The prestigious Tata Steel Chess India Rapid & Blitz tournament commenced on Wednesday at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium in Kolkata, affectionately known as the City of Joy. This celebrated annual event, featuring both Open and Women’s tournaments, has brought together some of the world’s top chess talents, including World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen.
Day one saw thrilling matches across three rounds of rapid play, with Uzbekistan’s young grandmaster, Abdusattorov Nodirbek, emerging as the early leader in the Open section. Abdusattorov scored 2.5 points out of a possible three, securing victories over talented German Vincent Keymer in round two and India’s Praggnanandhaa R in round three, while drawing his opening game with Daniil Dubov.
Magnus Carlsen, the World No. 1, had a solid start, drawing his first two games against India’s Praggnanandhaa and Nihal Sarin before finishing the day with a win over Vidit Gujarathi, placing him in joint second position with 2 points. Carlsen shares this position with India’s S.L. Narayanan, who also scored 2 points with a win against Keymer in round one and two draws with Wesley So and Arjun Erigaisi.
In the Women’s section, Indian talent Vantika Agrawal stands out, sharing the lead with Aleksandra Goryachkina and Kateryna Lagno, each scoring 2 points from three rounds. Agrawal achieved a significant victory over Valentina Gunina in the opening round and followed up with draws against Alexkandra Kosteniuk and Nana Dzagnidze. Meanwhile, India’s Koneru Humpy, Dronavalli Harika, and Divya Deshmukh each trail the leaders by half a point after drawing all three games on day one.
With six more rounds remaining in the Rapid event, the players have ample opportunity to make their mark before the Blitz rounds commence on Saturday.
Earlier, the tournament inauguration ceremony was graced by Shri Chanakya Chaudhary, Vice President of Tata Steel, alongside Shri Nitin Narang, President of the All India Chess Federation, and Shri Saurabh Runwal, Associate Director of Runwal Realty.
Tata Steel Chess India continues to uphold its legacy as a premier platform for the global chess elite, combining tradition with fierce competition and world-class sportsmanship.
The Standings at the end of Day 1
MEN:
NODIRBEK ABDUSATTOROV – 2.5
S L NARAYANAN – 2
WESLEY SO – 2
MAGNUS CARLSEN – 2
NIHAL SARIN – 1.5
DANIIL DUBOV – 1.5
ARJUN ERIGAISI – 1.5
R PRAGGNANANDHAA – 1
VINCENT KEYMER – 0.5
VIDIT GUJRATHI – 0.5
WOMEN’
ALEKSANDRA GORYACHKINA – 2
KATERYNA LAGNO – 2
VANTIKA AGARWAL – 2
KONERU HUMPY – 1.5
HARIKA DRONAVALLI N- 1.5
NANA DZAGNIDZE – 1.5
DIVYA DESHMUKH – 1.5
VALENTINA GUNINA – 1
ALEXANDRA KOSTENIUK – 1
VAISHALI R – 1
