Five-time world champion Grandmaster (GM) Magnus Carlsen (Norway) won both the rapid and blitz titles at the 6th edition of the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid and Blitz 2024 tournament, held from 13th to 17th November 2024, at the at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium in Alipore, Kolkata, West Bengal.
- Carlsen won the blitz title by defeating Vidit Gujrathi(India) in the final round to record three straight wins and end with 13 points.
- He won the Rapid title by defeating Daniil Dubov(Russia) in the Open Category with 7.5 points.
Women’s Category:
i.Russian GM Aleksandra Goryachkina secured the Rapid Title by securing a total of 7.5 points.
ii.Russian Kateryna Lagno won the blitz title by securing 11.5 points.
Rapid – Final Standings:
| Open Category | Women’s Category | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Name | Points | Rank | Name | Points |
| 1 | Magnus Carlsen (Norway) | 7.5 | 1 | Aleksandra Goryachkina (Russia) | 7.5 |
| 2 | Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu (India) | 5.5 | 2 | Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia) | 5.5 |
| 3 | Wesley So (USA) | 5.5 | 3 | Vantika Agrawal (India) | 5 |
Blitz – Final Standings
| Open Category | Women’s Category | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Name | Points | Rank | Name | Points |
| 1 | Magnus Carlsen (Norway) | 13 | 1 | Kateryna Lagno (Russia) | 11.5 |
| 2 | Wesley So (USA) | 11.5 | 2 | Valentina Gunina (Russia) | 11 |
| 3 | Arjun Erigaisi (India) | 10.5 | 3 | Vantika Agrawal (India) and Aleksandra Goryachkina (Russia) | 9.5 |
Points to note: Rapid:
i.Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu and Wesley So (USA) scored 5.5 points each securing 2nd and 3rd place according to tie-breaks.
- Praggnanandhaa defeated Sunilduth Lyna Narayanan and Arjun Erigaisi drew with Wesley So on the final day of Rapid.
ii.In the women’s category, GM Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia) secured the 2nd place with 5.5 points while the Indian grandmaster Vantika Agrawal remained in 3rd with a total of 5 points.
Points to note: Blitz:
i.GM Wesley secured 2nd place with 11.5 points while Arjun Erigaisi (10.5 points) claimed the 3rd place.
ii.In the women’s section,Valentina Gunina (Russia), finished second with 11 points. Aleksandra Goryachkina(Russia) and India’s Vantika Agrawal secured 3rd place with 9.5 points each.
About Magnus Carlsen
i.Magnus Carlsen has won the world title in 2013 and has successfully defended it four times (2014, 2016, 2018, and 2021).
ii.He also claimed the 2024 Champions Chess Tour Chessable Masters title in February 2024.
v.As of November 2024, he is on the top of the FIDE (International Chess Federation) ratings.
About Aleksandra Goryachkina
i.Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina is a Russian chess player who is the No. 4 ranked woman in the world by FIDE rating and is also the fourth-highest rated woman and highest rated Russian woman in chess history with a peak rating of 2611.
ii.She is also a three-time Russian Women’s Chess Champion, which she achieved in 2015, 2017, and 2020.
iii. In August 2023, she won the FIDE Women’s World Cup in Baku, Ajerbaijan. In November 2024, she also won the 2024 Shymkent FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in Shymkent, Kazakhstan.
iv.As of November 2024, she has a FIDE rating of2528.
About Kateryna Lagno
i.Kateryna Lagno is a Russian chess grandmaster won team gold at the Women’s World Team Championship in 2013 playing for the Ukrainian team and in 2017 and 2021 playing for the Russian team.
ii.She also won the Women’s European Team Championship in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, playing for the Ukrainian team in 2013 and for the Russian team in all following championships.
iii.She has won the Women’s World Rapid Champion in 2014 and Women’s World Blitz Champion in 2010, 2018 and 2019.
iv.As of November 2024, she has a FIDE rating of 2527.
About Tata Steel Chess tournament:
i.This is a tournament that is organized by Tata Steel and supported by the All India Chess Federation.
ii.It has two tournaments: a men’s and a women’s event and will be played in two formats – Rapid and Blitz.
- For the first time, both Men’s and Women’s event took place simultaneously in 2024.
iii.The 7th edition of Tata Steel Chess India Rapid and Blitz will take place from 12th to 16th November 2025.
