Norway Chess 2024: Indian Grandmasters Praggnanandhaa, Vaishali Set To Headline In Landmark Tournament

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Stavanger (Norway), May 13: The upcoming 12th edition of the renowned Norway Chess tournament, scheduled from May 27 to June 7 at SR-Bank's main building in Stavanger, Norway, promises an exhilarating display of chess prowess.

Indian Grandmasters Koneru Humpy, Vaishali Rameshbabu, and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu are all geared up to participate in this prestigious event, alongside eminent players like World No.1 Magnus Carlsen, World No.3 Hikaru Nakamura, and Women's World Champion Ju Wenjun.

What Is Norway Chess?

Norway Chess stands as one of the world's foremost chess tournaments, renowned for its innovation and professionalism. Since its inception in 2013, Norway Chess has been instrumental in popularising chess globally, earning the moniker 'Wimbledon of Chess'. Through its commitment to accessibility and global broadcasting, Norway Chess continues to elevate the stature of chess as a sport for all.

Often dubbed as the 'Wimbledon of Chess', Norway Chess has long been a platform for the world's top Grandmasters, yet it has witnessed a lesser representation of female players.

In a groundbreaking move towards gender equality, this year's edition introduces the world's first-ever equal female tournament, running parallel to the main event. The Norway Chess Women's Tournament, boasting an identical format and prize fund, aims to provide female chess players with equitable opportunities and recognition.

Making their debut in Norway Chess, the brother-sister duo of Praggnanandhaa and Vaishali symbolize India's rising stature in the chess world. Praggnanandhaa, the winner of the 2022 Norway Chess International Open Tournament, brings his formidable skills to the tournament.

Female Players From India in Norway Chess

While Vaishali, Praggnanandhaa's elder sister - who recently bagged the title of a grandmaster and the third Indian woman to do so - adds a fresh dynamic to the Women's Tournament.

Noteworthy is the presence of Koneru Humpy, India's No.1 woman chess player and the current World No.2 in the women's category. With her impressive track record, including a victory in the FIDE Women's rapid chess championship in 2019, Humpy is poised to make a significant impact in the inaugural Norway Chess Women's Tournament.

Viswanathan Anand at Norway Chess 2024

Five-time world champion and Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand commended Norway Chess for its innovative approach towards promoting the women's game. He praises their commitment to making chess more accessible and spectator-friendly, underscoring the significance of equal prize funds for women.

Speaking about the inaugural Norway Chess Women's Tournament, Anand, who has competed in the Norway Chess in the past said, "Norway Chess are focused on making the game more spectator-friendly and accessible. They experiment a lot with the format and time controls. They are very innovative in this area.

"I welcome their attempt to help popularise the women's game by having an equal prize fund for the women this year. Always a tournament to look forward to both as a spectator and as a participant," the legendary India GM added further.

Benedicte Westre Skog, Co-owner and Project Manager of Norway Chess, expresses excitement over the participation of Indian Grandmasters, acknowledging India's burgeoning chess talent and the country's pivotal role in the global chess community.

The tournament, featuring a stellar lineup of players from around the world, promises intense competition and strategic brilliance. With a format of Double Round Robin and a unique scoring system, Norway Chess 2024 is poised to captivate chess enthusiasts worldwide.

Here's the comprehensive roster of participants for Norway Chess 2024:

Men's Category

1. Magnus Carlsen (Norway) - World No. 1 (2830)
2. Fabiano Caruana (USA) - World No. 2 (2804)
3. Hikaru Nakamura (USA) - World No. 3 (2788)
4. World Champion Ding Liren (China) - World No. 4 (2776)
5. Alireza Firouzja (France) - World No. 6 (2765)
6. Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu (India) - World No. 11 (2748)

Women's Category Participants at Norway Chess 2024

1. Koneru Humpy (India) - World No. 2 among women (2554)
2. Lei Tingjie (China) - World No. 4 among women (2550)
3. Women's World Champion Ju Wenjun (China) - World No. 5 among women (2547)
4. Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine) - World No. 7 among women (2525)
5. Vaishali Rameshbabu (India) - World No. 14 among women (2481)
6. Pia Cramling (Sweden) - World No. 31 among women (2437)

Norway Chess 2024 Format and Scoring Information

• Format: Double Round Robin
• Time Control: 120 minutes with a 10-second increment after move 40. In Armageddon, White receives 10 minutes, Black 7. After move 41, there is a 1-second increment.
• Scoring: 3 points for a classical win, 1.5 for an Armageddon win, and 1 for an Armageddon loss.