The Norway Chess tournament is around the corner, and Indian chess enthusiasts have plenty to cheer about! Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa is all set to face off against France’s Alireza Firouzja in the opening round, while his sister, R Vaishali, will take on women’s world champion Wenjun Ju of China in the Women section.
The total prize pool for the tournament is 1,690,000 NOK (approximately USD 1.6 million). The Open section features six top Grandmasters, including GM Praggnanandhaa, competing for the title, while the Women section has six top women players, including R Vaishali, vying for the championship. The prize fund is identical for both sections, with 750,000 NOK (about USD 70,000) reserved for the winner.
The format of the tournament is unique, with matches not allowed to end in a draw. In case of a tie, both players will receive one point each, and an Armageddon game will be played to determine the winner.
Moreso, the World No. 1, Magnus Carlsen, returning to classical chess after a break, will face reigning world champion Ding Liren in the tournament opener. Although Wenjun Ju is the favorite in the Women section, but R Vaishali‘s impressive form in the candidates tournament, with five consecutive victories, makes her a strong contender.
The Women section also features Koneru Humpy, Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine, Pia Cramling of Sweden, and Chinese players Wenjun Ju and Tingjie Lei. The Norway Chess tournament promises to be an exciting event, with the best minds in chess competing for the top spot. Will R Praggnanandhaa and R Vaishali make India proud? We can’t wait to find out!
