Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa and R Vaishali to Kick Off Norway Chess Tournament Against Tough Opponents

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa and his sister R Vaishali are all set to make their mark at the Norway Chess tournament in Stavanger. Praggnanandhaa will face off against Alireza Firouzja of France, while Vaishali will take on women’s world champion Wenjun Ju of China in the first round.

This year, the tournament is split into two parts, with six top GMs in the men’s section and six top women players competing for a total prize pool of 1690000 NOK (around USD 1.6 million). The prize fund is identical in both sections, with 750000 NOK (or about USD 70000) reserved for the winner.

The highlight of the tournament will be World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen’s return to classical chess after a long break. Carlsen, who last played in the World Cup under classical chess rules, will be looking to retain his form. Reigning world champion Ding Liren of China will also be a player to watch as he prepares to defend his title against India’s D Gukesh later this year.

The format of the tournament is unique, with matches not ending in a draw. In case of a draw, an Armageddon game will be played to determine the winner. The point system is also different, with three points awarded for a win under classical time control and 1.5 points for the winner of the Armageddon game.

In the women’s section, Vaishali and Koneru Humpy will represent India alongside players like Anna Muzychuk, Pia Cramling, and the Chinese duo of Wenjun and Tingjie Lei. Wenjun Ju is the favorite for the title, but all eyes will be on Vaishali, who finished her candidates tournament with five consecutive victories.

With an exciting lineup of players and a unique format, the Norway Chess tournament promises to be a thrilling event for chess fans around the world.