Oslo, June 6: R. Praggnanandhaa has made history by becoming the first Indian to win the Norway Chess Championship. He revealed that a prediction made by his mother just before the second phase of the tournament turned out to be true. Praggnanandhaa clinched the title by defeating Germany’s Vincent Keymer in the 10th and final round of the classical chess competition.
After his victory on Friday, Praggnanandhaa shared, “She said, ‘It’s a new month, you will play well.’ I replied, ‘Okay, that’s one of those things mothers often say.’ After that, I won four consecutive games. I think my mother knew something.”
Just days before, it seemed unlikely that Praggnanandhaa would emerge as the tournament winner. His performance in the first phase of the six-player tournament showed a lack of consistency. Although he had defeated world number one Magnus Carlsen in the third round, he ended the first six rounds with only six points, placing him at the bottom of the leaderboard.
However, a phone call from his mother, Nagalakshmi, before the seventh round against Alireza Firouzja seemed to change everything. Following that call, Praggnanandhaa won four classical matches in a row, including a second victory over Carlsen, ultimately securing the title by defeating Keymer.
When asked about his remarkable comeback, Praggnanandhaa stated, “Everything went in my favor. I also feel that I was more in control during the games, which is always good. I decided to play a bit faster than usual. In every game, I had a time advantage and was able to make quality moves.”
He admitted that he lost some rhythm in the final moments of the match against Keymer. “Before the last few moves, I knew I was going to win. However, I wanted to ensure that after playing knight to e6, I wouldn’t overthink. I was just making moves with my hands, as it’s nearly impossible to make mistakes when you’re in a winning position. Still, I was quite anxious. I felt relief only after he left the board.”
This victory marks a remarkable comeback for the Chennai grandmaster, who returned from the brink of disappointment in Norway to claim the title. Praggnanandhaa expressed, “Winning any tournament brings joy. And winning this tournament while Magnus is playing makes it truly special. The way this victory came about makes it even more unique. I am extremely happy.”
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