Excitement Builds as Tata Steel Chess India Rapid & Blitz Tournament Draws Announced
The anticipation is high as the first-round draws for the sixth Tata Steel Chess India Rapid & Blitz tournament were announced in Kolkata on Tuesday. All eyes are on Magnus Carlsen, the former world champion, who will be facing off against 19-year-old Indian grandmaster R. Pragganandhaa in both the Rapid and Blitz formats.
With a prize fund of USD 41,500, this year’s tournament will take place at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium in Kolkata’s Alipore from November 13 to 17. The tournament will feature two categories, Open and Women, in both Rapid and Blitz formats.
After a remarkable performance at the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest, the Indian chess contingent is gearing up for the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid & Blitz tournament.
In the Open category, Indian players like S.L. Narayanan, Vidit Gujrathi, Arjun Erigaisi, and Nihal Sarin will be facing tough competition from international players like Wesley So and Vincent Keymer. In the Women’s category, Indian players like Harika Dronavalli, Vantika Agrawal, and Koneru Humpy will be up against strong opponents from around the world.
During the draw, a three-year-old chess prodigy from Kolkata named Anish Sarkar had the honor of picking the names of Carlsen and Pragganandhaa, setting up an exciting matchup. The young prodigy received praise from the chess stars involved in the tournament.
Five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen is making a comeback to the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid & Blitz tournament after his victory in 2019. Past winners like Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Alexander Grischuk, Divya Deshmukh, and Ju Wenjun will also be looking to defend their titles in the upcoming tournament.
Chess legend Vishwanathan Anand, the ambassador of the competition, expressed his excitement for this year’s event, highlighting the strong lineup of players and the celebration of Indian chess talent. The tournament promises to be a thrilling showcase of skill and strategy as players from around the world compete for victory in Kolkata.