Tata Steel Chess India: Carlsen Bounces Back on Day One, Abdusattorov Leads

The Tata Steel Chess India tournament kicked off in Kolkata with a bang as reigning World No 1 Magnus Carlsen faced off against a strong field of competitors. The first day saw intense battles and surprising results, with Carlsen being held to a draw in his first two games before bouncing back with a win in the final round.

Uzbek Grandmaster Nodirbek Abdusattorov emerged as the early leader with 2.5 points, securing victories over Vincent Keymer and R Praggnanandhaa, and drawing with Daniil Dubov. Carlsen, on the other hand, had a slow start but managed to finish the day with 2 points after defeating Vidith Gujrathi in a thrilling encounter.

In the women’s section, Indian talent Vantika Agrawal impressed with two points from three rounds, sharing the lead with Aleksandra Goryachkina and Kateryna Lagno. Meanwhile, top Indian players Koneru Humpy, Dronavalli Harika, and Divya Deshmukh are trailing the leaders by half a point after drawing all their games on day one.

With six more rounds remaining in the Rapid event, the players have plenty of opportunities to make their mark before the Blitz rounds begin on Saturday. Stay tuned for more exciting chess action from Kolkata!