The youngest undisputed world champion in chess history, Gukesh Dommaraju, will compete at Norway Chess 2026, taking his place in the field at one of the strongest tournaments on the global calendar.
Gukesh’s rise has been historic. In 2024, he won the Candidates Tournament before defeating then-World Champion Ding Liren to claim the world title, achieving the feat at just 18 years old.
“I am really happy to take part in Norway Chess again, fighting against a very strong field as always, and looking forward to all the exciting games,” Gukesh said.
Over the years, the Indian star has achieved several remarkable milestones, including becoming the youngest player ever to cross the 2750 rating mark. He also earned the Grandmaster title at the age of 12, making him the third-youngest GM in chess history.
Gukesh has also played a key role in India’s rise as a global chess powerhouse. At the 2022 Chess Olympiad, he won individual gold on board one, scoring 9/11 with a stunning performance rating of 2867, as India secured a team bronze. He followed it up with an even more dominant campaign in 2024, winning team gold along with individual gold on board one, scoring 9/10 with a performance rating of 3056, widely regarded as one of the greatest Olympiad performances ever.
Norway Chess has already produced defining moments in Gukesh’s career. At the 2025 edition, he finished third and registered his first classical victory over Magnus Carlsen in a dramatic encounter that sparked the widely shared “table-slam” moment, one of the most talked-about games of the tournament.
“Having Gukesh D return to Norway Chess as reigning World Champion is something we truly value,” said Benedicte Westre Skog, COO of Norway Chess.
“India has become one of the strongest chess nations in the world today, and we know many fans will be following Gukesh D closely. We hope chess audiences across India will tune in as he competes in Oslo in 2026.”
Norway Chess has consistently attracted elite participation over the years. In total, 18 of the highest-rated players in chess history have competed in the event, with Garry Kasparov the only notable exception among the all-time greats, though he has visited the tournament twice.