 in the penultimate round to clinch victory in the 

 with a round to spare, meaning that for two years in a row he’s never finished below 2nd place in either the Blitz or Rapid in Kolkata. There was more Indian success in the Women’s event, as 

Going into the final day of the Tata Steel Chess India Blitz 

, but soon it would all be about a 2-horse race with 

 commented before play began, “The open event is full of sharks, but luckily for Arjun he’s one of them!”

Arjun nevertheless got off to the worst possible start. He had multiple chances to beat bottom-placed 

, but ultimately lost all control and stumbled into a lost position.

Arjun bounced straight back, however, defeating Vidit after the unfortunate king move 

Just how quickly things could change in a blitz event with no weak players was shown by 

 plummeting from 3rd to last place as this became the first of 5 losses in a row, before he hit back to finish 5th after winning the last 3 games!

Abdusattorov lost 6 of his first 7 games on Day 1, but lost just one on the 2nd | photo: Lennart Ootes

Arjun caught Mamedyarov in the lead, and would never be lower than shared 1st again, while 

 would never be first on the final day, but moved to within half a point with a win over 

Wesley had been a clear pawn up and winning but lost his way and then blundered with 

 and the pinned queen can’t capture on d5 so Black is simply a piece up. 

Wesley would then go on to essentially end 

 challenge by beating the co-leader in the next round, while Nakamura and Arjun won and the two-horse race began. They both drew in Round 13, then won in Round 14, before Round 15 seemed at first to almost wrap up overall victory for Arjun.

 got a gift when, at the end of a chaotic game, 

, simply forgetting there was an undefended rook on a1.

 could potentially win the tournament with two rounds to spare, and everything was going right against 

… until it suddenly wasn’t! Parham continued to be an agent of chaos by catching Arjun in a mating net.

Arjun Erigaisi had time to reflect on his mistakes, as the clock had to be reset after an illegal move in an already lost position | photo: Lennart Ootes

 was this time the one to benefit from a huge blunder, with 

, in a position where he could draw with 37…Rg4+!, instead playing 

The normally unflappable Arjun later admitted he’d been shaken, commenting:

The previous game against Parham I had such a nice position, I could have at least drawn the game, but I allowed some attack and ended up losing that, and after that it became close. At first I thought of just making a draw, but then I was like, let’s play on.

 leading by only half a point, played the hyper-sharp

, but although the opening went well he later found himself in a lost position, all the way up to move 33.

Hikaru could have taken the lead with a round to go if he’d played 33…Rg3!, threatening to take on g2 next. The only move to stop that is 34.Bf1, but then 34…Rh3! forces 35.Qg1 after which Black can chose his kill against the paralysed white army: 35…Nf5, 35…Rxh4, 35…Qf4, 35…Ne4 and more moves win.

 Arjun knew he was back in the game, with the players very much playing for three results. There were twists and turns before the most dramatic of finales. With 

 Hikaru blundered, and only realised what he’d done when Arjun played the winning 

, picking up the piece. Hikaru’s shocked reaction was a classic.

But he immediately saw the funny side as he conceded a defeat which meant Arjun Erigaisi was the 2022 Tata Steel Chess India Blitz Champion.

Hikaru Nakamura had put up a fantastic fight | photo: Lennart Ootes

Arjun would later add, “the thing I’m most proud of here is beating Hikaru 3:0!" (once in the Rapid and twice in the Blitz)

If there was a combined prize for Blitz and Rapid Arjun would have cruised to victory, since he finished 2nd in the Rapid event. That was a reversal of 2021, when he won the Rapid and finished 2nd, after a playoff against 

“In general I like playing rapid and blitz a lot more than classical,” said Arjun, while Vishy quipped, “I still think he confused the tournaments!”

Another trophy in Kolkata for Arjun Erigaisi | photo: Lennart Ootes

, though he noted he would have climbed higher if not for the recent K factor change that made it twice as hard to gain (or lose) points in rapid and blitz.

You can also see that despite a fine performance 

The women were coordinated for the closing ceremony | photo: Lennart Ootes

The Women’s event was also a two-horse race, but this time the leader at the start of the day, 

, who had breakfast with brother and fellow chess star 

The day began perfectly for Mariya, as she beat 

while Vaishali was held to a draw, so that her lead became 1.5 points.

