Norway Chess: Pragg obtains first-ever classical win over Carlsen

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
5/30/2024 – R Praggnanandhaa defeated Magnus Carlsen in a classical game for the first time in his career in round 3 of the Norway Chess super-tournament. The victory allowed Pragg to become the sole leader in Stavanger. Standing in second place is Fabiano Caruana, who beat Ding Liren in their classical encounter. Hikaru Nakamura stands in third place after getting the better of Alireza Firouzja in Armageddon. | Photo: Stev Bonhage / Norway Chess
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One to remember

May 29 is a landmark date for R Praggnanandhaa. Besides it being the birthday of his friend and fellow prodigy D Gukesh — and, coincidentally, that of Tan Zhongyi — it marks the date in which the youngster obtained his International Master title (2016) and the date in which he collected his first-ever classical win over Magnus Carlsen (2024).

Pragg defeated Carlsen with white in round 3 of the Norway Chess tournament to collect 3 points and grab the sole lead in the standings. The Indian GM saw his famed opponent playing a risky Sicilian and losing the thread in the early middlegame. Precise play by the youngster in the ensuing struggle allowed him to emerge victorious in the 37-move encounter.

Hikaru Nakamura, who grabbed 1½ points on Wednesday after beating Alireza Firouzja in Armageddon, reflected on the fact that Carlsen apparently plays more riskily when facing younger opponents. The 5-time US champion had this to say in the confessional booth:

When Magnus is playing the younger kids specifically, he wants to sort of prove a point — he wants to go after them and try to beat them, and he takes far more risks than he does against us old folks.

Carlsen, who came from winning two Armageddon tiebreakers in the first two rounds, fell from the sole lead to fifth place. On the other hand, Fabiano Caruana, who suffered a painful loss on Tuesday, bounced back with a classical win over Ding Liren, which allowed him to climb to sole second place in the standings. Caruana surprised the world champion in the opening, got a major time advantage and swiftly converted his edge into a 31-move victory.

Thursday’s fourth round, the last one before the first rest day, will see the following clashes: Caruana v. Carlsen, Nakamura v. Pragg and Firouzja v. Ding.

Fabiano Caruana, Ding Liren

Fabiano Caruana climbed to second place after beating Ding Liren in their classical encounter | Photo: Stev Bonhage

Praggnanandhaa 1 - 0 Carlsen

Praggnanandhaa R27471–0Carlsen, Magnus2830
Norway Chess 2024
Stavanger29.05.2024[CC]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Qc7 6.0-0 Nf6 7.Qe2 d6 8.c4 Nbd7 9.Nc3 Ne5 10.h3 b6 11.f4 Nxd3 12.Qxd3 Bb7 A risky choice by Carlsen, who already entered quite the double-edged system. 12...Be7 13.b3 0-0 was the more conservative alternative, castling short to safeguard the king. 13.f5 Qd7
Inviting danger. Carlsen uses another move that does not lead to him castling - White has a strong initiative, while Black intends to survive a potential attack and emerge with the bishop pair in the endgame. 13...e5 14.Nde2 Rc8 15.b3 was more sound positionally. 14.Bg5 Be7 15.Rad1 Rc8 Again choosing not to castle. Carlsen has decided to live dangerously. 15...0-0 16.Qe2 h6 17.Bh4 e5 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Nc2 with a positional edge for White. 16.Qe2 e5 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Nc2 Qc6 No castling today for Carlsen - he continues to look for counterplay, but White has everything under control. 18...0-0 19.Ne3 is not very inspiring for Black, anyway. 19.Ne3 Bg5 20.Kh1 Bxe3 21.Qxe3 f6 21...Qxc4 fails to 22.f6 permanently weakening Black's kingside. 22.b3 b5 23.Nd5
23...Qc5 24.Qf3 Having placed the king on h1 makes perfect sense for White now, as he was not forced to trade queens by Black's previous move. bxc4 25.Qh5+ Kf8 Castling is now out of the question. Black is in deep trouble. Pragg went on to show great technique to convert his advantage into a win. 26.Rf3 Bxd5 27.Rxd5
27...Qb6 28.bxc4 Rxc4 29.Rb3 Rb4 30.Rdd3 Rxb3 31.Rxb3 Qc7 Black is a pawn up, but he is playing "a rook down" and White can quickly create threats with his pair of major pieces. 32.Qd1 g6 33.Qb1 Qc5 34.Rb7 gxf5 35.Kh2 Very precise! Preventing potential perpetual checks. 35.Qb3 Qc1+ 36.Kh2 Qf4+ and White cannot escape the checks without making major concessions. 35...Rg8 36.Qb3 d5 37.Rxh7
A remarkable showing by the Indian prodigy! 1–0

