Indian Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu produced a sensational comeback victory over world number one Magnus Carlsen in a dramatic Norway Chess 2026 clash, moving into second place in the tournament standings.
The rollercoaster encounter saw Carlsen recover from a difficult position and eventually gain a winning advantage, only to collapse under severe time pressure. Praggnanandhaa capitalised on the Norwegian’s mistakes in the closing moments to secure the only classical win of the day and earn three crucial points.
The game featured intense twists and tactical complications from the opening stages. Carlsen opted for the Sicilian Najdorf defence, while Praggnanandhaa surprised him with an uncommon variation that forced the former world champion to spend significant time early in the game. The Indian teenager gradually built pressure and appeared in control for much of the contest.
However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the endgame as Carlsen found strong counterplay and briefly looked set to claim victory. With no additional time control and only a 10-second increment per move in Norway Chess, both players struggled in the time scramble. Carlsen eventually made critical errors, allowing Praggnanandhaa to turn the game around.
Despite the memorable win, Praggnanandhaa remained modest afterward, describing the chaotic finish as something that “could have gone either way.” He said he was more satisfied with the quality of his play earlier in the game rather than the dramatic ending.
The result leaves tournament leader Alireza Firouzja three points ahead after his armageddon win over reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju. Wesley So also secured another armageddon victory against Vincent Keymer.
In the women’s event, Bibisara Assaubayeva retained the lead despite losing to Divya Deshmukh in armageddon. Divya moved within one point of the top spot, while Anna Muzychuk and Zhu Jiner also registered armageddon victories.
