Norway Chess Rd 7: Praggnanandhaa beats Firouzja, Gukesh wins Armageddon
Synopsis
India had a strong Round 7 at Norway Chess 2025 — Praggnanandhaa handed Firouzja his second classical defeat of the tournament while Gukesh claimed his Armageddon. In the women's section, Divya Deshmukh beat Humpy Koneru in Armageddon with the black pieces, closing the gap on leader Assaubayeva. The open standings are now a four-way logjam behind Wesley So.
Key Takeaways
Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu defeated Alireza Firouzja in classical chess in Round 7 of Norway Chess 2025 on 2 June .
World Champion D Gukesh beat Wesley So in the Armageddon decider after their classical game ended in a draw.
Wesley So leads the open standings with 12.5 points ; Carlsen , Keymer , and Praggnanandhaa are all on 9 points .
Divya Deshmukh defeated Humpy Koneru in Armageddon with the black pieces, moving to 10 points in the women's event.
Bibisara Assaubayeva leads Norway Chess Women on 12.5 points after a classical win over Zhu Jiner .
Anna Muzychuk is third in the women's section on 9.5 points after beating Ju Wenjun in Armageddon.
Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu defeated Alireza Firouzja in classical chess and World Champion D Gukesh overcame Wesley So in an Armageddon decider as Round 7 of Norway Chess 2025 in Oslo delivered a strong showing for India on 2 June. The results intensified the title race with the tournament entering its final stretch.
Praggnanandhaa Outclasses Firouzja in Classical
Praggnanandhaa ground down Firouzja in a lengthy classical encounter, converting a positional advantage with composed technique to claim a full three points. The victory is a significant one — it hands Firouzja his second classical defeat of the tournament and tightens the leaderboard considerably. Praggnanandhaa now sits on 9 points, firmly in contention at the top.
Gukesh and Carlsen Secure Armageddon Points
World Champion Gukesh and Wesley So fought to a draw in their classical game before Gukesh claimed the Armageddon tiebreak, collecting the additional points on offer. Meanwhile, World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and Vincent Keymer also split the point in classical play after a hard-fought encounter in which neither side could break through. Carlsen subsequently won his Armageddon game, keeping himself within striking distance of the leaders.
Round 7 Open Standings
Following Round 7, Wesley So leads Norway Chess with 12.5 points. Alireza Firouzja is second on 10 points, while Magnus Carlsen, Vincent Keymer, and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu are all level on 9 points in a tightly bunched chasing pack.
Divya Beats Humpy in Women's Armageddon
In the women's section, Divya Deshmukh and Humpy Koneru drew their classical game before Divya claimed the Armageddon with the black pieces — a notable result that strengthens her position as the closest challenger to the leader. Separately, Bibisara Assaubayeva of Kazakhstan produced the standout result of the day in the women's event, scoring a full classical victory over Zhu Jiner to extend her lead at the top. Assaubayeva took control after a complex middlegame and converted with confidence.
Reigning Women's World Champion Ju Wenjun and Anna Muzychuk drew in classical play, with Muzychuk winning the Armageddon to collect additional points and stay in the hunt near the top of the table.
Women's Standings After Round 7
Bibisara Assaubayeva leads Norway Chess Women on 12.5 points. Divya Deshmukh is second with 10 points, and Anna Muzychuk is third on 9.5 points. With the tournament nearing its conclusion, every Armageddon point could prove decisive.
Point of View
Which is unusual for Norway Chess at this stage. In the women's section, the Divya-Humpy dynamic is worth watching: both are Indian, both are in contention, and Divya's composure with black in Armageddon suggests a player peaking at the right moment. Assaubayeva's lead is real but not comfortable — three rounds of Armageddon swings can close a 2.5-point gap quickly.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in Round 7 of Norway Chess 2025?
In Round 7 on 2 June in Oslo, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu beat Alireza Firouzja in classical chess and Gukesh defeated Wesley So in Armageddon. In the women's section, Divya Deshmukh beat Humpy Koneru in Armageddon and Bibisara Assaubayeva scored a classical win over Zhu Jiner.
Who leads Norway Chess 2025 after Round 7?
Wesley So leads the open section with 12.5 points. Alireza Firouzja is second on 10 points, while Magnus Carlsen, Vincent Keymer, and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu are all on 9 points.
Who leads Norway Chess Women after Round 7?
Bibisara Assaubayeva leads Norway Chess Women with 12.5 points. Divya Deshmukh is second on 10 points and Anna Muzychuk is third on 9.5 points.
How did Divya Deshmukh beat Humpy Koneru?
Divya Deshmukh and Humpy Koneru drew their classical game in Round 7. Divya then won the Armageddon tiebreak with the black pieces, claiming the additional points.
What is the Armageddon format in Norway Chess?
In Norway Chess, when a classical game ends in a draw, the players contest an Armageddon tiebreak — a faster, decisive game where White has more time but Black wins with a draw. The winner earns additional points toward the overall standings.
