Round 8 of Norway Chess 2026 proved to be a defining day in Oslo, with two decisive classical victories and one Armageddon showdown reshaping the battle for the championship. Alireza Firouzja secured a crucial classical win against World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju. Playing with the white pieces, Firouzja successfully navigated a tense endgame amid severe time pressure from both players, converting his advantage and moving within a single point of tournament leader Wesley So.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu delivered another remarkable performance by defeating Magnus Carlsen for the second time in the tournament. The 20-year-old Indian grandmaster, who had previously beaten Carlsen with the white pieces earlier in the event, repeated the feat with the black pieces in Round 8, significantly tightening the title race.&nbsp;With this achievement, Praggnanandhaa became only the second player, after India’s chess icon Viswanathan Anand, to defeat Carlsen twice in the same tournament. He also joined an elite group of players who have beaten the five-time World Champion three times in classical chess. The remaining classical encounter between Wesley So and Vincent Keymer ended in a draw.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, So emerged victorious in the Armageddon tiebreak, earning additional points and maintaining his lead at the top of the&nbsp;standings. Following Round 8, Wesley So leads Norway Chess 2026 with 14 points. Firouzja sits just behind on 13 points, while Praggnanandhaa remains firmly in contention with 12 points heading into the final rounds.<h2>Norway Chess Women Round 8: Assaubayeva beats Divya</h2>The women’s tournament also featured two decisive classical games and one Armageddon decider, with Bibisara Assaubayeva strengthening her grip on first place. Assaubayeva recorded an important classical victory over Divya Deshmukh. Playing with the black pieces, the tournament leader absorbed pressure effectively before capitalizing on time trouble to secure the full point.&nbsp;Zhu Jiner also registered a significant classical win, defeating reigning Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun. Consistent endgame pressure allowed Zhu to convert her advantage and move level with Divya Deshmukh on 10 points. The clash between Anna Muzychuk and Humpy Koneru ended in a classical draw.&nbsp;&nbsp;Their Armageddon encounter remained closely contested before Humpy ultimately prevailed with the black pieces, claiming the bonus points. After Round 8, Bibisara Assaubayeva leads the Norway Chess Women standings with 15.5 points. Anna Muzychuk follows on 10.5 points, while Divya Deshmukh and Zhu Jiner are tied on 10 points each.

Norway Chess 2026 Round 8 saw Praggnanandhaa defeat Magnus Carlsen again, Alireza Firouzja beat Gukesh, and Wesley So maintain the lead. Get updated standings, results, and key highlights from Norway Chess and Norway Chess Women 2026

Round 8 of Norway Chess 2026 proved to be a defining day in Oslo, with two decisive classical victories and one Armageddon showdown reshaping the battle for the championship. Alireza Firouzja secured a crucial classical win against World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju. Playing with the white pieces, Firouzja successfully navigated a tense endgame amid severe time pressure from both players, converting his advantage and moving within a single point of tournament leader Wesley So. Meanwhile, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu delivered another remarkable performance by defeating Magnus Carlsen for the second time in the tournament. The 20-year-old Indian grandmaster, who had previously beaten Carlsen with the white pieces earlier in the event, repeated the feat with the black pieces in Round 8, significantly tightening the title race. With this achievement, Praggnanandhaa became only the second player, after India’s chess icon Viswanathan Anand, to defeat Carlsen twice in the same tournament. He also joined an elite group of players who have beaten the five-time World Champion three times in classical chess. The remaining classical encounter between Wesley So and Vincent Keymer ended in a draw. However, So emerged victorious in the Armageddon tiebreak, earning additional points and maintaining his lead at the top of the standings. Following Round 8, Wesley So leads Norway Chess 2026 with 14 points. Firouzja sits just behind on 13 points, while Praggnanandhaa remains firmly in contention with 12 points heading into the final rounds. Norway Chess Women Round 8: Assaubayeva beats Divya The women’s tournament also featured two decisive classical games and one Armageddon decider, with Bibisara Assaubayeva strengthening her grip on first place. Assaubayeva recorded an important classical victory over Divya Deshmukh. Playing with the black pieces, the tournament leader absorbed pressure effectively before capitalizing on time trouble to secure the full point. Zhu Jiner also registered a significant classical win, defeating reigning Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun. Consistent endgame pressure allowed Zhu to convert her advantage and move level with Divya Deshmukh on 10 points. The clash between Anna Muzychuk and Humpy Koneru ended in a classical draw. Their Armageddon encounter remained closely contested before Humpy ultimately prevailed with the black pieces, claiming the bonus points. After Round 8, Bibisara Assaubayeva leads the Norway Chess Women standings with 15.5 points. Anna Muzychuk follows on 10.5 points, while Divya Deshmukh and Zhu Jiner are tied on 10 points each.

Praggnanandhaa stuns Magnus Carlsen again, Firouzja beats Gukesh, and Wesley So retains the lead after a dramatic Round 8 in Norway Chess 2026

Norway Chess 2026: Praggnanandhaa beats Magnus Carlsen again! Firouzja defeats Gukesh as title race heats up

A brief moment before the game between Alua Nurman and Magnus Carlsen became a talking point during round two of the Grenke Chess Freestyle Open in Karlsruhe, Germany. Before the match, the 18-year-old Woman Grandmaster, facing the world No. 1, seized the moment by asking for a selfie. Carlsen, ahead of the game, agreed and even posed with a smile, giving her a special memory ahead of a challenging match. However, things changed shortly after. Just as the game was about to start, Carlsen stepped away and returned with an arbiter, asking that Nurman’s phone be removed from the playing area. While it seemed sudden, the request followed tournament rules.&nbsp;As per FIDE regulations, players are not allowed to keep mobile phones or electronic devices in the playing hall unless permitted by an arbiter. This rule helps prevent cheating and even having such a device can lead to a violation.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-sticking-with-bad-plan-and-nobody-to-slow-things-ex-player-on-reasons-for-csk-s-loss-vs-rcb-1775467932019">IPL 2026 | 'Sticking with bad plan and nobody to slow things': Ex-player Rayudu on reasons for CSK's loss vs RCB</a><h2>Watch the video below</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Lady took a selfie with Magnus Carlsen before the match began. In response, Magnus Carlsen reported his opponent to the referee, leading to her phone being confiscated 😭 <a href="https://t.co/pqNcMZBrI6">pic.twitter.com/pqNcMZBrI6</a>&mdash; non aesthetic things (@PicturesFoIder) <a href="https://twitter.com/PicturesFoIder/status/2040233503053234428?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This is not the first time Carlsen has been careful about such rules. In a previous edition of the event, Etienne Bacrot had asked him for a selfie before their game. At that time, Carlsen called an arbiter to ensure Bacrot removed his wristwatch, which can also be restricted depending on tournament rules.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-want-my-bat-do-the-talking-rishabh-pant-silences-critics-after-match-winning-knock-against-srh-1775458991278">'Want my bat do the talking': Pant silences critics after match-winning knock vs SRH</a>&nbsp;Despite the brief interruption, Carlsen quickly regained focus and continued his strong form in Karlsruhe, later defeating Maxime Lagarde in the next round.&nbsp;The defending champion, who had a perfect score in the previous edition, once again looks in top form. His actions during the event show his focus on discipline and fair play as he aims for another strong performance.

Magnus Carlsen posed for a quick selfie with Alua Nurman before their Grenke Open clash, but soon involved an arbiter to enforce rules, showing chess’s strict device regulations.

A brief moment before the game between Alua Nurman and Magnus Carlsen became a talking point during round two of the Grenke Chess Freestyle Open in Karlsruhe, Germany. Before the match, the 18-year-old Woman Grandmaster, facing the world No. 1, seized the moment by asking for a selfie. Carlsen, ahead of the game, agreed and even posed with a smile, giving her a special memory ahead of a challenging match. However, things changed shortly after. Just as the game was about to start, Carlsen stepped away and returned with an arbiter, asking that Nurman’s phone be removed from the playing area. While it seemed sudden, the request followed tournament rules. As per FIDE regulations, players are not allowed to keep mobile phones or electronic devices in the playing hall unless permitted by an arbiter. This rule helps prevent cheating and even having such a device can lead to a violation. Also Read - IPL 2026 | 'Sticking with bad plan and nobody to slow things': Ex-player Rayudu on reasons for CSK's loss vs RCB Watch the video below

Magnus Carlsen posed for a quick selfie with Alua Nurman before their Grenke Open clash, but soon involved an arbiter to enforce rules, showing chess’s strict device regulations.

Watch: Magnus Carlsen’s selfie moment with opponent ends in surprise twist

Magnus Carlsen, the Norwegian chess grand master, has won the first ever FIDE Freestyle World Championship. Carlsen won the four-game final with a score of 2.5-1.5 against Italian-American Fabiano Caruana on Sunday (Feb 15) in Weissenhaus, Germany. This was Carlsen's 21st title in total and he now has a title in all formats of FIDE World Champioships. Carlsen has previously won five classical World Championships, six World Rapid Championships and nine World Blitz Championships well. He was not supposed to win on Sunday, but somehow kept going and won the series turning Game 3 from a lost position against Caruana.<h2>Carlsen wins maiden FIDE Freestyle World Championship</h2>Reacting after win which came as shock to Carlsen as well, he said: "It’s certainly not one of my most convincing wins today, but it feels great to win on a bit of an off-day. I’m a little disappointed that I couldn’t bring the level that I showed yesterday. It feels great to win but I can do even better."Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-2026-gimmick-every-time-unforgiving-pak-fans-troll-own-team-after-another-loss-vs-india-1771218687879">T20 WC 2026 | Unforgiving Pak fans troll own team after another loss vs India</a>Talking about Game 3 which changed everything, Carlsen acknowledged: "I thought I was doing reasonably well for a long time and then I missed one of his resources and then I reacted poorly. Usually when you get a completely lost position, it happens gradually. But in this case I captured his knight (15…Bxh4) and then I realised he has an in-between check and I can resign. I still had a little bit of hope. At one point when he found some nice moves, I thought this game was over."Both Carlsen and Caruana, by the virture of being the finalist, qualified for the 2027 FIDE World Freestyle Championship as well. Along with them, Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan) also qualifed after finishing fourth with a win over Vincent Keymer (Germany). India's Arjun Erigasi finished sixth after losing to USA's Hans Niemann for the fifth place.<h2>How much is the winning prize?</h2>The first-ever Freestyle World Chess Championship had a total prize pool of $300,000 out of which $100,000 will be awarded to the 1st placed player - in this case - Magnus Carlsen.

Both Carlsen and Caruana, by virture of being the finalist, qualified for the 2027 FIDE World Freestyle Championship as well. The first-ever Freestyle World Chess Championship had a total prize pool of $300,000 out of which $100,000 will be awarded to the 1st placed player - Magnus Carlsen.

Magnus Carlsen, the Norwegian chess grand master, has won the first ever FIDE Freestyle World Championship. Carlsen won the four-game final with a score of 2.5-1.5 against Italian-American Fabiano Caruana on Sunday (Feb 15) in Weissenhaus, Germany. This was Carlsen's 21st title in total and he now has a title in all formats of FIDE World Champioships. Carlsen has previously won five classical World Championships, six World Rapid Championships and nine World Blitz Championships well. He was not supposed to win on Sunday, but somehow kept going and won the series turning Game 3 from a lost position against Caruana. Carlsen wins maiden FIDE Freestyle World Championship Reacting after win which came as shock to Carlsen as well, he said: "It’s certainly not one of my most convincing wins today, but it feels great to win on a bit of an off-day. I’m a little disappointed that I couldn’t bring the level that I showed yesterday. It feels great to win but I can do even better." Also Read - T20 WC 2026 | Unforgiving Pak fans troll own team after another loss vs India Talking about Game 3 which changed everything, Carlsen acknowledged: "I thought I was doing reasonably well for a long time and then I missed one of his resources and then I reacted poorly. Usually when you get a completely lost position, it happens gradually. But in this case I captured his knight (15…Bxh4) and then I realised he has an in-between check and I can resign. I still had a little bit of hope. At one point when he found some nice moves, I thought this game was over." Both Carlsen and Caruana, by the virture of being the finalist, qualified for the 2027 FIDE World Freestyle Championship as well. Along with them, Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan) also qualifed after finishing fourth with a win over Vincent Keymer (Germany). India's Arjun Erigasi finished sixth after losing to USA's Hans Niemann for the fifth place. How much is the winning prize? The first-ever Freestyle World Chess Championship had a total prize pool of $300,000 out of which $100,000 will be awarded to the 1st placed player - in this case - Magnus Carlsen.

Both Carlsen and Caruana, by virture of being the finalist, qualified for the 2027 FIDE World Freestyle Championship as well. The first-ever Freestyle World Chess Championship had a total prize pool of $300,000 out of which $100,000 will be awarded to the 1st placed player - Magnus Carlsen.

