Stavanger, June 6: Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa has made a remarkable comeback, winning the Norway Chess Championship and becoming the first Indian to claim this prestigious title. He secured his victory by defeating Germany’s Vincent Keymer in the final round of the classical chess event.
In the decisive 10th round held on Friday, Praggnanandhaa triumphed over Keymer, while Wesley So drew with Alireza Firouzja. World number one Magnus Carlsen concluded the tournament with a win against reigning world champion Gukesh D.
Playing with white pieces, Praggnanandhaa capitalized on Keymer’s mistakes during the middle game, achieving victory on the 45th move. He finished the tournament with five wins, two losses, and two draws, accumulating a total of 18 points. Both of his drawn matches were decided in Armageddon games, which he won.
Former world number four Wesley So maintained a lead throughout the tournament but ultimately finished just one point behind the winner. He ended the event with 17 points after drawing with Firouzja in the final round, with two wins and eight draws, six of which were in Armageddon matches. In the 10th round, So earned 1.5 points, while Firouzja managed only one.
Iranian-French player Alireza Firouzja secured third place with 15.5 points. The tournament featured a unique scoring system, awarding three points for a win and one point for a draw. Players could also earn an additional bonus point by winning the subsequent Armageddon match.
World number one Magnus Carlsen, who lost to Praggnanandhaa twice in this tournament, finished fourth with 13 points. He recorded three wins, four losses, and three draws, gaining extra points from two Armageddon victories.
Keymer ended in fifth place with 11 points, while India’s current classical world champion Gukesh D. finished last with eight points, having one win, five losses, and four draws. All eyes were on Praggnanandhaa in the final round, as he trailed overnight leader Wesley So by half a point. After So agreed to a draw with Firouzja, Praggnanandhaa seized the opportunity, converting his advantage into a stunning victory over Keymer.
In the latest world rankings released on June 1, Praggnanandhaa had slipped to 16th place. However, his exceptional performance in Norway showcased a remarkable turnaround. After being in last place following the sixth round, he won four consecutive matches, including a second victory over Magnus Carlsen and a win against compatriot Gukesh in the penultimate round. This achievement marked the first time since Carlsen in 2021 that a player won four consecutive matches in this tournament.
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