Norway Chess: Praggnanandhaa beats Carlsen again; Gukesh, Divya slip in Rd 8
Synopsis
Praggnanandhaa has done it again — and this time with Black. By beating Magnus Carlsen twice in the same Norway Chess, the 20-year-old has joined Viswanathan Anand in a club of one. With Gukesh stumbling to Firouzja and Wesley So clinging to the lead on 14, Oslo has turned into a genuine three-way title race.
Key Takeaways
Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu beat Magnus Carlsen with Black in Round 8 of Norway Chess 2026 on 3 June .
He became only the second player after Viswanathan Anand to beat Carlsen twice in the same tournament.
Alireza Firouzja defeated World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju in a tense classical endgame.
Wesley So leads the open section with 14 points , ahead of Firouzja (13) and Praggnanandhaa (12).
Bibisara Assaubayeva leads the Women's section with 15.5 points after beating Divya Deshmukh .
Humpy Koneru won her Armageddon tiebreak against Anna Muzychuk with Black.
Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu stunned Magnus Carlsen for the second time at Norway Chess 2026 on 3 June in Oslo, recording a classical win with the Black pieces to ignite the title race after Round 8. The day also delivered two decisive classical games and a high-stakes Armageddon, with leader Wesley So holding on at the top.
Praggnanandhaa joins elite company
The 20-year-old Indian Grandmaster, who had earlier beaten Carlsen with White, repeated the feat with Black in Round 8. With the win, Praggnanandhaa became only the second player after Viswanathan Anand to defeat Carlsen twice in the same tournament, and joined a select group to have beaten the five-time World Champion thrice in classical chess.
Firouzja stings Gukesh
Alireza Firouzja handed World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju a painful classical defeat, navigating a tense endgame under mutual time pressure with the White pieces. The win pulled Firouzja within a single point of leader Wesley So and reopened the chase at the top.
So holds top spot via Armageddon
The classical encounter between Wesley So and Vincent Keymer ended in a draw, but So edged the Armageddon to bank crucial extra points. After Round 8, So leads with 14 points, Firouzja is second on 13, and Praggnanandhaa stays in contention with 12.
Assaubayeva extends Women's lead; Divya falls
In the Women's section, Bibisara Assaubayeva tightened her grip with a classical win over India's Divya Deshmukh, capitalising as her opponent's clock dwindled. Zhu Jiner stunned reigning Women's World Champion Ju Wenjun in another decisive classical game, converting a steady endgame edge.
Humpy edges Muzychuk in Armageddon
Humpy Koneru and Anna Muzychuk drew their classical game before Humpy triumphed in a closely fought Armageddon with the Black pieces. After Round 8, Assaubayeva leads with 15.5 points, Muzychuk is on 10.5, and Divya Deshmukh and Zhu Jiner are tied on 10.
What lies ahead
With only a handful of rounds left in Oslo, the open section has narrowed into a three-way contest between So, Firouzja and Praggnanandhaa, while the Women's race remains Assaubayeva's to lose. Gukesh and Divya will both need decisive results to climb back into title contention.
Point of View
And the Anand comparison is now earned rather than aspirational. The harder question is for Gukesh: a World Champion losing ground to Firouzja in the same week his compatriot beats Carlsen twice signals that India's chess depth is racing ahead of any single crown. The Women's story is quieter but just as telling — Assaubayeva's dominance exposes how thin the margin remains between Divya's promise and consistent conversion.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Praggnanandhaa beat Magnus Carlsen in Round 8 of Norway Chess 2026?
Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu defeated Magnus Carlsen with the Black pieces in the classical Round 8 game on 3 June 2026 in Oslo. It was his second classical win over Carlsen in the same tournament, having earlier beaten him with White.
Who leads Norway Chess 2026 after Round 8?
Wesley So leads the open section with 14 points after Round 8. Alireza Firouzja is second with 13 points and Praggnanandhaa is third on 12 points.
What happened in the Gukesh vs Firouzja game?
Alireza Firouzja, playing White, beat World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju in a tense classical endgame played under mutual time pressure. The win brought Firouzja within one point of leader Wesley So.
How is Divya Deshmukh placed in the Women's section?
Divya Deshmukh lost her Round 8 classical game to leader Bibisara Assaubayeva and is now tied with Zhu Jiner on 10 points. Assaubayeva leads the Women's standings with 15.5 points.
Why is Praggnanandhaa's win historically significant?
He became only the second player after Viswanathan Anand to defeat Magnus Carlsen twice in the same tournament. He also joined an elite group of players who have beaten the five-time World Champion three times in classical chess.
