Praggnanandhaa Stuns Carlsen Twice, Equals Anand’s 19-Year-Old Milestone

Praggnanandhaa joins Anand in rare club after second win over Magnus Carlsen at Norway Chess

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa etched his name alongside Vishwanathan Anand after defeating Magnus Carlsen for the second time at the ongoing Norway Chess tournament, becoming the first player in 19 years to beat the Norwegian superstar twice in the same classical event.

The 20-year-old from Chennai, who had stunned Carlsen with the white pieces in the third round on May 27, completed a remarkable double on Wednesday by overcoming the former world champion with black in Round 8. The feat gains added significance considering Praggnanandhaa had also defeated Carlsen during the 2024 edition of the tournament.

According to tournament records, the last player to register two classical wins over Carlsen in a single event was Indian chess icon Vishwanathan Anand at the Linares tournament in 2007.

Despite the historic achievement, Praggnanandhaa remained measured in his response, choosing to focus on the tournament standings rather than the stature of his opponent.

“More than beating Magnus, I think winning a game in this tournament is more important at this stage. So I’m happy that I managed to do that,” he told ChessBase India after the match.

The young Indian also praised Carlsen’s resilience, admitting that the Norwegian defended resourcefully for most of the contest and appeared capable of securing a draw.

“He was actually playing really well and defending extremely well. Many players would start making small positional mistakes, but he kept finding the right moves. At one stage, I genuinely thought the game would end in a draw. It was surprising that he blundered because he had defended so well until then,” Praggnanandhaa said.

The victory has strengthened Praggnanandhaa’s position in the title race heading into the final stages of the prestigious event. While pleased with his overall play, the Indian grandmaster identified time management as the one aspect he wants to improve.

“In general, I feel like I’m playing well. The only thing is that the time scrambles haven’t really gone my way. I’ll try to keep more time on the clock and continue playing the way I’ve been playing in the last few games,” he said.

After a scheduled rest day, Praggnanandhaa will return for the final two rounds, beginning with a high-profile all-Indian clash against reigning world champion D Gukesh. He will then conclude his campaign against Germany’s Vincent Keymer.

With two rounds remaining, Praggnanandhaa sits third in the standings on 12 points, trailing leader Wesley So (14) and Alireza Firouzja (13). The Indian remains firmly in contention for the title and will be aiming for a strong finish to cap off an impressive tournament.