Norwegian chess: Praggnanandhaa relishes title shot after ending Carlsen’s hopes
R Praggnanandhaa is not getting carried away with his stunning victories over Magnus Carlsen, but the Indian grandmaster admits he is enjoying the title fight as Norwegian Chess heads into its final two rounds after a second rest day.
Fresh from beat Carlsen for the second time in the tournament Praggnanandhaa, who effectively ended Norway’s title hopes, finds himself within striking distance of the top in one of the strongest events on the chess calendar.
The Chennai star is second on 12 points, just two behind leader Wesley So, while France’s Alireza Firouzja remains in contention on 13 points despite battling an ankle injury that has left him wheelchair-bound.
With two rounds remaining, the title fight is well set. A classic win in round 9 combined with favorable results elsewhere could see Praggnanandhaa move to the top of the standings and take control of his destiny heading into the final day.
Still, the 20-year-old was quick to point out that beating Carlsen alone is not enough to win tournaments.
“I think everyone is strong here, it’s not just Magnus. There are other strong players. So you have to do well against everyone. And at the beginning of the tournament I didn’t have some good moments, I missed some chances,” said Praggnanandhaa on the rest day.
Having finally found time to reflect on his victories over the world number one, the Indian remained firmly rooted in the task ahead.
“I’m happy that I still have a chance for it (the title). Yeah, I’m happy to be in the race. Every match is important from here, and yes, I’m happy that yesterday went well. But it (the win against Carlsen) doesn’t really mean anything. I still have to give my best in the next two matches. So, I’m looking forward to that,” he said.
His next assignment will be a fascinating all-India battle against reigning world champion D Gukesh.
While Gukesh’s own title hopes have all but vanished after a tough campaign that saw him bottom of the table with eight points, the teenager will be eager to end the tournament on a high. With little left to lose, he could play the role of king – and there would be no bigger statement than denying Praggnanandha a vital result in the penultimate round.
The showdown between tournament leader Wesley So and Carlsen could also prove decisive. A loss for So would tighten the race dramatically and potentially open the door for Praggnanandhaa to make a significant move before the final round.
Firouzja, meanwhile, remains firmly in contention despite his injury problems, while Germany’s Vincent Keymer, on 10 points, is still out of hopes of pushing himself into the title conversation.
In the women’s event, Divya Deshmukh continues to maintain her slim title hope. The Indian is tied for third on 10 points with China’s Zhu Jiner, although Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva has established a lead with 15.5 points.
Defending champion Anna Muzychuk has 10.5 points and remains mathematically in the race, but Assaubayeva’s dominant campaign has seen the chasing pack expire.
The Kazakh star towered over a field loaded with elite talent, including five-time world champion Ju Wenjun and India’s Konera Humpy, underscoring the authority of her performance heading into the final stages of the tournament.
– The end
Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
03 Jun 2026 22:32 IST