GM Bibisara and GM Praggnanandhaa Norway Chess 2026 Champions !

Congratulations to the Norway Chess 2026 Champions in the Open and Women’s categories – GM Ramesh Praggnanandhaa of India and GM Bibisara Assaubayeva of Kazakhstan.

The unique tournament format at Norway Chess 2026, featuring Armageddon games and an innovative scoring system, made the event exceptionally exciting. Players earned three points for a classical victory, creating greater incentives to play for a win and allowing competitors to steadily improve their positions on the leaderboard. In the picture below, players in the open and women's category.

Seven-time Norway Chess champion GM Magnus Carlsen narrowly missed out on securing an eighth title after a slow start to the tournament. His fourth-place finish highlighted the strength and preparation of the next generation of elite players, who continue to challenge the established order at the highest level of chess.

In the Open category Champion, GM Ramesh Praggnanandhaa surprised many both on and off the board with a remarkable comeback after a slow start. His four consecutive victories against GM Alireza Firouzja, GM Magnus Carlsen, GM Gukesh Dommaraju, and GM Vincent Keymer proved decisive in his title-winning campaign. With each impressive performance, it increasingly felt as though the championship was destined to be his.

In the Women’s category, GM Bibisara Assaubayeva displayed outstanding consistency and determination. Victories against GM Zhu Jiner, GM Humpy Koneru, and GM Divya Deshmukh gave her the momentum and confidence needed to secure the title with a round to spare, underlining her dominance throughout the tournament.

Overall, Norway Chess 2026 was a superbly organised event that showcased world-class chess, an exciting competition format, and a commendable commitment to equality through equal prize money for both the Open and Women’s categories. The tournament not only celebrated two deserving champions but also demonstrated the bright future of international chess showcasing excellence.