Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa concluded his impressive campaign at the Norway Chess tournament by defeating American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura in the final round, securing a commendable third-place finish. World number one Magnus Carlsen emerged as the tournament champion.
Carlsen Clinches Victory
Magnus Carlsen won the Norway Chess tournament with 17.5 points, taking home the top prize of 700,000 NOK (approximately USD 65,000). The tournament’s unique format ensured that each round had a decisive winner through either Classical time control or Armageddon in case of a draw.
Nakamura and Praggnanandhaa’s Performances
Hikaru Nakamura finished second with 15.5 points despite his final round loss to Praggnanandhaa, who finished with 14.5 points. Praggnanandhaa’s remarkable performance included victories over the top three ranked players in the world, making him the first player to achieve this feat. He defeated Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana earlier in the tournament under Classical time control, and his final round win against Nakamura solidified his exceptional run.
Firouzja and Other Standings
Alireza Firouzja secured fourth place with 13.5 points after defeating reigning world champion Ding Liren of China in the Armageddon round. Ding Liren finished at the bottom of the standings, behind Caruana, who secured fifth place with 10 points in the six-player double round-robin tournament.
Women’s Section Highlights
In the Women’s section, Wenjun Ju dominated, securing the top spot with 19 points, all from three wins under Classical time control. Anna Muzychuk claimed second place with 16 points, finishing ahead of Tingjie Lei, who scored 14.5 points. R Vaishali placed fourth with 12.5 points, while Koneru Humpy finished fifth with 10 points, followed by veteran Pia Cramling with 8 points.
Final Round Drama
The final round provided plenty of excitement. Carlsen delivered a crucial performance against Fabiano Caruana. After a law draw withinside the Ruy Lopez as White, Carlsen reserved his electricity for the very last Armageddon game. His Queen pawn opening allowed him to gain a significant advantage, and he secured victory after 52 moves when his passed pawn was poised to become a new Queen.
Praggnanandhaa, playing against Nakamura, took calculated risks in the middle game arising from a London system opening. His aggressive king-side attack paid off, allowing him to secure victory in just 31 moves. Nakamura struggled to counter Praggnanandhaa’s relentless offensive, leading to his defeat.
Final Results
*Men’s Final Round Results:*
– Magnus Carlsen (Norway, 17.5) defeated Fabiano Caruana (USA, 11.5) with a score of 1.5-1.
– R Praggnanandhaa (India, 14.5) defeated Hikaru Nakamura (USA, 15.5) with a score of 1.5-1.
– Firouzja Alireza (France, 13.5) defeated Ding Liren (China, 7) with a score of 1.5-1.
*Women’s Final Round Results:*
– Wenjun Ju (China, 19) defeated Tingjie Lei (China, 14.5) with a score of 3-0.
– Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine, 16) defeated Koneru Humpy (India, 10) with a score of 1.5-1.
– R Vaishali (12.5) lost to Pia Cramling (Sweden, 8) with a score of 1-1.5.
Conclusion
Praggnanandhaa’s outstanding performance at the Norway Chess tournament, including his historic wins over the top three ranked players, underscores his rising prominence in the world of chess. Carlsen’s victory further cements his status as the world’s top player. The tournament highlighted intense competition and showcased remarkable talent across both the men’s and women’s sections.
