Nihal Sarin Crowned 2026 Tata Steel Chess Rapid Champion, Ousts Vishy Anand!

• Nihal Sarin, 21, won the Rapid title at the 2026 Tata Steel Chess India event in Kolkata.
• He finished with 6.5 points, half a point ahead of five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand.
• Sarin secured the title with a draw against Anand in the final round.
• His performance included a crucial win over Wesley So and three straight wins on Day 2 against Hans Niemann, Volodar Murzin, and Vidit Gujrathi.
• Nihal was a last-minute replacement in the tournament after D Gukesh withdrew, making the most of the opportunity.

Why It Matters: Nihal Sarin, a last-minute entry, sensationally won the 2026 Tata Steel Chess Rapid title.