Norway Chess 2026 Round 6: Wesley So Takes the Lead Amidst Dramatic Showdowns

Women’s Division: Ju Wenjun Upsets Leader Divya Deshmukh as Assaubayeva Regains Control

Wesley So Takes Command at Norway Chess 2026 After Thrilling Round Six

Oslo, Norway – In a dramatic turn of events at Norway Chess 2026, GM Wesley So has surged to the top of the leaderboard following a fiercely contested round six that saw three decisive results. So’s victory over GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu marked the latter’s second consecutive loss, while GM Magnus Carlsen exacted revenge against GM Alireza Firouzja, who had previously led the tournament after defeating Carlsen in the opening round. Additionally, GM Vincent Keymer secured his first win of the event by overcoming World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, landing him in third place.

The round was not without its surprises. So’s commanding performance has placed him firmly in the lead, while Carlsen’s victory has reignited his championship aspirations. Keymer’s win against Gukesh, which included both classical and armageddon formats, showcased his resilience and skill, further intensifying the competition.

In the women’s tournament, Women’s World Champion GM Ju Wenjun broke her streak of five consecutive armageddon losses by defeating tournament leader GM Divya Deshmukh in a thrilling classical match. This victory was pivotal, allowing GM Bibisara Assaubayeva to reclaim the sole lead after defeating GM Koneru Humpy in armageddon. Meanwhile, GM Anna Muzychuk remains a contender, just half a point behind Divya after suffering her second armageddon loss to GM Zhu Jiner.

As IM Tania Sachdev noted during the broadcast, it was a challenging day for Indian chess, with Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, and Divya all falling in their classical encounters, while Humpy faced defeat in armageddon.

Round Six Results

• Open Tournament:

  • Wesley So def. Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu
  • Magnus Carlsen def. Alireza Firouzja
  • Vincent Keymer def. Gukesh Dommaraju

• Women’s Tournament:

  • Ju Wenjun def. Divya Deshmukh
  • Bibisara Assaubayeva def. Koneru Humpy (armageddon)
  • Zhu Jiner def. Anna Muzychuk (armageddon)

Standings Update

Despite their losses, Firouzja and Divya remain within striking distance of the new leaders, setting the stage for an exciting finish as the tournament progresses.

Upcoming Matches

Round seven is set to commence on Monday, June 1, at 11 a.m. ET / 17:00 CEST / 8:30 p.m. IST. Fans can catch all the action live on the Chess24 YouTube and Twitch channels, or follow the games on the official events page.

Norway Chess 2026 features both Open and Women’s six-player tournaments, each boasting equal prize funds of 1,690,000 NOK (~$182k). The tournament runs from May 25 to June 5 in Oslo, with players facing off in classical chess formats before transitioning to armageddon in the event of a draw.

Stay tuned for more updates as the competition heats up in the coming rounds!