Norway Chess 2026: Firouzja wins two Classical games in-a-row

By admin May 27, 2026 0 comments

Alireza Firouzja won his second consecutive Classical game in Round 2 of 14th Norway Chess 2026.

Carlsen and So win Armageddon

Alireza Firouzja won his second consecutive Classical game as his opponent R Praggnanandhaa faltered in the endgame. Magnus Carlsen missed his chance in the Classical. However, he won Armageddon against Vincent Keymer who became overambitious by pushing a pawn and creating a weakness in the process. The World Champion, D Gukesh had a tough chance in the Classical against Wesley So. In Armageddon, Gukesh had an opportunity to get back in the game but he missed it and lost.

Alireza Firouzja won his second consecutive Classical game to maintain a perfect score 6/6 | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Carlsen – Keymer: 1.5-1

Magnus Carlsen (NOR, 2840) and Vincent Keymer (GER, 2759) have played seven Classical rated games against each other. Carlsen won six and Keymer won one.Carlsen had some chances in the Classical game.

Position after 34…Rb7

35.Qf5 Ne7 36.Bg5 Qc7 37.Qf2 Nc8 38.Kh2 Qd7 39.Bxh4 maintains the upperhand for White. Instead, White opted to go for the b6-pawn 35.Ra6 Nf4 36.Bxb6 Nc7 Black had an interesting variation 36…Rxb6 37.Qxb6 Qg5 38.Ra2 Nxh3+ 39.Kh1 Qc1+ forcing a draw. The game eventually ended had the same outcome only after a prolonged battle of 85 moves.

Magnus Carlsen and Vincent Keymer played a grueling 85-move draw in their Classical battle | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Carlsen won Armageddon after Keymer got overambitious and pushed one of his pawns in the double rook and knight endgame. He lost that pawn in the next few moves, pushed a few more to weaken the position and eventually blundered an exchange to finish the game with a loss.

Magnus Carlsen won the must-win Armageddon with white pieces | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

So – Gukesh: 1.5-1

Wesley So (USA, 2754) and the World Champion, D Gukesh (2732) have played seven Classical rated games against each other. So won two and the remaining five ended in draw. In this game, So sacrificed his queen for a rook. However, it was not easy for Gukesh to find a win and he could not manage to do so.

Wesley So (USA) and D Gukesh played 116-move marathon draw | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

So won Armageddon in a back and forth battle after Gukeh missed his opportunity to get back in the game.

Wesley So won a back and forth Armageddon against the World Champion, D Gukesh | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Firouzja – Praggnanandhaa: 3-0

Alireza Firouzja (FRA, 2759) and R Praggnanandhaa (2733) had faced each other eleven times in Classical rated games. Both had won a game each and the remaining nine ended in draws. Their twelfth battle went in favor of Firouzja after his opponent made an unforced error in the rook and knight vs rook and bishop endgame.

Position after 38…c5??

38…c5?? was uncalled for. 39.dxc5 b6 40.Nb4 it important to activate the knight and not allow Black to get his rook on b6. 40…bxc5 41.Nd5 Bg5 42.Rg4 Bd8 43.Nc3 now the e4-pawn will fall and it was just a matter of time for him to win the game.

Alireza Firouzja scored an emphatic victory against R Praggnanandhaa | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Alireza Firouzja arrives to the venue with his second GM Ivan Cheparinov (BUL) | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

The one who reads knows more than the one who doesn’t | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Round 2 in progress | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

The beautiful architecture at Deichman Bjørvika library in Oslo, Norway | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Replay Round 2 games

Round 2 Open results

Magnus Carlsen (NOR) – Vincent Keymer (GER): 1.5-1

Wesley So (USA) – D Gukesh: 1.5-1

Alireza Firouzja (FRA) – R Praggnanandhaa : 3-0

Standings after Round 2

Alireza Firouzja (FRA) scored his second consecutive Classical win | Graphic: Norway Chess / Tor Nilssen & Kjetil V. Tveito

Round 3 pairings

R Praggnanandhaa – Magnus Carlsen (NOR)

D Gukesh – Alireza Firouzja (FRA)

Vincent Keymer (GER) – Wesley So (USA)

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.