'I’m a little disappointed:' Magnus Carlsen after winning 'almost lost' maiden FIDE Freestyle World Championship

World no. 1 Magnus Carlsen drew attention again at the FIDE World Blitz Championship 2025 in Doha after showing clear frustration during his ninth-round loss to India's Arjun Erigaisi. Carlsen made a serious mistake in the end of the game and after losing, he hit the table in anger. The moment was quickly noticed by fans and also went viral on the social media. This was not the first time Carlsen reacted this way. Earlier in June, he showed similar frustration after losing to current world champion D Gukesh at the Norway Chess tournament. These moments highlight how tough and intense top-level chess can be, especially in fast-paced formats like blitz.&nbsp;<h2>Watch the viral video</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">🇳🇴 Magnus Carlsen fumbles his Queen! ❗No, it&#39;s not AI generated. Round 9 | FIDE World Blitz Championships 2025<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rapid?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rapid</a> Blitz <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Doha?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Doha</a> <a href="https://t.co/j8P0FgfhHi">pic.twitter.com/j8P0FgfhHi</a>&mdash; International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIDE_chess/status/2005670345592713221?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fide-world-rapid-championship-pm-modi-hails-koneru-humpy-and-arjun-erigaisi-for-winning-bronze-magnus-clinches-title-1767023588035">FIDE World Rapid Championship: PM Modi hails Koneru Humpy and Arjun Erigaisi for winning bronze; Magnus clinches title</a>&nbsp;The incident came just one day after Carlsen’s big win at the World Rapid Championship. The Norwegian won his sixth World Rapid title in the Open category, adding to his previous wins in 2014, 2015, 2019, 2022 and 2023. He finished with 10.5 points and earned €70,000 ($482,270).&nbsp;&nbsp;Carlsen showed strong determination in the Rapid event and after losing his seventh-round game to Vladislav Artemiev, he came back with three straight wins on the final day. A draw against Anish Giri in the last round helped him to secure the title win.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read &nbsp;- <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wion-exclusive-world-champion-sujeet-kalkal-backs-pwl-2026-as-boost-for-indian-wrestling-says-great-chance-for-budding-players-to-1767000217042">WION Exclusive: World Champion Sujeet Kalkal backs PWL 2026 as boost for Indian wrestling, says ‘great chance for budding players to…’</a>&nbsp;The five-time world chess champion has stayed in the spotlight for many reasons recently. On Saturday (Dec 27), he was trending on the social media after pushing a camera man that was following him as he left the playing hall during the World Rapid Championship.&nbsp;

This was not the first time Carlsen reacted this way. Earlier in June, he showed similar frustration after losing to current world champion D Gukesh at the Norway Chess tournament. 

World no. 1 Magnus Carlsen drew attention again at the FIDE World Blitz Championship 2025 in Doha after showing clear frustration during his ninth-round loss to India's Arjun Erigaisi. Carlsen made a serious mistake in the end of the game and after losing, he hit the table in anger. The moment was quickly noticed by fans and also went viral on the social media. This was not the first time Carlsen reacted this way. Earlier in June, he showed similar frustration after losing to current world champion D Gukesh at the Norway Chess tournament. These moments highlight how tough and intense top-level chess can be, especially in fast-paced formats like blitz. Watch the viral video

This was not the first time Carlsen reacted this way. Earlier in June, he showed similar frustration after losing to current world champion D Gukesh at the Norway Chess tournament.&nbsp;

World Blitz Championship 2025: Magnus Carlsen reacts in frustration after loss to Arjun Erigaisi - WATCH

India's no. 1 GM Arjun Erigaisi beats world no. 1 Magnus Carlsen in the fifth round of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Cape Town.


Freestyle chess: India's Erigaisi defeats Magnus Carlsen in Cape Town

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) and world number one Magnus Carlsen have a long history of disagreements, but on Wednesday both backed a new world championship concept that sets the stage for the Norwegian's return.&nbsp;Notorious for preferring rapid formats over traditional long games, Carlsen since 2023 has not defended the World Championship title he had held since 2013, citing a lack of motivation. The title is now held by India's Gukesh Dommaraju.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/5-players-with-most-runs-in-women-s-odi-world-cup-history-debbie-hockley-mithali-raj-janette-brittin-charlotte-edwards-suzie-bates-1757606297874">From Mithali Raj to Janette Brittin, 5 players with most runs in Women's ODI World Cup history</a>&nbsp;The new "Total Chess World Championship Tour", unveiled Wednesday by the Norway Chess foundation, will consist of four events a year and will crown one combined champion for three disciplines: Fast Classic, Rapid and Blitz.&nbsp;"This seems like a well-thought-out step to further develop chess," Carlsen, 34, said in a statement from Norway Chess.&nbsp;"Bringing multiple formats together under a single title will provide a more complete view of the players' strengths, while the time controls suit today's players and audience," he said.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-women-s-odi-world-cup-2025-all-you-need-to-know-about-indian-women-s-team-schedule-squad-fixtures-and-more-1758556378933">Women's ODI World Cup 2025: All you need to know about Indian women's team schedule, squad, fixtures and more</a>&nbsp;FIDE also welcomed the initiative.&nbsp;"We see this as a great addition to the traditional and prestigious World Chess Championship, where we crown the undisputed champion of classic chess," said FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich of Russia.&nbsp;"The championships will complement each other," he said in the statement.&nbsp;According to organisers, a pilot version of the Total Chess World Championship Tour will be tested in the autumn of 2026, with the first full season set for 2027.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Notorious for preferring rapid formats over traditional long games, Carlsen since 2023 has not defended the World Championship title he had held since 2013, citing a lack of motivation. The title is now held by India's Gukesh Dommaraju.

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) and world number one Magnus Carlsen have a long history of disagreements, but on Wednesday both backed a new world championship concept that sets the stage for the Norwegian's return. Notorious for preferring rapid formats over traditional long games, Carlsen since 2023 has not defended the World Championship title he had held since 2013, citing a lack of motivation. The title is now held by India's Gukesh Dommaraju. ALSO READ | From Mithali Raj to Janette Brittin, 5 players with most runs in Women's ODI World Cup history The new "Total Chess World Championship Tour", unveiled Wednesday by the Norway Chess foundation, will consist of four events a year and will crown one combined champion for three disciplines: Fast Classic, Rapid and Blitz. "This seems like a well-thought-out step to further develop chess," Carlsen, 34, said in a statement from Norway Chess. "Bringing multiple formats together under a single title will provide a more complete view of the players' strengths, while the time controls suit today's players and audience," he said. ALSO READ | Women's ODI World Cup 2025: All you need to know about Indian women's team schedule, squad, fixtures and more FIDE also welcomed the initiative. "We see this as a great addition to the traditional and prestigious World Chess Championship, where we crown the undisputed champion of classic chess," said FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich of Russia. "The championships will complement each other," he said in the statement. According to organisers, a pilot version of the Total Chess World Championship Tour will be tested in the autumn of 2026, with the first full season set for 2027. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Notorious for preferring rapid formats over traditional long games, Carlsen since 2023 has not defended the World Championship title he had held since 2013, citing a lack of motivation. The title is now held by India's Gukesh Dommaraju.

Magnus Carlsen, chess federation agree on new world championship

The FIDE World Cup has finally found its host city, with the global governing body of chess announcing on Tuesday that Goa will stage the prestigious tournament from October 30 to November 27. The marquee event, however, is set to miss the presence of five-time champion Magnus Carlsen, who is unlikely to participate. Initially, New Delhi was being considered as the host venue, but concerns around logistics led to a rethink before FIDE finalised Goa as the destination. India had hosted the second edition of the event in Hyderabad way back in 2002. Viswanathan Anand won the first two editions of the World Cup in 2000 and 2002. In the 2023 World Cup played in Baku, Azerbaijan, India's R. Praggnanandhaa finished second behind Magnus Carlsen of Norway.&nbsp;Confirming the development, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich hailed India’s rise as a chess powerhouse and promised a grand spectacle in Goa.“India has become one of the strongest chess nations, with outstanding players and passionate fans. After the success of the FIDE Women’s World Cup held in Georgia earlier this year, we are proud to bring the FIDE World Cup to Goa. It will be a celebration of chess and a unique experience for players and spectators from around the world. The representatives of 90+ countries are expected to take part, and it will be one of the most followed events in chess history,” Dvorkovich said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bwf-world-championship-indian-shuttlers-hs-prannoy-sindhu-advance-to-next-round-1756222772672">BWF World Championship: Indian shuttlers HS Prannoy, Sindhu advance to next round</a>&nbsp;A total of 206 participants will battle across eight rounds of knockout play in Goa, chasing a share of the massive USD 2 million prize fund. The event follows the unforgiving win-or-go-home format that has long made the World Cup one of the sport’s most riveting spectacles. As per tradition, the top 50 seeds will bypass the opening round, while the rest begin their campaigns from Round 1. Each match will be contested over two classical games, with rapid and blitz tie-breakers to decide the outcome if necessary.&nbsp;Beyond prize money and titles, the World Cup carries high stakes. The top three finishers will qualify for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, which determines the challenger for the World Championship crown. The decision to bring the World Cup to Goa comes at a time when Indian chess is experiencing a golden phase. Over the past year, D. Gukesh stunned the chess world by winning the World Championship title, while both the Open and Women’s teams clinched gold at the Chess Olympiad.&nbsp;The momentum continued in July when Divya Deshmukh captured the Women’s World Cup, marking a historic triumph on the global stage, getting the better of seasoned Koneru Humpy in tie-breaks in the all-Indian final.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Goa to host FIDE World Cup 2025; top event returns to India after 23 years; King Carlsen unlikely to participate

The FIDE World Cup has finally found its host city, with the global governing body of chess announcing on Tuesday that Goa will stage the prestigious tournament from October 30 to November 27. The marquee event, however, is set to miss the presence of five-time champion Magnus Carlsen, who is unlikely to participate. Initially, New Delhi was being considered as the host venue, but concerns around logistics led to a rethink before FIDE finalised Goa as the destination. India had hosted the second edition of the event in Hyderabad way back in 2002. Viswanathan Anand won the first two editions of the World Cup in 2000 and 2002. In the 2023 World Cup played in Baku, Azerbaijan, India's R. Praggnanandhaa finished second behind Magnus Carlsen of Norway. Confirming the development, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich hailed India’s rise as a chess powerhouse and promised a grand spectacle in Goa. “India has become one of the strongest chess nations, with outstanding players and passionate fans. After the success of the FIDE Women’s World Cup held in Georgia earlier this year, we are proud to bring the FIDE World Cup to Goa. It will be a celebration of chess and a unique experience for players and spectators from around the world. The representatives of 90+ countries are expected to take part, and it will be one of the most followed events in chess history,” Dvorkovich said. Also Read: BWF World Championship: Indian shuttlers HS Prannoy, Sindhu advance to next round A total of 206 participants will battle across eight rounds of knockout play in Goa, chasing a share of the massive USD 2 million prize fund. The event follows the unforgiving win-or-go-home format that has long made the World Cup one of the sport’s most riveting spectacles. As per tradition, the top 50 seeds will bypass the opening round, while the rest begin their campaigns from Round 1. Each match will be contested over two classical games, with rapid and blitz tie-breakers to decide the outcome if necessary. Beyond prize money and titles, the World Cup carries high stakes. The top three finishers will qualify for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, which determines the challenger for the World Championship crown. The decision to bring the World Cup to Goa comes at a time when Indian chess is experiencing a golden phase. Over the past year, D. Gukesh stunned the chess world by winning the World Championship title, while both the Open and Women’s teams clinched gold at the Chess Olympiad. The momentum continued in July when Divya Deshmukh captured the Women’s World Cup, marking a historic triumph on the global stage, getting the better of seasoned Koneru Humpy in tie-breaks in the all-Indian final. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

India had hosted the second edition of the event in Hyderabad way back in 2002. Viswanathan Anand won the first two editions of the World Cup in 2000 and 2002. In the 2023 World Cup played in Baku, Azerbaijan, India's R. Praggnanandhaa finished second behind Magnus Carlsen of Norway

‘All of my pawns are gone’: Magnus Carlsen beats ChatGPT at chess without losing a single piece

Carlsen shared screenshots of the game on X, captioned: “I sometimes get bored while travelling.”&nbsp;

Magnus Carlsen was left embarrassed at SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia 2025 in the Grand Chess Tour after losing to reigning world champion and Indian chess star D. Gukesh. Carlsen, who had an infamous incident with Gukesh recently at Norway Chess, had questioned the world champion's abilities in rapid and blitz format and had said in a chat with organisers: “Gukesh hasn’t done anything to indicate that he’s going to do well in such a tournament.” Carlsen's statement, however, proven wrong as Gukesh beat Carlsen in round 6 of the rapid format and now leads the points table with 10 points from five wins in a row.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wimbledon-2025-djokovic-surpasses-federer-just-one-step-away-from-century-of-wins-1751612169566">Wimbledon 2025: Djokovic surpasses Federer, just one step away from century of wins</a><h2>What Carlsen said after losing to Gukesh?</h2>Carlsen was more humble in his opinion of Gukesh after the loss on July 3 and said in an interview with Take Take Take: “No, I've played kind of poorly the whole tournament and this time I got soundly punished. I think I had a very, very nice position. He took his chance to open up a position with c6. After that it was a little bit , like earlier, where I get short of time."I can't really handle it that well. And he found a lot of really, really good moves. And I think he did that part very well. I think I had one kind of last chance at some point to bail out to something that was very draw-ish. And I thought, well, let's continue playing. And then a couple of minutes later, I was pretty hopelessly lost. So, it was poor, but all credit to Gukesh. He's playing well and he's taking his chances too.”<h2>What happened between Gukesh and Carlsen in Norway?</h2>On June 1, Carlsen had lost to Gukesh in round 6 of Norway Open and slammed the chess table in frustration. The video of Carlsen's attitude, which can already be described as quirky the most times, went viral with netizens slamming him for the behaviour.

