Indian chess prodigy R. Praggnanandhaa has scripted history in Oslo.
The 20-year-old Grandmaster secured his maiden Norway Chess title, achieving a feat that had eluded even India's greatest players.

India's young Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa won the Norway Chess 2026 title on Thursday, becoming the first Indian player to lift the prestigious trophy since the tournament's inception in 2013. He secured the title after defeating Germany's Vincent Keymer in the final round and finished with 18 points.

Heading into the last round in third place with 15 points, Praggnanandhaa earned three crucial points with a classical victory over Keymer. The result, combined with outcomes on other boards, helped him leapfrog his rivals and emerge champion in Oslo.

Dramatic Final Round

American Grandmaster Wesley So entered the final round as the leader with 15.5 points. However, after his game ended in a draw and moved to the Armageddon tiebreak, he earned only 1.5 points despite winning the decider, taking his total to 17 points.

France's Alireza Firouzja finished third with 15.5 points. Meanwhile, World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen defeated reigning world champion D. Gukesh in the final round but ended the tournament in fifth place with 13 points. Gukesh finished sixth with eight points.

Twice Against Carlsen

One of the standout moments of Praggnanandhaa's campaign was his victories over Magnus Carlsen. The Indian Grandmaster defeated the seven-time Norway Chess champion twice during the tournament, becoming only the second Indian player after Viswanathan Anand to achieve the feat in the same competition.

His performance gathered momentum after a relatively modest start. Strong displays in the latter rounds transformed him from an outsider into the eventual champion.

Historic Achievement for India

The triumph marks a milestone for Indian chess. Despite the success enjoyed by Viswanathan Anand and the rise of D. Gukesh, no Indian had previously won Norway Chess. Praggnanandhaa accomplished the feat in only his second appearance at the tournament.

The event, regarded as one of the most prestigious tournaments on the global calendar, was held in Oslo from May 25 to June 5 and featured six players in the Open category competing in a double round-robin format.

Understanding the Armageddon Format

Norway Chess follows a unique scoring system. If a classical game ends in a draw, players compete in an Armageddon tiebreak. White receives more time on the clock but must win the game, while a draw automatically awards victory to Black.

This format guarantees a decisive result in every round and adds extra significance to drawn classical encounters.