Indian players had a mixed but notable outing in the seventh round of Norway Chess 2026 at Deichman Bjørvika in Oslo, with both wins and missed chances shaping the day’s action. Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa delivered one of the standout performances in the open section, beating Alireza Firouzja in the classical game for the second consecutive round. Playing with white, Praggnanandhaa built a strong position and kept pressure on Firouzja, who eventually ran short of time and lost after 51 moves. The result gave Praggnanandhaa three points and underlined his growing confidence in the tournament.
World champion D. Gukesh also added to India’s tally, although his win came in the Armageddon tiebreak rather than the classical game. Against American grandmaster Wesley So, Gukesh missed a chance to convert in the classical encounter but recovered well to claim the extra point in the faster decider. So remains the leader on 12.5 points despite the loss, while Firouzja is second, 2.5 points behind.
World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen kept himself close to the front with a hard-fought day against Vincent Keymer. Their classical game ended in a draw after neither player could find a decisive breakthrough. Carlsen then won the Armageddon game to secure the additional points and stay within reach of the leaders as the event heads into its closing stages.
In the women’s section, Bibisara Assaubayeva strengthened her position at the top of the standings with a convincing win over Zhu Jiner. Assaubayeva, playing with white, came through a difficult middlegame and converted her advantage with composure. Her victory moved her lead to 2.5 points, giving her a clear advantage as the tournament enters its final stretch.
Indian woman grandmaster Divya Deshmukh continued her impressive run by defeating compatriot Koneru Humpy in the tiebreak. Divya had earlier missed an opportunity to finish the classical game with a win, but she made the most of the Armageddon format to edge past the more experienced Humpy. The result left Humpy at the bottom of the standings, while Divya’s strong performance further boosted her reputation in the event.
Elsewhere in the women’s competition, reigning women’s world champion Ju Wenjun lost to Anna Muzychuk in Armageddon after a balanced battle in the classical game. The seventh round again highlighted the tight margins and high-pressure finish that define Norway Chess, where both classical strength and tiebreak nerve are proving decisive.
Overall, the seventh round brought encouraging results for several Indian players, especially Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh and Divya, even as the leaders in both sections continued to separate themselves from the field.
