Praggnanandhaa Suffers First Defeat as Firouzja Extends Lead; Divya Deshmukh Wins All-Indian Clash at Norway Chess 2026
Round 2 of the prestigious Norway Chess 2026 tournament delivered another day of elite-level battles in Oslo, with Indian stars experiencing mixed fortunes across the open and women’s events.
While teenage sensation Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu suffered his first defeat of the tournament against tournament leader Alireza Firouzja, Divya Deshmukh emerged victorious in an all-Indian showdown against veteran Koneru Humpy in the Norway Chess Women event.
The day once again highlighted the unforgiving nature of one of world chess’s toughest tournaments, where even small inaccuracies are punished at the highest level.
The biggest result of the round came in the open section, where French grandmaster Alireza Firouzja defeated Praggnanandhaa in the only decisive classical game of the day. Firouzja has started the tournament in sensational form. After defeating World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in the opening round, the French star followed it up with another commanding performance against India’s No. 2 player.
The game evolved into a highly complex middlegame struggle, with both players navigating tactical complications and positional imbalances. However, Firouzja gradually increased the pressure as the game progressed and managed to convert his advantage confidently in the later stages. For Praggnanandhaa, it was a disappointing end after a solid start to the tournament where he had defeated Wesley So in Armageddon during Round 1.
The defeat also underlined how little room for error exists at Norway Chess, where every round features world-class opposition capable of punishing even slight positional weaknesses. With back-to-back classical victories, Firouzja has now established himself as the early tournament leader and looks full of confidence heading deeper into the event.
Meanwhile, home favourite Magnus Carlsen was pushed hard once again.
The Norwegian superstar faced German prodigy Vincent Keymer in one of the most anticipated matchups of the round. Carlsen appeared to hold a slight edge for large portions of the classical game and entered the endgame with promising winning chances.
However, Keymer produced an excellent defensive display. The German teenager remained calm under sustained pressure and eventually managed to hold the game to a draw despite operating from an uncomfortable position for much of the encounter.
Under Norway Chess rules, drawn classical games proceed into Armageddon tie-breaks to determine the winner of additional points. This time, Carlsen bounced back strongly and won the Armageddon game to secure the extra points in front of the home crowd.
Although not entirely convincing yet by his usual standards, Carlsen continues to stay within touching distance of the tournament lead.
World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju was involved in another long strategic battle, this time against American grandmaster Wesley So. The classical game remained balanced for long stretches, with both players carefully manoeuvring through a complex positional struggle. Neither player managed to create decisive winning chances, and the encounter eventually ended in a draw.
However, Gukesh could not carry the momentum into the Armageddon tie-break. Wesley So handled the faster format better and secured victory in Armageddon to collect the additional points from the round. For Gukesh, it has been a mixed start to the tournament. The Indian world champion showed excellent resilience in Round 1 by escaping a difficult position against Vincent Keymer before winning Armageddon, but Round 2 brought a tougher outcome.
Still, the tournament remains wide open with several rounds left to play.
The Norway Chess Women tournament also witnessed another intense day of action, with all three classical games ending in draws before being decided through Armageddon. The biggest Indian talking point came in the clash between Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh.
The classical game remained balanced throughout, with neither player able to gain a decisive advantage. But in the Armageddon tie-break, Divya delivered a composed and clinical performance to defeat the vastly experienced Humpy. It was another impressive moment for the young Indian talent, who continues to show maturity and confidence against elite opposition.
The result also highlighted the growing depth in Indian women’s chess, where younger players are increasingly challenging established names on major international stages.
Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva continued her strong run at the top of the standings in Norway Chess Women. After securing a classical victory in Round 1, Assaubayeva once again collected crucial points by defeating China’s Zhu Jiner in Armageddon following a drawn classical game. In the remaining women’s matchup, Anna Muzychuk defeated reigning Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun in Armageddon.
Two rounds into the tournament, Norway Chess 2026 is already living up to its reputation as one of the most entertaining events on the global calendar.
The tournament’s unique format where every drawn classical game is followed by Armageddon continues to produce fighting chess and dramatic finishes almost every round.
For Indian fans, there have already been plenty of positives:
Praggnanandhaa’s opening-round Armageddon win
Gukesh’s resilience under pressure
Divya Deshmukh’s excellent performances
strong Indian representation across both sections
But the biggest takeaway after Round 2 is undoubtedly the incredible form of Alireza Firouzja, who currently looks like the man to beat in Oslo.
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