Praggnanandhaa Makes History as First Indian to Conquer Norway Chess Tournament

Indian chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa created history by becoming the first Indian player to win the prestigious Norway Chess title, earning praise from business leader Anand Mahindra. Reacting to the achievement on social media, Mahindra said he was left with his “jaw dropped” after learning of Praggnanandhaa’s triumph and compared the feat to “bearding the lion in his den,” a reference to the tournament’s long-time association with Norwegian world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen.

Mahindra highlighted that Norway Chess had long been considered Carlsen’s territory due to his dominance at the event over the years. Congratulating the young Indian grandmaster, he wrote that the victory represented far more than just winning a trophy. According to Mahindra, Praggnanandhaa’s success reflected a challenger’s mindset and the courage to compete against the world’s best on their home ground.

The 20-year-old grandmaster from Chennai secured the title after defeating Vincent Keymer in the final round. Entering the last day of competition in third place with 15 points, Praggnanandhaa needed a classical-game victory to remain in contention. His win took him to 18 points, enough to finish ahead of Wesley So, who ended with 17 points, while Alireza Firouzja finished third on 15.5 points.

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Praggnanandhaa’s achievement is particularly significant because several Indian chess stars, including Viswanathan Anand and reigning world champion D Gukesh, had previously competed in the tournament without winning the title. During the event, Praggnanandhaa also registered two classical-game victories over Carlsen, a major highlight of his campaign and a sign of his growing stature in world chess.

The title marks one of the biggest milestones of Praggnanandhaa’s career and further strengthens India’s emergence as a global chess powerhouse. After a difficult outing at the Candidates Tournament earlier this year, the young grandmaster produced an impressive comeback, culminating in a historic triumph at one of the sport’s most prestigious competitions.

Also Read: R Praggnanandhaa Wins Norway Chess Title, Makes Historic Indian Chess Achievement