Ultimately, however, it would be Vaishali’s day. The 21-year-old commented, “I was not checking the standings at all until the last game”, and explained that she’d learned a lesson from last year in Warsaw:

In the World Blitz also after the first day I was in the joint lead, 8/9 or something [7.5/9 in sole 2nd place behind Bibisara Assaubayeva on 8/9], then on the second day I lost control and lost so many games and I think I finished 10th or 11th, so today I really wanted to have control. Even when I lost to Anna I thought I should be in control.

Vishy Anand was one of the first people to congratulate Vaishali | photo: Lennart Ootes

Vaishali in fact only lost to Mariya’s sister 

, twice, and crucially held what at one point was a lost position in the head-to-head encounter with Mariya. 

Mariya Muzychuk had a winning position against Vaishali, but couldn't convert | photo: Lennart Ootes

Towards the end there was evidence of fatigue and nerves, as Mariya blundered a rook in Round 15.

Curiously that wasn’t even the worst blunder of the round, since 

 simply put her queen on a defended square.

described as a “ridiculous game” against 

then took the sole lead for the first time in the penultimate round as she beat 

That meant Muzychuk only needed a draw in the final round to guarantee victory, and although she very nearly lost to 

 it wouldn’t have mattered, since Mariya was never better and ultimately lost to 

. That left the final standings as follows.

Vaishali arrives for the Closing Ceremony | photo: Lennart Ootes

The next major over-the-board rapid and blitz action will be the 

 from December 16-18 in Katowice, Poland, before the big one, the 

 in Astana, Kazakhstan, on the traditional Christmas dates of December 26-30.

The four winners: Vaishali (Blitz), Anna Ushenina (Rapid), Arjun Erigaisi (Blitz) and Nihal Sarin (Rapid) | photo: Lennart Ootes

There’s online action before that, however, with 

 hoping to bounce back from his last place in Kolkata when he takes on 

can follow all the action here on chess24!

Hikaru Nakamura saw the funny side after his blunder gave Arjun Erigaisi the title with a round to spare | photo: Lennart Ootes

Arjun Erigaisi defeated Hikaru Nakamura in the penultimate round to clinch victory in the Tata Steel India Chess Blitz with a round to spare, meaning that for two years in a row he’s never finished below 2nd place in either the Blitz or Rapid in Kolkata. There was more Indian success in the Women’s event, as Vaishali finished 1.5 points clear of Mariya Muzychuk.

Arjun Erigaisi and Vaishali triumph in Tata Steel Blitz

Basic checkmate tactics appear at all levels | Erigaisi vs Mamedyarov

 with a stunning 6/7, but defeats in the last two rounds allowed 

 to overtake him before the final day. At least five players are in contention in the Open section, while in the Women’s 

Just how tough an elite blitz tournament can be was demonstrated by the incredible sight of 3-time US Champion 

 going into their Round 7 clash on 0.5/6.

It was a tough day for Nodirbek Abdusattorov | photo: Lennart Ootes

Wesley won to climb from rock bottom, but Nodirbek would still have a huge impact, as he stopped an unstoppable train in the very next round.

was back playing the way he’d done on the first day of rapid chess, with five wins taking him to 6/7, a point clear in 1st place of 

, who he’d beaten in their individual clash. The result of the game seemed inevitable, but instead Nodirbek found a beautiful win!

The point is that now after 47…Kxf5 48.Qxf7 Ke5 49.Ke7+ Kf5 White wins the queen with 50.Qh7+! Any deviation from that path just leads to a quick checkmate.

 in the final round of the day, so instead of Shakh as a runaway leader he was even overtaken by 

 in the penultimate round to cap another fine day for him in Kolkata.

 in 4th place, with both players well in contention, though they suffered some heavy blows. One came in the very first game of the day, when Nihal, fresh from winning the Rapid, ended a topsy-turvy game by leaving Hikaru with absolutely no good moves.

The standings look as follows, with another 9 rounds remaining on the final day.

