Indian chess grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has created history by winning the prestigious Norway Chess tournament, becoming the first Indian to claim the title.
Speaking after the triumph, Praggnanandhaa said he viewed it as the biggest win of his career. He noted that despite early setbacks in the event, he did not make any fundamental change to his overall approach.
That steadiness, he said, eventually led to four consecutive victories and helped him secure the championship. Defeating some of the world’s strongest players, including Magnus Carlsen, made the title especially memorable.
Praggnanandhaa also pointed to a key adjustment in the final phase—avoiding time trouble by playing faster with greater control. He said the deliberate effort to speed up helped his games, and in many rounds he ended up with more time on the clock than his opponents.
Looking ahead, he said he plans to play fewer tournaments in the coming months compared to last year. He also felt arriving in Norway a day before the event and doing preparatory practice had a positive impact.
