Indian chess star R. Praggnanandhaa delivered another memorable performance at the prestigious Norway Chess by defeating World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in a classical game for the second time in the tournament.
Playing with the black pieces in the eighth round on June 2, Praggnanandhaa outplayed the Norwegian legend and earned three valuable points. The victory lifted him to third place in the standings with 12 points, putting him firmly in the race for the title.
Praggnanandhaa Continues Remarkable Run
The 20-year-old Indian Grandmaster has been one of the standout performers of the tournament.
Earlier, he defeated Carlsen in the third round. Now, with another classical victory over the seven-time Norway Chess champion, Praggnanandhaa has completed a remarkable double against one of the greatest players in chess history.
Speaking after the match, the Indian star emphasized the importance of the result for the tournament standings.
He said that while defeating Carlsen is always special, securing a win at this crucial stage of the competition mattered even more for his title ambitions.
One of the Few Players to Achieve This Feat
With this latest triumph, Praggnanandhaa joined a very small group of players who have defeated Carlsen three times in classical chess.
The result also continued a difficult tournament for Carlsen. The Norwegian began the event with a loss to Alireza Firouzja and later suffered another defeat against reigning world champion D. Gukesh.
Carlsen now finds himself well behind the leaders as the tournament heads into its final stages.
Wesley So Remains Tournament Leader
Meanwhile, Wesley So maintained his position at the top of the standings.
So defeated Vincent Keymer in the Armageddon tiebreak after their classical encounter ended in a draw. The result moved the American Grandmaster to 14 points, keeping him two points ahead of Praggnanandhaa.
Firouzja occupies second place with 13 points after handing Gukesh his third defeat of the tournament.
Mixed Results for Indian Players
The day brought contrasting fortunes for Indian chess fans.
While Praggnanandhaa celebrated a major victory, Gukesh suffered a setback against Firouzja. Nevertheless, the Indian world champion remains in contention with several rounds still to be played.
In the women’s section, Divya Deshmukh endured a difficult day after losing to Bibisara Assaubayeva.
The Kazakh star extended her lead at the top of the standings and moved closer to securing the title.
Women’s Tournament Race Intensifies
Assaubayeva now enjoys a five-point advantage over Anna Muzychuk, who lost in Armageddon to Indian veteran Koneru Humpy.
Elsewhere, Zhu Jiner defeated world champion Ju Wenjun in a classical game, keeping her slim title hopes alive.
The tournament will resume on Thursday following a scheduled rest day.
Current Standings After Round 8
Open Section
- Wesley So – 14 points
- Alireza Firouzja – 13 points
- R. Praggnanandhaa – 12 points
Women’s Section
- Bibisara Assaubayeva – 15.5 points
- Anna Muzychuk – 10.5 points
- Divya Deshmukh and Zhu Jiner – 10 points each