The prestigious Norway Chess 2026 has officially begun in Oslo, bringing together some of the strongest chess grandmasters in the world. The 14th edition of the elite tournament runs from May 25 to June 5, 2026, and features world champions, rising stars, and top-ranked international players competing for glory and a massive prize pool.
This year marks the first time the tournament is being hosted in Oslo, adding even more excitement to one of the most respected events in the chess calendar. Alongside the open section, the third edition of the Norway Chess Women tournament is also taking place simultaneously.
Norway Chess 2026 Tournament Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Norway Chess 2026 |
| Sport | Chess |
| Location | Oslo, Norway |
| Dates | May 25 – June 5, 2026 |
| Open Participants | 6 Players |
| Women Participants | 6 Players |
| Prize Pool | NOK 1,690,000 |
The tournament features classical games along with the popular Armageddon format, ensuring every round produces exciting and competitive results.
Norway Chess 2026 Open Section Standings
The open category includes some of the biggest names in world chess, including world number one Magnus Carlsen, reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju, and French star Alireza Firouzja.
Latest Open Section Points Table
| Rank | Player | Country | Rating | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alireza Firouzja | France | 2759 | 3 |
| 2 | R Praggnanandhaa | India | 2733 | 1.5 |
| 2 | Gukesh Dommaraju | India | 2732 | 1.5 |
| 4 | Vincent Keymer | Germany | 2759 | 1 |
| 4 | Wesley So | USA | 2754 | 1 |
| 6 | Magnus Carlsen | Norway | 2840 | 0 |
Firouzja made the strongest start in the tournament and currently leads the standings with three points. Indian grandmasters Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh are tied for second place after solid opening performances.
Meanwhile, hometown favorite Magnus Carlsen experienced a difficult start and remains at the bottom of the standings after the opening round. Fans will be watching closely to see whether the Norwegian legend can bounce back in the upcoming rounds.
Norway Chess Women 2026 Standings
The women’s tournament has also delivered thrilling matches early in the competition. Defending champion Anna Muzychuk returned to defend her title, while women’s world champion Ju Wenjun headlines a strong field.
Latest Women’s Section Points Table
| Rank | Player | Country | Rating | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bibisara Assaubayeva | Kazakhstan | 2527 | 3 |
| 2 | Zhu Jiner | China | 2546 | 1.5 |
| 2 | Divya Deshmukh | India | 2500 | 1.5 |
| 4 | Ju Wenjun | China | 2559 | 1 |
| 4 | Anna Muzychuk | Ukraine | 2522 | 1 |
| 6 | Koneru Humpy | India | 2535 | 0 |
Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva currently leads the women’s standings with a perfect three-point start. Indian youngster Divya Deshmukh has also impressed early in the tournament and remains in contention near the top of the leaderboard.
Norway Chess 2026 Continues in Oslo
With several rounds still remaining, the Norway Chess 2026 tournament promises more dramatic battles and world-class chess action in the coming days. Fans across the globe are closely following the performances of Carlsen, Gukesh, Firouzja, and the rising generation of international stars.
The combination of elite competition, innovative formats, and passionate chess audiences once again makes Norway Chess one of the most exciting tournaments in the global chess calendar.