R Praggnanandhaa became the first Indian player to win the Norway Chess tournament in May 2024 [1, 2].
The victory marks a historic milestone for Indian chess on the global stage. By winning one of the world's most prestigious tournaments, the grandmaster establishes India as a dominant force in elite, invitation-only competition.
Praggnanandhaa, 20 years old [1], clinched the title in Oslo, Norway [1, 3]. His path to the championship included a decisive final-round victory over Vincent Keymer [3]. This result ensured he secured enough points to finish at the top of the leaderboard [2, 4].
The tournament was defined by a series of dominant performances from the young grandmaster. He won four straight games during the event [4]. Most notably, Praggnanandhaa defeated world champion Magnus Carlsen twice during the competition [4].
These wins against Carlsen, the local favorite and former world champion, were critical to his success. The consistency of his play throughout the event allowed him to maintain a lead over a field of top-tier international competitors [2, 4].
“R Praggnanandhaa became the first Indian player to win the Norway Chess tournament”
This victory signals a generational shift in professional chess. By defeating a legendary player like Magnus Carlsen multiple times in a single event, Praggnanandhaa demonstrates that the new wave of Indian grandmasters possesses the psychological and technical resilience to win major titles, not just compete in them.
