Norway Chess 2024: Praggnanandhaa beats Alireza in Armageddon, Vaishali loses to Wenjun

Praggnanandhaa scored his first ever over-the-board victory over Alireza in the Armageddon game in the first round of Norway Chess tournament.

FILE PHOTO: R. Praggnanandhaa defeated Firouzja Alireza in the Armageddon game in the first round of Norway Chess tournament. | Photo Credit: PTI

R. Praggnanandhaa and Koneru Humpy posted wins on the opening day of the Norway Chess tournament at Stavanger, Norway, on Monday. The other Indian in the fray, R. Vaishali, however, suffered a loss at the hands of the women’s World champion Ju Wenjun of China.

The male World champion from China, Ding Liren, though, could not begin his campaign on the right note. He drew with former World champion Magnus Carslen in the classical game quickly, in just 14 moves, but in the Armageddon game that followed he could not force a win; he had to, as he was playing with white pieces.

Carslen needed only a draw, which he got in 65 moves.

In fact, the day’s all the six matches – three each in the open and women’s sections – the classical games were drawn. Thus Armageddon had to be played to identify the winner.

Praggnanandhaa won his Armageddon against France’s Alireza Firouzja, as did Hikaru Nakamura, with black pieces, against Fabiano Caruana in an all-American encounter.

In the women’s event, Humpy, with black pieces, drew her Armageddon game with veteran Swedish player Pia Cramling. China’s Lei Tingjie won in the Armageddon game with black pieces against Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine.

Round 1 results:

Men:

R Praggnanandhaa (Ind, 1.5) beat Firouzja Alireza (Fra) 1.5-1; Ding Liren (Chn, 1) lost to Magnus Carlsen (1.5) 1-1.5; Fabiano Caruana (Usa, 1) lost to Hikaru Nakamura (Usa, 1.5) 1-1.5.

Women:

Pia Cramling (Swe, 1) lost to Koneru Humpy (Ind, 1.5) 1-1.5; Wenjun Ju (Chn, 1.5) beat R Vaishali (Ind, 1) 1.5-1; Anna Muzychuk (Ukr, 1) lost to Tingjie Lei (Chn, 1.5) 1-1.5.