D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa suffered tough defeats in Round 2 of Norway Chess, while Divya Deshmukh secured a notable win against Koneru Humpy in the women’s section.

The second round of the prestigious Norway Chess produced contrasting results for Indian players on Tuesday, with World Champion D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa losing after promising starts, even as young Indian talent Divya Deshmukh registered an impressive victory over veteran Koneru Humpy in the women’s category.

The round saw several dramatic turnarounds, especially in the Open section where players who appeared under pressure managed to recover strongly in the later stages.

Gukesh Misses Conversion

Gukesh endured a frustrating outing against American grandmaster Wesley So in a marathon encounter that stretched to 116 moves. The Indian teenager controlled large portions of the classical game and at one stage looked on course for a full-point finish.

However, the game eventually drifted into a draw after prolonged resistance from Wesley So. Under the Norway Chess format, drawn classical games are followed by a decisive Armageddon contest, where Wesley So held his nerve to secure victory.

The result denied Gukesh a stronger position in the standings despite what many observers considered a dominant middle-game display.

After the round, Wesley So remarked that Gukesh’s play during key moments did not fully reflect the level expected from the reigning world champion, though the American also acknowledged the complexity of the contest.

Following two rounds, both players are tied on 2.5 points in the Open standings.

Firouzja Punishes Praggnanandhaa

Another painful reversal came for Praggnanandhaa against France’s Alireza Firouzja.

The Indian grandmaster had built an encouraging position early in the classical game and looked slightly better for significant stretches. But Firouzja gradually shifted momentum with aggressive tactical play and capitalised on inaccuracies later in the game.

The French star eventually completed a comeback win, continuing his strong start to the tournament.

With consecutive victories, Firouzja moved to the top of the Open category standings with six points after Round 2. His sharp form has quickly made him one of the early favourites in this year’s competition.

Praggnanandhaa, meanwhile, was left to reflect on another missed opportunity after failing to convert a promising position into a result.

Carlsen Survives Scare

Defending champion Magnus Carlsen was also pushed hard in his match against Germany’s Vincent Keymer.

Keymer managed to hold Carlsen to a draw in the classical format after a tense battle that kept spectators engaged well into the endgame. The Norwegian eventually prevailed in the Armageddon game, avoiding what could have been a significant upset on home soil.

Carlsen’s escape highlighted how competitive this year’s field has become, with younger players repeatedly challenging the established names.

Divya’s Big Statement

India found reason to celebrate in the women’s section as Divya Deshmukh defeated Koneru Humpy in Armageddon after their classical game ended level.

The win marked one of Divya’s most significant results in an elite event and underlined her growing confidence against experienced opposition.

Speaking after the match, Divya said she was enjoying the unique atmosphere of Norway Chess, especially the Armageddon format and the tournament’s “confession room” feature, where players share their thoughts live with viewers during games.

Her victory lifted her to joint second place in the women’s standings.

Women’s Standings Tighten

While Divya climbed the table, Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva continued to lead the women’s standings with 4.5 points after two rounds.

The women’s competition remains closely contested, with several players still within touching distance early in the tournament.

For the Indian contingent, the mixed results from Round 2 reflected both the promise and unpredictability of elite-level chess, where even commanding positions can change rapidly under pressure.

With multiple rounds still remaining, attention will now shift to whether Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa can recover momentum, while Divya looks to build on her breakthrough performance in Norway Chess.