Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand showcased his legendary resilience on Thursday, bouncing back from an early defeat to claim two victories and surge into a joint lead with young prodigy Nihal Sarin after six rounds of the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid tournament in Kolkata.
A Day of Dramatic Swings
The fourth to sixth rounds of the prestigious event were marked by intense battles and constant changes at the top of the leaderboard in both the Open and Women's sections. Both Anand and Nihal are now tied at the summit with 4.5 points each from their six games.
Anand's Roller-Coaster Journey
The day began on a sour note for the 56-year-old icon. In round four, Anand seemed to be applying pressure in a complex middle game against Arjun Erigaisi. However, a critical blunder involving his rook allowed the young Indian grandmaster to seize the initiative. Erigaisi defended with patience and later pounced on an endgame error to secure the win.
Unfazed, Anand mounted a powerful comeback. He first took on American grandmaster Hans Niemann in round five. The game featured opposite-side castling in an Italian Opening, where Anand defended calmly before seizing control with active rook play and a superior pawn structure to convert his advantage.
He followed this up in round six with a positional masterclass against Russia's Volodar Murzin. In an opposite-coloured bishop middle game, Anand demonstrated his profound strategic understanding to outmaneuver his opponent and secure another full point, reclaiming his spot at the top.
Nihal Sarin's Commanding Streak
Meanwhile, Nihal Sarin charged into the joint lead with an impressive trio of consecutive wins. His surge began by capitalising on a knight blunder by Hans Niemann. He then executed a neat back-rank combination to defeat Volodar Murzin. The young star saved his best for last, showcasing exquisite endgame technique to overcome compatriot Vidit Gujrathi in a intricate knight endgame.
Other Key Results in Open Section
The action was fierce across the board. Aravindh Chithambaram fell to China's Wei Yi, while R Praggnanandhaa methodically outplayed Murzin on the queenside in their encounter. The clash between Vidit Gujrathi and Praggnanandhaa in round five ended in a quick, peaceful draw.
Arjun Erigaisi continued his strong form by winning a subtle rook endgame against Wesley So, pushing a pawn race from a symmetrical position to victory. Aravindh Chithambaram's struggles continued as he was punished for an endgame pawn blunder by Wesley So.
Women's Section: Lagno Takes Sole Lead
In the women's competition, Kateryna Lagno of Russia emerged as the sole leader with 4.5 points. The Indian contingent had a mixed day. Vantika Agrawal was the best-placed Indian in fifth position with three points.
Veterans Harika Dronavalli, R Vaishali, and Rakshitta Ravi were all tied on 2.5 points. In a disappointing turn, reigning world champion Divya Deshmukh found herself at the bottom of the standings with just two points.
The day saw several notable performances. Rakshitta Ravi produced a fearless attacking display to defeat Georgia's Nana Dzagnidze in a sharp opposite-side castling battle. However, she later suffered her first loss of the event at the hands of Vantika Agrawal. Lagno solidified her lead by converting an endgame advantage against Divya Deshmukh and later defeating Stavroula Tsolakidou.
Aleksandra Goryachkina weathered early pressure to overcome Divya Deshmukh, while Nana Dzagnidze bounced back by capitalising on an opening error by Carissa Yip. R Vaishali powered past Rakshitta Ravi with strong central pawn play in their game.
The tournament promises more thrilling chess as it progresses, with the leaders looking to hold their nerve and the chasing pack aiming to close the gap.
