In a remarkable feat at this elite double round-robin tournament, Praggnanandhaa stands out as the only player this year to have beaten Carlsen twice in classical games, highlighting his rising prominence among the world’s chess elite.
???????? Pragg does it again and again and again ????????#NorwayChess pic.twitter.com/kF8xA9Xj1V
— Norway Chess (@NorwayChess) June 2, 2026
The victory propelled the 20-year-old to 12 points, placing him in third, while delivering a potentially critical blow to Carlsen’s quest for an eighth Norway Chess title.
With only two rounds left, the reigning champion’s title defense is now precariously poised.
STANDINGS UPDATE AFTER ROUND 8:
????????Wesley So remains in the lead after an Armageddon victory against Vincent Keymer.
The competition is tightening as the chasers catch up fast ????
???????? Praggnanandhaa and ???????? Alireza Firouzja both achieved significant classical victories, narrowing the gap at the top ????
The race for the title… pic.twitter.com/3tXymCsCwR
— Norway Chess (@NorwayChess) June 2, 2026
Carlsen’s campaign has been surprisingly turbulent, with four classical losses, including two against the Indian prodigy, who is now one of the most formidable challengers to the Norwegian’s long-held dominance.
At the top of the leaderboard, American Grandmaster Wesley So continued his stellar performance, securing victory over Germany’s Vincent Keymer in the Armageddon tie-break, increasing his lead to 14 points. France’s Alireza Firouzja advanced to sole second place with 13 points after defeating reigning world champion D. Gukesh in their classical matchup.
This defeat effectively eliminated Gukesh’s chances of winning the Norway Chess title. With only eight points, the Indian can max out at 14 points even if he wins his final two classical games, which is unlikely to be sufficient for a title run.
It marked Gukesh’s third classical defeat in the tournament, as he navigates elite tournament commitments ahead of his title defense against Uzbek challenger Javokhir Sindarov later this year.
For Praggnanandhaa, the dream is very much alive. Having already bested Carlsen twice on his home turf, the Indian star has positioned himself firmly in the title race, ensuring that the final two rounds will unfold under immense pressure, particularly for the Norwegian icon, whose fortress has been breached more frequently than ever before.
