Norway Chess 2024: Vaishali defeats Cramling in round 4, continues dominant run; Praggnanandhaa loses to Nakamura after win over Carlsen

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Stavanger (Norway), May 31: In an impressive display of skill and determination, Indian Grandmaster R Vaishali continued her remarkable run in the ongoing Norway Chess tournament 2024, securing a significant victory against the seasoned GM Pia Cramling of Sweden.

Meanwhile, her brother, GM R Praggnanandhaa, put up a valiant fight but ultimately succumbed to Hikaru Nakamura of the USA in the fourth round of the event held in Stavanger on Thursday (May 30). May 31 is a rest day in the competition.

Norway Chess 2024: Vaishali stays in a commanding position

Vaishali's victory has propelled her to a commanding lead, amassing 8.5 points, which places her 2.5 points ahead of her nearest rival, the women's world champion Ju Wenjun of China.

This win marks Vaishali's second triumph under classical time control, underscoring her exceptional form in this prestigious tournament. Her success was secured after outmaneuvering Cramling in a drawn rook and pawns endgame, eventually capitalizing on a critical mistake by her opponent. The game, lasting 54 moves, showcased Vaishali's strategic prowess and perseverance.

Praggnanandhaa suffers defeat after historic win over Magnus Carlsen

In the men's section, Praggnanandhaa faced a challenging encounter against Nakamura. Despite his earlier success in the 2023 World Cup where he eliminated Nakamura, Praggnanandhaa couldn't replicate the result in this round.

A single error in the opening phase of the game turned the tide against him, allowing Nakamura to seize the advantage and secure a victory after 86 moves. With this result, Nakamura surged to the top of the leaderboard with seven points, while Praggnanandhaa slipped from first to fourth place, now holding 5.5 points.

Koneru Humpy loses to Anna Muzychuk

The tournament has seen intense competition in both the men's and women's sections. Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine celebrated her first win in the tournament by defeating Koneru Humpy of India, while Ju Wenjun overcame her compatriot Tingjie Lei in the Armageddon phase. As the double round-robin tournament progresses, Lei stands fourth with five points, followed by Humpy and Cramling with three points each.

Magnus Carlsen beats Fabiano Caruana

On the men's side, the competition remains fierce. World number one Magnus Carlsen showcased his mastery by defeating arch-rival Fabiano Caruana of the USA. Carlsen's victory was a classic demonstration of his endgame skills, capitalizing on a mistake by Caruana in a Queen and pawns endgame.

Meanwhile, Alireza Firouzja of France emerged victorious against reigning world champion Ding Liren of China. This result positioned Firouzja in second place with 6.5 points, just half a point behind Nakamura.

Norway Chess 2024 Results Round 4

Men:

• Hikaru Nakamura (USA, 7) beat R Praggnanandhaa (IND, 5.5) 3-0
• Fabiano Caruana (USA, 5) lost to Magnus Carlsen (NOR, 6) 0-3
• Firouzja Alireza (FRA, 6.5) beat Ding Liren (CHN, 2.5) 3-0

Women:

• Pia Cramling (SWE, 3) lost to R Vaishali (IND, 8.5)
• Tingjie Lei (CHN, 5) lost to Wenjun Ju (CHN, 6)
• Anna Muzychuk (UKR, 6) beat Koneru Humpy (IND, 3)

As the tournament progresses, the $161,000 prize money adds to the stakes, promising more thrilling encounters in the rounds ahead. The current standings reflect the high level of competition, with Nakamura leading the men's section, followed closely by Praggnanandhaa, Firouzja and Carlsen. In the women's section, Vaishali's stellar performance keeps her at the forefront, with Ju Wenjun and Muzychuk trailing behind.