Magnus Carlsen once again showed why he is still the best chess player. He imposed a defeat in 40 moves over Arjun Erigaisi, the latest entrant of the 2800-rating club. In Round 6 of the Tata Steel India chess tournament at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium in Kolkata. He chose to play a Taimanov version of the Sicilian Defence with black pieces.
As early as the eleventh move, when he had over 23 minutes remaining. Arjun’s time had run out to 15 minutes in the quick game, Magnus Carlsen had begun to gain time. The undisputed World No.1 was seen yawning in his chair. While his opponent bent over the board attempting to disperse the ticking explosive during the tournament’s live broadcast.
A few steps later, Carlsen leaned on one side of his chair appearing a little bored. While Arjun considered another fork in the route. All four knights went down on the board in the first 13 moves, reflecting the aggressive mentality of both players. Arjun’s king had resorted to hiding behind a thin cover of only two pawns by the twenty-first move.
Magnus Carlsen crushes India’s chess prodigies
Magnus Carlsen’s queen was looking down at him. The World No.1 was ahead of his Indian opponent by twice as much time more than 14 minutes to Arjun’s seven. He had succeeded in generating a great deal of tension on the queen-side of the board. Arjun’s king was extremely worried when Carlsen’s queen, supported on the side by the rook, moved within one square of it.
Arjun made a mistake by placing his rook on the third rank in front of his king, whose was already in danger. The Indian trio of Arjun Erigaisi, Nihal Sarin, and Vidit Gujrathi finished Thursday’s games with two points apiece, which puts them at the bottom of the 10-player standings. With the same score of 5/6, GM Aleksandra Goryachkina equalled Carlsen’s flawless 3/3 and became the only leader of the 2024 Tata Steel Chess India Women’s Rapid.
