points lifted Praggnanandhaa to 18 points and secured first place and took him to an incredible four wins on the trot. Pragg became the first Indian to win Norway Chess. It is also the youngster's biggest tournament win since clinching the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2025.

Pragg had sent shockwaves through the tournament, and Norway itself, when he overcame Carlsen in Round 3 before a stunning win in Round 8 that saw the Norwegian walk his king into a mating net.

It buried Carlsen's chances and made Pragg only the second player in chess history to have toppled him twice in a single tournament, and the only player to have beaten him twice in classical games this year. Norway Chess used to be a fortress for the five-time World Champion. Not any more.

So had led the tournament heading into the final day, but could only muster a draw in his classical game against GM Alireza Firouzja after a balanced encounter. So later prevailed in the Armageddon game, collecting the extra points. But they weren't enough.

Firouzja finished a solid third after a strong tournament in Oslo. He played throughout with an injured ankle that caused him discomfort and had forced him to withdraw from his previous event.

The remaining game between Norway's pride, the world number-one Carlsen, and World Champion GM Gukesh D ended with a classical win for Carlsen.

Carlsen kept pushing in a long battle and finished the event on a winning note. He had a turbulent campaign overall, however, suffering four classical defeats.

For Gukesh, the champ with a target on his back, it was even more misery at the top table of chess. The title holder lost five classical games in this event.

He has a title defence to prepare for at the end of the year—he does not look in good shape for it.

Assaubayeva wins Norway Chess Women

While the Open went down to the wire, GM Bibisara Assaubayeva had already secured the Norway Chess Women 2026 title with one round to spare.

The final day was just a victory lap for Assaubayeva as she confirmed her place at the top of the equal money event after an outstanding tournament in Oslo.

The final round produced three decisive classical games, with no Armageddon deciders needed in Norway Chess Women.

Reigning Women’s World Champion GM Ju Wenjun defeated Assaubayeva with the white pieces, ending the champion's unbeaten classical run in the final round.

GM Zhu Jiner finished her tournament with an important classical victory over GM Humpy Koneru. The result secured Zhu the second place, just half a point behind Assaubayeva.

GM Anna Muzychuk also ended strongly, defeating GM Divya Deshmukh in classical chess to finish third.

After Round 10, Assaubayeva won Norway Chess Women 2026 with 16.5 points. Zhu finished second with 16 points, while Muzychuk took third place with 15 points.