Viswanathan Anand continues to defy age, logic, and expectation at Tata Steel Chess.
At 56, the five-time world champion once again demonstrated why he remains one of the sharpest minds in world chess, bouncing back from a painful defeat to share the lead in the Rapid section of Tata Steel Chess India 2026 alongside young compatriot Nihal Sarin after six rounds.
Thursday was a day that neatly captured Anand’s enduring greatness. In the fourth round, he suffered a rare lapse against Arjun Erigaisi, blundering from a position of strength to concede the game. It was the kind of moment that could have unsettled many, especially in a tightly packed elite field. Anand, however, responded like only he can with composure, clarity, and clinical precision.
He struck back in the fifth round by defeating Hans Niemann, controlling the game with trademark positional understanding before converting the advantage without fuss. That momentum carried into the sixth round, where Anand outplayed Russia’s Volodar Murzin to move to 4.5 points from six games, firmly back in contention heading into the final day of the Rapid event at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium.
Sharing the lead with Anand is 20-year-old Nihal Sarin, whose rise this week has been quieter but no less impressive. While much of the spotlight has followed the big names, Nihal has simply gone about his work, delivering results with remarkable consistency. On Thursday alone, he picked up three wins, including victories over Hans Niemann, Volodar Murzin, and Vidit Gujrathi, showcasing his growing maturity at the elite level.
Nihal’s win over Vidit in the sixth round was particularly significant. Vidit, one of India’s most experienced campaigners, found himself under sustained pressure as Nihal dictated the pace and direction of the game. With 4.5 points, Nihal now stands shoulder to shoulder with Anand, a symbolic passing-of-the-torch moment that underlines the depth of Indian chess.
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Elsewhere in the Open section, Arjun Erigaisi continued his solid run, defeating Anand in round four and later drawing with Aravindh Chithambaram. Wesley So and R. Praggnanandhaa played out two draws, but their sixth-round encounter became the talking point of the day.
In a dramatic finish, Praggnanandhaa stopped the clock with just one second remaining, realizing he did not have enough time to promote a pawn. After discussions between the players and tournament officials, the game was declared a draw. While commentators felt the American should have been awarded the win, So himself was gracious in his response.
The women’s section saw Russia’s Kateryna Lagno surge into the sole lead with 4.5 points after six rounds. Lagno produced a strong run with victories over Aleksandra Goryachkina and Stavroula Tsolkidou, while holding D. Harika to a draw. American Carissa Yip remains close behind on four points, keeping the title race finely poised.
From an Indian perspective, the broader picture remains deeply encouraging. With Anand still competing for top honors, Nihal asserting himself at the summit, and Praggnanandhaa, Arjun, and Vidit all very much in the mix, Tata Steel Chess India 2026 has once again underlined India’s status as a global chess powerhouse.
As the Rapid section heads into its final day, the narrative is compelling. The legend refuses to fade, the next generation refuses to wait, and Indian chess continues to thrive across eras.
