Magnus Carlsen Wins First Titled Tuesday Of 2026

The world number one, Magnus Carlsen, kicked off 2026 with a bang, claiming victory in the Titled Tuesday event on January 6 with a stellar 9.5/11 score. He edged out Vincent Keymer and Jan-Krzysztof Duda on tiebreaks, proving once more why he remains the unbeatable force in online chess battles.

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Magnus Carlsen Wins Titled Tuesday

The Titled Tuesday drew a massive field of 440 titled players, the biggest since September. Stars like Hikaru Nakamura and Levon Aronian joined the fray, setting the stage for high drama. Carlsen started strong, going perfect through seven rounds. He dispatched tough opponents, including a comeback win against Vasif Durarbayli after hanging a pawn early. In round eight, he faced Aronian in a rematch of their recent finals clash and won convincingly, extending his lead to 8/8.

Drama peaked after the break. Carlsen drew with Keymer in a tense time scramble, then lost to Nakamura in a wild pawn promotion battle. Nakamura’s passed pawns turned the tide despite being down an exchange. Suddenly, Carlsen faced a five-way tie at eight points with Nakamura, Keymer, Pranav Venkatesh, and Hans Niemann. Berlin draws and quick edges whittled it down. Niemann resigned to Carlsen after a big advantage, while Keymer outlasted Theodorou. Tiebreaks sealed it: Carlsen’s 76.5 topped Keymer’s 72.5.

Standouts included Andrew Tang and Cristobal Henriquez on nine points, with Durarbayli and Nakamura at 8.5. WGM Savitha Shri B took the women’s prize with 7.5. Broadcast hosts David Howell and Maud Rodsmoen captured the excitement, especially young streamer Faustino Oro’s chill vibe. Carlsen praised the 12-year-old prodigy, saying he’s on an “incredible path.”

This win boosts Magnus Carlsen’s CCT lead to 31 points, with Duda at 23 and Sevian at 19. Keymer jumped to fourth. As Titled Tuesday heats up, expect more fireworks. Participation is rising, and with Carlsen in form, the Winter Split promises non-stop action. Stay tuned for next week’s showdown.