R Praggnanandhaa Secures First Classical Victory Over Magnus Carlsen to Lead Norway Chess Tournament.

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa achieved a remarkable milestone by claiming his first classical game victory against world number one, Magnus Carlsen, to take the sole lead in the Norway Chess tournament. This victory is particularly significant for the 18-year-old, who has previously bested Carlsen in rapid and exhibition formats but had yet to triumph in classical chess, also known as slow chess. In this format, players have a significant amount of time to contemplate their moves, typically at least an hour per player.Praggnanandhaa, playing with the white pieces, managed to outmaneuver Carlsen in a closely contested match. This win propelled the young Indian prodigy to the top of the leaderboard with 5.5 points after three rounds, pushing Carlsen to fifth place in the standings. This match marks their fourth classical encounter, with the previous three resulting in draws.In other notable games from the same round, world number two Fabiano Caruana of the USA defeated reigning world champion Ding Liren of China. Liren’s loss caused him to fall to the bottom of the six-player field, a surprising turn of events given his status as the current world champion.Additionally, American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura emerged victorious in his Armageddon game against Alireza Firouzja of France. This win earned Nakamura an extra half point, placing him third in the overall standings.The upcoming rounds promise more intense competition, particularly as Nakamura is set to face Praggnanandhaa in the fourth round. This matchup is highly anticipated, as both players have shown exceptional skill and determination throughout the tournament.Praggnanandhaa’s victory over Carlsen not only highlights his rapid ascent in the world of chess but also underscores the dynamic and unpredictable nature of the game. His performance in the Norway Chess tournament is being closely watched by chess enthusiasts around the world, eager to see if he can maintain his lead and continue his winning streak against some of the highest-ranked players globally.As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on the young Grandmaster from India to see if he can sustain his momentum and secure the title in this prestigious event. The chess world is abuzz with excitement, anticipating more thrilling games and potential upsets in the rounds to come.