Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa created history by becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious Norway Chess 2026 title, sealing the championship with a crucial final-round victory over Germany’s Vincent Keymer in Oslo.
The 20-year-old capped a remarkable turnaround after recovering from a difficult middle phase of the tournament to emerge victorious in one of the strongest fields in world chess.
Praggnanandhaa finished ahead of a star-studded lineup that included world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, reigning world champion D Gukesh, Alireza Firouzja, Wesley So and Keymer.
Stunning comeback powers Praggnanandhaa to title
The Indian’s title challenge appeared under threat midway through the tournament, but a series of impressive victories brought him back into contention. He registered crucial classical wins over Firouzja, Carlsen and Gukesh, setting up a dramatic final-round battle for the championship.
His victory over Gukesh in Round 9 proved particularly important, keeping him within striking distance of the leaders before he delivered the decisive win against Keymer.
One of the standout achievements of Praggnanandhaa’s campaign was his dominance over Carlsen. He defeated the Norwegian twice in classical games during the tournament, becoming only the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to achieve the feat in a single event. He also became the first player to beat Carlsen twice in classical chess in 2026.
The triumph adds another milestone to Praggnanandhaa’s rapidly growing résumé and further cements his status among the world’s elite players. Having already established himself as a regular contender at the highest level, the Chennai-born Grandmaster has now claimed one of the most coveted titles in international chess.
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