India’s challenge at the 2026 Norway Chess tournament encountered a difficult hurdle on Sunday as three of its leading contenders, World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa, and rising star Divya Deshmukh, all suffered defeats in their sixth-round encounters. The disappointing results reshaped both the Open and Women’s standings, tightening the title race while placing additional pressure on the Indian contingent heading into the second half of the prestigious event.
The Norway Chess tournament, regarded as one of the strongest events on the global chess calendar, has once again brought together many of the world’s highest-rated players. With its unique scoring format rewarding classical victories more heavily and featuring Armageddon games after drawn classical contests, every round carries significant importance.
For India, the spotlight was firmly on reigning World Champion Gukesh, who entered the tournament seeking to continue his impressive run against the world’s elite. However, the 19-year-old faced a stern challenge against Germany’s Vincent Keymer and was ultimately outplayed in a demanding 52-move encounter.
Playing with the black pieces, Gukesh navigated a complex middlegame but gradually found himself under increasing pressure as Keymer seized the initiative. The German Grandmaster maintained control throughout the critical phases of the game and converted his advantage with precision, securing a valuable victory that boosted his own standing in the tournament.
The result marked another significant moment in Keymer’s recent rise among the world’s top players. The German has consistently challenged elite opposition over the last two seasons and once again demonstrated his ability to compete against the very best.
Elsewhere in the Open section, Praggnanandhaa endured another frustrating outing as he was defeated by American Grandmaster Wesley So. The encounter developed into a lengthy strategic battle that tested both players’ patience and accuracy. While Praggnanandhaa managed to stay competitive through much of the contest, So’s superior handling of the endgame ultimately proved decisive.
The American gradually converted small advantages into a winning position before securing the full three points. The victory lifted So to the top of the standings, underlining his excellent form during the tournament. For Praggnanandhaa, however, the defeat was a major setback. The Indian Grandmaster now finds himself at the bottom of the leaderboard despite entering the event as one of the title contenders.
The tournament has been particularly challenging for the Chennai-born star, who has faced several difficult positions against some of the strongest players in the world. Nevertheless, with multiple rounds still remaining, there remains ample opportunity for him to recover ground and climb the standings.
In the Women’s Norway Chess event, Divya Deshmukh’s impressive run at the top of the table came to an end following a loss to reigning Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun. The young Indian had entered Round 6 full of confidence after becoming the sole leader with a crucial victory in the previous round.
However, Ju Wenjun showcased exactly why she remains one of the dominant figures in women’s chess. The Chinese Grandmaster steadily increased the pressure throughout the game, creating positional difficulties that limited Divya’s counterplay. As the position became increasingly difficult to defend, the Indian eventually had no option but to resign.
The defeat cost Divya her place at the summit of the standings but did little to diminish what has already been an impressive tournament. The teenager continues to demonstrate maturity and composure against some of the world’s strongest players and remains firmly in contention for a podium finish.
Another key development in the women’s section involved veteran Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy. The former World Rapid Champion secured a draw against Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva in the classical portion of their match. Under Norway Chess rules, drawn classical games proceed to an Armageddon tiebreak, where Assaubayeva emerged victorious.
That additional point proved crucial. Assaubayeva’s success allowed her to move into sole possession of first place in the women’s standings with 9.5 points. Divya remains within striking distance on 8.5 points, ensuring the title race remains far from settled.
The women’s competition has emerged as one of the highlights of this year’s Norway Chess, with several players exchanging leadership positions through the opening rounds. Assaubayeva’s consistency, Divya’s breakthrough performances, Ju Wenjun’s experience, and Humpy’s resilience have combined to create a fascinating contest.
For Indian chess fans, Sunday represented a rare day of setbacks in what has otherwise been a remarkable period for the country’s players. India currently boasts one of the strongest generations in its chess history, led by World Champion Gukesh and supported by stars such as Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Koneru Humpy, and the rapidly rising Divya Deshmukh.
With several rounds still left to play in Stavanger, the tournament remains wide open. Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa will be eager to bounce back quickly and reignite their campaigns, while Divya will look to reclaim lost ground in the women’s section.
As the competition enters its decisive phase, every move and every point will carry even greater significance. For India’s stars, the challenge now is to respond to adversity and ensure that Sunday’s disappointments do not define their Norway Chess campaign.
