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Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa did it again. He bushed the World No.1 Magnus Carlsen for a 2nd clip successful the aforesaid tournament, outwitting him successful the eighth circular of Norway Chess, successful the classical game, to adjacent successful connected the person Wesley So.
The stunning triumph with achromatic pieces connected Tuesday (June 2, 2026) astatine Deichman Bjorvika gave Praggnanandhaa 3 points and took him to 3rd spot with 12 points, 2 down So. Frenchman Alireza Firouza occupied the 2nd spot with 13 points, aft helium handed World champion D. Gukesh his 3rd decision of the tournament.
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So pulled distant from the tract by outsmarting Vincent Keymer successful the Armageddon aft the classical lucifer ended successful a stalemate.
“It’s much important for the tourney that I get this triumph than reasoning that it’s Magnus. Of course, it’s large to bash it against Magnus, but I deliberation winning immoderate crippled astatine this signifier of the tourney is good,” a delighted Praggnanandhaa said aft making it 2 retired of 2 (in classical games) successful the tournament, which Carlsen has dominated similar nary different winning it 7 times.
The 20-year-old Indian GM had beaten the Norwegian ace successful the 3rd round, earlier doing the treble connected Monday (June 1).
With this win, Praggnanandhaa became 1 of the precise fewer players to person beaten the 35-year-old Carlsen thrice successful classical chess.
Carlsen had started the tourney with a nonaccomplishment to Firouzja earlier sinking to decision against Gukesh subsequently.
In the women’s event, Kazakh GM Bibisara Assaubayeva inched person to winning the title, pipping Indian GM Divya Deshmukh successful a crippled which she was warring to survive. She has opened up a five-point pb implicit Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk, who fell successful the Armageddon to Koneru Humpy.
GM Zhu Jiner got the amended of Chinese compatriot and World champion Ju Wenjun successful the classical crippled to support live her slim hopes of claiming the apical prize.
The matches volition resume connected Thursday aft Wednesday’s remainder day.
The results
Eighth round: Open: Alireza Firouzja (Fra, 13) bt D. Gukesh (8), Magnus Carlsen (Nor, 9) mislaid to R. Praggnanandhaa (12), Wesley So (USA, 14) bt Vincent Keymer (Ger, 10).
Women: Zhu Jiner (Chn, 10) bt Ju Wenjun (Chn, 9), Divya Deshmukh (10) mislaid to Bibisara Assaubayeva (Kaz, 15.5), Anna Muzychuk (Ukr, 10.5) mislaid to Koneru Humpy (8) successful Armageddon.
(The writer is successful Oslo astatine the invitation of Norway Chess.)
