The 20-year-old, Indian chess grandmaster, R. Praggnanandhaa made history after becoming the first Indian chess player to win the prestigious Norway Chess title. R. Praggnanandhaa achieved the milestone following a remarkable comeback performance at the 2026 edition of the tournament held in Oslo, Norway.
Norway Chess 2026
Norway Chess is considered one of the strongest chess tournaments globally, showcasing some of the highest-ranked players in the world. The 2026 edition featured six elite grandmasters competing in a double round-robin format, meaning each participant faced every other player twice over ten rounds. The six grandmasters were:
Magnus Carlsen (Norway)
Gukesh Dommaraju (India)
Alireza Firouzja (France)
Vincent Keymer (Germany)
R Praggnanandhaa (India)
Wesley So (United States)
Praggnanandhaa’s Extraordinary Performance to secure the title
Praggnanandhaa’s journey to the title was far from straightforward. After a slow start to the tournament, the Indian star found his rhythm in the closing stages and produced an extraordinary run of four consecutive classical victories. Entering the final round in third place, he needed a win against Germany’s Vincent Keymer and favourable results elsewhere to have a chance at the championship.
Rising to the occasion, Praggnanandhaa defeated Keymer in the decisive final-round clash, securing enough points to leapfrog his rivals and clinch the title. His victory not only crowned him champion but also ended India’s long wait for success in a tournament that had previously eluded even some of the country’s greatest chess players.
The achievement is considered one of the biggest achievements of Praggnanandhaa’s career and another significant milestone for Indian chess on the global stage. His historic victory further cements his reputation as one of the brightest talents in world chess and highlights India’s growing influence in the sport.
Source: The Pioneer, The Sunday Guardian