Carlsen, who had an infamous incident with Gukesh recently at Norway Chess, had questioned the world champion's abilities in rapid and blitz format and had said in a chat with organisers: “Gukesh hasn’t done anything to indicate that he’s going to do well in such a tournament.”

Magnus Carlsen was left embarrassed at SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia 2025 in the Grand Chess Tour after losing to reigning world champion and Indian chess star D. Gukesh. Carlsen, who had an infamous incident with Gukesh recently at Norway Chess, had questioned the world champion's abilities in rapid and blitz format and had said in a chat with organisers: “Gukesh hasn’t done anything to indicate that he’s going to do well in such a tournament.” Carlsen's statement, however, proven wrong as Gukesh beat Carlsen in round 6 of the rapid format and now leads the points table with 10 points from five wins in a row. Also Read - Wimbledon 2025: Djokovic surpasses Federer, just one step away from century of wins What Carlsen said after losing to Gukesh? Carlsen was more humble in his opinion of Gukesh after the loss on July 3 and said in an interview with Take Take Take: “No, I've played kind of poorly the whole tournament and this time I got soundly punished. I think I had a very, very nice position. He took his chance to open up a position with c6. After that it was a little bit , like earlier, where I get short of time. "I can't really handle it that well. And he found a lot of really, really good moves. And I think he did that part very well. I think I had one kind of last chance at some point to bail out to something that was very draw-ish. And I thought, well, let's continue playing. And then a couple of minutes later, I was pretty hopelessly lost. So, it was poor, but all credit to Gukesh. He's playing well and he's taking his chances too.” What happened between Gukesh and Carlsen in Norway? On June 1, Carlsen had lost to Gukesh in round 6 of Norway Open and slammed the chess table in frustration. The video of Carlsen's attitude, which can already be described as quirky the most times, went viral with netizens slamming him for the behaviour.

Carlsen, who had an infamous incident with Gukesh recently at Norway Chess, had questioned the world champion's abilities in rapid and blitz format and had said in a chat with organisers: “Gukesh hasn’t done anything to indicate that he’s going to do well in such a tournament.”

Loudmouth Carlsen humbled after loss to 'presumably weaker' Gukesh in Grand Chess Tour

Chess seems to blossom in abundance in India. Weeks after Grandmaster D Gukesh beat the world number one, Magnus Carlsen, in the Norway Chess 2025 competition, another Indian, this time a nine-year-old prodigy named Aarit Kapil from New Delhi’s Mayur Vihar, almost came close to creating history before settling for a draw. Aarit, a fifth-grade student in Somerville School, who began playing chess just four years ago, maintained a winning position against Carlsen in an online blitz game during the Early Titled Tuesday competition before time constraints led to a majestic draw in the 49th move.&nbsp;The Titled Tuesday competition is exclusively open to players with FIDE titles, featuring elite Grandmasters like Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, and former world champion Vladimir Kramnik.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/made-wrong-friends-devoted-less-time-to-practice-prithvi-shaw-on-his-career-downfall-indian-team-friendship-practice-1750921223387">'Made wrong friends, devoted less time to practice': Prithvi Shaw reflects on his downfall</a>&nbsp;New Delhi boy Aarit, also a Candidate Master, took part in this online event from his hotel room in Batumi, Georgia, where he continues to compete in the FIDE World Cadets Cup under-10 category. &nbsp;Meanwhile, drawing against the five-time world champion counts for something for the nine-year-old Aarit. This achievement adds to his already decorated cabinet, which includes him becoming the third-youngest ever to defeat a Grandmaster in classical time control when he beat the 66-year-old Raset Ziatdinov of the US in December last year.&nbsp; &nbsp;Vijay, Aarit’s father, revealed his son’s journey from an amateur to a professional in just a week.&nbsp; &nbsp;"He was five years old when his elder sister Aarna taught him chess. In one week, he was beating us. Not like I am a serious player - I am the equivalent of a bathroom singer in the sport: a casual player,” Vijay said in a chat with The Indian Express. “But we saw his potential, so we got him working with a coach. And in a few days, he won an international online tournament.” &nbsp;"Sometimes when he has a bad tournament, we jokingly tell him we'll stop your chess, to which he says, ‘Do whatever you can, I won't stop playing chess," his father, Vijay, continued.&nbsp;

New Delhi boy Aarit, also a Candidate Master, took part in this online event from his hotel room in Batumi, Georgia, where he continues to compete in the FIDE World Cadets Cup under-10 category.

Chess seems to blossom in abundance in India. Weeks after Grandmaster D Gukesh beat the world number one, Magnus Carlsen, in the Norway Chess 2025 competition, another Indian, this time a nine-year-old prodigy named Aarit Kapil from New Delhi’s Mayur Vihar, almost came close to creating history before settling for a draw. Aarit, a fifth-grade student in Somerville School, who began playing chess just four years ago, maintained a winning position against Carlsen in an online blitz game during the Early Titled Tuesday competition before time constraints led to a majestic draw in the 49th move. The Titled Tuesday competition is exclusively open to players with FIDE titles, featuring elite Grandmasters like Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, and former world champion Vladimir Kramnik. Also read | 'Made wrong friends, devoted less time to practice': Prithvi Shaw reflects on his downfall New Delhi boy Aarit, also a Candidate Master, took part in this online event from his hotel room in Batumi, Georgia, where he continues to compete in the FIDE World Cadets Cup under-10 category. Meanwhile, drawing against the five-time world champion counts for something for the nine-year-old Aarit. This achievement adds to his already decorated cabinet, which includes him becoming the third-youngest ever to defeat a Grandmaster in classical time control when he beat the 66-year-old Raset Ziatdinov of the US in December last year. Vijay, Aarit’s father, revealed his son’s journey from an amateur to a professional in just a week. "He was five years old when his elder sister Aarna taught him chess. In one week, he was beating us. Not like I am a serious player - I am the equivalent of a bathroom singer in the sport: a casual player,” Vijay said in a chat with The Indian Express. “But we saw his potential, so we got him working with a coach. And in a few days, he won an international online tournament.” "Sometimes when he has a bad tournament, we jokingly tell him we'll stop your chess, to which he says, ‘Do whatever you can, I won't stop playing chess," his father, Vijay, continued.

New Delhi boy Aarit, also a Candidate Master, took part in this online event from his hotel room in Batumi, Georgia, where he continues to compete in the FIDE World Cadets Cup under-10 category.

Aarit Kapil, 9-year-old New Delhi boy, shocks chess world no.1 Magnus Carlsen with draw, who is he?

These Indian Chess masters have defeated Magnus Carlsen. Know who are they

WION looks at five players who have defeated five-time World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen

These Indian Chess masters have defeated Magnus Carlsen in Classical Chess. Know who are they

A 9-year-old Delhi boy Aarit Kapil gave world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen a close run before accepting a draw in the 'Early Titled Tuesday' chess tournament played on a top online site. Aarit, runner-up at the recently held Under-9 National Championship, exchanged moves stroke for stroke with the five-time world champion and had Carlsen in a fully lost game. But as time was drawing to a close and only seconds remained on his clock, the Indian youngster could not make his lead count and, ultimately, pushed the game to a draw in a rook and two minor pieces endgame.&nbsp;Aarit played this tournament from his hotel in Georgia where he is battling for a podium finish at the under-10 World championship. Aarit has won the first two rounds and will play the third game on Wednesday.&nbsp;Meanwhile, India's V Pranav won the 'Early Titled Tuesday' title with a brilliant 10 out of 11 points. American Grandmaster Hans Moke Niemann and Carlsen both ended with 9.5 points, but Niemann took second place on tiebreak.<h2>Sensational Aarit Kapil</h2>Last year, Aarit scripted history as he beat Grandmaster Raset Ziatdinov of the United States. The win took place during the ninth round of the KIIT International Open chess championship in Bhubaneswar. Aarit's achievement places him as the youngest Indian to have beaten a Grandmaster in a classical game of chess. At 9 years, 2 months, and 18 days, he is the third youngest globally to achieve this distinction.&nbsp;The youngest person to defeat a Grandmaster is Indian-origin Singaporean Ashwath Kaushik. Kaushik beat Poland's Jacek Stupa at the age of 8 years and six months earlier in 2024. Ziatdinov, 66 years of age, showed his experience playing the game against Aarit. He used positional tactics and better pawn structure to gain the upper hand.

David meets Goliath: 9-year-old Indian Aarit Kapil draws with Magnus Carlsen in online battle

A 9-year-old Delhi boy Aarit Kapil gave world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen a close run before accepting a draw in the 'Early Titled Tuesday' chess tournament played on a top online site. Aarit, runner-up at the recently held Under-9 National Championship, exchanged moves stroke for stroke with the five-time world champion and had Carlsen in a fully lost game. But as time was drawing to a close and only seconds remained on his clock, the Indian youngster could not make his lead count and, ultimately, pushed the game to a draw in a rook and two minor pieces endgame. Aarit played this tournament from his hotel in Georgia where he is battling for a podium finish at the under-10 World championship. Aarit has won the first two rounds and will play the third game on Wednesday. Meanwhile, India's V Pranav won the 'Early Titled Tuesday' title with a brilliant 10 out of 11 points. American Grandmaster Hans Moke Niemann and Carlsen both ended with 9.5 points, but Niemann took second place on tiebreak. Sensational Aarit Kapil Last year, Aarit scripted history as he beat Grandmaster Raset Ziatdinov of the United States. The win took place during the ninth round of the KIIT International Open chess championship in Bhubaneswar. Aarit's achievement places him as the youngest Indian to have beaten a Grandmaster in a classical game of chess. At 9 years, 2 months, and 18 days, he is the third youngest globally to achieve this distinction. The youngest person to defeat a Grandmaster is Indian-origin Singaporean Ashwath Kaushik. Kaushik beat Poland's Jacek Stupa at the age of 8 years and six months earlier in 2024. Ziatdinov, 66 years of age, showed his experience playing the game against Aarit. He used positional tactics and better pawn structure to gain the upper hand.

Aarit, the runner-up at the recent Under-9 National Championship, matched the five-time world champion move for move and had Carlsen in a completely lost position

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (June 2) congratulated Gukesh for his first-ever win against Magnus Carlsen in Round 6 of Norway Chess 2025.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Congratulations to him for triumphing over the very best. His first-ever win against Magnus Carlsen in Round 6 of Norway Chess 2025 showcases his brilliance and dedication", Modi posted on X.&nbsp;“An exceptional achievement by Gukesh! Congratulations to him for triumphing over the very best. His first-ever win against Magnus Carlsen in Round 6 of Norway Chess 2025 showcases his brilliance and dedication. Wishing him continued success in the journey ahead. @DGukesh.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-swings-into-pickleball-the-sport-redefining-recreational-play-1748869642805">India swings into pickleball: The sport redefining recreational play</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">An exceptional achievement by Gukesh! Congratulations to him for triumphing over the very best. His first-ever win against Magnus Carlsen in Round 6 of Norway Chess 2025 showcases his brilliance and dedication. Wishing him continued success in the journey ahead.<a href="https://twitter.com/DGukesh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DGukesh</a> <a href="https://t.co/TjxyPzn3uN">pic.twitter.com/TjxyPzn3uN</a>&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1929538936998691151?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Round 6 of Norway Chess 2025 delivered exciting games across all boards. In the standout game of the day, World Champion Dommaraju Gukesh beat World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in a long game where Carlsen seemed to have the upper hand, a critical mistake in time trouble allowed Gukesh to turn the tables and secure a remarkable win.&nbsp;The two remaining classical games, Yi Wei against Arjun Erigaisi and Fabiano Caruana against Hikaru Nakamura, ended in hard-fought draws. Erigaisi and Caruana triumphed in their Armageddon games, earning the crucial extra points.&nbsp;&nbsp;With these results, Carlsen and Caruana now share the overall lead in the tournament standings.&nbsp;The Norway Chess Women’s tournament saw another intense day with three Armageddon games after the classical games ended in draws.&nbsp;&nbsp;Anna Muzychuk, Vaishali Rameshbabu and Wenjun Ju prevailed in their Armageddon games. As the tournament progresses, Muzychuk and Humpy Koneru now share the top spot on the leaderboard, promising a fierce battle ahead in the coming rounds.&nbsp;Norway Chess is one of the world's premier chess tournaments, bringing together the top male and female players in a distinctive 6-player double round-robin format.

