Praggnanandhaa wins Norway Chess 2025: first Indian champion in tournament history
Synopsis
Sitting last with six points at the halfway mark, Praggnanandhaa won four classical games in a row — including a second defeat of Magnus Carlsen — to become the first Indian champion in Norway Chess history. A phone call from his mother before Round 7 reportedly sparked the turnaround. It is the latest in a string of landmark results cementing India's dominance in global chess.
Key Takeaways
R Praggnanandhaa won the Norway Chess 2025 title in Stavanger on Friday , becoming the first Indian to do so.
He defeated Vincent Keymer of Germany in the final round to clinch the crown.
Pragg was bottom of the standings with six points after six rounds before his comeback.
He won four consecutive classical games , including a second victory over world No.
His mother Nagalakshmi called him before Round 7 , telling him 'it is a new month, you will play well' — a prediction he credited after the win.
The victory adds to India's recent chess milestones, following D Gukesh's World Championship title in 2024.
R Praggnanandhaa on Friday became the first Indian to win the Norway Chess title, completing one of the most remarkable comebacks in the tournament's history after defeating Germany's Vincent Keymer in the final round at Stavanger, Norway. The 20-year-old Chennai Grandmaster clinched the crown having been bottom of the standings just days earlier.
From the Bottom to the Top
Pragg's tournament had a turbulent start. Despite beating world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in Round 3, he was inconsistent across the first half of the six-player event, sitting last with six points after six rounds. A resurgence seemed far from certain.
The turnaround began before his Round 7 match against Alireza Firouzja, when his mother Nagalakshmi called him. What followed was extraordinary — Praggnanandhaa won four consecutive classical games, including a second victory over Carlsen, before sealing the title against Keymer.
The Mother's Prediction
'She told me, it is a new month, you will play well,' Praggnanandhaa recalled after the final. 'I said, ok, it is one of those things that mom says — and then I win four games straight. I think mom knows something,' he said with a smile.
It is a detail that underlines the human dimension behind elite chess: even at the highest level, a parent's reassurance can shift a player's mindset at a critical moment.
How He Turned It Around
Reflecting on the tactical shift that drove the comeback, Praggnanandhaa pointed to a conscious decision to play with greater tempo and control. 'I decided that I will play a little faster than I was doing. In every game, I had time advantage and was able to make decent quality moves,' he said.
He also described the nerve-wracking final moments against Keymer. 'A few moves before the end I knew I was going to win. But I also wanted to make sure — I just could not think of anything once I played knight e6; I was just moving with my hand. It was only after he resigned that I relaxed,' Praggnanandhaa admitted.
What the Victory Means
Norway Chess is one of the most prestigious elite events on the global circuit, regularly featuring the world's top-ranked players. Winning it — particularly in a field that includes Carlsen on his home turf — carries enormous symbolic weight. This is the first time an Indian player has lifted the trophy in the tournament's history.
Notably, this victory adds to a growing list of landmark results for Indian chess: D Gukesh became World Chess Champion in late 2024, and India claimed the Chess Olympiad team gold. Praggnanandhaa's Norway Chess title reinforces India's emergence as the dominant force in global chess.
'Whenever you win any tournament, you are happy. And to win this tournament when Magnus is playing is really special. And then to win this way, it's more than special. I am just super happy,' Praggnanandhaa said.
With the title secured, all eyes will now be on whether the Chennai Grandmaster can carry this form into the upcoming elite calendar, including the FIDE Grand Swiss and the Candidates cycle.
Point of View
On the Norwegian's home circuit, while recovering from last place. The chess establishment has long treated Norway Chess as Carlsen's fiefdom; an Indian winning it in this fashion resets expectations. The question now is whether Pragg can convert this momentum into a Candidates berth and sustain it — or whether, like some previous breakthrough performances, this remains an isolated peak rather than a new baseline.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Norway Chess 2025?
R Praggnanandhaa of India won Norway Chess 2025, defeating Germany's Vincent Keymer in the final round at Stavanger. He became the first Indian player to win the tournament in its history.
How did Praggnanandhaa mount his comeback at Norway Chess?
Praggnanandhaa was last in the six-player field with six points after six rounds. Starting from Round 7, he won four consecutive classical games, including a second victory over world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, to overtake the field and clinch the title.
What role did Praggnanandhaa's mother play in his Norway Chess win?
His mother Nagalakshmi called him before his Round 7 match against Alireza Firouzja and told him 'it is a new month, you will play well.' Praggnanandhaa credited this as the spark behind his four-game winning streak, saying 'I think mom knows something.'
Did Praggnanandhaa beat Magnus Carlsen at Norway Chess 2025?
Yes, Praggnanandhaa defeated Magnus Carlsen twice during the tournament — once in Round 3 and again during his four-game winning run in the second half. Carlsen is the world No. 1 and the event's most prominent figure.
Why is Praggnanandhaa's Norway Chess title historically significant?
It is the first time an Indian player has won the Norway Chess title. The win comes shortly after D Gukesh became World Chess Champion in 2024 and India won the Chess Olympiad team gold, marking a broader shift in global chess dominance toward India.
