Indian chess players Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, D Gukesh, and Divya Deshmukh registered wins during the Norway Chess 2026 tournament in Oslo [1, 2].
These victories highlight the rising dominance of Indian talent in elite international chess circles, where they are increasingly challenging the world's top-ranked grandmasters.
Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu secured a notable victory against Alireza Firouzja in Round 7 [3]. The match concluded in 51 moves [1], leaving Praggnanandhaa with a total of three full points [2]. Praggnanandhaa said, "Just close your eyes and make moves" [2].
Divya Deshmukh also registered a win during the event [1]. While some reports suggested a struggle against top seeds, other records indicate she stormed into the lead during her matches [2].
Results for D Gukesh have been reported inconsistently across sources. Some reports state that Gukesh downed Praggnanandhaa to revive his hopes for the title [2]. However, other live updates from the same round indicate Gukesh collected a draw instead [1].
The tournament has seen a series of high-stakes encounters in Oslo, including early victories for Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa in Round 1 [4]. The Indian contingent has focused on strong preparation to maintain their positions in the standings as the event moves toward its conclusion.
“"Just close your eyes and make moves"”
The performance of multiple Indian players at Norway Chess 2026 underscores a systemic shift in global chess, where India's youth pipeline is producing world-class competitors capable of winning in high-pressure, elite environments. Despite conflicting reports on specific match outcomes, the collective presence of these players in the winner's circle suggests a narrowing gap between the established elite and the new generation of Indian grandmasters.
