OSLO: As the curtains rose on Norway Chess 2026 in Oslo on Monday much of the spotlight was on the simmering rivalry between reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju and home favorite Magnus Carlsen — a contest that has added fresh drama to one of chess’ most prestigious events.
Tournament organizers confirmed on Sunday that Gukesh and former world champion Carlsen will meet twice in the tournament, first in Round 4 on Thursday and again in Round 10 on June 5.
The anticipation stems from last year’s dramatic encounter when Carlsen famously banged the table in frustration after losing to the Indian teenager.
Asked ahead of this year’s event whether he expected another explosive reaction from the Norwegian, Gukesh smiled before offering a measured response.
“My job is to play chess,” said the youngest ever undisputed world champion, who turns 20 in four days. “That is within my control.”
He also acknowledged how moments of emotion are helping chess attract newer audiences globally.
“Chess players generally don’t show a lot of emotions but when it did happen a lot of people got attracted to chess,” he said.
“So it’s a great moment for chess. Also, I feel chess players generally expressing more is fun to watch.”
This year’s tournament also arrives at a significant moment for the sport commercially. Earlier this year, Manchester City’s superstar striker Erling Haaland invested in Norway Chess and its ambitious Total Chess World Championship Tour project, underlining the growing crossover appeal between elite sport and chess.
The tournament has also increasingly found resonance in the Gulf region. Last year’s Norway Chess Open featured Rouda Al-Serkal, the Gulf Cooperation Council’s first woman grandmaster, reflecting the UAE’s growing presence on the global chess stage and the wider rise of chess culture across the region.
The action begins on Monday with a heavyweight lineup in both the open and women’s sections.
In the women’s competition world champion Ju Wenjun takes on Divya Deshmukh, Anna Muzychuk faces Zhu Jiner and India’s Koneru Humpy meets Bibisara Assaubayeva.
The men’s section features blockbuster clashes, with Alireza Firouzja facing Carlsen, R. Praggnanandhaa taking on Wesley So and Gukesh opening his campaign against Germany’s Vincent Keymer.
The tournament runs until June 5 and promises a compelling blend of elite chess, rising rivalries and growing global attention around the game.
Norway Chess is one of the world’s premier chess tournaments, bringing together top-ranked players in a unique format featuring classical games and Armageddon tiebreaks.
