Norway Chess 2024: Praggnanandhaa Beats Carlsen For The First Time In Classical Format; Vaishali Continues Lead In Women's Category

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Stavanger (Norway), May 30: Indian prodigy R Praggnanandhaa stunned the chess world by defeating World Champion Magnus Carlsen in the classical format for the first time in his career in the ongoing Norway Chess Tournament 2024.

This dominant victory at the prestigious competition also hailed as the 'Wimbledon of Chess' propelled the 18-year-old Indian Grandmaster to the top of the leaderboard. Meanwhile, his sibling Vaishali Rameshbabu picked up yet another win and continued her dominance in the women's category.

Norway Chess 2024: How Praggnanandhaa Triumphed Over Carlsen

While Praggnanandhaa had previously bested Carlsen in online and faster chess variations, the classical format remained unconquered. This third-round win shattered that barrier, showcasing Praggnanandhaa's classical chess prowess. He now leads the tournament with 5.5 points, half a point ahead of Fabiano Caruana (USA) who also secured his first classical win against Ding Liren (China).

Carlsen Struggles, Others Vie for Position

Carlsen, the current World Champion, finds himself in a surprising third place with three points. However, with each classical win worth three points, the standings remain fluid. Hikaru Nakamura (USA), Alireza Firouzja (France), and Ding Liren are currently tied for fourth with 2.5 points each in this six-player double round-robin competition.

A Sicilian Surprise from Praggnanandhaa

The decisive game between Praggnanandhaa and Carlsen saw the young Indian exploit a Sicilian Kann opening, an uncommon choice at the elite level. Praggnanandhaa's superior space control from the outset translated into a strategic advantage. After manoeuvring the middlegame skillfully and eliminating minor pieces, Praggnanandhaa exposed Carlsen's vulnerable king, ultimately forcing a checkmate in just 37 moves.

Norway Chess 2024: Vaishali Maintains Lead in Women's Section

Praggnanandhaa's elder sister, R Vaishali, mirrored her brother's success by retaining her sole lead in the women's section. She defeated Anna Muzychuk (Norway) in the Armageddon game after a drawn classical match, extending her lead to 5.5 points. Following closely is Women's World Champion Wenjun Ju (China) with 4.5 points.