- June 6, 2026
Carlsen In Awe As Pragg Shares Secret Behind Stunning Comeback Win At Norway Chess
Last Updated:
Magnus Carlsen described R Praggnanandhaa’s Norway Chess title-winning finish as “pretty insane” after the Indian Grandmaster stormed to a historic victory.
Pragg at Norway Chess (X)
Magnus Carlsen could only shake his head in admiration.
Moments after learning that R Praggnanandhaa had completed a remarkable comeback to win Norway Chess 2026, the former world champion summed up the Indian’s achievement in just a few words.
“That’s pretty insane!”
The 20-year-old Indian Grandmaster became the first player from India to win the prestigious Norway Chess title after defeating Vincent Keymer in the final round on Friday, capping a stunning run of four consecutive classical victories.
What made the triumph even more extraordinary was the quality of opponents Praggnanandhaa defeated during his late surge. Over the course of a week, he beat Alireza Firouzja, Carlsen, reigning world champion D Gukesh and Keymer, who had entered the final round unbeaten in classical chess.
Carlsen Left Stunned
Carlsen, who lost both his classical encounters against Praggnanandhaa during the tournament, admitted he was surprised by the manner in which the title race unfolded.
“That’s pretty insane! That’s as clutch as it gets, and it just shows that it would have been possible for me as well with a similar finish,” Carlsen said after discovering how the Indian had sealed the title.
“But yeah, that’s incredible. It shows you the volatility of the system and he is an incredible fighter and it’s fun to see him get rewarded for that.”
How Pragg Sealed The Comeback Win
Heading into the final round, American Grandmaster Wesley So led the standings by half a point and appeared to have the upper hand. However, So could only draw his classical game against Firouzja before winning in Armageddon, opening the door for Praggnanandhaa.
The equation was simple: beat Keymer and the title was his.
Praggnanandhaa delivered under immense pressure, outplaying the German with the white pieces to secure his fourth straight classical win and complete one of the finest performances of his career.
Pragg’s Secret Of Success
Interestingly, the Indian credited part of his late-tournament resurgence to a conversation with his mother before the seventh round.
“I was speaking to my mother on June 1, before Alireza’s game, and she was telling me, ‘It’s a new month, you’ll play well!’ It’s just one of those things that mum always says,” Praggnanandhaa revealed.
What followed was remarkable. Firouzja, Carlsen, Gukesh and Keymer all fell as Praggnanandhaa produced a flawless 12-point finish from his final four classical games.
About the Author
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His…Read More
Read More
