Indian Grandmasters to Compete in 12th Edition of Norway Chess Championship in Stavanger

Indian Grandmasters Koneru Humpy, Vaishali Rameshbabu, and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu are all set to make their mark at the prestigious Norway Chess Championship, set to take place from May 27 to June 7 in Stavanger, Norway.

The tournament, known as the ‘Wimbledon of Chess’, will feature some of the world’s top players including Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Ding Liren, Ju Wenjun, and Lei Tingjie. However, in a groundbreaking move for gender equality in chess, Norway Chess has introduced the world’s first-ever equal female tournament, running alongside the main event with the same format and prize fund.

This year, the brother-sister duo of Praggnanandhaa and Vaishali will be making their debut in the tournament. Praggnanandhaa, who recently reached the final of the FIDE Chess World Cup, and Vaishali, the third woman in India to achieve the Grandmaster title, are set to showcase their skills on the international stage.

Koneru Humpy, the current World No.2 in the women’s category and India’s top woman chess player, will also be competing in the Norway Chess Women’s Tournament, aiming for top honors.

Legendary Indian Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand, who has competed in Norway Chess in the past, praised the tournament’s efforts to promote gender equality in chess, saying, “Norway Chess are focused on making the game more spectator-friendly and accessible. I welcome their attempt to help popularize the women’s game by having an equal prize fund for the women this year.”

Benedicte Westre Skog, Co-owner and Project Manager of Norway Chess, expressed excitement about hosting the Indian players, noting India’s growing presence in the global chess scene. She extended her best wishes to the Indian debutants and Koneru Humpy, highlighting the country’s strong chess talent.

With the inclusion of the Indian Grandmasters and the focus on gender equality, the 12th edition of the Norway Chess Championship promises to be an exciting and historic event in the world of chess.