Indian teenage Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa created history by winning the prestigious Norway Chess championship in Oslo, becoming the first Indian to lift the title.
The 14th season of the classical tournament featured six players in the men’s section, including reigning world champion D Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa and defending champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway.
After nine rounds, Wesley So led the standings with 15.5 points, followed by Praggnanandhaa on 15.0 and France’s Alireza on 14.5. Gukesh finished sixth with 8 points.
Praggnanandhaa entered the final round on the back of three straight wins and defeated Germany’s Vincent Keymer in 45 moves after taking control early. With So and Alireza drawing their game, Praggnanandhaa surged to the top to clinch the championship.
The win is seen as a landmark moment in a tournament long dominated by world No.1 Carlsen, with Praggnanandhaa sealing the title on the Norwegian star’s home soil.
