Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa created history by becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious Norway Chess title after defeating Vincent Keymer in the final round in Oslo on Friday. The 20-year-old entered the final day in third place with 15 points. However, he delivered under pressure and secured a crucial victory over Keymer. The win earned him three full points and took his tally to 18 points, enough to claim the title.

Historic Achievement for Praggnanandhaa

Praggnanandhaa achieved a milestone that had eluded several top Indian players since the tournament began in 2013. The victory made him the first Indian champion of Norway Chess, surpassing achievements by Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand and reigning world champion D Gukesh at the event.

Victories Over Magnus Carlsen Highlight Campaign

This was Praggnanandhaa's second appearance at Norway Chess. His impressive campaign included two classical chess victories over world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, a rare accomplishment for any player competing against the Norwegian star. Those wins played a major role in his successful title run.

Praggnanandhaa Credits Mother for Inspiration

After securing the title, Praggnanandhaa spoke about the support he received from his mother during the tournament. “I was speaking to my mother on June 1, before Alireza’s game, and she was telling me, 'it’s a new month, you’ll play well!' It’s just one of those things that mum always says, and then these four games I won. She knew something, I guess,” he said. The Indian Grandmaster won four games after that conversation and eventually lifted the trophy.

Magnus Carlsen Praises Praggnanandhaa’s Performance

Meanwhile, Carlsen ended his tournament on a positive note by defeating Gukesh in the final round and moving ahead of Keymer into fourth place. Reacting to Praggnanandhaa’s title-winning performance, Carlsen praised the Indian star for delivering when it mattered most.

"That’s pretty insane! That’s as clutch as it gets, and it just shows that it would have been possible for me as well with a similar finish, but yeah, that’s incredible. It shows you the volatility of the system and he is an incredible fighter and it’s fun to see him get rewarded for that."

Final-Round Victory Seals Title in Oslo

Praggnanandhaa faced Keymer in a closely contested final-round match. Both players visited the confessional during the game, with the German Grandmaster doing so for the first time during the tournament. The contest remained balanced for a long period. However, Keymer lost concentration during the endgame, allowing Praggnanandhaa to seize the advantage and secure victory.

Indian Grandmaster Focuses on Enjoying Chess

The triumph also pushed Praggnanandhaa's Elo rating back above the 2750 mark. The title helped him move past the disappointment of missing qualification for the Candidates Tournament. He revealed that his sister, Vaishali Rameshbabu, qualifying for the World Championships helped him stay positive. "I decided I don’t want to think about the next Candidates already at this point—I just want to chill and enjoy the games, and that’s what I’m doing," he said.

Bibisara Assaubayeva Wins Women's Norway Chess Title

In the women's section, Bibisara Assaubayeva secured the title on Thursday with one round remaining in the tournament. Her victory ensured that both the open and women's champions were decided before the event concluded in Oslo.