The Fagernes Chess International 2026 concluded yesterday at the Scandic Valdres Chess Hotel in Norway, with domestic talent taking center stage. After nine rounds of high-level competition, Norwegian IM Jens Evang Ingebretsen emerged as the surprise winner of the GM-group, capping off a week of dramatic shifts in the standings.
The tournament’s narrative was defined by a late-game sprint. India’s GM Diptayan Ghosh had maintained a steady lead throughout most of the event, but a string of four consecutive draws in the final rounds opened the door for his challengers.
The 22-year-old IM Jens Evang Ingebretsen capitalized on the opportunity, finishing with a remarkable 4.5 points from his last five games. This scoring run brought him to a total of 7/9 points, securing clear first place and an impressive rating performance of 2577.
Ghosh was forced to settle for second place with 6.5 points, leading a group of four players on the same score including IM Tarun Kanyamarala (IRL) and GM Normunds Miezis (LAT).
While the GM-group was dense with titled talent, only one title norm was achieved this year. It went to 19-year-old Indian FM Ritvik Krishnan, who secured an IM-norm with 6.5 points. His performance (2463 rating performance) earned him a strong 5th place in the overall standings.
In the Open Section, Norway’s Edvard Reinertsen dominated the field, securing the title with a round to spare. Reinertsen finished on 7.5/9, a full point ahead of the runners-up, Misha Galinsky and Amanda Mai Irgens Eiding.
The festival atmosphere extended into the evening side events. In the Fagernes Blitz, held on April 4th, Norwegian prodigy GM Aksel Bu Kvaløy proved his speed-chess dominance by taking first place with a near-perfect 8.5/9. Following him were FM Andrew Jing (7 points) and Bulgarian CM Ivan Kukushkin (6.5 points).
Organized by IA/IO Hans Olav Lahlum and Sotra Sjakklubb, the 2026 edition distributed a total prize fund of €8,200. Fagernes continues to be a vital stop for players seeking international norms and professional competition in Northern Europe.
GM-group top standings:
1 IM Jens Evang Ingebretsen 2415 NOR – 7.0
2 GM Diptayan Ghosh 2571 IND – 6.5
3 IM Tarun Kanyamarala 2399 IRL – 6.5
4 GM Normunds Miezis 2399 LAT – 6.5
5 FM Ritvik Krishnan 2363 IND – 6.5
6 IM Semen Mitusov 2475 NOR- 6.0
7 IM Tor Fredrik Kaasen 2490 NOR – 6.0
8 IM Savitha Shri Baskar 2351 IND – 6.0
9 FM Nicolai Maxime Østensen 2389 NOR – 6.0 etc
