Tata Steel India Rapid: Vishwanathan Anand in lead, Arjun Erigaisi struggles

KOLKATA: Vishwanathan Anand again stamped his class by remaining at the top of the points table at the end of Day I of the Tata Steel India Rapid event here on Wednesday. Sharing the top spot with Anand on 2.5 points was Hans Niemann of the USA.Another debutant, International Master Carissa Yip, also of USA, remained on top in the women’s section with 2.5 points. Following her were Georgian GM Nana Dzagnidze, Russia’s Kateryna Lagno and Vantika Agarwal (2 points).Anand, returning to the board in India after a gap of six years, swept aside USA’s Wesley So in the first round and managed to save his inferior position against World Cup runnerup Wei Yi of China for a draw.In the last round, Anand gained control against youngster Aravindh Chithambaram to outplay him with black.Hans recorded a crushing win with an adventurous king walk against youngest participant Volodar Murzin of Russia. He sacrificed his queen but still managed to hold Vidit Gujrathi in round 2 and ended the day crushing R Praggnanandhaa.Coming off historic double bronze-medal winning shows in the World Rapid and Blitz meet in Doha, Arjun Erigaisi lost to Vidit and Pragg in the first two rounds before ending the day with one point, capitalizing on an error by Nihal Sarin to stage a comeback.