India’s top-ranked chess player Arjun Erigaisi outplayed five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand for the second time this week to finish the opening day of the Blitz section at Tata Steel Chess India 2026 in second place.
Arjun began the Blitz event in dominant fashion, winning five consecutive games to surge up the leaderboard. He ended the day on 6.5 points from nine rounds, half a point behind leader Wesley So of the United States, who topped the standings with 7/9.
The Hyderabad grandmaster had earlier defeated Anand in the Rapid section and repeated the feat on Saturday. Their Blitz encounter appeared headed for a draw before a late mistake from Anand allowed Arjun to seize the initiative and force a resignation.
Also read: Tata Chess Blitz: So leads, Erigaisi half a point behind
Arjun opened with victories over Volodar Murzin, Wei Yi and rapid champion Nihal Sarin, before beating Anand in round four and Arvindh Chithambaram in the fifth. His momentum was halted in round six by So, who handed Arjun his first loss of the day.
Arjun managed only one win from the final three rounds, finishing just behind the American ahead of the concluding day. Sarin stood third with 5.5 points, while Anand and Vidit Gujrathi were joint fourth on five points.
In the women’s Blitz event, American International Master Carissa Yip took sole lead with 6/9, while India’s R Vaishali was joint second on 5.5.
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