'Beard the lion in his den': Anand Mahindra left 'jaw dropped' by R Praggnanandhaa's win in Norway Chess

India's chess world has a new milestone to celebrate. Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa became the first Indian player to win the prestigious Norway Chess title after defeating Germany's Vincent Keymer in the final round. The historic victory prompted industrialist Anand Mahindra to praise the 20-year-old's fearless approach, comparing his achievement to entering Magnus Carlsen's home territory and coming out on top.

The Chennai-based chess prodigy finished the tournament with 18 points, securing one of the most respected titles in international chess and adding another remarkable chapter to India's growing influence in the sport.

Anand Mahindra's Message Draws Attention

Reacting to Praggnanandhaa's achievement, Anand Mahindra shared a post on X that quickly caught the attention of chess fans.




"To beard the lion in his den.”
"The dictionary defines it as boldly confronting a powerful rival on their own turf.
For years, Norway Chess has been Magnus Carlsen’s den. His turf. His domain.
So I woke up to this news and my jaw dropped.
You didn’t just win a title,
@rpraggnachess

You walked into the lion’s den and emerged victorious
This title is important. Not because of the trophy, but because of your challenger spirit.
And that’s something all of us can learn from…"

Mahindra's message focused less on the trophy and more on the courage shown by the young grandmaster in competing against some of the world's strongest players on a stage long associated with Carlsen's dominance.

A Victory That Even Legends Could Not Achieve

Praggnanandhaa's success stands out for another reason. Since the tournament began in 2013, no Indian player had managed to win the Norway Chess crown.

The achievement remained out of reach for several top Indian stars, including chess legend Viswanathan Anand and reigning world champion D Gukesh. Praggnanandhaa has now become the first Indian name on the tournament's winners' list.

From Slow Start to Stunning Finish

The tournament did not begin smoothly for the Indian grandmaster. Playing in Norway Chess for only the second time, Praggnanandhaa found himself struggling to gain momentum during the early rounds.

However, he steadily turned things around in the second half of the competition. His campaign gathered pace as he produced a series of strong performances when the pressure was highest.

The defining feature of his run was his success against world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen. Praggnanandhaa defeated the seven-time Norway Chess champion twice in classical chess, a rare feat that highlighted both his preparation and resilience.

How the Final Round Changed Everything

Going into the final day, Praggnanandhaa was in third place with 15 points. American Grandmaster Wesley So led the standings with 15.5 points, while several players still had title hopes.

The situation shifted when Wesley So's classical game against Alireza Firouzja ended in a draw and moved into an Armageddon tie-break. That result opened the door for the Indian star.

Knowing that a classical victory would put him in front, Praggnanandhaa delivered exactly when it mattered. His win over Vincent Keymer earned three full points and lifted him to 18 points.

Although Wesley So later won the Armageddon tie-break, the result added only 1.5 points to his total, leaving him on 17 points and one point short of the title.

India's Challenge Stays Alive

As reigning world champion D Gukesh slipped out of title contention during the closing stages, Praggnanandhaa carried India's hopes into the final round and converted them into a memorable triumph.

Meanwhile, Magnus Carlsen defeated Gukesh in the last round, but the victory was not enough to bring the Norwegian star back into the title race. Carlsen finished fifth with 13 points.

For Praggnanandhaa, however, the week belonged entirely to him. In a tournament long associated with Carlsen's dominance, the young Indian rewrote the script and walked away with the biggest prize of his career so far.