ndian chess star R Praggnanandhaa scripted a historic achievement at Norway Chess 2026 by defeating World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen for the second time in the tournament. The victory in Round 8 not only strengthened his reputation as one of the world’s leading young grandmasters but also placed him alongside Indian legend Viswanathan Anand in a rare chess milestone.
With this win, Praggnanandhaa became only the second player after Anand to beat Carlsen twice in the same classical tournament. Anand had achieved the feat at the prestigious Linares tournament in 2007, making Praggnanandhaa’s accomplishment even more significant.
Playing with the black pieces, the 20-year-old Indian maintained composure throughout a tense contest before capitalising on a late mistake by Carlsen. After the match, Praggnanandhaa suggested that the Norwegian may have cracked under pressure, describing the decisive error as a result of possible “panic” in a critical position.
The result dealt a major blow to Carlsen’s hopes of winning another Norway Chess title and further highlighted the changing landscape of elite chess, where young challengers are increasingly pushing established stars. Praggnanandhaa’s second victory over the Norwegian in the same event has been widely viewed as one of the biggest achievements of his career so far.
The Indian grandmaster remains firmly in contention for the tournament crown with only a few rounds remaining. A strong finish could see him become the first Indian player to win the prestigious Norway Chess title.
While Praggnanandhaa celebrated a memorable win, it was a mixed day for the Indian contingent. Reigning world champion D Gukesh and Divya Deshmukh suffered defeats in their respective games, while other Indian players continued their campaigns in the event.
