R Praggnanandhaa becomes first Indian to win Norway Chess, beating Magnus Carlsen twice
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa became the first Indian ever to win the prestigious Norway Chess title, sealing it with a final-round classical win over Germany's Vincent Keymer on June 5, 2026. The 20-year-old from Chennai finished on 18 points after winning his last four classical games in a row, and notably beat seven-time champion and world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen twice in classical chess during the tournament. The feat had eluded Indian greats including Viswanathan Anand and D Gukesh since the event began in 2013.
Key Facts & Details
7 points- 1R Praggnanandhaa is the first Indian to win the Norway Chess title.
- 2He defeated Germany's Vincent Keymer in the final round to clinch it.
- 3He beat world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen twice in classical chess during the event.
- 4The 20-year-old won his final four classical games in a row to finish on 18 points.
- 5Title win came on Carlsen's home turf; eluded Anand and Gukesh earlier.
Deep Dive
- +Norway Chess is one of the strongest invitational tournaments, held since 2013.
- +Praggnanandhaa was competing at Norway Chess for only the second time.
Exam Focus
Who became the first Indian to win the Norway Chess title in 2026?
Exam Relevance & Angle
Indian firsts and wins in major sporting events are high-frequency sports current-affairs items across all exams.
Target Exams
Background & Context
Norway Chess is an elite classical chess tournament held annually in Norway since 2013, traditionally dominated by Magnus Carlsen.
Test Yourself
1 / 2Who became the first Indian to win the Norway Chess title in 2026?
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