Magnus Carlsen

It was a tough day at the office for Magnus Carlsen | Photo: Stev Bonhage

Expert analysis by GM Daniel King

Expert analysis by IM Robert Ris

Standings after round 3

Rk Name FED Rtg Pts
1 R Praggnanandhaa IND 2747 5.5
2 Fabiano Caruana USA 2805 5
3 Hikaru Nakamura USA 2794 4
4 Alireza Firouzja FRA 2737 3.5
5 Magnus Carlsen NOR 2830 3
6 Ding Liren CHN 2762 2.5

All games - Classical

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1.d4 5 Nf6 2 2.c4 7 e6 7 3.Nf3 4 d5 6 4.g3 6 Be7 14:53 5.Bg2 9 0-0 10 6.0-0 4 c6 8 7.Qc2 12:51 b6 12 8.Bf4 28 Bb7 3:51 9.Rd1 1:47 Nbd7 2:14 10.Ne5 1:53 Nh5 1:41 11.Bd2 29 Nhf6 17 12.Bf4 17 The position is equal. Nh5 26 13.Bd2 2:15 Nhf6 8 14.Bf4 1:52 Not much happened in this game. Weighted Error Value: White=0.02 (flawless) /Black=0.00 (flawless) . OK: White=1 Black=1 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Ding,L2762Carlsen,M2830½–½2024E08Norway Chess 20241.1
Praggnanandhaa R2747Firouzja,A2738½–½2024E04Norway Chess 20241.2
Caruana,F2805Nakamura,H2795½–½2024C54Norway Chess 20241.3
Carlsen,M2830Nakamura,H2795½–½2024C64Norway Chess 20242.1
Firouzja,A2738Caruana,F2805½–½2024D02Norway Chess 20242.2
Ding,L2762Praggnanandhaa R2747½–½2024A20Norway Chess 20242.3
Praggnanandhaa R2747Carlsen,M28301–02024B42Norway Chess 20243.1
Caruana,F2805Ding,L27621–02024C54Norway Chess 20243.2
Nakamura,H2795Firouzja,A2738½–½2024D33Norway Chess 20243.3
Caruana,F2805Carlsen,M28300–12024C54Norway Chess 20244.1
Nakamura,H2795Praggnanandhaa R27471–02024E46Norway Chess 20244.2
Firouzja,A2738Ding,L27621–02024D02Norway Chess 20244.3
Carlsen,M2830Firouzja,A27381–02024C67Norway Chess 20245.1
Ding,L2762Nakamura,H27950–12024A34Norway Chess 20245.2
Praggnanandhaa R2747Caruana,F28051–02024E05Norway Chess 20245.3
Carlsen,M2830Ding,L27621–02024A13Norway Chess 20246.1
Firouzja,A2738Praggnanandhaa R2747½–½2024D25Norway Chess 20246.2
Nakamura,H2795Caruana,F2805½–½2024E45Norway Chess 20246.3
Nakamura,H2795Carlsen,M2830½–½2024E25Norway Chess 20247.1
Caruana,F2805Firouzja,A2738½–½2024C54Norway Chess 20247.2
Praggnanandhaa R2747Ding,L2762½–½2024C54Norway Chess 20247.3
Carlsen,M2830Praggnanandhaa R2747½–½2024C81Norway Chess 20248.1
Ding,L2762Caruana,F2805½–½2024E61Norway Chess 20248.2
Firouzja,A2738Nakamura,H2795½–½2024C54Norway Chess 20248.3
Firouzja,A2738Carlsen,M2830½–½2024C54Norway Chess 20249.1
Nakamura,H2795Ding,L2762½–½2024E51Norway Chess 20249.2
Caruana,F2805Praggnanandhaa R2747½–½2024E48Norway Chess 20249.3
Carlsen,M2830Caruana,F2805½–½2024C77Norway Chess 202410.1
Praggnanandhaa R2747Nakamura,H2795½–½2024C70Norway Chess 202410.2
Ding,L2762Firouzja,A2738½–½2024E04Norway Chess 202410.3

