Norway Chess 2026: Injured Firouzja gets the better of Carlsen

By admin May 26, 2026 0 comments

Alireza Firouzja scored his first Classical win over the World no.1, Magnus Carlsen in Round 1 of 14th Norway Chess 2026.

Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa win Armageddon

Despite being injured, Alireza Firouzja seized his opportunity to beat Magnus Carlsen for the first time in his career in a Classical rated game. The World Champion, D Gukesh made a huge save in the endgame where he was lost for the better part against Vincent Keymer. In Armageddon, Gukesh crushed Keymer in a 22-move miniature. R Praggnanandhaa drew the Classical battle against Wesley So. Praggnanandhaa scored an emphatic victory in Armageddon.

Alireza Firouzja made the most out of his opportunity despite not being 100% | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Firouzja – Carlsen: 3-0

Alireza Firouzja (FRA, 2759) physically is not 100% but mentally he showed how strong he is against the World no.1, Magnus Carlsen (NOR, 2840). They have played nine Classical rated games against each other, seven of them were at the very same event. Carlsen won five and the remaining four ended in draws.

Position after 33.Qg4

Carlsen made an incorrect decision and retreated his king 33…Kg8?? Instead, 33…Nxe3 34.Qg6+ Kg8 35.Ra7 Nd1 36.Bd2 Qxa7 37.Qxe8+ Kh7 38.h3 would have been a better contiuation for Black. 34.e4+- Ne3 35.Qf3 Nc2 36.Rc1 Na3 37.Bg3 Nb5 38.e5 and it’s over.

It is not easy playing chess like that, defeating the World no.1 for the very first time in a Classical rated game, well that’s another ballgame | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Alireza Firouzja en route his first Classical win against Magnus Carlsen | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

ALIREZA FIROUZJA BEATS MAGNUS CARLSEN 🔥🔥

The reigning champion and world #1 Magnus Carlsen goes down in the classical game against Alireza Firouzja 🤯💥 #NorwayChess pic.twitter.com/11A30nQ3sf
— Norway Chess (@NorwayChess) May 25, 2026

Praggnanandhaa – So: 1.5-1

R Praggnanandhaa (2733) and Wesley So (USA, 2754) faced each other in eitght Classical rated games. Both of them won a game each and the remaining six ended in draws. Their ninth Classical battle also ended in a draw. Praggnanandhaa defeated So convincingly in Armageddon to win the game and match.

R Praggnanandhaa – Wesley So (USA): 1.5-1 | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Gukesh – Keymer: 1.5-1

The World Champion, D Gukesh (2732) and Vincent Keymer (GER, 2759) faced each other nine times in Classical rated games. Gukesh won four and the remaining five ended in draws. Gukesh misplayed in the rook endgame and landed himself in grave danger.

Position after 73…b3

Both players were down to their last few seconds. So it was not easy to find 74.Rc6+ to be the correct continuation. 74.e5?? Rxf3-+ 75.e6 Re3? and Black’s window of opportunity was momentarily shut. However, the endgame transformed into a queen endgame where Black had an extra passed pawn on the g-file. As Maxime Vachier-Lagrave once mentioned that queen endgames with an extra pawn are not only difficult to defend but also difficult to win. Keymer was unable to progress for 50-moves and his opponent correctly rememebered the move number by seeing the LED display above him. He claimed correctly and the game ended in a draw.

Gukesh salvaged a half point in a difficult endgame against Vincent Keymer | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Armageddon

Position after 15.Bh6!

Gukesh found the brilliant 15.Bh6! after his opponent made a very questionable move 14…Qh3?? Black decided to accept the sacrifice 15…gxh6 16.Qd2! f6 17.Qxh6 Rf7 18.Rxf6 Ne5 19.Rxf7 Kxf7 20.Qg7+ Ke8 21.dxe5 Bc5+ 22.Kh1 and White won as the black king will get checkmated soon.

D Gukesh crushed Vincent Keymer in a 22-move miniature in Armageddon | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Round 1 in progress at Deichman Bjørvika library in Oslo, Norway | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Replay Round 1 games

Round 1 Open results

Alireza Firouzja (FRA) – Magnus Carlsen (NOR): 3-0
R Praggnanandhaa – Wesley So (USA): 1.5-1
D Gukesh – Vincent Keymer (GER): 1.5-1

Standings after Round 1

Alireza Firouzja (FRA) scored the sole three-pointer in Round 1 | Graphic: Norway Chess / Tor Nilssen & Kjetil V. Tveito

Round 2 pairings

Magnus Carlsen (NOR) – Vincent Keymer (GER)

Wesley So (USA) – D Gukesh

Alireza Firouzja (FRA) – R Praggnanandhaa

Open and Women pairings of all rounds | Graphic: Norway Chess

Format

6 players will take part in the Tournament.

The Tournament is a double-round event with Armageddon.

The Tournament consists of 10 rounds.

Berger tables will be used for the pairings.

Default time is 15 minutes.

Time Control

Each player will have 120 minutes on the clock with an increment of 10 seconds starting from move 41. The time control for the Armageddon game: white has 10 minutes and black has 7 minutes with an increment for both players of 1 second per move, starting from move 41.

Draw by Mutual Agreement

Players are not allowed to agree to a draw until at least 30 moves have been made by each player. This rule does not apply to Armageddon games.

Armageddon

If the classical game is drawn, an Armageddon game will be played. It shall start within 20 minutes of the conclusion of the classical game. The player with White pieces will continue with White in Armageddon. If the Armageddon game is drawn, black will win.