Shocking Upsets at Norway Chess: Praggnanandhaa Triumphs Over Carlsen, Gukesh and Deshmukh Face Defeats
Gukesh and Divya Deshmukh Face Classical Defeats
Elsewhere: Koneru Humpy Picks Up Armageddon Win, Wesley So Keeps His Lead Intact
Magnus Carlsen Faces Shock Defeat Again as Indian Talents Shine at Norway Chess
NEW DELHI: If you were to look up “cliché” in an English dictionary, you might find a definition that describes an idea so overused it loses its original impact. At the 14th edition of Norway Chess in Oslo, the shock and disappointment typically associated with a Magnus Carlsen defeat have become just that—a cliché.
On Tuesday, during Round 8 of the tournament, Indian Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa handed the World No. 1 and five-time World Champion another stunning loss, marking the second time in two weeks that Carlsen has fallen to the young prodigy. The game, which began with Carlsen’s clear intention to avenge his previous defeat, ended with the 35-year-old Grandmaster suffering his fourth loss in classical games this tournament. With only nine points, he now finds himself second-to-last on the leaderboard.
In a tense match characterized by a sharp French Defence, Praggnanandhaa, playing Black, accepted early structural damage but gained active piece play and central control. Carlsen’s kingside safety became a recurring issue after his 14.Kf1 move. As the game progressed, Praggnanandhaa expertly coordinated his rooks, bishops, and queen to seize the initiative, winning key exchanges and maintaining relentless pressure. Despite Carlsen’s long resistance, Praggnanandhaa converted his activity into a dominant endgame attack, forcing Carlsen into a blunder with 48.Kf4. The match lasted 50 moves, with Praggnanandhaa firmly in contention for the Norway Chess crown, currently standing second with 12 points.
“It’s more important for the tournament that I get this win than thinking that it’s Magnus,” said the 20-year-old. “Of course, it’s great to do it against Magnus, but I think winning any game at this stage of the tournament is good.”
Gukesh and Divya Deshmukh Face Classical Defeats
In a parallel narrative, Indian Grandmaster D. Gukesh also faced a classical defeat, this time against Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja. The reigning world champion struggled to find his footing, losing in a game that lasted 61 moves. Gukesh, playing with the black pieces, was outmaneuvered after forgetting his preparation. His ambitious kingside expansion in the Ragozin Defence created imbalances but left him with long-term weaknesses.
“I came up with this new 7…Bf5, but I think he reacted in the best way possible, and I just forgot my prep,” Gukesh admitted. Alireza exploited tactical opportunities, winning a pawn and simplifying into rook endgames. Gukesh’s counterplay faded as Alireza’s active rook and dangerous g-pawn generated decisive threats, leading to a well-controlled victory. With this win, Alireza remains second with 13 points, while Gukesh languishes at the bottom with only eight points.
In the women’s section, Divya Deshmukh faced a similarly disappointing fate against tournament leader Bibisara Assaubayeva. After building early queenside pressure and winning material, Divya found herself in an advantageous position. However, a central break by Bibisara turned the tide. The Kazakhstani Grandmaster coordinated her pieces into a direct attack, culminating in a decisive kingside assault that secured her victory. With this win, Bibisara continues to lead the tournament with 15.5 points, while Divya drops to third with 10 points.
Elsewhere: Koneru Humpy Picks Up Armageddon Win, Wesley So Keeps His Lead Intact
In other notable matches, Koneru Humpy, who has struggled throughout the tournament, drew her classical game against Anna Muzychuk but clinched victory in the Armageddon tie-break. Meanwhile, China’s Zhu Jiner achieved a decisive classical victory over Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun.
In the open section, the day’s only Armageddon match featured Wesley So, who secured a win against Vincent Keymer, maintaining his lead at the top of the table with 14 points.
As the tournament progresses, the chess world watches closely, eager to see if the young Indian talents can continue their impressive runs against seasoned champions.