In a thrilling match at the Norway Chess tournament, five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen narrowly defeated India’s R Praggnanandhaa in an Armageddon clash after their classical game ended in a draw. The Norwegian grandmaster now holds a full-point lead over Hikaru Nakamura, heading into the second rest day of the tournament.
Source : ZEE
Carlsen and Praggnanandhaa, who had previously delivered a high-voltage encounter, found themselves in a strategic standoff that resulted in a draw during their classical game on Tuesday. However, Carlsen clinched victory in the high-stakes Armageddon game, securing an additional half point, which could prove crucial in the tournament standings.
Source:- news 18
“I didn’t get anything out of the classical game. I think I was slightly better. Pragg defended well. I was hoping to get at least a sniff of something but there it was not to be. The Armageddon game was pretty mediocre but I managed to grind it out and that half point could be absolutely important,” Carlsen commented post-match.
Meanwhile, Hikaru Nakamura, who has been closely trailing Carlsen, missed a golden opportunity to close the gap. Despite holding a winning position against Alireza Firouzja, Nakamura failed to capitalize and ultimately resigned in their Armageddon battle. Firouzja’s resilient play included making 20 consecutive top engine-recommended moves under intense time pressure, allowing him to hold on for a draw in the classical game.
Reflecting on the tournament, Nakamura praised Carlsen’s ability to perform under pressure, citing Carlsen’s knack for delivering in critical moments. “As I have said before, great champions in sport, not necessarily in chess, have a way of getting it done in the critical moments!” Nakamura remarked.
Praggnanandhaa, with 12 points after eight rounds, is set for challenging encounters against Fabiano Caruana on Friday and Nakamura in the final round on Saturday, keeping his hopes alive in the competition.
In the women’s section, current world champion Ju Wenjun leads the standings after a decisive victory over Sweden’s veteran Pia Cramling. Ju’s compatriot Lei Tingjie also secured a win in the classical round, while India’s Vaishali remains in contention, positioned third in the standings, three points behind Ju. Vaishali, despite suffering two consecutive classical losses, remains optimistic about her chances in the remaining rounds.
As the Norway Chess tournament progresses, all eyes will be on the upcoming clashes, with Carlsen aiming to maintain his lead and Praggnanandhaa looking to make a strong finish in his remaining games
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