PM Narendra Modi congratulates Gukesh for his first-ever win against Magnus Carlsen in Norway Chess 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (June 2) congratulated Gukesh for his first-ever win against Magnus Carlsen in Round 6 of Norway Chess 2025. "Congratulations to him for triumphing over the very best. His first-ever win against Magnus Carlsen in Round 6 of Norway Chess 2025 showcases his brilliance and dedication", Modi posted on X. “An exceptional achievement by Gukesh! Congratulations to him for triumphing over the very best. His first-ever win against Magnus Carlsen in Round 6 of Norway Chess 2025 showcases his brilliance and dedication. Wishing him continued success in the journey ahead. @DGukesh.” Also Read: India swings into pickleball: The sport redefining recreational play

Gukesh pulled off a stunning victory against the former world number one in Round 6 of the ongoing Norway Chess 2025 tournament

PM Narendra Modi congratulates D Gukesh for his first-ever win against Magnus Carlsen in Norway Chess 2025

Chess king Magnus Carlsen punched the table in frustration following a crushing defeat to the reigning champion from India, D Gukesh, in the 6th round of the Norway Open in Stavanger on Sunday (June 1). Carlsen’s reaction to perhaps his ‘most painful’ defeats, as described by Susan Polgar, was louder and more dramatic, considering how well he dominated Round 6 of this prestigious event before blundering.&nbsp;Sitting across the table was Gukesh, who failed to direct his emotions into joy and was rather taken aback by the outcome as he lagged for most of this round. As Carlsen was unable to handle his anger, storming off the site in despair, Gukesh was trying to absorb the emotion of this landmark victory over the world number one. &nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-rajeev-shukla-in-line-to-replace-roger-binny-as-new-bcci-president-report-1748852089012">Rajeev Shukla in line to replace Roger Binny as new BCCI president – Report</a>&nbsp;The Indian Grandmaster secured perhaps one of his most crucial wins against Carlsen in his backyard, beating him in classical time control for the first time in his career. Playing with white pieces, D Gukesh didn’t crumble under pressure and instead capitalised on Carlsen’s blunder in the endgame, converting it into a statement victory. &nbsp;Although Carlsen’s first reaction told the entire story, with him quickly realising losing his cool and then compensating with a cold handshake with Gukesh, the Indian superstar got up from his seat in disbelief, wondering what he had pulled off.<h3>Watch Video -</h3>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">OH MY GOD 😳🤯😲 <a href="https://t.co/QSbbrvQFkE">pic.twitter.com/QSbbrvQFkE</a>&mdash; Norway Chess (@NorwayChess) <a href="https://twitter.com/NorwayChess/status/1929257237190443042?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Legendary Susan Polgar also described the enormity of Carlsen's loss to Gukesh in a social media post, writing,&nbsp; &nbsp;“Carlsen rarely loses in classical chess, and he rarely commits big blunders. He was playing so well with the black pieces in round 6 in Norway against Gukesh. He had a winning position with more time on the clock. But Gukesh did not give up. He continued to fight, and Carlsen's advantage slowly disappeared. Then when both were in time pressure, he made a huge blunder, which cost him the game.&nbsp; &nbsp;“This has to be one of the most painful losses in his spectacular career. I am sure he is very angry with himself," she said. &nbsp;Meanwhile, it’s for the second in two years at Norway Chess that an Indian teenager has beaten Carlsen in the classical format. Before Gukesh made headlines for topping the home hero with his composure, his compatriot R Praggnanandhaa had defeated Carlsen last year.

Chess king Carlsen punches table in frustration after losing to India’s D Gukesh in Norway Open – Video goes viral

Chess king Magnus Carlsen punched the table in frustration following a crushing defeat to the reigning champion from India, D Gukesh, in the 6th round of the Norway Open in Stavanger on Sunday (June 1). Carlsen’s reaction to perhaps his ‘most painful’ defeats, as described by Susan Polgar, was louder and more dramatic, considering how well he dominated Round 6 of this prestigious event before blundering. Sitting across the table was Gukesh, who failed to direct his emotions into joy and was rather taken aback by the outcome as he lagged for most of this round. As Carlsen was unable to handle his anger, storming off the site in despair, Gukesh was trying to absorb the emotion of this landmark victory over the world number one. Also read | Rajeev Shukla in line to replace Roger Binny as new BCCI president – Report The Indian Grandmaster secured perhaps one of his most crucial wins against Carlsen in his backyard, beating him in classical time control for the first time in his career. Playing with white pieces, D Gukesh didn’t crumble under pressure and instead capitalised on Carlsen’s blunder in the endgame, converting it into a statement victory. Although Carlsen’s first reaction told the entire story, with him quickly realising losing his cool and then compensating with a cold handshake with Gukesh, the Indian superstar got up from his seat in disbelief, wondering what he had pulled off. Watch Video -

The Indian Grandmaster secured perhaps one of his most crucial wins against Carlsen in his backyard, beating him in classical time control for the first time in his career.

Magnus Carlsen once again proved why he is the top player in the world across all formats, defeating world champion D Gukesh of India in the opening round of the Norway Chess to claim three full points on Monday (May 26). This marked Gukesh’s first Classical game against Carlsen since his world championship victory last year in Singapore.&nbsp;Carlsen attempted to unsettle Gukesh by opting for the rarely-used Jobava London opening, a strategic move designed to throw his opponent off balance. However, world champion Gukesh, playing with the black pieces, remained composed and neutralised Carlsen’s early initiative by the 11th move, even putting the Norwegian under some pressure.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A great quote from The Wire <a href="https://t.co/z9fBOdbtMd">pic.twitter.com/z9fBOdbtMd</a>&mdash; Magnus Carlsen (@MagnusCarlsen) <a href="https://twitter.com/MagnusCarlsen/status/1927083213601529890?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Despite this, Carlsen, a five-time world champion known for his prowess in Rapid, Blitz, and Freestyle formats, showed he hasn’t lost his edge in Classical chess. He secured victory after a hard-fought battle lasting over four hours and 56 moves.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-unites-after-car-ploughs-into-liverpool-victory-parade-1748316251060">Football unites after car ploughs into Liverpool victory parade</a>&nbsp;Meanwhile, Arjun Erigaisi, the other Indian contender in the six-player round-robin Open category, impressed in the first round with a dramatic win over China’s top player Wei Yi. After the two agreed to a draw following 54 moves, Erigaisi, playing black, displayed aggressive play to hold the draw and then outpaced his opponent on time in the Armageddon tiebreak.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/french-open-2025-confident-djokovic-kicks-off-slam-record-attempt-1748316782040">French Open 2025: 'Confident' Djokovic kicks off Slam record attempt</a>&nbsp;In Armageddon, white is granted 10 minutes while black gets only seven, yet Erigaisi overcame this time disadvantage to secure victory. With this, Erigaisi earned 1.5 points after the opening round, while Wei Yi received one point.&nbsp;Norway Chess awards three points for a win in Classical format, one point each for a draw, and an additional 0.5 points for a win in Armageddon.

Magnus Carlsen beats Gukesh in nerve-wracking opening round of Norway Chess

Magnus Carlsen once again proved why he is the top player in the world across all formats, defeating world champion D Gukesh of India in the opening round of the Norway Chess to claim three full points on Monday (May 26). This marked Gukesh’s first Classical game against Carlsen since his world championship victory last year in Singapore. Carlsen attempted to unsettle Gukesh by opting for the rarely-used Jobava London opening, a strategic move designed to throw his opponent off balance. However, world champion Gukesh, playing with the black pieces, remained composed and neutralised Carlsen’s early initiative by the 11th move, even putting the Norwegian under some pressure.

It was a day when Carlsen tried to unnerve Gukesh, playing his first Classical game against the Norwegian since winning the world title last year in Singapore, by employing the Jobava London, a rarely-used opening move

‘You come at the king, you best not miss’: Magnus Carlsen after beating Gukesh in nerve-wracking opening round of Norway Chess

Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen rubbished allegations of match-fixing after a backstage video from the World Blitz Championship 2024 final went viral, showing him and Ian Nepomniachtchi discussing the possibility of enforcing draws if their proposal to share the title was turned down. The clip went viral in no time and ignited a controversy, prompting Carlsen to clarify his comments.
<h2>'I&rsquo;m joking with Ian in a situation with lacking decisive tiebreak rules'</h2>
"I&rsquo;ve never prearranged a draw in my career,&rdquo; Carlsen said on Thursday (Jan 2). He further opined, "In the video, I&rsquo;m joking with Ian in a situation with lacking decisive tiebreak rules. This was obviously not an attempt to influence FIDE. It was said in the spirit that I thought FIDE would agree to our proposal. If anything, it was a bad joke given the gravity of the situation.&rdquo;
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The veteran further defended the quality of the match and added, "I think the match itself showed two players playing high-level chess, equally matched and both deserving of a win."
The controversy erupted on Tuesday (Dec 31, 2024) when Carlsen and Nepomniachtchi shared the World Blitz C'ship title after seven rounds of the final concluded in a tie. The unprecedented decision, approved by FIDE, became the first-ever instance of the title being jointly awarded.
There were several reactions after the tie. American Grandmaster Hans Niemann called for an investigation, while Indian Grandmaster Srinath Narayanan condemned the incident.
"This is cause for an investigation by the FIDE Ethics committee. I can&rsquo;t believe that 2 players who maliciously accused me and tried to ruin my career are openly breaking the rules. The irony simply can&rsquo;t get any worse," Niemann claimed on Wednesday (Jan 1).

Chess, Sports | Magnus Carlsen rubbishes match-fixing allegations, reacts to backstage chat with Ian Nepomniachtchi during 2024 World Blitz Championship

Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen rubbished allegations of match-fixing after a backstage video from the World Blitz Championship 2024 final went viral, showing him and Ian Nepomniachtchi discussing the possibility of enforcing draws if their proposal to share the title was turned down. The clip went viral in no time and ignited a controversy, prompting Carlsen to clarify his comments. 'I’m joking with Ian in a situation with lacking decisive tiebreak rules' "I’ve never prearranged a draw in my career,” Carlsen said on Thursday (Jan 2). He further opined, "In the video, I’m joking with Ian in a situation with lacking decisive tiebreak rules. This was obviously not an attempt to influence FIDE. It was said in the spirit that I thought FIDE would agree to our proposal. If anything, it was a bad joke given the gravity of the situation.” Also read: Sugar Bowl postponed by a day over deadly truck-ramming New Orleans attack The veteran further defended the quality of the match and added, "I think the match itself showed two players playing high-level chess, equally matched and both deserving of a win." The controversy erupted on Tuesday (Dec 31, 2024) when Carlsen and Nepomniachtchi shared the World Blitz C'ship title after seven rounds of the final concluded in a tie. The unprecedented decision, approved by FIDE, became the first-ever instance of the title being jointly awarded. There were several reactions after the tie. American Grandmaster Hans Niemann called for an investigation, while Indian Grandmaster Srinath Narayanan condemned the incident. "This is cause for an investigation by the FIDE Ethics committee. I can’t believe that 2 players who maliciously accused me and tried to ruin my career are openly breaking the rules. The irony simply can’t get any worse," Niemann claimed on Wednesday (Jan 1).

Carlsen rubbishes match-fixing allegations, reacts to backstage chat with Nepomniachtchi

Top-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen confirmed his participation in the World Blitz Championship, on Monday (Dec 30). This happened after the FIDE gave a green signal to relax a dress code that previously led to the Norwegian being fined and excluded from a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans.
Following the controversy, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) President Arkady Dvorkovich stated, on Sunday (Dec 29), that the tournament officials would now consider allowing "appropriate jeans" paired with a jacket and other "elegant minor deviations" from the dress code.
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<h2>'The situation was badly mishandled on their side'</h2>
Meanwhile, Carlsen announced in a video on social media that he would compete and don jeans at the World Blitz Championship starting Monday.
The 34-year-old grandmaster said in a video on his Take Take Take chess app's YouTube channel, "I think the situation was badly mishandled on their side.&nbsp;I think we all sort of want the same thing. We want players to feel comfortable but also relatively presentable."
The dispute came into the picture on Friday (Dec 27) when Carlsen wore jeans and a sport coat to the Rapid World Championship. FIDE stated that longstanding rules do not allow players to wear jeans at such tournaments and they are accommodated nearby to facilitate outfit changes if need be.
An official, thus, fined Carlsen $200 while also asking him to change his pants. However, the veteran refused and was consequently not paired for a ninth-round game. In addition, the FIDE noted that earlier in the day, another grandmaster, Russia's Ian Nepomniachtchi, had also breached the rules and fined for donning sports shoes. Nonetheless, the Russians complied with the rules and made the necessary changes to continue playing.&nbsp;
Later, Carlsen explained that he offered to change as well the following day, however, the officials remained resolute. "It became a matter of principle," he stated, leading to his withdrawal from both the rapid and blitz championships.

