In a country where Magnus Carlsen's shadow looms over every square of the chessboard, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa walked into Norway Chess 2026 and did what no Indian had managed before by lifting the title in the World No. 1's own backyard. The 20-year-old from Chennai began the second half of the event from the bottom of the open-category standings, only to produce a remarkable comeback that included two classical victories over Carlsen, a win over reigning world champion Dommaraju Gukesh, and a final-round classical win over Germany No. 1 Vincent Keymer. As fellow title contenders Wesley So and Alireza Firouzja shared points on the neighbouring board on Friday, the Norway Chess crown found a new home in India, with Praggnanandhaa becoming the first Indian champion in the tournament's history.
Exclusive Interview with Praggnanandhaa
In an exclusive interaction with TimesofIndia.com, the Indian Grandmaster opened up about his victory, beating five-time world champion Carlsen twice in classical chess, the role of his family and support team, lessons from recent setbacks, and much more.
On Winning Norway Chess vs. Other Tournaments
When asked whether winning Norway Chess feels different from other classical tournaments like Wijk aan Zee, Praggnanandhaa said: "Yeah, winning this tournament feels more special for different reasons. Being in the last position after Round 6, after half the tournament is done, and then to get back like this, it's not something that happens often. And also, beating Magnus (twice) in the course of that, and also winning a tournament ahead of Magnus is something that I've always wanted. So, I think all these things make this tournament much more special. And yeah, this will certainly be at the top of my victories, and yeah, this will always be a special memory."
Reaction from Home
Regarding the reaction from his family, he shared: "My parents are super happy, of course. I spoke with them after coming back to the room. The last 10 months haven't gone my way, so they're also happy that I managed to get this breakthrough after some time. And yeah, they were quite happy."
Impact of Sister Vaishali's Candidates Win
On whether his sister Vaishali's win in the Women's Candidates changed something in him, he replied: "Yeah, I would say that my sister winning the Candidates certainly helped me get over my tournament in the Candidates. I was a bit upset after my tournament, but to see that she won, it made me happy, and I was so proud of her. It certainly inspires you when someone like that achieves at your home, so I'm really happy for her."
Role of Grandmaster Vaibhav Suri
Speaking about Grandmaster Vaibhav Suri as a mentor, Praggnanandhaa said: "Vaibhav is a second of mine and a good friend. I think when you're in a tournament, you should have someone who not only helps you with the openings and stuff, but also someone to talk to after a good game or a bad game, someone you're comfortable with. And Vaibhav suits that role so well. He's great at the work he does, but also, as a human being, he's one of the nicest people that I've met. So yeah, I'm really happy to have him on the team and grateful for all the hard work that he has done in the last year since we started working together. But not just him, there are other seconds as well. RB Ramesh Sir is there, who has always been there through my highs and lows. So, without the trainers, it's just not possible to be where I am."
Overcoming Recent Setbacks
Addressing the mixed results since mid-2025, he explained: "I haven't had great results towards the end of 2025 and in (early) 2026. There were certainly low periods, but I did feel like after Wijk Aan Zee this year, my play was getting better. In the Candidates also, I felt like my mind was working well, but some of the results weren't showing up. But yeah, I felt this tournament, and the previous one, that I was a lot more in control of what I was doing. I felt like I was getting back to playing good-quality chess. But certainly, that period between September 2025 and the Candidates, I didn't show my best. I had some bad results, but these things happen, and as a player, you tend to deal with them. You have to overcome these periods, and I'm grateful for all the support that people around me gave. People around me always believed in me. My family, my trainers, my sponsors, they've always supported me."
FIDE Circuit Points and Future Plans
Clarifying whether the points from Norway Chess will count toward the FIDE Circuit, he stated: "Yeah, this tournament will count towards the FIDE Circuit. I remember in 2024 it didn't count, but the FIDE Circuit was new then, so there were still a lot of changes to be made. But this tournament now counts for the FIDE Circuit. I really don't want to think about it (the next 2026-2028 Candidates cycle) right now. I just want to have fun, play, and enjoy chess. But it's good that I'm on the FIDE Circuit board. More than that, I'm happy just to win a tournament. As I said, I don't really want to think about the Candidates already. I've just finished the previous cycle, and I was focused only on the Candidates for about two years. I don't want to spend another two years thinking about another cycle. I think it would be too much for me. I just want to enjoy chess, have fun with the game, and if I play well, I will certainly make it. So I just want to enjoy chess, give my best, and play well in all the tournaments I play."
Celebration Plans
On how he plans to celebrate once back in India, he said: "I don't have anything specific to do after coming back home. I'll try to get as much rest as possible. I'll be playing in the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships next in 10 days for Chess Gurukul and for Ramesh Sir. As I said, I want to give my best in every tournament I play, so I want to be well-rested for that. But I'm guessing there'll be some small celebration with the family. I don't have anything planned, but just being with the family will already be a celebration."
Words for Sponsors
Finally, expressing gratitude to his sponsors, he said: "As I said, I am truly grateful for the support from The Adani Group. They have always been there through my lows. They have never asked me why something is happening or questioned me about results. They've always just supported me, and even if there is a small issue, they're always ready to support me and help solve it. It feels more like a family because it's already been two and a half years, and we feel much closer. I want to thank Gautam Adani Sir personally. I met him last year and had the opportunity to have breakfast with him. It is truly an honour to meet him and receive his blessings every time. So I'm truly grateful to him. I think it's very important for players to get this kind of corporate support, and I'm happy that I am receiving it and always grateful for it."
