-Thrilling Second Round Sees Alireza Firouzja Strengthen Lead with Consecutive Classical Victory

Oslo (Norway), May 27 (H.S.): The second round of Norway Chess 2026 once again witnessed thrilling encounters on Tuesday, with intense battles unfolding in both the men’s and women’s sections. Several matches were decided through Armageddon tie-breaks after closely fought classical games.

The only decisive classical game of the second round saw French Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja defeat Indian star R. Praggnanandhaa. Firouzja gradually built pressure after the middlegame and, with precise play, secured his second consecutive classical victory. With this win, he further consolidated his lead at the top of the standings.

Carlsen Defeats Keymer in Armageddon

The much-anticipated clash between World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and Germany’s top player Vincent Keymer ended in a draw in the classical format. Carlsen appeared to hold the advantage for a long period, but Keymer displayed remarkable defensive resilience to hold the game.

However, Carlsen bounced back in the Armageddon tie-break, clinching victory to secure the additional point.

Wesley So Beats Gukesh in Armageddon

The strategic encounter between World Champion D. Gukesh and American Grandmaster Wesley So also ended in a classical draw. In the subsequent Armageddon game, Wesley So emerged victorious and earned the extra point.

Bibisara Assaubayeva Retains Lead in Women’s Section

The women’s section of Norway Chess also witnessed highly competitive action in the second round. All three classical games ended in draws and were eventually decided in Armageddon tie-breaks.

Tournament leader Bibisara Assaubayeva defeated China’s Zhu Jiner in Armageddon to maintain her lead at the top. The Kazakh Grandmaster produced an impressive performance under rapid time control.

Divya Deshmukh Defeats Humpy

In the all-Indian encounter, Divya Deshmukh defeated Koneru Humpy in the Armageddon tie-break. The classical game between the two players had ended in a draw, but Divya delivered a composed and brilliant performance in the decider to claim victory.

In another match, Anna Muzychuk defeated reigning Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun in Armageddon to secure the additional point.

Tournament to Continue Until June 5

Norway Chess 2026 is being held in Oslo from May 25 to June 5 and features many of the world’s leading male and female chess players.

One of the tournament’s most distinctive features is its unique format, under which an Armageddon game is played if the classical encounter ends in a draw, ensuring a decisive outcome in every round.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar