New Delhi: The Norway Chess 2026 title race is heading for a dramatic finale, with three players still in contention and just one round to play. India’s Praganandha Ramesh Babu is firmly in the hunt and will enter the final day knowing that the championship is within reach.After nine rounds, Wesley Soo leads the standings with 15.5 points, followed by Praganananda on 15 and Alireza Ferozja on 14.5. With just one point separating the top three players, the title battle is set for the final games in Oslo. Praganandha strengthened his chances with a crucial victory in Round 9 against reigning world champion D Gokesh. The Indian grandmaster took his chances in a tense encounter and converted his advantage convincingly, picking up three valuable points to move him just half a point behind the leader.The final round pairing between Wesley Su and Alireza Ferozja added an interesting twist to the championship race. As the top two contenders, apart from Pragnandha, face each other, the Indian star knows that a strong result in his own sport can significantly increase his chances of finishing first.A classic victory for Praganandha would take her to 18 points and put a lot of pressure on both Soo and Feroza. However, it will be tough for the Indian grandmaster as he will be up against Germany’s top-ranked player Vincent Kemmer, who is yet to lose a classical game in the tournament. If Asa fails to win against Feroza in classical chess, Praganandha will have the best chance to move up in the standings with a win in the classical format. Likewise, Turquoise’s victory in the classical could open the door for the French grandmaster, making every result important.Even if Praganandha doesn’t get a classic win, he can still be in contention through the Armageddon format. With bonus points available after drawn classic games, the final standings can be decided by the narrowest of margins.A head-to-head clash between Su and Feroza ensures that at least one of Praganananda’s title rivals will drop points in the final round. This fact left the Indian Grandmaster in a strong position as he prepared for the decisive day of the tournament.Based on the standings before the final round:
- Wesley Sue – 15.5
- Praganananda – 15.0
- Alireza Feroza – 14.5
And along with So Playing Firouzja, the main titles for Pragnananandhaa are:
Praganandha wins his classical game (+3 points = 18)
- Prague becomes the champion if it does not win a classical game against Faroe Islands.
- If Soo beats Feroza in the classical, reaches 18.5 and wins the title.
- If Su-Ferozja ends in a draw, neither can reach 18, giving Prague the title outright.
- If Turquoise beats Sue in Classical, Turquoise reaches 17.5, still behind Prague’s 18.
Praganandha draw a classic and win Armageddon (+1.5 points = 16.5)
Pragg can only win the title if:
- So he loses his classic game to Turquoise and then Armageddon in a tiebreak. Pragg and So would then tie at 16.5 points, and there would be a blitz tie-break to decide the title winner.
Praganandha draw classical and lose to Armageddon (+1 point = 16)
- His title chances are over.
- Either that or Turquoise will almost certainly finish ahead of him.
Praganandha loses his classical game (0 points)
- His title chances are over.
- Either that or Turquoise will almost certainly finish ahead of him.
