{"id":14872,"date":"2026-05-31T08:43:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-31T03:13:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/norway-chess-d-gukesh-outfoxes-r-praggnanandhaa-magnus-carlsen-loses-again-divya-deshmukh-now-sole-leader-cricket-news\/"},"modified":"2026-05-31T08:43:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-31T03:13:11","slug":"norway-chess-d-gukesh-outfoxes-r-praggnanandhaa-magnus-carlsen-loses-again-divya-deshmukh-now-sole-leader-cricket-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/norway-chess-d-gukesh-outfoxes-r-praggnanandhaa-magnus-carlsen-loses-again-divya-deshmukh-now-sole-leader-cricket-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Norway Chess: D Gukesh outfoxes R Praggnanandhaa, Magnus Carlsen loses again; Divya Deshmukh now sole leader | Cricket News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-131417899,imgsize-76692,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/praggnanandhaa-gukesh-magnus-carlsen-and-divya-deshmukh-photo-by-michal-walusza-for-norway-chess-1.jpg\" alt=\"Norway Chess: D Gukesh outfoxes R Praggnanandhaa, Magnus Carlsen loses again; Divya Deshmukh now sole leader\" title=\"Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh, Magnus Carlsen, and Divya Deshmukh (Photo by Michal Walusza for Norway Chess)\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ta7d_ img_cptn\"><span title=\"Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh, Magnus Carlsen, and Divya Deshmukh (Photo by Michal Walusza for Norway Chess)\">Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh, Magnus Carlsen, and Divya Deshmukh (Photo by Michal Walusza for Norway Chess)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>NEW DELHI: After a disappointing Thursday where Dommaraju Gukesh tasted the bitterness of a defeat to World No. 1 and five-time world champion <a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/topic\/magnus-carlsen\" styleobj=\"[object Object]\" class=\"\" commonstate=\"[object Object]\" frmappuse=\"1\">Magnus Carlsen<\/a> in what was the reigning world champion&#8217;s final game as a teenager, Gukesh returned to the board on Saturday for his Round 9 clash against compatriot Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"4\"\/>On Friday, as Norway Chess observed its first rest day, Gukesh celebrated his 20th birthday. Call it a coincidence or a stroke of good fortune at the start of his 20s, but the reigning world champion managed to bounce back from a poor start to the game and defeat his compatriot R Praggnanandhaa under the panoramic roof of the Deichman Bj\u00f8rvika library in Oslo on Saturday.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"6\"\/> <span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"9\"\/>Heading into Saturday&#8217;s clash, Gukesh found himself at the bottom of the pack with 3.5 points. <!-- -->However, with this crucial victory over Pragg, the 20-year-old, who will defend his World Championship crown later this year against Uzbekistan&#8217;s Javikhir Sindarov, has climbed to third place on the leaderboard, trailing tournament leader Alireza Firouzja by only 3.5 points.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"14\"\/>On the board, the all-Indian clash perfectly illustrated the enduring charm of classical chess.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"16\"\/> <\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Praggnanandhaa vs Gukesh (Photo by Michal Walusza for Norway Chess)\" msid=\"131417882\" width=\"\" title=\"\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" imgsize=\"\" resizemode=\"4\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-131417882\/praggnanandhaa-vs-gukesh-photo-by-michal-walusza-for-norway-chess.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"19\"\/>Playing with the white pieces, Praggnanandhaa gained space with an advanced c5\u2013c6 pawn chain and active queenside play. Gukesh, however, responded energetically in the centre with 32&#8230;e5 and launched a kingside assault with 34&#8230;g5 and 37&#8230;g4.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"23\"\/> <span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"26\"\/>The critical phase of the game began after 33.d5, as Black&#8217;s attack rapidly accelerated. Gukesh sacrificed material for the initiative to crack open White&#8217;s king shelter, launching a decisive offensive after 46.Kxf3 Bh5+ 47.Kf2 Qg3+.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"28\"\/>Under severe time pressure, Black&#8217;s active pieces and direct threats proved overwhelming. <!-- -->Praggnanandhaa never appeared to be in a position to mount a recovery after losing his way in the intense time scramble.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"32\"\/>&#8220;What can I say, just a very complex game&#8230; luckily, the tricks kind of worked out for me,&#8221; Gukesh said after the victory. This marked Gukesh&#8217;s first classical win of the tournament, as well as his very first triumph as a 20-year-old.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"34\"\/><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">Divya Deshmukh<\/span><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\"> bounces back in style<\/span><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"37\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"38\"\/>Much like Gukesh, India&#8217;s Divya Deshmukh also endured a tough outing just before the rest day. <!