Poland's Oliwia Kiolbasa against India's Savitha Shri | photo: Lennart Ootes

The Women’s Tournament, meanwhile, was dominated by some dramatic runs. First 15-year-old 

, who had lost her last five games in the Rapid, began with three wins against top opponents.

In Round 4, however, she got checkmated by 

, who it turned out was on her way to a huge score. After needing some luck to beat 

 from a position a piece down in the first game, Mariya never looked back.

She ended the day a huge 3 points clear of 3rd placed 

 also won her final four games and is just a single point behind.

Can Mariya Muzychuk hold on to win the title? | photo: Lennart Ootes

The final day of Tata Steel Chess India begins an hour earlier on Sunday for both tournaments:

Tata Steel Chess India Blitz (from 15:00 IST/10:30 CET)

Tata Steel Chess India Women’s Blitz (from 11:00 IST/06:30 CET)

Arjun Erigaisi and Praggnanandhaa look towards Rapid winner Nihal Sarin | photo: Lennart Ootes

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov started the Tata Steel Chess India Blitz with a stunning 6/7, but defeats in the last two rounds allowed Arjun Erigaisi to overtake him before the final day. At least five players are in contention in the Open section, while in the Women’s Mariya Muzychuk scored a brilliant 8/9, leaving only Vaishali within touching distance.

Arjun Erigaisi and Mariya Muzychuk lead Blitz

Russian World #2 Aleksandra Goryachkina convincingly knocked our her compatriot Alexandra Kosteniuk and edged closer to a Women's World Championship rematch against Ju Wenjun. The other match between Kateryna Lagno and Tan Zhongyi, will be decided by a playoff on Sunday.

World #2 Aleksandra Goryachkina secured her spot in the Pool B final with a convincing match win against World #9 Alexandra Kosteniuk. It was a deserved knockout by the 24-year-old, who controlled the 4-game match against her 12 years older compatriot from start to finish, winning 2.5-1.5.

Goryachkina's opponent in the final will be either Tan Zhongyi or Kateryna Lagno, who will go through to a playoff on Sunday after four draws.

Watch and play through all the games on our Broadcast page

The second stage of the €250,000 Women's Candidates started on November 29 in Khiva, Uzbekistan. Lei Tingjie won the first stage, called Pool A, in Monaco at the end of October, while three Russians and a Chinese player are fighting to determine who becomes the challenger for reigning champion Ju Wenjun in a Women's World Championship match scheduled for summer 2023.

The new knockout format, with two stages in two different locations, which placed two Ukrainians in Pool A and three Russians in Pool B, was clearly an attempt by FIDE to increase the chances of avoiding a clash between Ukrainian and Russian players. 

Kosteniuk was one player who expressed her dissatisfaction with the decision, as pointed out by FIDE critic Peter Heine Nielsen.

Russian FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich explained the change by citing the “Russian-Ukraine crisis” and “military action” going on in Ukraine, terms that approved by the Kremlin.

While Russians are banned from competing in most sports as per IOC recommendations, they are still allowed to compete in chess under a neutral flag.

Heine Nielsen called for a ban on Russian players in a thread on Twitter.

What is clear is that we will either see a Russian or a Chinese World Champion for both men and women. Ding Liren plays Ian Nepomniachtchi in the next World Championship match after reigning champion Magnus Carlsen decided not to defend his title. 

FIDE has scheduled the match for April next year

Aleksandra Goryachkina is on track to make it to her second Women's World Championship match, but still needs to win another two finals | photo: Timur Sattarov, FIDE

Goryachkina, with a peak rating of 2611, is on track to become the challenger once again through an impressive performance against her compatriot. After an effortless draw in game 2, she scored the decisive win with black in game 3 by winning a pleasant knight vs. bishop endgame. 

In a difficult endgame, Kosteniuk makes the decisive mistake with 

 when 42.Kg3! could save her. The point is that White gets counter-chances on the kingside 

42...Nc6 43.gxf5 gxf5 44.Ke3 Kc4 45.Ke2 Nd4+

Despite the fact that I came out of the opening slightly unsure, my opponent didn't seem to figure it out very well. So I managed to win somehow, even though I underperformed a little bit in the previous two games.

Kosteniuk, who had the tough task of having to win on demand with Black in game 4, was never close despite displaying her fighting spirit in a King's Indian.

