In a poignant and impressive display of skill, young Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin secured the coveted Tata Steel Chess India Rapid championship on Friday. The victory was especially emotional as it came just a day after the passing of his maternal grandfather, the man who first introduced him to the game of chess.
A Champion's Tribute
Nihal Sarin sealed the 'Open' title in the ninth and final round by calmly holding the legendary five-time world champion, Viswanathan Anand, to a draw. This result confirmed the 21-year-old's first-place finish with a total of 6.5 points. Following his triumph, an emotional Nihal dedicated the win to his grandfather. "Yesterday night I got the news that my maternal grandfather who taught me chess, had passed away. I would like to dedicate this tournament victory to him," the champion said.
Podium Finishers and Key Battles
The final standings saw the iconic Viswanathan Anand take the runner-up position with six points. Completing the podium was Arjun Erigaisi, a recent double bronze medallist at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Doha, who finished with five points.
The tournament was filled with intense battles. In a memorable Round 7, former World Rapid champion Volodar Murzin scored his first win by defeating China's Wei Yi. Indian GM Vidit Gujrathi held Anand to a draw despite having an extra pawn, while American GM Hans Niemann defeated Aravindh Chithambaram. One of the most gripping contests was between Nihal and R Praggnanandhaa, which went all the way down to bare kings before ending in a draw.
Round 8 witnessed Praggnanandhaa surprising Anand with the Alekhine Defence, though the game simplified early into a draw. Nihal displayed excellent defensive precision to overcome a sacrificial attempt by American Wesley So. Murzin continued his good form by defeating Aravindh, and Erigaisi punished an unnecessary exchange sacrifice by Niemann.
Lagno Dominates Women's Section
In the women's category, Russia's Kateryna Lagno emerged as the clear winner with a commanding performance, finishing with 6.5 points. Her compatriot, Aleksandra Goryachkina, secured second place with five points. The bronze medal was claimed by India's Women's World Cup champion, Divya Deshmukh, who scored 4.5 points.
Key moments in the women's section included Lagno capitalizing on an endgame mistake by Rakshitha Ravi, Divya Deshmukh overturning an early deficit to beat Vantika Agrawal, and R. Vaishali launching a strong attack to defeat Carissa Yip. In Round 8, Divya was the sole winner, defeating Vaishali. Lagno had already secured the top spot before the final round, leading by an unassailable margin.
The Tata Steel Chess India tournament once again highlighted the rising talent in Indian chess, with Nihal Sarin's heartfelt victory standing as a testament to both his formidable skill and deep personal connection to the game.
