Tata Steel Chess India 2026 Rapid is shaping up to be a thrilling competition. After six intense rounds in Kolkata, young gun Nihal Sarin has joined chess legend Viswanathan Anand at the top with 4.5 points each. The action delivered classic drama, with blunders, comebacks, and masterful defences keeping fans glued to the board.
Nihal Sarin Leads Tata Steel Chess 2026
The Tata Steel Chess 2026 started with a shock for Anand, the overnight joint leader. He faced Arjun Erigaisi in a tense battle where Anand held the edge in the middlegame. But a rook blunder handed Erigaisi the chance to defend patiently and strike in the endgame for a crucial win. Anand, true to form, refused to fade. He bounced back strongly, defeating Hans Niemann in a gritty encounter and then outplaying Volodar Murzin to reclaim contention. This resilience is why Vishy remains a force, even as he shares the spotlight.
Enter Nihal Sarin, the rising star who turned heads with a flawless run. He pounced on Niemann’s knight blunder to secure a key victory, then unleashed a neat back-rank combination against Murzin. Facing Vidit Gujrathi, Sarin navigated a tricky knight endgame with precision to claim the point. Sarin’s calm under pressure and sharp tactics have him level with Anand, proving India’s next generation is ready to challenge the greats.
Erigaisi stole the show elsewhere, building on his win over Anand with a superior pawn structure to beat Niemann, followed by a masterclass in an opposite-colored bishops middlegame against Murzin. He sits on 3.5 points, tied with R Praggnanandhaa, Niemann, and Wesley So, just half a point off the pace. The chase is heating up as the Rapid phase nears its final day.
In the women’s section, Kateryna Lagno leads solo on 4.5 points. The 2024 blitz winner drew Dronavalli Harika but bookended it with wins over Divya Deshmukh and Stavroula Tsolakidou. Carissa Yip trails on 4 points after a loss to Nana Dzagnidze, with the defending champion Aleksandra Goryachkina on 3.
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This Tata Steel Chess 2026 Rapid has been pure chess cinema, blunders turning tides, veterans fighting back, and youngsters stepping up. With Anand and Sarin tied at the top, the final rounds promise more fireworks. Will Nihal pull off the upset, or will Vishy extend his legacy? Stay tuned; the board is set for an epic finish.
Also read: WPL 2026 Opening Ceremony: Who Will Perform And All Details
