Indians Shine in Round 7: D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa Secure Key Victories, Divya Deshmukh Bounces Back Against Koneru Humpy at Norway Chess

Indians Shine in Round 7 of Norway Chess: Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, and Deshmukh Make Their Mark

In a thrilling display of skill and resilience, Indian chess prodigies D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa delivered crucial victories in Round 7 of the Norway Chess tournament, while Divya Deshmukh bounced back from a previous setback to defeat compatriot Koneru Humpy. This resurgence has reignited India’s challenge as the tournament enters its decisive phase.

World champion Gukesh faced off against American Grandmaster Wesley So, managing to salvage 1.5 points from the encounter. After a tense classical game where he let a winning opportunity slip, Gukesh showcased his prowess in the Armageddon tie-break, sealing victory with a daring pawn grab on the queenside. Despite this victory, he remains at the bottom of the six-player double round-robin standings with eight points.

Meanwhile, Praggnanandhaa continued his impressive form by handing French Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja a second consecutive classical defeat, earning a full three points and climbing to nine overall. However, he remains in fifth place, as the standings remain tightly contested.

With three rounds still to play, both Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa are within striking distance of the leaders. Wesley So currently leads with 12.5 points, followed by Alireza Firouzja at 10. A tightly packed group, including Praggnanandhaa, world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, and Germany’s Vincent Keymer, share third place with nine points, keeping the title race wide open.

Carlsen, a seven-time champion, demonstrated his resilience by defeating Keymer in the Armageddon tie-break, further solidifying his position in the competition. Known for his ability to recover from early setbacks, Carlsen remains a formidable contender.

In the women’s section, Divya Deshmukh produced a fearless performance against Humpy, sacrificing a pawn early in the game. Although their classical game ended in a draw, Divya triumphed in the Armageddon tie-break, keeping her title hopes alive. She now stands at 10 points, just 2.5 points behind leader Bibisara Assaubayeva, who continues her impressive run by defeating China’s Zhu Jiner.

Reflecting on her match, Divya remarked, “I started seeing ghosts and that’s the only reason I didn’t win in the classical game. I saw every winning move, but my mind just hallucinated, and after that, it was equal.”

As the tournament heads into its final stretch, all eyes will be on the Indian players, who have shown remarkable tenacity and skill. With the stakes higher than ever, the upcoming rounds promise to deliver more excitement and drama in the race for the Norway Chess title.

Results: (Round 7)
Open:

• R Praggnanandhaa (Ind, 9) bt Alireza Firouzja (Fra, 10)
• Vincent Keymer (Ger, 9) lost to Magnus Carlsen (Nor, 9)
• D Gukesh (Ind, 8) bt Wesley So (USA, 12.5)

Women:

• Divya Deshmukh (Ind, 10) bt Koneru Humpy (Ind, 6.5)
• Ju Wenjun (Chn, 9) lost to Anna Muzychuk (Ukr, 9.5)
• Bibisara Assaubayeva (Kaz, 12.5) bt Zhu Jiner (Chn, 7)

As the competition heats up, fans eagerly await the next round, hoping for more spectacular performances from the Indian contingent.