World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen dominated the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid Tournament in Kolkata on Thursday, securing three consecutive victories to take the sole lead in the ‘Open’ section. Carlsen’s flawless performance saw him defeat S L Narayanan, Wesley So, and Arjun Erigaisi, amassing a commanding five points out of a possible six.
In the women’s section, Russia’s Aleksandra Goryachkina mirrored Carlsen’s impressive display, securing three victories to establish a solitary lead. Her triumphs over Vantika Agrawal, R. Vaishali, and Kateryna Lagno propelled her to a tally of five points.
Carlsen’s closest challenger is former World Rapid champion Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who trails with 4.5 points. Abdusattorov drew against Nihal Sarin and Vidit Gujrathi before defeating Narayanan, positioning himself as Carlsen’s primary threat heading into the final day.
In the women’s section, Georgian Grandmaster Nana Dzagnidze is hot on Goryachkina’s heels with four points. Dzagnidze’s successful day included wins over Vaishali and Koneru Humpy, as well as a hard-fought draw with Lagno.
India’s D. Harika, Vantika Agrawal, and Valentina Gunina share third place with 3.5 points each.
