Indian Chess Stars Shine in Round 7: Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa Deliver Key Victories Amidst Title Race Tension
Indian Chess Stars Shine in Norway Chess as Title Race Heats Up
Norway – In a thrilling display of skill and determination, Indian chess prodigies D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa made significant strides in Round 7 of the Norway Chess tournament, reigniting hopes for a strong finish as the competition enters its decisive phase.
Gukesh, the reigning world champion, faced off against American Grandmaster Wesley So in a gripping encounter. After a tense classical game where he let a winning opportunity slip, Gukesh showcased his resilience by clinching victory in the Armageddon tie-break, earning 1.5 points and bringing his total to eight. Despite this crucial win, he remains at the bottom of the six-player double round-robin standings.
Meanwhile, Praggnanandhaa continued his impressive form, delivering a stunning performance against French Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja. With a second consecutive classical defeat for Firouzja, Praggnanandhaa secured a full three points, elevating his total to nine. However, he remains in fifth place, just behind the leaders, as the competition tightens with three rounds still to play.
Wesley So leads the standings with 12.5 points, followed closely by 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 trademark resilience by defeating Keymer in the Armageddon tie-break, proving once again that he cannot be discounted from the title race. Gukesh’s earlier struggle against So highlighted the challenges of time management, as he faced severe pressure with only 18 minutes left on the clock compared to So’s hour.
In a separate but equally exciting match, Divya Deshmukh showcased her fearless approach by defeating compatriot Koneru Humpy. After a classical game that ended in a draw, Deshmukh triumphed in the Armageddon tie-break, keeping her title hopes alive. Starting the day just a point behind leader Bibisara Assaubayeva, Deshmukh’s victory sets up a crucial Round 8 clash against Assaubayeva, where a win could see her take the lead.
“I started seeing ghosts and that’s the only reason I didn’t win in the classical game,” Deshmukh admitted in her post-match interview. “I saw every winning move, but my mind just hallucinated, and after that, it was equal.”
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on the Indian players, who are poised to make a late charge for the title. With the stakes higher than ever, the final rounds promise to deliver more excitement and drama in the world of chess.