Tata Steel Chess Tournament: Magnus Carlsen Leads After 9 Rounds; Kateryna Lagno Tops Women’s Field

Arjun Erigaisi Surges Ahead in Tata Steel Chess Tournament, Magnus Carlsen Suffers Rare Defeat

In a stunning turn of events at the Tata Steel Chess tournament in Kolkata, Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi has taken the lead, leaving five-time World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen half-a-point behind after nine rounds. The tournament has been a roller coaster ride for Erigaisi, who recently joined the elite 2800-rating club.

The highlight of the tournament so far was Erigaisi’s victory over Carlsen in just 20 moves during the blitz round. Carlsen, known for his dominance in the chess world, was forced to give in after an accuracy of over 98% from Erigaisi, while Carlsen’s own accuracy was at 80%.

Despite this rare defeat, Carlsen still leads the blitz standings with 6.5 points after nine rounds. Following closely behind is R Praggnanandhaa with six points, who made a remarkable turnaround with six consecutive wins after losing his first three games. Erigaisi and Russia’s Daniil Dubov are tied for third place with 5.5 points each.

In the women’s section, Russia’s Kateryna Lagno is leading the field with 7 points, maintaining an undefeated streak with five wins and four draws. Valentina Gunina and rapid champion Aleksandra Goryachkina are in second and third place respectively.

The standings in the blitz round show a fierce competition in both the open and women’s sections, with players showcasing their skills and determination to secure victory.

As the tournament continues, fans eagerly await more thrilling matches and surprising outcomes. Stay updated with the latest sports news, including updates from the Olympics 2024, tennis Grand Slam tournaments, football matches, and international hockey tournaments.