The match between Kateryna Lagno and Tan Zhongyi ended 2-2 after four draws, and goes to a rapid playoff on Sunday.

Kateryna Lagno is married to current World #12 Alexander Grischuk | photo: Timur Sattarov, FIDE

Lagno must be upset that she missed a huge chance to take the lead in game 3.

 gives Lagno a chance to strike, but instead of 

37...f5! wins a key pawn. After 38.Rg8 Kf7 39.Rb8 fxe4 40.fxe4 Rxe4+ 41.Kxh5 Rb4 Black should be winning. The game ended in a draw by repetition a few moves later. 

The playoff begins Sunday at 11:00 CET and can be followed with official commentary by WGM Keti Tsatsalashvili and GM Arturs Neiksans 

Can Alexandra Goryachkina make it to her second Woman World Championship match? Timur Sattarov/FIDE

Goryachkina knocks out Kosteniuk to move closer to World Championship match

Choose the right move! | Carlsen vs Giri

 beat Nihal in the final round to finish just half a point behind, but no-one else came close. The first ever Women’s Tata Steel Chess India Rapid was won by Ukraine’s 

On Saturday and Sunday the action in Kolkata switches to blitz, with 9 rounds each day.

Tata Steel Chess India Blitz (from 16:00 IST/11:30 CET)

Tata Steel Chess India Women’s Blitz (from 12:00 IST/07:30 CET)

But let’s take a look at how the Rapid events concluded.

Nihal Sarin shows he’s not just an online rapid star

 recently reached the final of the Chess.com Global Chess Championship, where he lost to 

. In the National Library of India in Kolkata, however, Nihal finished 2.5 points clear of Wesley as he won the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid with a round to spare.

 was a point ahead of the field after scoring a perfect 3/3. 

Early leader Shakhriyar Mamedyarov faded after Day 1 | photo: Lennart Ootes

It wouldn’t last, however, since Shakhriyar lost to 

 in the last. White’s attack will deliver checkmate first.

 as he scored a 3rd win in a row, meaning he went into the final day with a 1-point lead.

He kept up the pace by scoring a crushing win after 

Nihal was in top form and showed total confidence in the penultimate round against 

, where he correctly calculated the transition to a winning pawn endgame. The passed c-pawn is just too strong.

Nihal blitzed out his remaining moves to clinch overall victory with a round to spare.

The only player to come close to Nihal was the 2021 winner, 

, who was held back by being convincingly defeated by 

 — curiously Sethuraman’s only win of the event.

Arjun finished on a high with wins over Nakamura and Nihal | photo: Lennart Ootes

 and then the tournament winner, with Nihal unfortunate to walk into some incredibly deep preparation by Arjun.

The blitz promises to be intense, with stars such as 

 and Hikaru looking to improve on disappointing results in rapid chess.

Vishy Anand with the escort a chess legend deserves | photo: Lennart Ootes

Anna Ushenina triumphs in Women’s Rapid

Anna Ushenina and Nana Dzagnidze played tiebreaks for the Women's title | photo: Lennart Ootes

 of the Women’s event, also starting with 3/3, but she managed to avoid any subsequent collapse. She was helped by her opponents lacking a killer instinct, with 

 taking draws by repetition in what were promising positions.

Here the h-pawn gives White excellent winning chances, though Nana was also shocked afterwards since her impression was that the position was close to equal, with Black having good chances to create counterplay if White pushed for more.

The most dramatic escape for Nana was in the penultimate round, when she was lost against 

 on move 6 until deep in a knight endgame, but managed to hold. Nana finished the rapid unbeaten, but she was nevertheless caught by another unbeaten player, 

Anna Ushenina's win over 15-year-old Savitha Shri was crucial | photo: Lennart Ootes

Anna also flirted with disaster in the penultimate round in a nail-biting game against 15-year-old 

 was technically a blunder by Anna, but it won the game.

Here it turns out Savitha was winning if she picked up the knight with 21.hxg4. Instead she defended against Ne2 with 

When Anna and Nana tied for 1st place it meant they’d play two games of 5+3 blitz, to be settled, if needed, by Armageddon. It wasn’t, as Ushenina outplayed Dzagnidze in an endgame in the first game, before crashing through in the second. 

