R Praggnanandhaa (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: India will have a strong presence at Norwegian Chess 2026, with reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju confirmed as the fourth participant in the prestigious tournament to be held in Oslo this time. He joins Indian star R Praggnanandhaa, who was announced earlier, along with leading names like Magnus Carlsen and Vincent Keymer. With the organizers unveiling one player every week, more Indians could still be added to the lineup.
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Gukesh will arrive in Norway as the youngest undisputed world champion in chess history. After winning the Candidates Tournament in 2024, he defeated Ding Liren to claim the world title at just 18 years old. His rise has been remarkable as he became a grandmaster at the age of 12, breaking the 2750 rating mark at a record age and already achieving milestones many players dream of.“I’m really happy to take part in Norwegian Chess again, as always I’m up against a very strong field and I’m looking forward to all the exciting games,” said Gukesh.He also played a major role in India’s growing dominance in world chess. At the Chess Olympiads, Gukesh won an individual gold on board one in 2022 and followed it up with a team gold and another individual gold in 2024.Norwegian chess was already a special place for him. In the 2025 edition, Gukesh finished third and defeated Magnus Carlsen in classical chess for the first time, a dramatic win remembered for the viral table slam moment.“Having Gukesh D return to Norwegian Chess as the reigning World Champion is something we really appreciate,” admitted Benedicte Westre Skog, COO of Norwegian Chess. “India has become one of the strongest chess nations in the world today and we know many fans will be watching Gukesh closely.”
