Gukesh Stuns Praggnanandhaa as Divya Deshmukh Rises to Sole Lead in Norway Chess 2026

Round 5 of Norway Chess 2026 delivered a series of decisive results, with the spotlight firmly on Indian players as well as tournament leader Alireza Firouzja , who continues to dominate the Open section.

The most talked-about clash of the round saw World Champion D. Gukesh secure a strong victory over compatriot R Praggnanandhaa in their all-Indian encounter. The result gave Gukesh a valuable boost in the standings, taking him to 6.5 points , while Praggnanandhaa remained close behind at 6.0 points , keeping both players in the chasing pack behind the leaders.

At the top of the table, French Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja maintained his commanding position with 10.0 points , continuing an impressive run of consistent results. He is being closely pursued by American Grandmaster Wesley So , who remains in contention with 8.5 points as the tournament crosses its midpoint.

Another notable storyline of the round was the struggle of Magnus Carlsen , who sits on 4.5 points after five rounds, following a loss to Wesley So. German Grandmaster Vincent Keymer holds 5.0 points , reflecting a tightly packed mid-table battle.

In the Women’s section, Divya Deshmukh emerged as the sole leader after a strong performance in Round 5. Her rise at the top marks a significant milestone in the event, as she moved ahead of a competitive field including Koneru Humpy , Ju Wenjun , and Bibisara Assaubayeva .

With several rounds remaining, both sections remain wide open. However, Firouzja’s steady dominance and Divya Deshmukh’s breakthrough lead have become the defining narratives of this year’s edition of Norway Chess.