IBNS-CMEDIA: Indian Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu made history on Friday by becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious Norway Chess tournament, clinching the 2026 title in Oslo with a final-round victory over Germany’s Vincent Keymer.
The 20-year-old entered the final round in third place on 15 points and needed a strong finish to stay in contention for the title.
Playing with the white pieces, Praggnanandhaa converted his advantage against Keymer into a crucial victory, earning three points and moving to 18 points overall.
The win completed a remarkable late surge and secured him the Norway Chess 2026 crown after 10 rounds, ahead of Wesley So and Alireza Firouzja.
Meanwhile, the final-round encounter between World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju ended in a classical victory for Carlsen.
Praggnanandhaa’s triumph marks a historic milestone for Indian chess, as he became the first player from the country to lift the Norway Chess title.
