A day after celebrating his 20th birthday, D Gukesh rediscovered his rhythm and confidence, producing a thrilling victory over fellow Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa in a hard-fought classical encounter to earn three valuable points and revive his challenge at the Norway Chess tournament.
Meanwhile, defending champion Magnus Carlsen endured another setback, suffering a defeat against American Grandmaster Wesley So. The loss left the world No. 1 rooted to the bottom of the six-player standings after five rounds. So's victory propelled him to second place with 8.5 points, trailing tournament leader Alireza Firouzja, who continued his impressive run by reaching 10 points and maintaining a clear lead at the top of the standings.
Gukesh's win lifted him to 6.5 points and sole possession of third place. The triumph also appeared to energize the atmosphere at the venue, with fans gathering around the reigning world champion for autographs, photographs, and selfies. The young Indian looked far more relaxed than he had during a difficult spell in the tournament, when disappointing results often saw him quietly leave the playing hall.
Praggnanandhaa remained in fourth place with six points, while Germany's Vincent Keymer occupied fifth with five points. Carlsen, unusually, found himself at the bottom of the table on 4.5 points. With several rounds still to be played, Gukesh remains firmly in contention. Another classical win in Round 6, coupled with a Firouzja defeat, could significantly reduce the gap at the top.
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The much-anticipated all-Indian clash proved to be a dramatic contest, with momentum shifting repeatedly between the two players. Both enjoyed promising positions at different stages, but Gukesh ultimately kept his composure when it mattered most. The game emerged from a Ragozin Defence and initially seemed to offer Praggnanandhaa the better chances, despite computer evaluations suggesting the position remained balanced. Gukesh, however, stayed calm throughout and even made his first appearance in the confessional booth, showing little concern about the state of the game.
As the battle intensified, both players entered severe time pressure approaching move 40, with only seconds remaining on their clocks. Under immense stress, Praggnanandhaa committed a costly mistake that opened the door for his opponent. Gukesh seized the opportunity immediately, launching a decisive attack that quickly culminated in checkmate.
Describing the encounter afterward, Gukesh said, "It was just a very complex game. Luckily, the tricks kind of worked out for me." "I felt a lot of pressure and was very tense from the very beginning, but I'm fortunate to have come through. I'm definitely doing much better than I was a few months ago. I feel sharper now. The results are improving, although they are still not where I want them to be. If I continue playing good chess, I believe the success will follow," he added.
The world champion also highlighted the importance of confidence in elite competition. "When you're happy, you feel good about yourself. You become more confident and sharper at the board, and you naturally trust yourself to make quick and good decisions. These may seem like small things, but they can make a huge difference in the end." By defeating Carlsen, Wesley So ensured the title race remained wide open. Another major victory could potentially bring him level with tournament leader Firouzja.
Divya Deshmukh takes sole lead in women's section
Indian women's World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh produced another impressive performance, defeating China's Zhu Jiner in a classical game to move into sole lead in the women's competition with 8.5 points. Fresh from spending a day on a speedboat, Divya brought the same energy and momentum to the chessboard. Although Zhu surprised her with a new opening idea and initially appeared to gain the upper hand, the contest soon entered unfamiliar territory.
Relying on her instincts and resilience, Divya repeatedly found accurate defensive resources before gradually turning the tables. Zhu missed a crucial opportunity to force a draw, allowing the Indian teenager to take control of the game. As both players battled under the pressure of the 10-second increment, Divya maintained relentless pressure and eventually secured a hard-fought victory after 84 moves, moving clear at the top of the standings.
Round 5 Results
Open Section: Alireza Firouzja (10) defeated Vincent Keymer (5); Wesley So (8.5) defeated Magnus Carlsen (4.5); D Gukesh (6.5) defeated R Praggnanandhaa (6).
Women's Section: Divya Deshmukh (8.5) defeated Zhu Jiner (5); Anna Muzychuk (7) defeated Bibisara Assaubayeva (8); Koneru Humpy (4.5) defeated Ju Wenjun (5).
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