-- -->The 20-year-old Grandmaster, who has otherwise shown commendable form throughout the tournament, let an advantageous position slip through her fingers during a classical draw before losing the Armageddon tie-break to the defending Norway Chess Women champion, Anna Muzychuk.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"42\"\/>Consequently, redemption was the top priority for Divya on Saturday. She delivered exactly that, securing her first classical win of the tournament by defeating Zhu Jiner in an exhausting 84-move encounter.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"45\"\/> <\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Divya Deshmukh vs Zhu Jiner (Photo by Michal Walusza for Norway Chess)\" msid=\"131417886\" width=\"\" title=\"\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" imgsize=\"\" resizemode=\"4\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-131417886\/divya-deshmukh-vs-zhu-jiner-photo-by-michal-walusza-for-norway-chess.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"48\"\/>Playing with the black pieces, Divya defended resiliently through the opening. The game remained roughly equal through the early middlegame, but Divya gradually improved her piece placement and neutralised White&#8217;s initiative.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"50\"\/> <span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"53\"\/>The definitive turning point came after 41.Nxa4, when Black activated her rook beautifully with 42&#8230;Re2+ and 43&#8230;Rxh2. From that moment on, Black&#8217;s rook and knight completely outshone White&#8217;s bishop, creating a highly favourable endgame that Divya flawlessly converted into a win.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"56\"\/>With this victory, Divya has broken away to become the sole leader of the tournament with 8.5 points.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"58\"\/>She next faces Women&#8217;s World Champion Ju Wenjun on Sunday in a highly anticipated rematch of their first-round encounter, where Divya previously defeated the Chinese Grandmaster in Armageddon.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"60\"\/><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">Elsewhere: Magnus Carlsen handed third classical defeat; Koneru Humpy secures first win<\/span><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"62\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"63\"\/>It was another lacklustre day at the office for World No. 1 and local hero Magnus Carlsen, who succumbed to his third classical loss of the tournament at the hands of Wesley So in their Round 5 matchup. <!-- -->Following the defeat, Carlsen now sits at the bottom of the table with 4.5 points.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"67\"\/> <\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Magnus Carlsen vs Wesley So (Photo by Michal Walusza for Norway Chess)\" msid=\"131417890\" width=\"\" title=\"\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" imgsize=\"\" resizemode=\"4\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-131417890\/magnus-carlsen-vs-wesley-so-photo-by-michal-walusza-for-norway-chess.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"70\"\/>Meanwhile, Alireza Firouzja defeated Germany&#8217;s No. 1 Vincent Keymer in an Armageddon tie-break to maintain his position as the sole leader of the open section.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"72\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"74\"\/>Koneru Humpy secured a breath of fresh air by picking up her first win of the tournament, defeating Women&#8217;s World Chess Champion Ju Wenjun in Armageddon.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"76\"\/>Anna Muzychuk outclassed Bibisara Assaubayeva in their Armageddon tie-break to maintain third place on the points table with 7 points.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"78\"\/><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/sports\/chess\/norway-chess-d-gukesh-outfoxes-r-praggnanandhaa-magnus-carlsen-loses-again-divya-deshmukh-now-sole-leader\/articleshow\/131417893.cms\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh, Magnus Carlsen, and Divya Deshmukh (Photo by Michal Walusza for Norway Chess) NEW DELHI: After a disappointing Thursday where Dommaraju Gukesh tasted the bitterness of a defeat to World No. 1 and five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen in what was the reigning world champion&#8217;s final game as a teenager, Gukesh returned to the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14873,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[263],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14872","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14872","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14872"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14872\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14873"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14872"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14872"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14872"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}