KOLKATA: The City of Joy is turning out to be a happy hunting ground for Magnus Carlsen.
The Norwegian - who won the Tata Steel Rapid and Blitz meet which had been a part of the Grand Chess Tour during his first visit to the city in 2019 - did a double here on Sunday by clinching the blitz meet after bagging the rapid section two days back.
The way the world No. 1 player dominated the tournament will no doubt serve as a warning to all before the World Rapid and Blitz meet scheduled to be held next month in New York. Interestingly, he won both the categories with a round to spare.
Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand appreciated Carlsen's show but also praised Arjun Erigaisi for pushing the Norwegian in the middle stage.
Arjun, who was the only player to defeat Carlsen in the tournament, caught up with him (nine points) after the 14th round with a win against Daniil Dubov while the Norwegian drew with Vincent Keymer. With Nihal Sarin doing well to hold Carlsen in the next round, Arjun went to the top with a win against SL Narayan. But then disaster struck as Arjun blundered from a winning position to go down to Vidit Gujrathi in Round 16
Final standings (BLITZ)
Open: Magnus Carlsen (13); So Wesly (11.5); Arjun Erigaisi (10.5).
Women: Kateryna Lagno (11.5); Valentina Gunina (11); Aleksandra Goryachkina (9.5).
