Stavanger, Norway - May 29, 2024: In a historic moment for Indian chess, 18-year-old Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa secured his first-ever classical win against World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen during the third round of the prestigious Norway Chess tournament. This victory catapulted Praggnanandhaa to the sole lead in the tournament's open section.
Playing with white pieces, the young prodigy, who was last year's FIDE World Cup runner-up, faced Carlsen on his home turf. Despite trailing on the clock for most of the game, Praggnanandhaa's strategic prowess and calm demeanor led him to a remarkable victory, bringing his total to 5.5 points out of 9 by the end of the third round. This win makes him only the fourth Indian to ever beat Carlsen in classical chess.
American Grandmaster Fabio Caruana climbed to the second spot in the standings after a solid win over GM Ding Liren, taking his tally to 5 points. Meanwhile, Carlsen's aggressive opening move against Praggnanandhaa did not pay off, causing him to slip to fifth place in the six-player standings.
In the women's section of the tournament, R Praggnanandhaa's sister, R Vaishali, retained her sole lead position. She held GM Anna Muzychuk to a draw with black pieces, ensuring her top spot after three rounds. Vaishali's outstanding performance continued from the previous round, where she beat compatriot Koneru Humpy.
Another notable match saw GM Hikaru Nakamura defeating GM Alireza Firouzja in an Armageddon decider, which allowed Nakamura to retain third place on the table. Ding Liren, who is set to compete for the World Championship title against GM D Gukesh later this year, found himself at the bottom of the standings with 2.5 points.
The Norway Chess tournament, running from May 27 to June 7, offers a prize fund of USD 160,000 for both the open and women's sections. Six players compete against each other in a double round-robin format in classical chess.
Current Standings in Norway Chess After Three Rounds:
Open Section:
- R Praggnanandhaa - 5.5 points
- Fabio Caruana - 5 points
- Hikaru Nakamura - 4 points
- Alireza Firouzja - 3.5 points
- Magnus Carlsen - 3 points
- Ding Liren - 2.5 points
Women's Section:
- R Vaishali - Lead
The tournament continues to witness intense competition as the world's best chess players vie for the top honors in Stavanger.
