The 2026 edition of Tata Steel Chess India Rapid, held at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium in Kolkata from January 7 to 11, will be remembered not merely for its elite field or high-quality chess, but for the extraordinary circumstances under which Nihal Sarin emerged champion.
What began as a tournament framed around Viswanathan Anand’s much-anticipated return to competitive play on home soil ultimately became a powerful story of resilience, emotional strength, and sporting excellence, as Sarin claimed his second Rapid title in Kolkata with 6.5 points from nine rounds.
The narrative shifted dramatically days before the event began when reigning World Champion D Gukesh withdrew for personal reasons. His absence was a significant blow for organisers and fans alike, given the expectation of a generational clash between Gukesh and Anand. Tournament director Dibyendu Barua moved swiftly, bringing in Nihal Sarin as a last-minute replacement. At 21, Sarin was already recognised as one of India’s finest speed-chess specialists, but few could have predicted how decisively he would seize this unexpected opportunity .
The Open Rapid field was formidable, blending legends and modern heavyweights. Alongside Anand were Arjun Erigaisi, Wesley So, R. Praggnanandhaa, Wei Yi, Hans Niemann, and reigning Rapid World Champion Volodar Murzin. The format of a single round-robin of nine rounds at 15 minutes plus a 10-second increment left little room for recovery from mistakes. Early signs suggested that experience might dominate. Anand looked sharp on Day One, winning convincingly against Wesley So and sharing the lead with Niemann at 2.5/3, while Sarin began steadily but unspectacularly with 1.5 points from his first three games.
Day Two, however, altered the tournament’s trajectory. Both overnight leaders stumbled, and Sarin surged. Wins over Niemann, Murzin, and Vidit Gujrathi propelled him into a joint lead with Anand at 4.5/6. It was classic Sarin: precise calculation, calm defense, and ruthless exploitation of inaccuracies. Anand, displaying his trademark resilience, rebounded from a loss to Arjun Erigaisi by winning back-to-back games, ensuring the title race went down to the final day.
What followed added a profound human dimension to Sarin’s campaign. On the eve of the final day, he received news of the passing of his maternal grandfather, A.A. Ummar the man who had first introduced him to chess as a child. Despite the emotional weight, Sarin chose to play on. Observers noted no visible drop in focus; instead, his play reflected remarkable composure. Over the final three rounds, he held his nerve, including a critical Round 8 victory over Wesley So, where he neutralized aggressive play in the Vienna Opening and converted an advantage in just 23 moves. That win gave him a decisive half-point lead going into the final round.
The closing game against Anand encapsulated Sarin’s maturity. Anand needed a win with Black to snatch the title and opted for an ambitious Scotch Opening. Sarin, showing tactical restraint beyond his years, steered the game into safe channels and secured a draw enough to clinch the championship outright. He finished on 6.5 points, half a point ahead of Anand, with Erigaisi taking third on tie-breaks.
Statistically, the triumph was emphatic. Sarin recorded a performance rating of 2839, gaining over 21 Elo points and reinforcing his status among the world’s elite rapid players. It also placed him alongside Magnus Carlsen as the only two-time winners of Tata Steel Chess India Rapid, underlining his consistency in high-variance formats.
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The Women’s Rapid event ran parallel and produced its own story of dominance, with Kateryna Lagno going unbeaten to secure the title on 6.5 points. Yet, even amid Lagno’s clinical run, the spotlight remained firmly on Sarin’s journey, one defined as much by emotional strength as by technical excellence.
Beyond trophies and ratings, the 2026 Rapid segment reaffirmed broader truths about modern chess. India’s depth was once again evident; even in the absence of the world champion, an Indian grandmaster stepped in and won outright. Anand’s second-place finish confirmed that elite preparation and experience can still rival youthful speed. Above all, Sarin’s victory stood as a testament to psychological resilience, proof that, even at the highest level, human resolve can shape sporting outcomes.
As the tournament transitioned into the Blitz segment, attention naturally shifted forward. Yet the Rapid championship had already delivered its defining moment. In Kolkata, under pressure few could imagine, Nihal Sarin didn’t just win a title; he delivered one of the most meaningful performances of his career and one of the most emotionally resonant victories in recent chess history.