, eliminating a bishop that could otherwise have returned to f8 to defend the kingside, was a decisive blow.

The game only lasted a couple more moves, 

 before Nana resigned and former Women’s World Champion Anna Ushenina had won the 1st ever Women’s Tata Steel Chess India title.

Don’t miss all the blitz action over the weekend:

Nihal Sarin beats Parham Maghsoodloo to clinch the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid title | photo: Lennart Ootes

18-year-old Indian prodigy Nihal Sarin has won the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid with a round to spare. Arjun Erigaisi beat Nihal in the final round to finish just half a point behind, but no-one else came close. The first ever Women’s Tata Steel Chess India Rapid was won by Ukraine’s Anna Ushenina, who overcame Nana Dzagnidze in a blitz playoff.

Nihal Sarin and Anna Ushenina claim Indian Rapid titles

answered questions from chess24 users and talked about who is for him the best chess player in history.

♟️What it means to him to be a father.

♟️If he can be world champion someday.

♟️How to improve chess openings and chess in general.

♟️What chess has taught him about life, and more.

Who do you think is the greatest chess player of all time?

Objectively, it’s Magnus because of his standards. But it’s very close.

I think Kasparov comes close. Taking into account that Magnus played in an era in which he didn’t really have such a big advantage as Kasparov…

Kasparov and Karpov had conditions that nobody else had.

I think that during Magnus' time it was more equal. You could compete with him with [the help of] coaches and computers.

So because of that, I think Magnus is ahead.

But all of the world champions are some of the best players.

If Fischer would have played longer, he would have been the greatest of all time, because I think Fischer winning 6-0 and 6-0 will not be repeated.

Dear Levon, I still hope to see you as the world champion. What is your opinion?

I’m a fighter, you know? I’ve had ups and downs in my career, and I’ve always fought and I always will.

My life has changed so much since 2020 that I think I am living a second life. In this second life, I am very passionate.

I want to come back to play my best chess.

Right now, with everything being in order, becoming a father, and life coming back to this really good position, I really look forward to playing my best chess.

I think that’s the most difficult part of the game of chess. It’s always a problem if you don’t have enough time to spend, or if you get a bit lazy or careless. Then it’s a difficult job to improve your openings. This happens to everybody.

The way to do it is to be systematic. So you choose the opening that you think is best for you. You have to understand the point of the opening. And it’s not an opening that you play for the tricks, but something serious.

Then you work on one variation at a time. It’s a difficult job, but it’s the most interesting job for people who enjoy chess because there is so much depth.

By learning openings, you don’t just learn the openings, you also learn the middlegame. It’s all connected.

For example, in the Sicilian Defense you have typical themes. If Black plays b5, how do you respond? Or, should you make a long castle? Or, should you play Kb1? Or, how should you push your pawns on the kingside with White? How should you prepare for Nd5? When is it appropriate to take on c3 with the Rook?

Using some of the knowledge of Grandmasters is a good idea. Buying new courses or getting some free courses and then trying to understand them.

What are the most important things chess has taught you about life?

The most important thing chess taught me is to fight and to be grateful.

If I look back at my chess career, I’m probably the luckiest player in the history of chess. I’ve been unlucky too, but the times I’ve been lucky in lost positions that I finally won… I can write a book.

If you are pure, honest, not jealous, and not negative, your life will be good. I believe in doing good, thinking good, and acting good.

 the whole Ask Me Anything session with Levon Aronian below.

Check out Levon Aronian's course on Chessable: 

Arjun Erigaisi and Vaishali triumph in Tata Steel Blitz

Basic checkmate tactics appear at all levels | Erigaisi vs Mamedyarov

Arjun Erigaisi and Mariya Muzychuk lead Blitz

Goryachkina knocks out Kosteniuk to move closer to World Championship match

Choose the right move! | Carlsen vs Giri

Nihal Sarin and Anna Ushenina claim Indian Rapid titles

Levon Aronian: “I look forward to playing my best chess”

Evaluate the resulting endgame! | Carlsen vs Praggnanandhaa

Carlsen crushes Dubov to win MrDodgy Invitational

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