Kolkata Rapid & Blitz Chess: Anand Shines on Day 1

Photo by Lennart Ootes

Anand’s Strong Comeback at Tata Steel Chess India

KOLKATA—Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand demonstrated his chess prowess on the opening day of the Tata Steel Chess India, accumulating 2.5 points after three rounds of Rapid games. At 56 years old, Anand remains a formidable contender in a tournament increasingly populated by younger players.

Remarkable Matches

Anand’s day began with a significant victory over the highly-rated American Grandmaster Wesley So. Utilizing effective strategy, he put So in serious time trouble, securing the first full point. Following that, Anand split points with China’s Wei Yi and closed the day with a win against countryman Aravindh Chithambaram.

Competition Highlights

Joining Anand at the top is American GM Hans Niemann. Niemann started strong by defeating former World Rapid champion Volodar Murzin, followed by a draw against India’s Vidit Gujrathi and a win over young talent R. Praggnanandhaa, who fell into a time crunch during their match.

In a notable clash between two Indian players, Gujrathi showcased his skills against Arjun Erigaisi, effectively dominating the game and sealing his win with a rare knight-and-bishop checkmate.

Women’s Section: Carissa Yip Emerges as Leader

In the women’s division, American International Master (IM) Carissa Yip took the lead with 2.5 points out of three. Indian player Vantika Agrawal performed admirably, scoring two out of three points and demonstrating excellent endgame skills, particularly in her victory against R. Vaishali in round one.

Dramatic Rounds Unfold

The event kicked off with an intense 114-move draw between Dronavalli Harika and Women’s World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh. Round two saw three decisive games, including Stavroula Tsolakidou’s notable victory over Divya. Kateryna Lagno defeated Vantika in a challenging knight-versus-bishop endgame, while Aleksandra Goryachkina capitalized on an exposed king to secure her first win against Vaishali.

In Round 3, Carissa Yip effectively converted an early exchange advantage against Goryachkina, while Nana Dzagnidze triumphed in a gripping queen endgame against Tsolakidou. Vantika capped off the day with an aggressive win over Harika.

Standings After Day 1

Open Category (Indians Unless Mentioned)

• 2.5 points: Viswanathan Anand, Hans Niemann (USA)
• 2 points: Wesley So (USA), Vidit Gujrathi
• 1.5 points: Nihal Sarin, R Praggnanandhaa
• 1 point: Wei Yi (CHN), Arjun Erigaisi
• 0.5 points: Aravindh Chithambaram, Volodar Murzin (RUS)

Women’s Division

• 2.5 points: Carissa Yip (USA)
• 2 points: Nana Dzagnidze (GEO), Kateryna Lagno (RUS), Vantika Agrawal
• 1.5 points: Aleksandra Goryachkina (RUS), Rakshitta Ravi
• 1 point: D. Harika, Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE), Divya Deshmukh
• 0.5 points: R. Vaishali

This exciting opening day sets the stage for intense competition as the tournament progresses!