Wesley So leads Norway Chess 2026 with 15.5 points after Round 9. He drew his classical game against Magnus Carlsen.
What happened in Round 9?
The classical game between Wesley So and Magnus Carlsen ended in a draw after a balanced encounter.
Wesley So then won the Armageddon game, securing the extra points.
Why it matters for Wesley So
Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu scored a key classical victory against Gukesh Dommaraju, moving to 15 points, just half a point behind Wesley So.
Alireza Firouzja also remains in contention with 14.5 points after surviving a difficult classical game against Vincent Keymer.
What comes next?
The final round of Norway Chess 2026 will determine the tournament winner, with Wesley So, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, and Alireza Firouzja in the running.
Bibisara Assaubayeva has already secured the Norway Chess Women 2026 title with 16.5 points and one round to spare.
The Women's event saw Zhu Jiner produce the only decisive classical victory, defeating Divya Deshmukh with the black pieces.
As of Round 9, Wesley So is in the lead, with Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu and Alireza Firouzja close behind.
The tournament will conclude on Friday with the final round, determining the ultimate winner of Norway Chess 2026.
Wesley So's performance in the Armageddon game was crucial in maintaining his lead.
The Norway Chess 2026 tournament has seen intense competition, with several players still in contention for the top spot.