Gukesh downs Praggnanandhaa to secure first classical win, Carlsen drops to bottom at Norway Chess

World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju finally found some momentum in Norway Chess 2026 as he picked up his first classical win of the tournament by defeating compatriot Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu in Round 5.

It was a big moment in the event, as the all-Indian clash went in Gukesh’s favour with the black pieces. The result not only gave him a confidence boost but also changed the standings significantly, pushing him up to third place in the table while Praggnanandhaa slipped down to fourth.

Gukesh's win takes him on podium

Round 5 was full of action as two out of three classical games ended in wins for the players with black pieces, while only one game ended in a draw. Tournament leader Alireza Firouzja continued his strong run at the top. He missed a chance in his classical game against Vincent Keymer, but stayed calm in Armageddon and eventually won, extending his lead at the top of the table.

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Wesley So also had a good day, climbing up to second place after beating five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen. The Norwegian legend, however, continues to struggle in the event and has now dropped to the bottom of the standings, making his push for a record eighth Norway Chess title almost impossible.

After five rounds, the standings now show Firouzja comfortably leading the table with 10.0 points. Wesley So is sitting second with 8.5 points, followed by Gukesh on 6.5 points. Praggnanandhaa is fourth with 6.0 points, Keymer fifth with 5.0, and Carlsen sixth with 4.5 points.

Divya takes the lead in Norway Chess Women 

Meanwhile, India's Divya Deshmukh dethroned Bibisara Assaubayeva to go on top of the standings in the Norway Chess Women 2026 after a win against China's Zhu Jiner in Round 5. Bibisara's match against Anna Muzychuk ended in a draw, with the Ukrainian winning the Armageddon later.

The winner of the 2025 Women's World Cup now leads the standings with 8.5 points, while Bibisara is second with 8.0 points. Muzychuk is third (7.0), followed by Jiner in fourth place (5.5). Reigning Women's World Champion Ju Wenjun sits fifth (5.0), while veteran Indian GM Koneru Humpy is at the bottom with 4.5 points.