Carlsen breezes to Rapid title at Tata Steel Chess India

The idea was to test the waters, see if the competition had closed in on Magnus Carlsen.

- Somshuvra Laha

Nine rounds of Rapid chess, however, were a resounding validation of Carlsen's genius in a tournament that boasted some of the best minds in the game. Six wins out of nine games culminated into a two-point lead over runner-up R Praggnanandhaa that Norbidek Abdusattarov came close to shaving in the last round, but Carlsen had no problem forcing a draw after an error from the Uzbek GM. He finished with 7.5 out of a possible nine points.