Chess, Sports: Top-ranked Magnus Carlsen confirms return to World Blitz Championship after jeans row

Top-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen confirmed his participation in the World Blitz Championship, on Monday (Dec 30). This happened after the FIDE gave a green signal to relax a dress code that previously led to the Norwegian being fined and excluded from a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans. Following the controversy, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) President Arkady Dvorkovich stated, on Sunday (Dec 29), that the tournament officials would now consider allowing "appropriate jeans" paired with a jacket and other "elegant minor deviations" from the dress code. Also read: Premier League: Liverpool thrash West Ham to go eight points clear at the top 'The situation was badly mishandled on their side' Meanwhile, Carlsen announced in a video on social media that he would compete and don jeans at the World Blitz Championship starting Monday. The 34-year-old grandmaster said in a video on his Take Take Take chess app's YouTube channel, "I think the situation was badly mishandled on their side. I think we all sort of want the same thing. We want players to feel comfortable but also relatively presentable." The dispute came into the picture on Friday (Dec 27) when Carlsen wore jeans and a sport coat to the Rapid World Championship. FIDE stated that longstanding rules do not allow players to wear jeans at such tournaments and they are accommodated nearby to facilitate outfit changes if need be. An official, thus, fined Carlsen $200 while also asking him to change his pants. However, the veteran refused and was consequently not paired for a ninth-round game. In addition, the FIDE noted that earlier in the day, another grandmaster, Russia's Ian Nepomniachtchi, had also breached the rules and fined for donning sports shoes. Nonetheless, the Russians complied with the rules and made the necessary changes to continue playing. Later, Carlsen explained that he offered to change as well the following day, however, the officials remained resolute. "It became a matter of principle," he stated, leading to his withdrawal from both the rapid and blitz championships.

Chess: Top-ranked Magnus Carlsen confirms return to World Blitz Championship after jeans row

World No. 4 Arjun Erigaisi has had a stellar 2024 season. The 21-year-old became the youngest Indian to cross 2800 mark in live ELO ratings and also played a key role in India's historic victory at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest. Erigaisi stunned World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in a blitz game at the Tata Steel Chess India tournament earlier this month. He speaks to Wion's Nikhil Mathur on that and much more.

How Arjun Erigaisi Conquered Magnus Carlsen In Six Minutes | WION Exclusive | Chess

Three-year-old chess prodigy Anish Sarkar had the opportunity to meet and greet his idol Magnus Carlsen on Tuesday, November 12. Carlsen praised Anish, who became the youngest-rated player in chess history. Watch this report for more details!

Magnus Carlsen Meets 3-Year-Old Chess Prodigy Anish Sarkar

Indian Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa lost to world number one Magnus Carlsen in the reverse fixture during the seventh round of the ongoing Norway Chess 2024 tournament, in Stavanger, on Tuesday (June 4). Carlsen managed to topple Praggnanandhaa in the Armageddon tiebreaker after the two players settled for a draw in their classical game at the premier tournament.&nbsp;

The result serves as a big win for Carlsen, who lost to the Indian young sensation in their earlier clash in the tournament. He also took a one-point sole lead in the open section of Norway Chess.&nbsp;

With the win, Carlsen also extended his tally to an incredible 14.5 out of 15 with White in Norway Chess. Both&nbsp;players mixed aggression with caution and gave a tough fight. However, the turning point proved to be when the Norwegian showcased his class with White in Armageddon tie-breaker. Praggnanandhaa put up a valiant fight and came very close to equalising, nonetheless, it wasn't enough as&nbsp;local favourite Carlsen got the job done and took 1.5 points from the match.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/norway-chess-r-praggnanandhaa-fine-form-continues-stuns-world-champion-ding-liren-in-round-7-728517">Norway Chess: R Praggnanandhaa's fine form continues, stuns world champion Ding Liren in Round 7</a>

For Praggnanandhaa, the result jolted his incredible run in the tournament, having already beaten Carlsen, world number two Fabiano Caruana and world champion Ding Liren.

HERE ARE THE OVERALL STANDINGS IN OPEN SECTION AFTER ROUND 8

1. Magnus Carlsen - 14.5 
2. Hikaru Nakamura - 13.5 
3. R Praggnanandhaa 12 
4. Alireza Firoujza 11 
5. Fabiano Caruana - 9 
6. Ding Liren - 4.5

Thus, Praggnanandhaa remains in the third spot but will face another stiff challenge when he will be up against Caruana for the second time in the competition, on June 6 (Thursday). After a loss, it will be interesting to see how the 18-year-old Indian GM responds&nbsp;against Caruana, who will also be eager to settle scores against the Indian star.

Indian Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa lost to world number one Magnus Carlsen in the reverse fixture during the seventh round of the ongoing Norway Chess 2024 tournament, in Stavanger, on Tuesday (June 4).

Indian Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa lost to world number one Magnus Carlsen in the reverse fixture during the seventh round of the ongoing Norway Chess 2024 tournament, in Stavanger, on Tuesday (June 4). Carlsen managed to topple Praggnanandhaa in the Armageddon tiebreaker after the two players settled for a draw in their classical game at the premier tournament. The result serves as a big win for Carlsen, who lost to the Indian young sensation in their earlier clash in the tournament. He also took a one-point sole lead in the open section of Norway Chess. With the win, Carlsen also extended his tally to an incredible 14.5 out of 15 with White in Norway Chess. Both players mixed aggression with caution and gave a tough fight. However, the turning point proved to be when the Norwegian showcased his class with White in Armageddon tie-breaker. Praggnanandhaa put up a valiant fight and came very close to equalising, nonetheless, it wasn't enough as local favourite Carlsen got the job done and took 1.5 points from the match. Also read: Norway Chess: R Praggnanandhaa's fine form continues, stuns world champion Ding Liren in Round 7 For Praggnanandhaa, the result jolted his incredible run in the tournament, having already beaten Carlsen, world number two Fabiano Caruana and world champion Ding Liren. HERE ARE THE OVERALL STANDINGS IN OPEN SECTION AFTER ROUND 8 1. Magnus Carlsen - 14.5 2. Hikaru Nakamura - 13.5 3. R Praggnanandhaa 12 4. Alireza Firoujza 11 5. Fabiano Caruana - 9 6. Ding Liren - 4.5 Thus, Praggnanandhaa remains in the third spot but will face another stiff challenge when he will be up against Caruana for the second time in the competition, on June 6 (Thursday). After a loss, it will be interesting to see how the 18-year-old Indian GM responds against Caruana, who will also be eager to settle scores against the Indian star.

Norway Chess: In-form R Praggnanandhaa loses to Magnus Carlsen in reverse fixture

India's rising sensation R Praggnanandhaa clinched his first-ever classical win over world number one Magnus Carlsen in the third round of the Norway Chess tournament in Stavanger on Wednesday (May 29). The Indian Grandmaster (GM) took the sole lead in the open section of the six-player tournament following a landmark win at Carlsen's home turf. Playing with white pieces, the 2023 FIDE World Cup runner-up emerged on top by battling the odds to stun Carlsen.

The 18-year-old took his tally to 5.5 out of 9 points following the third round in the chess tournament in Norway. Meanwhile, America's Grandmaster Fabio Caruana settled for the second spot after taking three full points following a win over GM Ding Liren.

USA's GM Christopher Hikaru Nakamura feels the urge to take more chances against the youngster&nbsp;was the reason for Carlsen's undoing against Praggnanandhaa.

"I wish Magnus would take these chances against me or against Fabi. I have this theory that 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!" Nakamura was quoted as saying by Chess.com.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/paris-olympics-2024-boxing-federation-announces-bonus-prize-money-for-medal-winners-726854">Paris Olympics 2024: Boxing federation announces bonus prize money for medal winners</a>

Meanwhile, Praggnanandhaa was quoted as saying by Chess.com, "I kind of feel that I have enough experience at this level and I can beat these players, but I have to play my best for that and that’s what I’m trying to do. That’s kind of the mindset."

The win serves as a huge boost for Praggnanandhaa, who had lost the World Cup to Carlsen last year. With this victory, Praggnanandhaa became only the fourth Indian to beat Carlsen in classical chess.

India's rising sensation R Praggnanandhaa clinched his first-ever classical win over world number one Magnus Carlsen in the third round of the Norway Chess tournament in Stavanger on Wednesday (May 29).

India's rising sensation R Praggnanandhaa clinched his first-ever classical win over world number one Magnus Carlsen in the third round of the Norway Chess tournament in Stavanger on Wednesday (May 29). The Indian Grandmaster (GM) took the sole lead in the open section of the six-player tournament following a landmark win at Carlsen's home turf. Playing with white pieces, the 2023 FIDE World Cup runner-up emerged on top by battling the odds to stun Carlsen. The 18-year-old took his tally to 5.5 out of 9 points following the third round in the chess tournament in Norway. Meanwhile, America's Grandmaster Fabio Caruana settled for the second spot after taking three full points following a win over GM Ding Liren. USA's GM Christopher Hikaru Nakamura feels the urge to take more chances against the youngster was the reason for Carlsen's undoing against Praggnanandhaa. "I wish Magnus would take these chances against me or against Fabi. I have this theory that 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!" Nakamura was quoted as saying by Chess.com. Also read: Paris Olympics 2024: Boxing federation announces bonus prize money for medal winners Meanwhile, Praggnanandhaa was quoted as saying by Chess.com, "I kind of feel that I have enough experience at this level and I can beat these players, but I have to play my best for that and that’s what I’m trying to do. That’s kind of the mindset." The win serves as a huge boost for Praggnanandhaa, who had lost the World Cup to Carlsen last year. With this victory, Praggnanandhaa became only the fourth Indian to beat Carlsen in classical chess.

Norway Chess: R Praggnanandhaa registers maiden classical win over world number one Magnus Carlsen

Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh received a hero's welcome upon return to the country as fans swamped the Chennai airport, waiting to catch a glimpse of the youngest challenger to the world title, following his triumph at the Candidates Chess Tournament in Toronto.&nbsp;

The 17-year-old chess prodigy was greeted by hundreds of students from the&nbsp;Velammal Vidyalaya, the school where he studies. The crowd gathered an hour before his plane landed at 3 am and was immediately flanked from all sides as some garlanded the teenager.&nbsp;

"I feel very happy for this homecoming, this is a special achievement. I was in a good space since the beginning of the tournament, I had full confidence that I will emerge top in this tournament and luck was on my side as well," Gukesh told media at the airport.&nbsp;

"It's good to see so many people enjoy chess...I thank the Tamil Nadu government. I thank my Appa, Amma, coach, friends, family, sponsor and my school for being alongside me and playing an amazing role in helping me win this tournament," he added.

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VIDEO | Chess grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju received a warm welcome as he arrived at Chennai airport late last night. 
 
Gukesh became the youngest challenger to the world title following his triumph at the prestigious Candidates Chess Tournament in Toronto. 
 
(Full video available… <a href="https://t.co/17RNu5xHIm">pic.twitter.com/17RNu5xHIm</a>
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1783330409725444324?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Velammal students at the airport, all set to welcome Gukesh. <a href="https://t.co/PVVnZhg1XY">pic.twitter.com/PVVnZhg1XY</a>
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Gukesh won the Candidates after drawing the final round against USA's Hikaru Nakamura after 14 rounds, spread across three weeks.

Prior to the match, Gukesh needed a win against Nakamura to win the tournament but a draw between Fabiano Caruana and Ian Nepomniachtchi meant a draw against the American was enough for the tournament victory.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-meet-the-man-behind-d-gukeshs-meteoric-rise-714277">Watch | India: Meet the man behind D Gukesh's meteoric rise</a>

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The Indian star had entered the tournament as the third youngest behind legends Bobby Fischer and Magnus Carlsen. Gukesh, however, went one step up to win the whole tournament despite not being considered a favourite to win the tournament by many.

The youngster has a short turnaround as he gears to face&nbsp;Chinese grandmaster Ding Liren, 14 years older than him, at the World Championship match in two weeks time.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh received a hero's welcome upon return to the country as fans swamped the Chennai airport, waiting to catch a glimpse of the youngest challenger to the world title, following his triumph at the Candidates Chess Tournament in Toronto.

Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh received a hero's welcome upon return to the country as fans swamped the Chennai airport, waiting to catch a glimpse of the youngest challenger to the world title, following his triumph at the Candidates Chess Tournament in Toronto. The 17-year-old chess prodigy was greeted by hundreds of students from the Velammal Vidyalaya, the school where he studies. The crowd gathered an hour before his plane landed at 3 am and was immediately flanked from all sides as some garlanded the teenager. "I feel very happy for this homecoming, this is a special achievement. I was in a good space since the beginning of the tournament, I had full confidence that I will emerge top in this tournament and luck was on my side as well," Gukesh told media at the airport. "It's good to see so many people enjoy chess...I thank the Tamil Nadu government. I thank my Appa, Amma, coach, friends, family, sponsor and my school for being alongside me and playing an amazing role in helping me win this tournament," he added. VIDEO | Chess grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju received a warm welcome as he arrived at Chennai airport late last night. Gukesh became the youngest challenger to the world title following his triumph at the prestigious Candidates Chess Tournament in Toronto. (Full video available… pic.twitter.com/17RNu5xHIm — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 25, 2024 × Velammal students at the airport, all set to welcome Gukesh. pic.twitter.com/PVVnZhg1XY — Swaroop Swaminathan (@arseinho) April 24, 2024 × Gukesh won the Candidates after drawing the final round against USA's Hikaru Nakamura after 14 rounds, spread across three weeks. Prior to the match, Gukesh needed a win against Nakamura to win the tournament but a draw between Fabiano Caruana and Ian Nepomniachtchi meant a draw against the American was enough for the tournament victory. Watch | India: Meet the man behind D Gukesh's meteoric rise × The Indian star had entered the tournament as the third youngest behind legends Bobby Fischer and Magnus Carlsen. Gukesh, however, went one step up to win the whole tournament despite not being considered a favourite to win the tournament by many. The youngster has a short turnaround as he gears to face Chinese grandmaster Ding Liren, 14 years older than him, at the World Championship match in two weeks time. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch | Candidates champion Gukesh D receives hero's welcome upon India return

Chess great Magnus Carlsen is launching a world Freestyle Chess tour as the variant of the game, also known as Chess960, is gaining in popularity, the world number one announced on Friday. Norwegian Carlsen, a five-time classical chess world champion who relinquished his title last year, has partnered with German entrepreneur Jan Henric Buettner to set up a new, exclusive tour that will start in chess powerhouse India in November.

The prize money for the Indian leg of the tour will be $500,000, Carlsen and Buettner said in a joint statement. "Carlsen, the world's greatest chess player, and the German entrepreneur Buettner, who initiated and hosted the event, have invited the world’s top chess players to become members of their newly formed, exclusive Freestyle Chess Players Club (FCPC). At the same time, Carlsen and Buettner confirmed the launch of a worldwide Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, a series of five tournaments per year on five continents," the joint statement read.

Chess960, created by former world champion Bobby Fischer in 1996, has been gaining in popularity after an invitational tournament played at the Weissenhaus Luxury Resort, which hosted the G7 Foreign Minister summit in 2022.

In Chess960/Freestyle chess, the pieces on the back rank are reshuffled, meaning that computer-backed preparations leading to sometimes dull openings, are meaningless. The G.O.A.T. Challenge featured eight players - Carlsen and seven grandmasters handpicked by the Norwegian.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis-error-prone-coco-gauff-iga-swiatek-enter-indian-wells-semifinals-700360">Tennis: Error-prone Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek enter Indian Wells semifinals</a>

While the International Chess Federation (FIDE) has organised world championships in 2019 and 2022 - with an upcoming one this year - they were played in rapid time control while the Freestyle chess tournaments will be decided in standard time control (starting at one hour per player at least).

"In 2025 the next stop will be Germany (Weissenhaus) from February 7-14. Further Grand Slams are currently planned for summer, fall and winter 2025 in New York, Cartagena/Colombia, and Cape Town/South Africa, as well as for Australia in 2026," Buettner said, adding he was inspired by mainstream sports like Formula One and tennis.

"My personal goal for the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam is nothing short of making it as commercially successful as iconic sports events like the ATP for tennis, PGA for golf, and Formula 1 for motorsport. Central to our approach is placing the players at the forefront of our endeavours," he explained.

Chess great Magnus Carlsen is launching a world Freestyle Chess tour as the variant of the game, also known as Chess960, is gaining in popularity, the world number one announced on Friday.

Chess great Magnus Carlsen is launching a world Freestyle Chess tour as the variant of the game, also known as Chess960, is gaining in popularity, the world number one announced on Friday. Norwegian Carlsen, a five-time classical chess world champion who relinquished his title last year, has partnered with German entrepreneur Jan Henric Buettner to set up a new, exclusive tour that will start in chess powerhouse India in November. The prize money for the Indian leg of the tour will be $500,000, Carlsen and Buettner said in a joint statement. "Carlsen, the world's greatest chess player, and the German entrepreneur Buettner, who initiated and hosted the event, have invited the world’s top chess players to become members of their newly formed, exclusive Freestyle Chess Players Club (FCPC). At the same time, Carlsen and Buettner confirmed the launch of a worldwide Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, a series of five tournaments per year on five continents," the joint statement read. Chess960, created by former world champion Bobby Fischer in 1996, has been gaining in popularity after an invitational tournament played at the Weissenhaus Luxury Resort, which hosted the G7 Foreign Minister summit in 2022. In Chess960/Freestyle chess, the pieces on the back rank are reshuffled, meaning that computer-backed preparations leading to sometimes dull openings, are meaningless. The G.O.A.T. Challenge featured eight players - Carlsen and seven grandmasters handpicked by the Norwegian. Also read: Tennis: Error-prone Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek enter Indian Wells semifinals While the International Chess Federation (FIDE) has organised world championships in 2019 and 2022 - with an upcoming one this year - they were played in rapid time control while the Freestyle chess tournaments will be decided in standard time control (starting at one hour per player at least). "In 2025 the next stop will be Germany (Weissenhaus) from February 7-14. Further Grand Slams are currently planned for summer, fall and winter 2025 in New York, Cartagena/Colombia, and Cape Town/South Africa, as well as for Australia in 2026," Buettner said, adding he was inspired by mainstream sports like Formula One and tennis. "My personal goal for the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam is nothing short of making it as commercially successful as iconic sports events like the ATP for tennis, PGA for golf, and Formula 1 for motorsport. Central to our approach is placing the players at the forefront of our endeavours," he explained.

Chess: Norway's Magnus Carlsen launches Freestyle tour, India first on list

American chess grandmaster&nbsp;Hans Niemann has denied using a 'sex toy' for cheating in the Sinquefield Cup against Magnus Carlsen in September 2022. Niemann had won the game but was accused of cheating by Carlsen.

In a recent chat with Piers Morgan, Neimann "categorically" denied the allegations categorically and said that 'it is very disheartening to be accused of cheating after a victory.'&nbsp;

"These things happen and I managed to learn a lot during that time and it really has taught me a lot of very important lessons about life and chess," Niemann said.

Morgan asked the American about the cheating allegations (that Niemann was getting signals from someone through the remote-controlled sex toy) in as many words, asking: "To be clear, on the specific allegation - have you ever used anal beads while playing chess?"

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ben-stokes-says-not-arrogant-to-consider-england-odi-world-cup-title-contender-640096">Ben Stokes says 'not arrogant' to consider England ODI World Cup title contender</a>

Th 20-year-old also replied with pinpoint accuracy of words: "Well, your curiosity is a bit concerning, you know - maybe you're personally interested, but I can tell you, no.

"Categorically, no, of course not."

The accusation from Carlsen led to a bitter war of words between the two players which eventually reached the court of law in October 2022.

An out-of-court settlement was struck between the two parties last month worth $100 million.

Apart from Carlsen, Chess.com, an online platform, was also sued by Niemann for saying that he 'likely' cheated in more than 100 games online.

The platform said so after doing their own investigation.

While Niemann had admitted to cheating twice while aged 12 and 16, he profusely denied cheating in the Sinquefield Cup or any in-person game.

Other than Carlsen, Niemann had also sued Hikaru Nakamura whom Niemann had accused of "amplifying and attempting to bolster Carlsen's false cheating allegations." 
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American chess grandmaster Hans Niemann has denied using a 'sex toy' for cheating in the Sinquefield Cup against Magnus Carlsen in September 2022. Niemann had won the game but was accused of cheating by Carlsen.

American chess grandmaster Hans Niemann has denied using a 'sex toy' for cheating in the Sinquefield Cup against Magnus Carlsen in September 2022. Niemann had won the game but was accused of cheating by Carlsen. In a recent chat with Piers Morgan, Neimann "categorically" denied the allegations categorically and said that 'it is very disheartening to be accused of cheating after a victory.' "These things happen and I managed to learn a lot during that time and it really has taught me a lot of very important lessons about life and chess," Niemann said. Morgan asked the American about the cheating allegations (that Niemann was getting signals from someone through the remote-controlled sex toy) in as many words, asking: "To be clear, on the specific allegation - have you ever used anal beads while playing chess?" Also Read: Ben Stokes says 'not arrogant' to consider England ODI World Cup title contender Th 20-year-old also replied with pinpoint accuracy of words: "Well, your curiosity is a bit concerning, you know - maybe you're personally interested, but I can tell you, no. "Categorically, no, of course not." The accusation from Carlsen led to a bitter war of words between the two players which eventually reached the court of law in October 2022. An out-of-court settlement was struck between the two parties last month worth $100 million. Apart from Carlsen, Chess.com, an online platform, was also sued by Niemann for saying that he 'likely' cheated in more than 100 games online. The platform said so after doing their own investigation. While Niemann had admitted to cheating twice while aged 12 and 16, he profusely denied cheating in the Sinquefield Cup or any in-person game. Other than Carlsen, Niemann had also sued Hikaru Nakamura whom Niemann had accused of "amplifying and attempting to bolster Carlsen's false cheating allegations." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Hans Niemann, US chess player, denies using sex toy for cheating in game against Magnus Carlsen

India's teen chess prodigy Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa arrived in his home town Chennai on Wednesday, August 30 after winning a silver at the Chess World Cup. The tournament, which was held in Baku, Azerbaijan saw Praggananandhaa become only the second Indian to enter the final of Chess World Cup after Viswanathan Anand.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wasim-akram-and-sanath-jayasuriya-in-awe-of-lanka-premier-league-for-a-successful-2023-edition-630522">Wasim Akram and Sanath Jayasuriya in awe of Lanka Premier League for a successful 2023 edition</a>

The young star was thrilled with the rousing welcome he received which included hundreds of fans and reporters. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development Udhayanidhi Stalin also met the chess star at his residence on August 30 to reward him with INR 3 million&nbsp;and a memento for his achievement.

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அஜர்பைஜான் நாட்டில் நடைபெற்ற FIDE உலக கோப்பை செஸ் சாம்பியன்ஷிப் போட்டியில் சிறப்பாக விளையாடி இரண்டாவது இடத்தை பெற்று சாதனை படைத்த செஸ் கிராண்ட் மாஸ்டர் <a href="https://twitter.com/rpragchess?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rpragchess</a> அவர்களை பாராட்டி ஊக்குவிக்கும் விதமாக உயரிய ஊக்கத் தொகையான ரூ. 30 இலட்சத்திற்கான காசோலை மற்றும் நினைவுப் பரிசை… <a href="https://t.co/QTM4OIPeU5">pic.twitter.com/QTM4OIPeU5</a>
— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMOTamilnadu/status/1696792178805330393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Speaking on the reception, the chess star said, "I am very happy. I am thrilled to see people coming here and recognising chess. This tells us that chess is growing as a sport. I feel like I got a breakthrough. My main aim was to qualify for the Candidates at the World Cup and I am very happy that I achieved the goal," Praggnanandhaa told media outlet Puthiya Thalaimurai.

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He might be thinking: It is easier to face Magnus Carlsen. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pragg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pragg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chess?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chess</a> ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/rpragchess?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rpragchess</a>⁩ <a href="https://t.co/TTiSXyBuxx">pic.twitter.com/TTiSXyBuxx</a>
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Praggnanandhaa may have lost to world champion Magnus Carlsen in the game of gold but on his way to the final he did beat recognised stars namely Hikaru Nakamura and Fabia Caruana. Praggnanandhaa, in the final showdown against Carlsen, did well to take the game to the tie-breakers but eventually had to settle with the silver. His exploits, nonetheless got him much appreciation from all quarters of game.

With the second place finish in Chess World Cup, Praggnanandhaa also secured a place in the 2024 Candidates Tournament to determine the challenger in 2024 World Chess Championship. As for his next assignment, Praggnanadhaa will be heading to Germany to participate in World Rapid Chess.

The chess prodigy will again be in the spotlight as he has achieved the remarkable feat to beating the then-world champion Magnus Carlsen in a rapid chess game in February 2022 during Airthings Masters Rapid Chess Tournament. 
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India's teen chess prodigy Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa arrived in his home town Chennai on Wednesday, August 30 after winning a silver at the Chess World Cup. The tournament, which was held in Baku, Azerbaijan saw Praggananandhaa become only the second Indian to enter the final of Chess World Cup after Viswanathan Anand.

