source: lichess.org
The 2026 edition of Norway Chess has delivered drama and chaos in the early rounds. It was held for the first time in Oslo rather than Stavanger. The elite six player tournament has an impressive lineup that includes World #1 Magnus Carlsen, Alireza Firouzja, Philippine pride Wesley So, reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu and German #1 Vincent Keymer.
source: norwaychess.no
Surprisingly, Alireza Firouzja is having an excellent tournament while Magnus Carlsen is having a bad one in his own territory. The Iranian/French star beat Carlsen in classical chess for the first time in his career. He did so with a broken foot and still managed to outplay the world number one.
source: norwaychess.no
In the second round, Alireza beat Pragg in another classical game. It gave him a perfect start and an early lead in the standings. Many chess fans and even Magnus himself believe Alireza possesses world championship potential and Norway Chess 2026 has once again shown why he remains one of the most dangerous players in the world. This, inspite taking a break from chess in lieu of pursuing his passion for fashion.
For Magnus, the tournament has been frustrating. The World #1 entered the event as the defending champion and clear favorite. But his early rounds have been filled with blunders. After losing to Firouzja in round one, Carlsen failed to convert a winning position against Vincent Keymer in round two before saving the match in Armageddon. In round three, he lost another game to Pragg after several blunders in time trouble. He's now in the bottom of the standings with 1.5 points but there's still hope since Magnus showed he can pull miracles and come back from behind. It would be foolish to count him out completely.
source: chessbase.com
My own bet Filipino American Wesley So is solid in third place with 4 points after three rounds. Wesley drew his classical games against Pragg and Gukesh. Although he lost one Armageddon tiebreak but later beat Gukesh in another. I hope he can pull a surprise of his own in the later rounds especially when Magnus looks vulnerable.
source: x.com
After three rounds, Alireza is enjoying a huge lead with 7.5 points and Carlsen is trying to recover. Meanwhile, Wesley So is steadily scoring points. Anything can still happen in this exciting tournament.
