"Pragg is an incredible fighter"
R Praggnanandhaa made history by becoming the first Indian to win the Norway Chess title after completing an incredible turnaround.
He began the final day in third place with 15 points but delivered when it mattered most.
Praggnanandhaa secured a classical win worth three points to finish on 18 and clinch the prestigious title.
In doing so, the 20-year-old from Chennai achieved a feat that had eluded even Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand and Gukesh Dommaraju, among others, since the tournament’s inception in 2013.
Competing in Norway Chess for only the second time, he endured a slow start in the elite six-player field before gaining momentum in the second half of the event.
His campaign was highlighted by beating seven-time Norway Chess champion and world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen twice in classical chess, a rare accomplishment underlining his resilience.
Carlsen said: “He won the last four classical games. That’s as clutch as it gets. Pragg is an incredible fighter, and it is fun to see him get rewarded for that.
“That’s pretty insane! That’s as clutch as it gets, and it just shows that it would have been possible for me as well with a similar finish.
“But yeah, that’s incredible. It shows you the volatility of the system and he is an incredible fighter. It’s fun to see him get rewarded for that.”
American Grandmaster Wesley So, who led with 15.5 points, was held to a draw against Alireza Firouzja, sending their game into Armageddon.
That outcome opened the door for R Praggnanandhaa, who knew a classical win over Keymer would secure the title.
After his victory, he said: “Even today I wasn’t sure it would go my way. I still had to do it.
“I think I can’t really say one specific game [was the highlight], winning the tournament overall is more special for me.”
His coach, Vaibhav Suri, said they didn’t think about winning the tournament after the sixth round.
He added: “I think at that point you just decide that you don’t want to be in that position, and try to do something about it.
“First, you don’t get to play Magnus, let alone defeat twice. That must have acted as a big catalyst, confidence boost for him.
R Praggnanandhaa’s victory strengthens India’s growing presence in elite chess, marking another milestone in the sport’s evolving global hierarchy.
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