Stavanger: Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa continued his remarkable resurgence at the Norway Chess 2026 tournament by defeating reigning World Champion D Gukesh in Round 9, registering his third consecutive victory and moving into second place in the standings.
The victory takes Praggnanandhaa to 15 points and keeps him firmly in contention for the title with only the final rounds remaining in one of the world’s most prestigious chess tournaments.
Crucial win strengthens title challenge
Praggnanandhaa’s victory over Gukesh has significantly tightened the battle for the championship.
The Indian star now trails tournament leader Wesley So by just half a point, setting up an exciting finish to the competition.
Speaking after the match, Praggnanandhaa expressed satisfaction with both his performance and his ability to handle the complexities of the game.
He noted that Gukesh often employs creative and unconventional ideas that can force opponents into errors, but felt he managed his time effectively and calculated accurately throughout the encounter.
The win marked another important milestone in what has become one of the standout comeback stories of the tournament.
Remarkable turnaround after difficult start
The 20-year-old Indian Grandmaster endured a challenging beginning to the event, suffering back-to-back defeats, including losses to Gukesh and Wesley So.
However, he has responded in emphatic fashion by securing three consecutive classical victories against some of the strongest players in world chess.
During his impressive run, Praggnanandhaa defeated former world number one Magnus Carlsen and top French-Iranian Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja before overcoming Gukesh.
The string of victories has transformed his position from being near the bottom of the standings to becoming one of the leading contenders for the title.
Improved time management proves decisive
Reflecting on his recent success, Praggnanandhaa said he believed he had played well throughout the tournament despite some disappointing results earlier on.
He acknowledged that time trouble had cost him opportunities in previous games, including an earlier encounter against Gukesh in which he felt he had achieved a winning position before failing to convert his advantage.
The Grandmaster credited better time management and maintaining sufficient time reserves on the clock as important factors behind his recent performances.
His ability to convert favourable positions more consistently has been evident during the latter stages of the tournament.
Title race wide open
Praggnanandhaa’s resurgence has dramatically altered the leaderboard heading into the closing stages of Norway Chess.
With Wesley So, Praggnanandhaa and Alireza Firouzja all remaining in contention, the championship battle remains finely balanced.
Meanwhile, defending World Champion Gukesh and Magnus Carlsen find themselves in the unusual position of fighting to improve their standings and avoid finishing near the bottom of the table.
The narrow margins separating the leading players have created a highly competitive scenario heading into the final round.
Bibisara Assaubayeva clinches women’s title
In the women’s section, Bibisara Assaubayeva secured the Norway Chess Women title with a round to spare.
The Kazakh Grandmaster guaranteed first place after drawing her game against Anna Muzychuk, extending her tally to an unassailable 16.5 points.
Her consistent performances throughout the tournament ensured she could not be caught by her nearest challengers.
Indian women struggle in standings
The tournament has been more challenging for India’s representatives in the women’s event.
Divya Deshmukh and Koneru Humpy currently occupy the bottom two positions in the standings.
Divya slipped further down the table after consecutive classical defeats, including a loss to Zhu Jiner.
Despite the struggles in the women’s section, Praggnanandhaa’s outstanding run has ensured a strong Indian presence in the race for the men’s title as Norway Chess approaches its conclusion.