Praggnanandhaa Surges to Second Place After Thrilling Victory Over Carlsen in Norway Chess 2026
Highlights from Round 3: Firouzja Extends Lead, Assaubayeva Maintains Women’s Edge
Praggnanandhaa Surges to Second Place After Stunning Victory Over Carlsen at Norway Chess 2026
Oslo, Norway – In a thrilling turn of events at the Norway Chess 2026 tournament, Indian Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu has catapulted himself into second place after a dramatic victory over world champion Magnus Carlsen. The match, which saw Carlsen claw his way back to a winning position, ultimately ended in heartbreak for the Norwegian as he faltered under time pressure, allowing Praggnanandhaa to seize the moment and secure the win.
With this victory, Praggnanandhaa has moved up from the bottom of the standings, now trailing only behind the tournament leader, Alireza Firouzja, who boasts a three-point lead after defeating fellow GM Gukesh Dommaraju in a tense armageddon match. Firouzja’s consistent performance has solidified his position at the top, but the spotlight now shines brightly on the young Indian prodigy.
Meanwhile, GM Wesley So also showcased his prowess, achieving a second consecutive armageddon victory, this time against GM Vincent Keymer, further intensifying the competition in the Open event.
In the Women’s tournament, GM Bibisara Assaubayeva continues to hold the lead, although her position has tightened after suffering an armageddon loss to GM Divya Deshmukh. Assaubayeva now leads by just one point, with Divya hot on her heels. The day also featured draws in two other classical matches, leading to more armageddon showdowns. Notably, GM Anna Muzychuk triumphed over GM Koneru Humpy, while GM Zhu Jiner managed to escape a precarious pawn-down endgame against Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun, resulting in a draw.
As the tournament progresses, the stakes are higher than ever. Round four is set to kick off on Thursday, May 28, at 11 a.m. ET / 17:00 CEST / 8:30 p.m. IST, featuring highly anticipated matchups including Gukesh facing Carlsen and the leading duo of Firouzja and Praggnanandhaa taking on So and Keymer, respectively. Assaubayeva will also be looking to bounce back against Ju Wenjun, who aims to recover from a slow start.
Game of the Day: Praggnanandhaa vs. Carlsen
The standout match of the day was undoubtedly Praggnanandhaa’s victory over Carlsen, a game that will be analyzed in depth by GM Rafael Leitao. The match exemplified the unpredictable nature of chess, with Carlsen’s self-destruction after a valiant comeback serving as a reminder of the game’s complexities.
How to Watch
Fans can catch all the action live on the Chess24 YouTube and Twitch channels, or follow the games on the official events page for both the Open and Women’s tournaments.
With equal prize funds of 1,690,000 NOK (~$182k) and a format that rewards both classical and armageddon victories, Norway Chess 2026 promises to deliver more excitement as it unfolds in Oslo from May 25 to June 5.
Stay tuned for full coverage of round three and the latest updates from this prestigious tournament!