Eight decisive results in ten classical games

Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu won the fourteenth edition of the Norway Chess super-tournament after defeating Vincent Keymer with the white pieces in their final-round classical encounter. The 20-year-old from Chennai entered the last day half a point behind Wesley So, but a classical win over Keymer allowed him to overtake the US grandmaster and claim outright victory in Oslo.

Pragg's finish was the decisive feature of the event. After losing two classical games in a row in rounds five and six, he responded with four consecutive classical victories from rounds seven to ten. His run included wins over Alireza Firouzja, Gukesh Dommaraju, Magnus Carlsen and now Keymer, while he remarkably had also defeated Carlsen in their first classical encounter earlier in the tournament.

How to attack - principles of training

Most players prefer to attack rather than defend. But what is the correct way to do it? GM Dr Karsten Müller has compiled many rules and motifs to guide you, along with sharpening your intuition for the exceptions.

So began the final round as the sole leader and faced Alireza Firouzja with the black pieces. Their classical game was drawn, and So went on to win the Armageddon decider.

Pragg drew only two of his ten classical games in the Norwegian capital. His uncompromising score brought him 15.2 rating points and lifted him to 11^th place on the live rating list. The victory also marked a strong response to his difficult Candidates Tournament campaign, where he finished in a share of sixth place with 6/14 points.

After the tournament, Pragg said he did not want to focus on the next Candidates cycle for now, preferring instead to enjoy his games.

Pragg's last major tournament victory had come in June 2025, when he won the UzChess Cup ahead of a field that included Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov, among others. That result completed a strong first half of 2025 for Pragg, who also won the Tata Steel Masters and the Superbet Chess Classic. The second half of the year was less successful, though he still tied for first with So at the Sinquefield Cup before losing the playoff, and also shared first place at the London Chess Classic Open, where he was the clear rating favourite.

Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu taking a stroll at the Deichman Bjorvika Public Library in Oslo | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

The ever-humble Pragg giving a laid-back interview | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Fritz 21

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Time to indulge the fans! | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Firouzja finished third in Oslo after playing the event with an injured ankle. The French representative had led during the first half of the tournament, but consecutive losses in rounds six and seven allowed So to take over, before Pragg's late decided the final standings.

Magnus Carlsen climbed to fourth place by defeating world champion Gukesh with the white pieces in their final-round classical game. It was a disappointing event for the Norwegian, who lost four classical games, won three and drew three in his home tournament.

Gukesh ended the tournament in last place. The reigning world champion lost five classical games, won one and drew four, while winning two of his four Armageddon deciders. His result cost him 14.8 rating points and saw him fall eight places on the live rating list, where he now stands 26^th in the world.

Round 10 results

Final standings

Check out Karsten Müller's Endgame Magic show with Pragg!

Praggnanandhaa 1-0 Keymer

Understanding Middlegame Strategy Vol.14 Reversed Colour Systems – Benoni, Blumenfeld and Benko Gambit

You will learn how Black's dynamic piece activity and structural counterplay more than compensate for White's extra tempo in the colour-reversed setups.
The Benoni family of openings has toppled world champions, decided match games under the highest pressure, and rewarded those brave enough to play them with some of the most electrifying chess imaginable. In this Fritztrainer, Grandmaster Ivan Sokolov -  continuing his successful series "Understanding Middlegame Structures" - takes you deep inside the complexities of the Colour-Reversed Benoni, the Colour-Reversed Benko Gambit, and the Colour-Reversed Blumenfeld Gambit.
Free sample video: Introduction
Free sample video: Colour Reversed Banoni - Game 1

Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu facing Vincent Keymer | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Carlsen 1-0 Gukesh

Master Class Vol.20 - Bent Larsen

In this video course experts examine the games of Bent Larsen. Let them show you which openings Larsen chose, where his strength in middlegames were, how he outplayed his opponents in the endgame & you’ll get a glimpse of his tactical abilities!
Bent Larsen (1935–2010) was the greatest chess player in Danish history, and for a time, the second-strongest player in the Western world behind Bobby Fischer. Between 1954 and 1971, he won the Danish Championship six times, and achieved numerous international tournament victories throughout his career. 
Free video sample: Introduction to Bent Larsen by Peter Heine Nielsen
Free video sample: Introduction to the Opening Section

Two players who underperformed in Oslo - Magnus Carlsen and world champion Gukesh Dommaraju | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Firouzja 0-1 So (Armageddon)

Fritz 21

YOUR PERSONAL CHESS COACH - Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.
FRITZ is more than just a chess engine – it’s a training revolution! Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.

Wesley So finished in second place | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Alireza Firouzja claimed third place | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

All games - Classical

All games - Armageddon

Links

• Official website
• Norway Chess announces move to Oslo for 2026 edition
• Endgame Magic with Praggnanandhaa