Armageddon was introduced at Norway Chess in 2019 and has since become one of the tournament’s signature features. With faster time controls and no room for draws, every classical draw now leads to a decisive Armageddon showdown. Over the years, the format has tested the players and revealed surprising trends.

But just how many Armageddon games have been played in Norway Chess history? Does White or Black hold the edge in this high-pressure battle? And which players have proven themselves the strongest when everything is on the line?

The outcomes of Armageddon games at Norway Chess vary from year to year, but overall the results are mostly balanced, with White maintaining a slight edge: 52% to Black’s 48%. Across all editions of the tournament, a total of 194 Armageddon games have been played, with White winning 101 and Black 93.

In 2025, the White pieces performed notably well in Norway Chess and Norway Chess Women scoring approximately 64% of the Armageddon wins.

Magnus Carlsen, long regarded as the “Armageddon King” for his extraordinary record in this format—including a performance rating above 3000 prior to the 2025 edition—faced uncharacteristic difficulties in 2025. He won only 2 of his 6 Armageddon games, losing the remaining 4. Despite this, he ultimately secured overall tournament victory.

World number four Arjun Erigaisi made his Norway Chess debut in 2025. Although his tournament results did not fully meet expectations, he excelled in the Armageddon format, winning 4 out of 5 games and posting a performance rating above 3000. Another standout was China’s top player Wei Yi, who scored 5 wins in 7 Armageddon games, making him the second-best performer in this format in 2025.

World Champion Dommaraju Gukesh has also demonstrated consistent strength in Armageddon at Norway Chess. Across his two appearances, he has recorded 6 wins in 8 games, an exceptional achievement for the young champion.

The results in Norway Chess Women broadly reflect those of Norway Chess’ main tournament, with White winning 52% of games compared to Black’s 48%. Within this field, World Champion Ju Wenjun has established herself as the most successful Armageddon player overall, scoring 11 points from 15 games.

As noted above, in 2025 the statistics favored White more strongly: 11 of the 18 Armageddon games (61%) were won with the White pieces. Vaishali Rameshbabu achieved the highest win rate this year, winning 4 of her 6 games. Anna Muzychuk and Ju Wenjun also performed strongly, each recording 5 wins in 8 games.

At Norway Chess, Armageddon has grown into much more than just a way to settle draws. Its fast pace and must-win drama bring extra excitement for the players and make the tournament far more entertaining to follow. Whether you’re in the hall, watching on TV, or streaming online, Armageddon delivers the kind of decisive, high-energy chess battles that keep fans coming back for more.