Oslo, 30 May (H.S.): On the rest day of Norway Chess 2026 on Friday, the world’s top chess players traded boards and pieces for sails as they enjoyed an exhilarating sailing race on the waves of the Oslofjord. The special event became even more memorable when reigning World Champion D. Gukesh celebrated his 20th birthday.

As part of Norway Chess’s traditional activities, the sailing competition divided the players into two teams. The event aimed to relieve mental pressure and offer the participants a chance to bond through teamwork and entertainment.

The lineup included India’s grandmasters D. Gukesh, Divya Deshmukh, R. Praggnanandhaa and Koneru Humpy, alongside Norway’s veterans Magnus Carlsen, Vincent Keymer, Wesley So, Anna Muzychuk, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Zhu Jiner and other top players.

This Norway Chess tradition has long been a distinctive element of the tournament. Organizers take players away from intense chess preparations and matches to engage them in varied activities. In past years participants have taken part in cooking contests, tractor driving, cow milking, archery, fencing and the “chess cowboy challenge,” among other quirky events.

This year’s edition was notable because Norway Chess is being held in Oslo for the first time in 13 years, having been hosted in Stavanger for a long period previously.

Also present on the rest-day activities was Javokhir Sindarov, a player expected to be a future challenger to Gukesh in World Championship contests. The friendly atmosphere and camaraderie among the players were highlights of the event.

Another significant part of the day saw the Indian grandmasters and the Norway Chess delegation meet the Indian Ambassador to Norway in Oslo. The ambassador hosted a special interaction session in honour of the players and officials, focusing on strengthening sporting and cultural ties between India and Norway.

With the rest day concluded, all eyes now return to the chessboard as the upcoming rounds of Norway Chess 2026 promise even more competitive drama.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar