Norway Chess 2026: Praggnanandhaa bests World Champion Gukesh, scores a hat-trick

By admin June 5, 2026 Updated: June 6, 2026 0 comments

R Praggnanandhaa thwarted World Champion, D Gukesh’s ambitious play in the penultimate round of 14th Norway Chess 2026.

So beats Carlsen again, Praggnanandhaa climbs to second place

When was the last time the World no.1 and World Champion lingered at the bottom two places heading into the final round of a super tournament? It is difficult to recall. Wesley So defeated Magnus Carlsen for the second time at this event, only the second player to do so after R Praggnanandhaa. Perhaps the rumors of why So not getting enough invitations to Freestyle events and World Freestyle Championship are not completely unfounded. Since Carlsen has mathematical chances left to win the tournament anymore, will there be a 15th edition next year? Only time will tell. With the organization shifting its focus completely on Total World Championship, one can only speculate if this is the last edition of Norway Chess for now.

World Champion, D Gukesh self-destructed against R Praggnanandhaa, allowing the latter to score a hat-trick of Classical wins at this event. Praggnanandhaa is now just a half point behind So at 15/27, followed by Alireza Firouzja at 14.5/27. It is certainly going to be a close finish in the Open section where both the World Champion and World no.1 will have absolutely no say in who wins the event as they face each other in the final round to ensure they do not finish last.

So – Carlsen: 1-1.5

The second Classical game between Wesley So (USA, 2753) and Magnus Carlsen (NOR, 2841) ended in a well-contested draw. In the must-win Armageddon with the white pieces, So got the better of Carlsen. The World no.1 could not get recover after getting a worse position out of the Sicilian Kan.

Magnus Carlsen – “My mind is blown!” | Video: Norway Chess

Interview with Wesley So | Video: Norway Chess

Interview with Magnus Carlsen | Video: Norway Chess

*Wesley So got the better of Magnus Carlsen in Armaggedon | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza*

Gukesh – Praggnanandhaa: 0-3

R Praggnanandhaa (2735) scored his third Classical win in-a-row at this event. His hat-trick got completed with a win over the World Champion, D Gukesh (2732).

Position after 15.Bb2

15.Bb2? is understandable why he went for it. 15…Nxa1 16.gxf5 Nb3 17.Rg1 Nh6 18.f6 gxf6 19.Ne4 and White neither got enough compensation nor the material back. He went on to lose the game. Praggnanandhaa not only completed his hat-trick of wins but also moved to the second place, a half point behind the leader So.

Interview with R Praggnanandhaa | Video: Norway Chess

*World Champion, D Gukesh self-destructed against R Praggnanandhaa | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza*

Keymer – Firouzja: 1-1.5

Once again the result between Vincent Keymer (GER, 2767) and Alireza Firouzja (FRA, 2744) was exactly the same – a draw in the Classical and Firouzja won Armageddon. Both players had chances in the Classical game, Firouzja more in the endgame. However, they missed it and the game ended in a draw. Keymer blundered a piece in Armageddon, lost the game and match. Keymer lost his eighth Armageddon of the event.

*Vincent Keymer suffered his eighth Armageddon loss of the event | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza*

*Round 9 in progress | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza*

Replay live stream

Replay Round 9 live commentary by IM Anna Rudolf, GM Aryan Tari and Simon Bélanger | Video: Norway Chess

Replay Round 9 games

Round 9 Open results

Wesley So (USA) – Magnus Carlsen (NOR): 1.5-1

Vincent Keymer (GER) – Alireza Firouzja (FRA): 1-1.5

D Gukesh – R Praggnanandhaa: 0-3

Standings after Round 9

*R Praggnanandhaa has reduced the gap with the sole leader Wesley so | Graphic: Norway Chess*

Round 10 pairings

Magnus Carlsen (NOR) – D Gukesh

R Praggnanandhaa – Vincent Keymer (GER)

Alireza Firouzja (FRA) – 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.