Norway Chess Round 6: Gukesh, Divya lose as So and Assaubayeva lead
Synopsis
Round 6 of Norway Chess 2025 turned the title race on its head — all three open games ended decisively, Gukesh fell to Keymer, and Wesley So seized the lead. In the women's event, Ju Wenjun's win over Divya Deshmukh helped Assaubayeva reclaim first place. With the tournament past halfway, no result is safe.
Key Takeaways
All three classical games in the Norway Chess open section ended decisively in Round 6 on 1 June .
Wesley So defeated Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu to move to the top of the open standings.
Magnus Carlsen beat Alireza Firouzja , handing the Frenchman his first classical defeat of the tournament.
World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju lost to Vincent Keymer .
Ju Wenjun defeated Divya Deshmukh in the women's section; Bibisara Assaubayeva leads on 9.5 points .
Divya Deshmukh remains second in the women's standings on 8.5 points .
Round 6 of Norway Chess 2025 in Oslo delivered a dramatic sweep on 1 June, with all three classical games in the open section ending decisively — a rare clean slate that reshuffled the standings and intensified the title race.
Key Developments in the Open Section
Wesley So claimed the top spot in the standings after defeating Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu in a gruelling encounter. The American grandmaster handled the middlegame complications with composure and converted his edge in the endgame to secure the full three points.
World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen also registered a crucial win, overcoming tournament leader Alireza Firouzja with the white pieces. Carlsen applied steady strategic pressure before converting in the later stages, handing Firouzja his first classical defeat of the event and closing the gap at the top.
Reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju suffered a setback, going down to Vincent Keymer. Keymer maintained the initiative throughout and capitalised on his opportunities to score a notable victory against the title-holder.
After Round 6, Wesley So leads Norway Chess with Alireza Firouzja close behind, leaving the battle for first place wide open heading into the second half of the tournament.
Women's Section: Assaubayeva Reclaims Lead
The Norway Chess Women section produced one decisive classical result and two Armageddon deciders on the same day in Oslo.
Reigning Women's World Champion Ju Wenjun delivered the standout performance, defeating Divya Deshmukh in a long strategic struggle. Ju gradually improved her position before converting her endgame advantage to secure the win — Deshmukh's most significant loss of the tournament so far.
Bibisara Assaubayeva and Humpy Koneru played out a draw in their classical game. Assaubayeva then won the Armageddon tiebreak to claim the extra points and reclaim sole possession of first place.
Anna Muzychuk and Zhu Jiner also drew their classical game, with Zhu Jiner winning the subsequent Armageddon to pocket the additional points.
Women's Standings After Round 6
Following the round, Bibisara Assaubayeva leads Norway Chess Women on 9.5 points. Divya Deshmukh sits second on 8.5 points, while Ju Wenjun and Anna Muzychuk share third place on 8 points each.
What to Watch Next
With the tournament past its halfway mark, the open section is set for a high-stakes battle between So, Carlsen, and Firouzja, while in the women's event, Assaubayeva's one-point cushion over Deshmukh leaves the title race far from settled. How Gukesh and Divya respond to their Round 6 reverses will be closely watched.
Point of View
Assaubayeva's Armageddon consistency is proving as important as classical results — a structural quirk of the format that Deshmukh, despite her classical solidity, has yet to fully exploit.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in Norway Chess Round 6?
All three classical games in the open section ended decisively on 1 June in Oslo. Wesley So beat Praggnanandhaa, Magnus Carlsen defeated Alireza Firouzja, and Vincent Keymer overcame World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju.
Who leads Norway Chess 2025 after Round 6?
Wesley So leads the open section after Round 6, with Alireza Firouzja close behind. In the women's event, Bibisara Assaubayeva leads on 9.5 points, followed by Divya Deshmukh on 8.5 points.
Why is Gukesh's loss significant?
Gukesh Dommaraju is the reigning World Chess Champion, making his Round 6 defeat to Vincent Keymer a notable upset. The loss puts him under pressure in the second half of the tournament.
How did Divya Deshmukh fare in Round 6?
Divya Deshmukh lost to reigning Women's World Champion Ju Wenjun in a long classical game in the women's section. She remains second in the standings on 8.5 points, one point behind Assaubayeva.
What is the Armageddon format used in Norway Chess?
In Norway Chess, drawn classical games are followed by an Armageddon tiebreak — a sudden-death game where White has more time but must win, while Black only needs a draw. The winner of the Armageddon earns extra points, making it a key factor in the overall standings.
