Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: India will have a strong presence at Norway Chess 2026, with reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju confirmed as the fourth participant for the prestigious tournament, which is set to be held in Oslo this time. He joins fellow Indian star R Praggnanandhaa, who was announced earlier, along with top names like Magnus Carlsen and Vincent Keymer. With organisers revealing one player every week, more Indians could still be added to the lineup.
Gukesh will arrive in Norway as the youngest undisputed World Champion in chess history. After winning the Candidates Tournament in 2024, he went on to beat Ding Liren to claim the world title at just 18. His rise has been remarkable as he became a Grandmaster at 12, crossed the 2750 rating mark at a record age, and has already achieved milestones many players dream of.“I am really happy to take part in Norway Chess again, fighting against a very strong field as always, and looking forward to all the exciting games,” said Gukesh.He has also played a major role in India’s growing dominance in world chess. At the Chess Olympiads, Gukesh won individual gold on board one in 2022 and followed it up with team gold and another individual gold in 2024.Norway Chess has already been a special venue for him. In the 2025 edition, Gukesh finished third and defeated Magnus Carlsen in classical chess for the first time, a dramatic win remembered for the viral table-slam moment.“Having Gukesh D return to Norway Chess as reigning World Champion is something we truly value,” admitted Benedicte Westre Skog, COO of Norway Chess. “India has become one of the strongest chess nations in the world today, and we know many fans will be following Gukesh closely.”
