After a disappointing start to Norway Chess 2026, D Gukesh bounced back in style to defeat compatriot R Praggnanandhaa. Heading into the clash, the 20-year-old was struggling at the bottom of the table with just 3.5 points; however, the classical win over Praggnanandhaa pushed him to third position with 6.5 points. It wasn’t an easy game for Gukesh, who came back from behind to stun Praggnanandhaa.
Playing with the white pieces, Praggnanandhaa initially gained an advantage, establishing space on the board with an advanced c5–c6 pawn chain and active queenside play. Despite a poor start, Gukesh responded energetically in the center with a 32…e5 counterstrike and launched a tactical kingside assault using 34…g5 and 37…g4.
The game reached its critical phase after 33.d5, where Gukesh brilliantly sacrificed material for the initiative to crack open White’s king shelter. Under severe time pressure, Praggnanandhaa cracked during the intense time scramble and could not find a recovery against Gukesh’s overwhelming direct threats.
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‘It Was A Complex Game’ – D Gukesh After Beating Praggnanandhaa
Reflecting on the dramatic encounter, Gukesh admitted he was still processing everything that had happened on the board.
“It was a very complex game with a crazy ending. I’m still trying to recover from the game, but it was always complex. I thought it was very double. It should have been slightly better, but it always had long-term potential. Then I think he missed E5, and then it got just extremely complex. I have no clue about the evaluation, but it was very low on time. It was pretty tricky for him,” he told Times Now.
Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa have faced each other numerous times and are familiar with each other’s strengths and playing styles. When asked if knowing each other’s game helped him, Gukesh said that such familiarity is common among the world’s top chess players.
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“I think at the top, pretty much everybody has a decent clue about each other because we’ve played a lot and we’ve spent a lot of time together. I don’t think it’s very different for me,” Gukesh added.
The win was significant for Gukesh, who had endured a difficult run of results in recent tournaments. The win not only boosted his position in the standings, but also gave him a much-needed confidence boost.
“Everybody needs some confidence, especially how the last few tournaments are going. This game was pretty crazy. I’m just relieved right now,” he said.
The win came just a day after Gukesh’s 20th birthday. When asked whether turning a year older had helped him turn his fortunes around, he responded with a humorous remark.
“Yeah, I needed to drive a boat,” he said.
Alireza Firozja Retains Top Spot
Meanwhile, Alireza Firouzja retained his top spot with 10 points after an Armageddon win over Vincent Keymer. Wesley So, on the other hand, sits second with 8.5 points after a stunning five-time champion, Magnus Carlsen
