World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen leads the Open section with 6.5 points at the halfway point of the Tata Steel Chess India Blitz 2024 tournament. India's R Praggnanandhaa trails closely behind with 6 points.

Magnus Carlsen and Kateryna Lagno lead the standings at the Tata Steel Chess India Blitz 2024. Carlsen achieved 6.5 points, with a notable defeat in round eight. Praggnanandhaa follows closely with 6 points.

World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and three-time World Women’s Blitz Champion Kateryna Lagno emerged as the leaders at the halfway mark of the Tata Steel Chess India Blitz 2024, being held at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium in Kolkata.

Kolkata: The Tata Steel Chess tournament has been nothing short of a roller coaster ride for Arjun Erigaisi, the latest entrant to the 2800-rating club. Barely two days earlier, Magnus Carlsen had picked his game against the Indian as the one he enjoyed the most in the rapid round even though defeat was inflicted in just 40 moves.

World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen of Norway delivered a flawless performance on the final day to clinch the title in the Open section, while India's R Praggnanandhaa finished runner-up at the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid Tournament in Kolkata on Friday.

Meanwhile, 21-year-old Erigaisi faced fellow Indian grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa in the final round of the day, where he suffered a defeat. He finished the day third on the table with 5.5 points. The victory over Erigaisi, on the other hand, brought Praggnanandhaa’s tally to 6 points, placing him second on the Blitz leaderboard after nine rounds.

Magnus Carlsen delivered a flawless performance on the final day to secure the title. India’s R. Praggnanandhaa and Wesley So finished tied on 5.5 points, but Praggnanandhaa's superior tie-break score earned him the first runner-up position,

Magnus Carlsen won the open title while Aleksandra Goryachkina of Russia clinched the top spot in the women's section in an action-filled day at the Tata Steel Chess Rapid tournament going on in Kolkata.

Magnus Carlsen leads Tata Steel Chess India after winning three games in Round 5, while Aleksandra Goryachkina tops the women's section with five points.