Praggnanandhaa Defeats Firouzja In Classical Game As Norway Chess 2026 Title Race Intensifies

Oslo (Norway), 2 June: Round seven of Norway Chess 2026 kept the pressure on in Oslo, with a decisive classical result and two tense Armageddon battles.

The headline result came when Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu defeated Alireza Firouzja in classical chess. The Indian star outplayed Firouzja in a long struggle and converted his advantage with confident technique to score a crucial victory. The result tightens the race at the top of the standings and hands Firouzja his second classical defeat of the tournament.

Carlsen Prevails In Armageddon Against Keymer

World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and Vincent Keymer played a hard-fought classical draw after a long encounter in which neither player could break through. Carlsen later prevailed in the Armageddon game to secure the extra points and remain within striking distance of the leaders.

Gukesh Collects Additional Points

The remaining game between World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju and Wesley So also ended in a draw after a tense battle. Gukesh went on to win the Armageddon game, collecting the additional points.

Standings After Round Seven

Following round seven, Wesley So continues to lead the tournament with 12.5 points. Alireza Firouzja remains second with 10 points, while Magnus Carlsen, Vincent Keymer and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu are all close behind with 9 points.

Assaubayeva Strengthens Lead At Norway Chess Women

Bibisara Assaubayeva produced the biggest result of the day in Norway Chess Women, scoring a classical victory to extend her lead at the top of the standings.

Facing Zhu Jiner with the white pieces, Assaubayeva took control after a difficult middlegame and converted her advantage with confidence. The full three points give the Kazakh grandmaster a significant boost as the tournament enters its final stretch.

Divya Deshmukh Wins Armageddon Battle

Humpy Koneru and Divya Deshmukh ended in a draw after a tense classical game. Divya then won the Armageddon game with the black pieces, securing the extra points and strengthening her position as Assaubayeva’s closest challenger.

Muzychuk Remains In Contention

Reigning Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun and Anna Muzychuk also ended in a draw in classical chess after a closely contested game. Muzychuk later defeated Ju Wenjun in Armageddon, earning important additional points and staying firmly in the race near the top of the table.

Women's Standings After Round Seven

Following round seven, Bibisara Assaubayeva leads Norway Chess Women with 12.5 points. Divya Deshmukh remains second with 10 points, while Anna Muzychuk is close behind with 9.5 points.

About Norway Chess

Norway Chess 2026 brings together the world’s elite chess players for a super-tournament held from May 25th to June 5th in Oslo, Norway. The event proudly features two elite tournaments running in parallel: the renowned Norway Chess and Norway Chess Women. Both tournaments follow a 6-player double round-robin format with equal prize funds, highlighting a strong commitment to gender equality in chess.

A signature of Norway Chess is its distinctive format. When a classical game ends in a draw, an Armageddon game determines the winner, ensuring decisive results in every round.