Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa defeated German Grandmaster Vincent Keymer in the final round to win the Norway Chess 2025 title [1].
The victory marks a historic milestone for Indian chess, as Praggnanandhaa is the first Indian player to ever win the Norway Chess crown [3].
Praggnanandhaa, 20, secured the championship by completing a comeback in the final stages of the tournament [1]. He finished the competition with a final score of 18 points [1]. The win earns the Grandmaster a top prize of $100,000 [2].
During the tournament, Praggnanandhaa demonstrated dominant form against the world's elite players. He beat World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen twice during the event [1]. This performance allowed him to surpass other top Indian players and secure the title in the final round against Keymer [1].
The victory in Norway follows a series of high-profile performances by the young Grandmaster on the international circuit. By defeating Keymer, he ensured he had enough points to clinch the title and establish a new precedent for Indian athletes in this specific tournament [1, 2].
“Praggnanandhaa is the first Indian player to ever win the Norway Chess crown”
This victory signals a shift in the global chess hierarchy, highlighting the rising dominance of young Indian talent. By defeating the world number one multiple times and securing a title previously untouched by Indian players, Praggnanandhaa establishes himself as a primary contender for the world championship cycle.