India's teen chess prodigy Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa arrived in his home town Chennai on Wednesday, August 30 after winning a silver at the Chess World Cup. The tournament, which was held in Baku, Azerbaijan saw Praggananandhaa become only the second Indian to enter the final of Chess World Cup after Viswanathan Anand. Also Read: Wasim Akram and Sanath Jayasuriya in awe of Lanka Premier League for a successful 2023 edition The young star was thrilled with the rousing welcome he received which included hundreds of fans and reporters. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development Udhayanidhi Stalin also met the chess star at his residence on August 30 to reward him with INR 3 million and a memento for his achievement. அஜர்பைஜான் நாட்டில் நடைபெற்ற FIDE உலக கோப்பை செஸ் சாம்பியன்ஷிப் போட்டியில் சிறப்பாக விளையாடி இரண்டாவது இடத்தை பெற்று சாதனை படைத்த செஸ் கிராண்ட் மாஸ்டர் @rpragchess அவர்களை பாராட்டி ஊக்குவிக்கும் விதமாக உயரிய ஊக்கத் தொகையான ரூ. 30 இலட்சத்திற்கான காசோலை மற்றும் நினைவுப் பரிசை… pic.twitter.com/QTM4OIPeU5 — CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) August 30, 2023 × Speaking on the reception, the chess star said, "I am very happy. I am thrilled to see people coming here and recognising chess. This tells us that chess is growing as a sport. I feel like I got a breakthrough. My main aim was to qualify for the Candidates at the World Cup and I am very happy that I achieved the goal," Praggnanandhaa told media outlet Puthiya Thalaimurai. He might be thinking: It is easier to face Magnus Carlsen. #Pragg #Chess ⁦@rpragchess⁩ pic.twitter.com/TTiSXyBuxx — T.N. Raghu (@tnrags) August 30, 2023 × Praggnanandhaa may have lost to world champion Magnus Carlsen in the game of gold but on his way to the final he did beat recognised stars namely Hikaru Nakamura and Fabia Caruana. Praggnanandhaa, in the final showdown against Carlsen, did well to take the game to the tie-breakers but eventually had to settle with the silver. His exploits, nonetheless got him much appreciation from all quarters of game. With the second place finish in Chess World Cup, Praggnanandhaa also secured a place in the 2024 Candidates Tournament to determine the challenger in 2024 World Chess Championship. As for his next assignment, Praggnanadhaa will be heading to Germany to participate in World Rapid Chess. The chess prodigy will again be in the spotlight as he has achieved the remarkable feat to beating the then-world champion Magnus Carlsen in a rapid chess game in February 2022 during Airthings Masters Rapid Chess Tournament. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India's chess star R. Praggnanadhaa gets rousing welcome upon return, rewarded by Tamil Nadu CM Stalin

Norway's Magnus Carlsen and U.S.&nbsp;chess&nbsp;prodigy Hans Niemann, whom the former world champion accused of cheating last year, have resolved their dispute outside court, online platform&nbsp;Chess.com said on Monday. Niemann, 20, filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit against Carlsen,&nbsp;Chess.com and U.S. grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura last October after allegations that he had cheated.

A U.S. judge dismissed the lawsuit in June. Chess.com said all parties had agreed to move forward without any further litigation. The platform added that Niemann's account has been reinstated and he is welcome to play at future events. "I look forward to competing against Magnus in&nbsp;chess&nbsp;rather than in court," Niemann said. The legal battle stemmed from Niemann's upset victory over Carlsen, who has been the world's top-ranked player for over a decade, at the prestigious Sinquefield Cup tournament in St. Louis, Missouri, in September 2022.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/rameshbabu-praggnanandhaa-from-chess-enthusiasts-to-world-cup-runner-up-at-18-629038">Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa: From Chess enthusiast to World Cup runner-up at 18</a>

Carlsen, 32, withdrew from the tournament and later claimed Niemann had cheated, which the American denied.&nbsp;Chess.com banned Niemann and later published a report saying he had likely cheated more than 100 times in online games. Niemann has admitted to cheating online when he was 12 and 16-years-old, but denied any wrongdoing while contesting over-the-board games.

Chess.com said on Monday it stood by its findings in the report, "including that we found no determinative evidence that he has cheated in any in-person games". Weeks after the Sinquefield Cup, Carlsen refused to play in an online game against Niemann, opting instead to resign after just one move. "I acknowledge and understand&nbsp;Chess.com's report, including its statement that there is no determinative evidence that Niemann cheated in his game against me at the Sinquefield Cup," five-time world champion Carlsen said. "I am willing to play Niemann in future events, should we be paired together."

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Norway's Magnus Carlsen and U.S. chess prodigy Hans Niemann, whom the former world champion accused of cheating last year, have resolved their dispute outside court, online platform Chess.

Norway's Magnus Carlsen and U.S. chess prodigy Hans Niemann, whom the former world champion accused of cheating last year, have resolved their dispute outside court, online platform Chess.com said on Monday. Niemann, 20, filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit against Carlsen, Chess.com and U.S. grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura last October after allegations that he had cheated. A U.S. judge dismissed the lawsuit in June. Chess.com said all parties had agreed to move forward without any further litigation. The platform added that Niemann's account has been reinstated and he is welcome to play at future events. "I look forward to competing against Magnus in chess rather than in court," Niemann said. The legal battle stemmed from Niemann's upset victory over Carlsen, who has been the world's top-ranked player for over a decade, at the prestigious Sinquefield Cup tournament in St. Louis, Missouri, in September 2022. Also read: Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa: From Chess enthusiast to World Cup runner-up at 18 Carlsen, 32, withdrew from the tournament and later claimed Niemann had cheated, which the American denied. Chess.com banned Niemann and later published a report saying he had likely cheated more than 100 times in online games. Niemann has admitted to cheating online when he was 12 and 16-years-old, but denied any wrongdoing while contesting over-the-board games. Chess.com said on Monday it stood by its findings in the report, "including that we found no determinative evidence that he has cheated in any in-person games". Weeks after the Sinquefield Cup, Carlsen refused to play in an online game against Niemann, opting instead to resign after just one move. "I acknowledge and understand Chess.com's report, including its statement that there is no determinative evidence that Niemann cheated in his game against me at the Sinquefield Cup," five-time world champion Carlsen said. "I am willing to play Niemann in future events, should we be paired together." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Magnus Carlsen, Hans Niemann bury chess hatchet, ready to face off again

Indian chess prodigy Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa has created a lot of buzz after becoming only the second India after Viswanathan Anand to reach the World Chess Final. The chess player, nicknamed Praggu, is currently at 1-1 in the 2023 final and has pushed World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen to tie-breaker.&nbsp;

Praggnanandhaa is also the youngest Indian grand master after he achieved the feat in 2018 aged 12. Here are five things to know about this extraordinary chess champion from India:

<h2>R Praggnanandhaa and his family</h2>

Praggnanandhaa was born in Chennai on August 10, 2005 to Rameshbabu and Nagalaxmi. His elder sister Vaishali is also a chess player and has been a youth champion twice.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-tendulkar-lead-wishes-from-sports-fraternity-after-chandrayaan-3s-successful-moon-landing-628426">Kohli, Rohit, Tendulkar lead wishes from sports fraternity after Chandrayaan-3's successful Moon Landing</a>

<h2>When did Praggnanandhaa start playing chess?</h2>

After developing interest in the game seeing his sister play, the first success for the chess prodigy came in 2013 when he won the Under-8 World Youth Chess Championship at the age of 7. The win got him the title of FIDE Master. The player won the title again in 2015 in U-10 category.

<h2>International recognition for Praggnanandhaa</h2>

Praggnanandhaa became the Youngest International Master in 2016 aged 10 years 10 months and 19 days. Next year in 2017 he won his first Grandmaster Norm at the World Junior Chess Championship.

<h2>Second youngest Grand Master</h2>

In the year 2018 Praggnanandhaa became the second youngest Grand Master after achieving the feat at the age of 12 years, 10 months and 13 days. He beat Luco Moroni in Gredine Open in Italy to get to the remarkable feat.

<h2>Beating Magnus Carlsen</h2>

In the year 2022, Praggnanandhaa, at the online Airthings Masters, became only the third Indian after Viswanathan Anand and Pentala Harikrishna to beat World Champion Magnus Carlsen. He was the youngest to beat the reigning world champion.

<h2>Becomes second Indian to reach Chess World Cup final</h2>

Aged 18, Praggnanandhaa beat world no. 3 Fabiano Caruana in the tie-breaker to reach the FIDE World Cup final. He became only the second Indian to achieve the feat after Viswanathan Anand.&nbsp; 
 
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Indian chess prodigy Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa has created a lot of buzz after becoming only the second India after Viswanathan Anand to reach the World Chess Final.

Indian chess prodigy Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa has created a lot of buzz after becoming only the second India after Viswanathan Anand to reach the World Chess Final. The chess player, nicknamed Praggu, is currently at 1-1 in the 2023 final and has pushed World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen to tie-breaker. Praggnanandhaa is also the youngest Indian grand master after he achieved the feat in 2018 aged 12. Here are five things to know about this extraordinary chess champion from India: R Praggnanandhaa and his family Praggnanandhaa was born in Chennai on August 10, 2005 to Rameshbabu and Nagalaxmi. His elder sister Vaishali is also a chess player and has been a youth champion twice. Also Read: Kohli, Rohit, Tendulkar lead wishes from sports fraternity after Chandrayaan-3's successful Moon Landing When did Praggnanandhaa start playing chess? After developing interest in the game seeing his sister play, the first success for the chess prodigy came in 2013 when he won the Under-8 World Youth Chess Championship at the age of 7. The win got him the title of FIDE Master. The player won the title again in 2015 in U-10 category. International recognition for Praggnanandhaa Praggnanandhaa became the Youngest International Master in 2016 aged 10 years 10 months and 19 days. Next year in 2017 he won his first Grandmaster Norm at the World Junior Chess Championship. Second youngest Grand Master In the year 2018 Praggnanandhaa became the second youngest Grand Master after achieving the feat at the age of 12 years, 10 months and 13 days. He beat Luco Moroni in Gredine Open in Italy to get to the remarkable feat. Beating Magnus Carlsen In the year 2022, Praggnanandhaa, at the online Airthings Masters, became only the third Indian after Viswanathan Anand and Pentala Harikrishna to beat World Champion Magnus Carlsen. He was the youngest to beat the reigning world champion. Becomes second Indian to reach Chess World Cup final Aged 18, Praggnanandhaa beat world no. 3 Fabiano Caruana in the tie-breaker to reach the FIDE World Cup final. He became only the second Indian to achieve the feat after Viswanathan Anand. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Who is R Praggnanandhaa? The prodigy who took chess world by storm - All you need to know

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa's dream run in the FIDE World Cup ended at the hands of world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, who beat him 1.5-0.5 in the tie-break here on Thursday after the classical games ended in a stalemate.

The second 25+10 tie-break game ended in a draw in 22 moves as the Norwegian legend played it safe after he had won the first, displaying his end-game skills.

It was Carlsen's first World Cup triumph, having won the World Championship five times.

Meanwhile, speaking with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo,&nbsp;Pravin Thipsay, another Indian Grandmaster, lauded&nbsp;Carlsen, saying,&nbsp;"Magnus Carlsen has shown that he can beat any player in the world even in an equal position. He has a special knack for avoiding an immediate draw."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/gautam-gambhir-vouches-for-t10-format-says-it-has-its-challenges-but-is-entertaining-too-628766">Gautam Gambhir vouches for T10 format, says it has its challenges but is entertaining too</a>

Carlsen overcame a stiff challenge from his 18-year-old Indian opponent in the first tie-break game, winning it in 45 moves. He overcame the problems he encountered due to Praggnanandhaa's enterprising play to turn the tables and seize the advantage.

The two classical games on Tuesday and Wednesday had ended in draws forcing the final to a tie-break.

Praggnanandhaa enjoyed an incredible run in the tournament, having beaten world No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura and world No. 3 Fabiano Caruana to set up a final date against Carlsen.

The results in the ongoing tournament also helped Praggnanandhaa qualify for Candidates 2024 tournament, which will be held in Canada.

Praggnanandhaa, thus, became the third youngest player after the legendary Bobby Fischer and Carlsen to qualify for the Candidates tournament.

<h2>Stars wish Indian prodigy</h2>

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa could not win his maiden World Cup but made India proud at the top level. Some famous cricket stars lauded him and wished him good luck in future endeavours.

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Hold your head high Praggnanandhaa. The whole nation is proud of you 🇮🇳🫡<a href="https://twitter.com/rpragchess?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rpragchess</a> <a href="https://t.co/YqUAOiNl6u">pic.twitter.com/YqUAOiNl6u</a>
— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) <a href="https://twitter.com/yuzi_chahal/status/1694685664166732160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
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(With inputs from PTI) 
 
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Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa's dream run in the FIDE World Cup ended at the hands of world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, who beat him 1.5-0.5 in the tie-break here on Thursday after the classical games ended in a stalemate.

