Norway Chess 2026 opened with fireworks. Carlsen faced Giri in the headline clash, and the Norwegian champion delivered exactly what the hometown crowd wanted. He crushed Giri in a convincing display of attacking chess, seizing control from the opening and never loosening his grip. The victory sets a commanding tone for the tournament. Elsewhere, the other games delivered drama too. Nakamura and Caruana both won decisively, while Ding played solid chess to secure his result. The first round belonged to the favorites, but the tournament is young. Expect the challengers to push back hard in the coming rounds.