All games - Armageddon

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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Bb5+ B56: Classical Sicilian: Unusual Lines. Nbd7 7.Nf5 a6 8.Be2 Nc5 9.Ng3 9.Bg5!? 9...b5 10.a3 10.b4 Ne6 11.a4 10...Be7= 11.0-0 0-0 12.Be3N Predecessor: 12.f4 Bb7 13.Bf3 Ne6 14.Nge2 Qb6+ 15.Kh1 Rac8 16.f5 Nc5 17.Be3 b4 18.axb4 Qxb4 ½-½ Mahsheimer,A-Varas,L Villa Gesell Madariaga 5th 1970 (7.3) 12...Bb7 13.Bf3 g6 14.Qd2 h5 15.Bh6 Re8 16.Rfe1 Ne6 17.Rad1 Nd4 17...Nh7 18.Nf5= Nxf5 18...gxf5 19.Qg5+ Kh8 20.Qg7# 19.exf5 Bxf3 20.gxf3 Qc8 21.fxg6 fxg6 22.Bg5 Qf5 23.Bxf6 Qxf6 24.Nd5 Qxf3 25.Re3 Qf7! 26.Rg3 Bh4 27.Rg2 27.Rh3= Bd8 28.Nc3 27...Kh7 28.Nc3 e4 29.Qe2 29.Qe3 29...Qf3 30.Rxd6 Rad8! 31.Rxd8 31.Rgxg6? Rxd6 32.Rg3 Bxg3 32...Qxe2? 33.Nxe2 Bxg3 34.Nxg3-+ 33.hxg3 Qxe2 34.Nxe2 Rd1+ 35.Kg2 Rd2-+ 31.Rdxg6? Qxe2 32.Kh1 Qxc2-+ 31.Qd2 was worth a try. e3 32.fxe3 31...Rxd8-+ 31...Bxd8 32.Qe3 32.Kf1?
32.h3 32...Qf4? 32...a5!-+ has better winning chances. 33.Rg3 33.Nxe4? Rd1+-+ 33...Bxg3 34.Qxf3 exf3 35.fxg3 Rd2 36.Nxb5 Rxc2 33.Qe3 33.Qxe4? Rd1+ 34.Ke2 Rd2+ 35.Ke1 Bxf2+ 36.Kf1 Rd1+ 37.Nxd1 Qxe4-+ 33...Qf3 33...Qxe3 34.fxe3 Bf6 35.Nxe4 Bxb2 34.h3 34.Qxe4? perishes. Rd1+ 35.Nxd1 Qxe4-+ 34.Qe2!= was the only way to keep the balance. 34...Rd6 35.Rg1?      
35.Qa7+ Kh6 36.Qe3+ Qxe3 37.fxe3 35...a5!-+ 36.b4 axb4 37.axb4 Bf6? 37...Kg7-+ Strongly threatening ...Ra6. 38.Qxf3 exf3 38.Qxe4?       38.Rg3= Qh1+ 39.Rg1 38...Rd1+ Inferior is 38...Qxc3 39.Qxg6+ Kh8 40.Qxh5# 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Caruana,F2805Nakamura,H27950–12024B56Norway Chess Armageddon 20241.1
Ding,L2762Carlsen,M2830½–½2024A20Norway Chess Armageddon 20241.1
Praggnanandhaa R2747Firouzja,A27381–02024D02Norway Chess Armageddon 20241.1
Carlsen,M2830Nakamura,H27951–02024C70Norway Chess Armageddon 20242.1
Ding,L2762Praggnanandhaa R27471–02024A13Norway Chess Armageddon 20242.1
Firouzja,A2738Caruana,F28051–02024A06Norway Chess Armageddon 20242.1
Nakamura,H2795Firouzja,A27381–02024D12Norway Chess Armageddon 20243.1
Nakamura,H2795Caruana,F28050–12024E45Norway Chess Armageddon 20246.1
Firouzja,A2738Praggnanandhaa R27471–02024E11Norway Chess Armageddon 20246.1
Caruana,F2805Firouzja,A2738½–½2024C54Norway Chess Armageddon 20247.1
Nakamura,H2795Carlsen,M28301–02024D35Norway Chess Armageddon 20247.1
Praggnanandhaa R2747Ding,L27621–02024D00Norway Chess Armageddon 20247.1
Carlsen,M2830Praggnanandhaa R27471–02024D00Norway Chess Armageddon 20248.1
Ding,L2762Caruana,F2805½–½2024A14Norway Chess Armageddon 20248.1
Firouzja,A2738Nakamura,H27951–02024C54Norway Chess Armageddon 20248.1
Caruana,F2805Praggnanandhaa R27471–02024E36Norway Chess Armageddon 20249.1
Nakamura,H2795Ding,L27620–12024A17Norway Chess Armageddon 20249.1
Firouzja,A2738Carlsen,M28300–12024C54Norway Chess Armageddon 20249.1
Carlsen,M2830Caruana,F28051–02024E12Norway Chess Armageddon 202410.1
Ding,L2762Firouzja,A27380–12024A48Norway Chess Armageddon 202410.1
Praggnanandhaa R2747Nakamura,H27951–02024D02Norway Chess Armageddon 202410.1

The Ruy Lopez is one of the oldest openings which continues to enjoy high popularity from club level to the absolute world top. In this video series, American super GM Fabiano Caruana, talking to IM Oliver Reeh, presents a complete repertoire for White.

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Carlos Colodro is a Hispanic Philologist from Bolivia. He works as a freelance translator and writer since 2012. A lot of his work is done in chess-related texts, as the game is one of his biggest interests, along with literature and music.
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