Divya Deshmukh, a 20-year-old chess player from Nagpur, made a remarkable debut at the Norway Chess 2026 by holding reigning women’s world champion Ju Wenjun to a draw in the Classical game and then defeating her in the Armageddon tiebreaker. This performance was highlighted by Divya's first use of the tournament's unique confessional booth, showcasing her composure under pressure. In a surprising turn of events, Magnus Carlsen, a five-time world champion, suffered a defeat against Alireza Firouzja, who capitalized on Carlsen's error in a Queen’s Gambit setup. This loss left Carlsen at the bottom of the standings after the first round. Indian players had a strong showing overall, with D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa both winning their respective Armageddon matches after drawing their Classical games. However, veteran player Koneru Humpy faced disappointment, losing her match against Bibisara Assaubayeva. Overall, the first day of the tournament was marked by Divya's standout performance, signaling her arrival on the international chess stage.