R Praggnanandhaa Creates History, Wins Norway Chess and Rs 70.5 Lakh Prize
R Praggnanandhaa etched his name into Indian chess history by becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious Norway Chess title. The 20-year-old Grandmaster produced a sensational comeback in the final round to clinch one of the sport’s most coveted crowns.
Going into the final day, Praggnanandhaa faced an uphill task. American Grandmaster Wesley So led the standings with 15.5 points, while the Indian prodigy was half a point behind on 15. To emerge champion, Praggnanandhaa needed to defeat Germany’s Vincent Keymer and hope that So failed to secure maximum points against France’s Alireza Firouzja.
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The results unfolded perfectly for the Chennai-born star.
Praggnanandhaa defeated Keymer in a gripping encounter featuring the Queen’s Gambit Declined. He gradually tightened his grip on the game before launching a decisive kingside attack. Aggressive moves such as 33.f5 and 38.Ne6+ exposed Keymer’s king and paved the way for a winning rook endgame.
Meanwhile, Wesley So and Firouzja settled for a classical draw, a result that handed Praggnanandhaa the title without the need for an Armageddon playoff.
Prize Money Breakdown
For his historic triumph, Praggnanandhaa earned 700,000 Norwegian Kroner, which converts to approximately Rs 70.5 lakh.
The total prize pool stood at 1.69 million NOK. The distribution was as follows:
1st: 700,000 NOK
2nd: 350,000 NOK
3rd: 200,000 NOK
4th: 170,000 NOK
5th: 150,000 NOK
6th: 120,000 NOK
The victory marks another milestone in India’s rise as a global chess powerhouse, with Praggnanandhaa further establishing himself among the world’s elite players.
