Indian Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa Claims Norway Chess 2026 Title with Final-Round Victory Indian prodigy R. Praggnanandhaa secured his first major title in the prestigious Norway Chess 2026 tournament after a dramatic final-round victory over German grandmaster Vincent Keymer on June 5, 2026. The 20-year-old player clinched the championship with a score of 18 points, finishing one ahead of American Wesley So, who ended with 17 points. Praggnanandhaa’s decisive win in the 10th and final round at Deichman Bjorvika marked a historic moment as he became the first Indian to claim the tournament’s top prize. The tournament saw a remarkable turnaround for Praggnanandhaa, who had slipped to the bottom of the leaderboard after a mid-tournament slump. However, he staged a stunning resurgence, winning four consecutive classical games to overtake Wesley So, who had been the overnight leader. So’s chances of winning the title were effectively ended after his game against French grandmaster Alireza Firouzja ended in a draw, preventing Firouzja from securing a podium finish. The stalemate between So and Firouzja also meant Firouzja could not overtake So’s position. Praggnanandhaa’s ascent to the top of the standings was further solidified when he defeated World Champion D. Gukesh in the penultimate round, moving into second place behind So. His performance in the final round was particularly impressive, as he outplayed Keymer to seal the victory. Speaking after the match, Praggnanandhaa reflected on his journey, stating, “I didn’t think about this when I lost two games in a row—I just wanted to play chess.” The tournament’s final round also saw Wesley So claim the second spot by defeating Firouzja in an Armageddon tiebreak, securing 17 points. Meanwhile, World No.#praggnanandhaa #wesley_so #vincent_keymer #norway_chess_2026 #indian_grandmaster
