Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa completed a stunning comeback to win the Norway Chess 2026 title, earning praise from World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen after a dramatic finish in Oslo. The 20-year-old became the first Indian to win the prestigious tournament, overcoming a deficit in the final round.
Final Round Drama
Entering the last round trailing American Grandmaster Wesley So, Praggnanandhaa needed a victory over Germany's Vincent Keymer and hoped So would drop points against France's Alireza Firouzja. Both results fell into place: Praggnanandhaa defeated Keymer with a brilliant attacking display, while So and Firouzja drew, handing the Indian star the title.
Carlsen's Praise
Magnus Carlsen, who had a tough tournament by his standards, was among the first to acknowledge Praggnanandhaa's achievement. "He won the last four classical games. That's as clutch as it gets. Pragg is an incredible fighter, and it's fun to see him get rewarded for that," Carlsen said. He added, "That's pretty insane. It shows the volatility of the system."
Dominance Over Carlsen
A defining feature of Norway Chess 2026 was Praggnanandhaa's dominance over Carlsen in classical chess. He defeated the world No. 1 twice, in Round 3 and Round 8, becoming one of the few players to beat Carlsen twice in the same classical tournament. These wins were crucial for his title contention.
Decisive Final Victory
The title-clinching win over Keymer came in a Queen's Gambit Declined. Praggnanandhaa improved his position gradually before launching a decisive kingside attack. Key moves included 33.f5 and 38.Ne6+, exposing Black's king and leading to a winning rook endgame. This victory capped off a remarkable tournament for the Indian Grandmaster.