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa's dream run in the FIDE World Cup ended at the hands of world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, who beat him 1.5-0.5 in the tie-break here on Thursday after the classical games ended in a stalemate. The second 25+10 tie-break game ended in a draw in 22 moves as the Norwegian legend played it safe after he had won the first, displaying his end-game skills. It was Carlsen's first World Cup triumph, having won the World Championship five times. Meanwhile, speaking with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, Pravin Thipsay, another Indian Grandmaster, lauded Carlsen, saying, "Magnus Carlsen has shown that he can beat any player in the world even in an equal position. He has a special knack for avoiding an immediate draw." ALSO READ: Gautam Gambhir vouches for T10 format, says it has its challenges but is entertaining too Carlsen overcame a stiff challenge from his 18-year-old Indian opponent in the first tie-break game, winning it in 45 moves. He overcame the problems he encountered due to Praggnanandhaa's enterprising play to turn the tables and seize the advantage. The two classical games on Tuesday and Wednesday had ended in draws forcing the final to a tie-break. Praggnanandhaa enjoyed an incredible run in the tournament, having beaten world No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura and world No. 3 Fabiano Caruana to set up a final date against Carlsen. The results in the ongoing tournament also helped Praggnanandhaa qualify for Candidates 2024 tournament, which will be held in Canada. Praggnanandhaa, thus, became the third youngest player after the legendary Bobby Fischer and Carlsen to qualify for the Candidates tournament. Stars wish Indian prodigy Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa could not win his maiden World Cup but made India proud at the top level. Some famous cricket stars lauded him and wished him good luck in future endeavours. Hold your head high Praggnanandhaa. The whole nation is proud of you 🇮🇳🫡@rpragchess pic.twitter.com/YqUAOiNl6u — Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) August 24, 2023 × (With inputs from PTI) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Chess: Magnus Carlsen wins 2023 FIDE World Cup despite Indian prodigy R Praggnanandhaa's tough fight

Tension is rising high as the FIDE Chess World Cup final has moved into a tiebreak between Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa of India and Magnus Carlsen of Norway which will take place&nbsp;on Thursday, August 24. With the attention of the chess fraternity on the big contest, All India Chess Federation (AICF) president Sanjay Kapoor has praised 19-year-old Praggnanandhaa for playing on par with Carlsen. The duo drew the opening two games of the final and will head to the tiebreak on Thursday.

<h2>Praggnanandhaa on par</h2>

"Today, Carlsen had white pieces and Praggnanandhaa had black. Magnus could have been aggressive and taken his chances. But he did not. It is a great feat for our young Turk Prag (Praggnanandhaa). When you see a young player like him do so well, draw games against Magnus, it means that he is playing on par with him," said the AICF chief in an interview with ANI.

The first game between Praggnanandhaa and Carlsen ended in a draw after 35 moves on Tuesday where the Indian started with white pieces. The Indian Grandmaster had an early advantage in the contest, but Carlsen made a storming return before they shook hands for a draw.

In the second game on Wednesday, Carlsen started with the white pieces and gained an advantage. However, Praggnanandhaa’s slow resolute approach saw him keep calm before settling for a draw after 30 moves. The second draw has seen the World Cup final move into the tiebreak that will take place on Thursday.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-win-t20i-series-2-0-against-ireland-after-third-match-washes-away-with-rain-628487">India win T20I series 2-0 against Ireland as heavy rain washes away third match</a>

"In the Olympiad last year, we had the podium finish in both men's and women's team events (Bronze medal in both categories). It has never happened before. Now our young Turks have started to show the results. India has started showing great results after a long time. Everyone knows our champion, Vishy (Vishwanathan Anand), but now I feel that our Chess future is bright. Superb performance by them, and great admiration for all who went to the quarterfinals. Losing or winning one game does not define you. Having four out of eight quarterfinalists as Indians is a matter of pride," said Sanjay.

Praggnanandhaa is India’s youngest participant in the Chess World Cup final while he is the third youngest to overall make the final. He could join legendary Vishwanathan Anand&nbsp;in the history books if he wins the World Cup final.

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Tension is rising high as the FIDE Chess World Cup final has moved into a tiebreak between Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa of India and Magnus Carlsen of Norway which will take place on Thursday, August 24.

Tension is rising high as the FIDE Chess World Cup final has moved into a tiebreak between Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa of India and Magnus Carlsen of Norway which will take place on Thursday, August 24. With the attention of the chess fraternity on the big contest, All India Chess Federation (AICF) president Sanjay Kapoor has praised 19-year-old Praggnanandhaa for playing on par with Carlsen. The duo drew the opening two games of the final and will head to the tiebreak on Thursday. Praggnanandhaa on par "Today, Carlsen had white pieces and Praggnanandhaa had black. Magnus could have been aggressive and taken his chances. But he did not. It is a great feat for our young Turk Prag (Praggnanandhaa). When you see a young player like him do so well, draw games against Magnus, it means that he is playing on par with him," said the AICF chief in an interview with ANI. The first game between Praggnanandhaa and Carlsen ended in a draw after 35 moves on Tuesday where the Indian started with white pieces. The Indian Grandmaster had an early advantage in the contest, but Carlsen made a storming return before they shook hands for a draw. In the second game on Wednesday, Carlsen started with the white pieces and gained an advantage. However, Praggnanandhaa’s slow resolute approach saw him keep calm before settling for a draw after 30 moves. The second draw has seen the World Cup final move into the tiebreak that will take place on Thursday. ALSO READ | India win T20I series 2-0 against Ireland as heavy rain washes away third match "In the Olympiad last year, we had the podium finish in both men's and women's team events (Bronze medal in both categories). It has never happened before. Now our young Turks have started to show the results. India has started showing great results after a long time. Everyone knows our champion, Vishy (Vishwanathan Anand), but now I feel that our Chess future is bright. Superb performance by them, and great admiration for all who went to the quarterfinals. Losing or winning one game does not define you. Having four out of eight quarterfinalists as Indians is a matter of pride," said Sanjay. Praggnanandhaa is India’s youngest participant in the Chess World Cup final while he is the third youngest to overall make the final. He could join legendary Vishwanathan Anand in the history books if he wins the World Cup final. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

AICF chief Sanjay Kapoor in awe of R Praggnanandhaa, says 'he played on par with Magnus Carlsen'

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa drew the second classical game of the final of the FIDE World Cup against world No.1 Magnus Carlsen in Baku on Wednesday, August 23.

The two players settled for a quiet draw in 30 moves after one-and-a-half hours of play in game two. The champion will be decided in the tie-breaks on Thursday.

Carlsen played a solid game with white pieces against Praggnanandhaa. The teenaged Indian did not face any troubles with black pieces, with the players agreeing to a draw after 30 moves in an equal Bishop ending.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/golf-pga-tour-chief-jay-monahan-confident-of-meeting-december-deadline-for-saudi-deal-628333">Golf: PGA Tour chief Jay Monahan confident of meeting December deadline for Saudi deal</a>

The first game on Tuesday had ended in a stalemate after over four hours of play and 70-plus moves, following which Carlsen said he was a bit under the weather.

The 18-year-old Praggnanandhaa had stunned world No. 3 Fabiano Caruana on Monday via the tie-break in the semifinals to set up a summit clash with Carlsen at the World Cup.

Praggnanandhaa, thus, became the third youngest player after the legendary Bobby Fischer and Carlsen to qualify for the Candidates tournament.

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Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa drew the second classical game of the final of the FIDE World Cup against world No.1 Magnus Carlsen in Baku on Wednesday, August 23.

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa drew the second classical game of the final of the FIDE World Cup against world No.1 Magnus Carlsen in Baku on Wednesday, August 23. The two players settled for a quiet draw in 30 moves after one-and-a-half hours of play in game two. The champion will be decided in the tie-breaks on Thursday. Carlsen played a solid game with white pieces against Praggnanandhaa. The teenaged Indian did not face any troubles with black pieces, with the players agreeing to a draw after 30 moves in an equal Bishop ending. Also Read: Golf: PGA Tour chief Jay Monahan confident of meeting December deadline for Saudi deal The first game on Tuesday had ended in a stalemate after over four hours of play and 70-plus moves, following which Carlsen said he was a bit under the weather. The 18-year-old Praggnanandhaa had stunned world No. 3 Fabiano Caruana on Monday via the tie-break in the semifinals to set up a summit clash with Carlsen at the World Cup. Praggnanandhaa, thus, became the third youngest player after the legendary Bobby Fischer and Carlsen to qualify for the Candidates tournament. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Chess World Cup: Praggnanandhaa, Magnus Carlsen play second consecutive draw, final heads to tie-breaker

The first game of the Chess World Cup 2023 final between Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa of India and Magnus Carlsen of Norway ended in a draw on Tuesday (Aug&nbsp;22). As a result, the duo will now meet again on Wednesday in game two to decide the winner of the ongoing Chess World Cup final in Baku. The draw occurred after 35 moves as the Indian will now turn to black pieces for the second game having started with white on Tuesday.

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The first game of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIDEWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIDEWorldCup</a> final between Praggnanandhaa and Magnus Carlsen ends in a draw after 35 moves. 
Magnus will be White in tomorrow's second classical game. 
 
📷 Stev Bonhage <a href="https://t.co/UXpcbQxIfN">pic.twitter.com/UXpcbQxIfN</a>
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIDE_chess/status/1693985012729913691?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Early dominance from Praggnanandhaa</h2>

After starting with white pieces, 18-year-old Praggnanandhaa established an early dominance as he had an advantage of 20 minutes over veteran Carlsen during the ninth move of the contest. Praggnanandhaa’s offensive push forced Carlsen to take his time before he stormed back into the contest. It took over 15 minutes for the Norwegian Grandmaster to push for the 13th move in the game. It took him 27 minutes to think and deliver the 13th move to stop Praggnanandhaa from gaining any advantage.

However, precise thinking and quickfire moves from the five-time World Champion saw his emphatic return in the game. The Indian was put on the back foot as he took time to push for further moves. With time no longer his friend, Praggnanandhaa’s early time advantage was wiped out as Carlsen started to dominate during the final few moves.

However, with the contest reaching nowhere, both Grandmasters decided to shake hands and move to game two. It took 35 moves for both to come to the conclusion of a draw.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-a-look-at-indias-fairytale-dominance-over-pakistan-in-odi-world-cup-627968">IN PICS | A look at India's FAIRYTALE dominance over Pakistan in ODI World Cup</a>

"It'll be a fight. He'll definitely push very hard. I'll try to rest and come fresh, I think that's the best I can do,” Praggnanandhaa said after game one.

"Normally, I would just probably have a bit of an advantage having a rest day while he had to play a tough tiebreak yesterday, but I've been in a pretty rough shape the last couple of days. I got some food poisoning after the game against Abasov. I haven't been able to eat for the last two days. This also meant that I was really calm cause I had no energy to be nervous,” said Carlsen after conclusion of the contest.

The duo will meet again on Wednesday in the second game with Carlsen set to start with white pieces.

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The first game of the Chess World Cup 2023 final between Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa of India and Magnus Carlsen of Norway ended in a draw on Tuesday (Aug 22). As a result, the duo will now meet again on Wednesday in game two to decide the winner of the ongoing Chess World Cup final in Baku.

The first game of the Chess World Cup 2023 final between Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa of India and Magnus Carlsen of Norway ended in a draw on Tuesday (Aug 22). As a result, the duo will now meet again on Wednesday in game two to decide the winner of the ongoing Chess World Cup final in Baku. The draw occurred after 35 moves as the Indian will now turn to black pieces for the second game having started with white on Tuesday. The first game of the #FIDEWorldCup final between Praggnanandhaa and Magnus Carlsen ends in a draw after 35 moves. Magnus will be White in tomorrow's second classical game. 📷 Stev Bonhage pic.twitter.com/UXpcbQxIfN — International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) August 22, 2023 × Early dominance from Praggnanandhaa After starting with white pieces, 18-year-old Praggnanandhaa established an early dominance as he had an advantage of 20 minutes over veteran Carlsen during the ninth move of the contest. Praggnanandhaa’s offensive push forced Carlsen to take his time before he stormed back into the contest. It took over 15 minutes for the Norwegian Grandmaster to push for the 13th move in the game. It took him 27 minutes to think and deliver the 13th move to stop Praggnanandhaa from gaining any advantage. However, precise thinking and quickfire moves from the five-time World Champion saw his emphatic return in the game. The Indian was put on the back foot as he took time to push for further moves. With time no longer his friend, Praggnanandhaa’s early time advantage was wiped out as Carlsen started to dominate during the final few moves. However, with the contest reaching nowhere, both Grandmasters decided to shake hands and move to game two. It took 35 moves for both to come to the conclusion of a draw. ALSO READ | IN PICS | A look at India's FAIRYTALE dominance over Pakistan in ODI World Cup "It'll be a fight. He'll definitely push very hard. I'll try to rest and come fresh, I think that's the best I can do,” Praggnanandhaa said after game one. "Normally, I would just probably have a bit of an advantage having a rest day while he had to play a tough tiebreak yesterday, but I've been in a pretty rough shape the last couple of days. I got some food poisoning after the game against Abasov. I haven't been able to eat for the last two days. This also meant that I was really calm cause I had no energy to be nervous,” said Carlsen after conclusion of the contest. The duo will meet again on Wednesday in the second game with Carlsen set to start with white pieces. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Chess World Cup 2023: Praggnanandhaa, Carlsen first game ends in draw despite early dominance from Indian

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