Indian GM Praggnanandhaa R commented on his win over Magnus Carlsen in round 3 of Norway Chess 2026. Pragg describes the game, calls time scrambles a ‘tossup’, and says he doesn’t attach much importance to the victory.

Praggnanandhaa R

Praggnanandhaa R

Indian GM

“It was a crazy game!

In minus one, we both wanted to fight. I thought it was an interesting game. I don’t know what was happening. There was just some crazy imbalance. And then we both got really low on time, and I started messing up. I was really worried that I would just lose.

I blundered one smooth move, and after that, everything started to turn around. I thought I had a really bad one. But still, with that kind of time control, you have to keep pushing the pawns. So, the game wasn’t completely over yet. But momentum was already shifting, and I was quite worried.

In these time scrambles, it’s basically pure tossup. It could have gone wrong for me, but it went right. So, I don’t really judge too much into that.

I’m happy that we had such a crazy fight!”

The Norway Chess 2026 takes place from May 25 to June 5, at the Deichman Bjorvika public library, Oslo. Magnus Carlsen is in last place, and Praggnanandhaa R is in 2nd place after three rounds.

Credit: Michal Walusza / Norway Chess