Kolkata: Applause broke out as quickly as Vidith Gujrathi and Magnus Carlsen shook arms, bringing an finish to an eventful day the place the World No 1 was held to a attract his first two video games however ultimately confirmed his class within the last sport of the day. A full level towards Gujrathi helped Carlsen—who had received each the Speedy and Blitz codecs the final time he had performed right here—end the primary day of the Tata Metal Chess India with two factors, simply half some extent adrift of early chief Nodirbek Abdusattorov.
Uzbekistan Grandmaster Abdusattorov Nodirbek. (AP)
Day one noticed thrilling matches throughout three rounds of speedy play, with Uzbek Grandmaster Abdusattorov securing victories over the gifted German Vincent Keymer in spherical two and India’s R Praggnanandhaa in spherical three, whereas drawing his opening sport with Daniil Dubov. Carlsen began the day on a shaky be aware towards Praggnanandhaa in a Neo Catalan protection sport the place the Indian GM missed a checkmate transfer however the World No 1 bounced again from that juncture to power a draw with a 3-fold repetition.
One other draw with Sarin gave Carlsen a gradual begin however towards Gujarathi, who performed the Berlin, he saved urgent to seek out the purpose that propelled him joint second with Wesley So and India’s SL Narayanan, who additionally scored two factors with a win towards Keymer in spherical one and two attracts with So and Arjun Erigaisi. Praggnanandhaa has one level after drawing towards Dannil Dubov however dropping to Abdusattorov within the third spherical.
Within the ladies’s part, Indian expertise Vantika Agrawal stood out, sharing the lead with Aleksandra Goryachkina and Kateryna Lagno, every scoring two factors from three rounds. Agrawal achieved a major victory over Valentina Gunina within the opening spherical and adopted up with attracts towards Alexkandra Kosteniuk and Nana Dzagnidze. In the meantime, India’s Koneru Humpy, Dronavalli Harika, and Divya Deshmukh every path the leaders by half some extent after drawing all three video games on day one.
With six extra rounds remaining within the Speedy occasion, the gamers have ample alternative to make their mark earlier than the Blitz rounds start on Saturday.
Factors (Speedy, Day 1)
Males: Nodirbek Abdusattarov 2.5, SL Narayanan 2, Wesley So 2, Magnus Carlsen 2, Nihal Sarin 1.5, Daniil Dubov 1.5, Arjun Erigaisi 1.5, R Praggnanandhaa 1, Vincent Keymer 0.5, Vidit Gujrathi 0.5.
Ladies: Aleksandra Goryachkina 2, Kateryna Lagno 2, Vantika Agarwal 2, Koneru Humpy 1.5, Harika Dronavalli 1.5, Nana Dzagnizde 1.5, Divya Deshmukh 1.5, Valentina Gunina 1, Alexsandra Kosteniuk 1, Vaishali R 1.