Magnus Carlsen wins Norway Chess 2024 crown, Ju Wenjun claims women’s event

The 2024 Norway Chess tournament concluded in dramatic fashion on Friday night, with both the open and women’s champions being crowned.

Magnus Carlsen wins after Armageddon battle

Magnus Carlsen emerged victorious in the open section, defeating Fabiano Caruana in the nerve-wracking Armageddon playoff after their classical game ended in a draw.

Magnus Carlsen’s triumph was confirmed only after Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu defeated Hikaru Nakamura in another Armageddon contest. Nakamura’s loss ensured Carlsen retained his lead in the standings and secured the overall title.

Strategic draw for Magnus Carlsen

Magnus Carlsen’s path to victory wasn’t straightforward. His classical game against Caruana ended in a draw after 25 moves, a strategic decision influenced by Praggnanandhaa’s promising position in his own match against Nakamura.

This meant Carlsen had to wait for the outcome of the Nakamura-Praggnanandhaa encounter to determine his fate.

Nakamura loses second consecutive Armageddon

The tension continued as Hikaru Nakamura and R Praggnanandhaa battled it out. Despite leading the standings earlier in the tournament, Nakamura suffered his second consecutive Armageddon defeat, paving the way for Carlsen’s overall victory.

In the women’s event, Ju Wenjun asserted her dominance, securing the title with a commanding 19 points. Her nearest competitor, Anna Muzychuk, trailed by a significant three points.

Other notable results in Norway Chess 2024

While Carlsen secured three classical wins and five Armageddon victories throughout the tournament, World Champion Ding Liren suffered another setback, losing in the Armageddon format after drawing his classical game against Alireza Firouzja.

The final match between R Vaishali and chess legend Pia Cramling went into an Armageddon playoff, while Humpy Koneru finished in fifth place.

Magnus Carlsen reflects on tense tournament

Magnus Carlsen himself admitted to feeling unsure of his approach against Caruana, acknowledging his opponent’s defensive prowess.

He explained that the draw in their classical game was a strategic decision based on R Praggnanandhaa’s strong position in the other match. While initially concerned about the outcome, Carlsen ultimately secured the overall victory in the open section.