USA Dominates Blitz at Tata Steel Chess India as So and Carissa Claim Titles

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The blitz segment of Tata Steel Chess India delivered high drama till the very end, but the final verdict saw the United States complete a memorable double, with Wesley So and Carissa Yip lifting the men’s and women’s blitz titles respectively.

So Seals Men’s Blitz Title in Style

The men’s competition was fiercely contested, with Indian stars constantly challenging the overnight leaders. However, Wesley So, the highest-rated blitz player in the field, showed remarkable composure to clinch the title with a round to spare.

Starting the day just half a point ahead of Arjun Erigaisi, So maintained his slim advantage despite drawing two games. Erigaisi’s loss to Nihal Sarin in Round 11 proved costly, as the gap remained intact heading into the crucial later rounds.




The decisive moment came after Erigaisi suffered back-to-back defeats against Hans Niemann and R Praggnanandhaa, allowing So to score 1.5 points from those rounds and establish an unassailable lead. The result was particularly disappointing for Erigaisi, who arrived in Kolkata fresh off winning two bronze medals at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Doha.

Fresh from winning the rapid title, Nihal Sarin continued his strong form by finishing second in blitz on tie-breaks ahead of Erigaisi. Both scored 11 points, while So topped the table with 12.

Women’s Event Goes Down to the Wire

The women’s blitz event was no less thrilling. Carissa Yip faced intense pressure from D Harika and Aleksandra Goryachkina, with Goryachkina briefly taking the lead with just three rounds remaining. However, crucial losses at a vital stage derailed both challengers.

Meanwhile, Vantika Agarwal mounted a stunning late surge, winning her final three games — including a crucial victory over Carissa — to force a tie-break. Divya Deshmukh’s draw against Carissa in the final round further boosted Vantika’s chances.

In the tie-break, Carissa held her nerve, winning the first game with the black pieces and drawing the second to secure the title. Both blitz champions took home $7,500 in prize money.

Final Standings

Open Section

  • 12 points: Wesley So (USA)

  • 11 points: Nihal Sarin, Arjun Erigaisi

  • 10 points: Hans Niemann (USA), Vidit Gujrathi

  • 9.5 points: R Praggnanandhaa

  • 8.5 points: Wei Yi (China)

  • 8 points: Viswanathan Anand

  • 6 points: Volodar Murzin (Russia)

  • 4 points: Aravindh Chithambaram

Women’s Section

  • 10.5 points: Carissa Yip (USA), Vantika Agarwal (Carissa won on tie-break)

  • 10 points: Stavroula Tsolakidou (Greece)

  • 9.5 points: Aleksandra Goryachkina (Russia), R Vaishali

  • 8.5 points: Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia), Kateryna Lagno (Russia), Divya Deshmukh

  • 8 points: D Harika

  • 6.5 points: Rakshitta Ravi


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