Norway Chess 2026: Pragg Defeats World Champion Gukesh, Bibisara Assaubayeva Wins Title

by Devansh Singh - 05/06/2026

R Praggnanandhaa defeated World Champion D Gukesh in the penultimate round of Norway Chess 2026. Praggnanandhaa is in a red-hot form as he scored his 3rd consecutive classical victory. In the 7th round, he defeated Alireza Firouzja, in the 8th round, he toppled World No.1 Magnus Carlsen, and now he has defeated the World Champion. With these 3 wins, Praggnanandhaa is just half a point behind Wesley So going into the last round. In the last round, Praggnanandhaa will play against Vincent Keymer with White pieces. Photo: Michal Walusza / Norway Chess

Bibisara Assaubayeva wins with a round to spare

The fight for the title of Women's section is over as Bibisara Assaubayeva won the Norway Chess Women 2026 with a round to spare. Bibisara drew against Anna Muzychuk in the 9th round to win the tournament. This was Bibisara's first appearance at Norway Chess, and she won it in the penultimate round.

Norway Chess Women Champion: Bibisara Assaubayeva | Photo: Michal Walusza / Norway Chess

Check out the final moments and the interview with Bibisara

D Gukesh vs R Praggnanandhaa

The game between Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa was a sharp battle. When both players got paired against each other in the 5th round, it was something similar, but this time, Praggnanandhaa managed to outplay. Gukesh sacrificed a material to get the initiative, but Pragg showed great resilience and defence to win the game.

A heartbreak for the World Champion as he lost his 2nd consecutive classical game of the tournament | Photo: Michal Walusza / Norway Chess

Gukesh played an overambitious 14.g4, which allowed 14...Nb3 to gain a clear advantage

Gukesh vs Praggnanandhaa (0-3) | Photo: Michal Walusza / Norway Chess

Kb1 was Gukesh's final mistake as it allowed exd4, cxd4, followed by d6 to open the Bishop

With this win, Pragg is in 2nd place now | Photo: Michal Walusza / Norway Chess

Alireza Firouzja defeated Vincent Keymer in the Armageddon game | Photo: Michal Walusza / Norway Chess

Wesley So defeated Magnus Carlsen in the Armageddon to keep his lead | Photo: Michal Walusza / Norway Chess

Standings before the last round

Replay the games

Norway Chess Women

Bibisara Assaubayeva drew against Anna Muzychuk in the 9th round to win Norway Chess Women 2026. This was the first time Bibisara participated in Norway Chess, and what a start she got. In another important clash, Divya Deshmukh suffered a loss against Zhu Jiner. Ju Wenjun drew with black pieces in the Armageddon game against Koneru Humpy.

Bibisara Assaubayeva drew against Anna Muzychuk

Zhu Jiner won against Divya Deshmukh

Ju Wenjun drew against Koneru Humpy with black pieces in an armageddon

Standings after 9 rounds

Round 9 results

Pairings

Pairings | Graphic: Norway Chess

Photo Gallery: ChessBase India, Norway Chess

Video Gallery: Here

Bibisara won Norway Chess Women with a round to spare, and Javokhir, who is in Norway to support her, shared his joy after she won this strong tournament. Check out his thoughts!

Q&A with World Championship Challenger Javokhir Sindarov

Live Stream

Check out live stream of this round

Lineup

Men: Magnus Carlsen, Vincent Keymer, Wesley So, Alireza Firouzja, R Praggnanandhaa, and D Gukesh

Women: Zhu Jiner, Koneru Humpy, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Ju Wenjun, Anna Muzychuk, and Divya Deshmukh

Note: Alireza Firouzja was not present at the photoshoot because of his ankle injury | Photos: Michal Walusza / Norway Chess

Watch the opening ceremony of the Norway Chess 2026 as the best chess players in the world assemble for day one.

Venue: Deichman Bjørvika, Oslo!

Photo: Erik Thallaug

Schedule

Timings are 5 pm local time and 8:30 pm IST

Format

6 players will take part in the Tournament. The Tournament is a double-round event with Armageddon in case of a tie. The Tournament consists of 10 rounds. Berger tables will be used for the pairings. Drawing of lots will be done at the Technical Meeting. The default time is 15 minutes.

Time Control

Each player will have 120 minutes on the clock with an increment of 10 seconds starting from move 41. The time control for the Armageddon game: white has 10 minutes, and black has 7 minutes with an increment for both players of 1 second per move, starting from move 41.

Draw by Mutual Agreement

Players are not allowed to agree to a draw until at least 30 moves have been made by each player. This rule does not apply to Armageddon games.

Armageddon

If the classical game is drawn, an Armageddon game will be played. It shall start within 20 minutes of the conclusion of the classical game. The player with White pieces will continue with White in Armageddon. If the Armageddon game is drawn, black will win.