Carlsen on a roll as he takes sole lead going into ultimate day

Tight race: Carlsen, who’s forward by half a degree, can have Abdusattorov scorching on his heels. | Photograph DEBASISH BHADURI

He started slowly, like a gentle wind, however Magnus Carlsen is now turning right into a damaging storm.

The World No. 1 received all his three video games on the second day of the Tata Metal Chess India match on the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium right here on Thursday. Which means he has received his final 4 video games in a row.

Carlsen will go into the ultimate day of the speedy part as the only real chief within the males’s part. However there may be one participant who might nonetheless meet up with him – Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who’s trailing the highest seed by simply half-a-point.

Carlsen defeated S.L. Narayanan, Wesley So of the US and Arjun Erigaisi to take his tally to 5 factors. Abdusattorov, who began as the only real in a single day chief, didn’t have nearly as good a day although, as he needed to accept attracts with Nihal Sarin and Vidit Gujrathi earlier than he notched up a win in his final recreation of the day, in opposition to Narayanan with black items.

Carlsen and Abdusattorov are scheduled to satisfy within the final spherical on Friday. As issues stand in the meanwhile – the third-placed So is one full level behind the Uzbek – that recreation might be one thing of a ultimate.

Aleksandra Goryachkina’s domination of the ladies’s match has been spectacular, too. The Russian, in actual fact, enjoys a full level lead over her nearest rival, Nana Dzagnidze of Georgia.

Goryachkina had begun the day as a joint chief, together with compatriot Kateryna Lagno and Vantika Agrawal, however she received all her three video games to interrupt away from the competitors. She has 5 factors.

Vantika, D. Harika and Valentina Gunina of Russia are on 3.5 factors, however it might not be that straightforward to cease Goryachkina, with simply three rounds remaining.

The outcomes (Males):

Sixth spherical: Vincent Keymer (Ger) 2.5 bt Nihal Sarin 2; Vidit Gujrathi 2 drew with R. Praggnanandhaa 3; S.L. Narayanan 2.5 misplaced to Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzb) 4.5; Wesley So (USA) 3.5 drew with Daniil Dubov (Rus) 3; Arjun Erigaisi 2 misplaced to Magnus Carlsen (Nor) 5.

Fifth spherical: Arjun drew with Keymer; Carlsen bt So; Dubov drew with Narayanan; Abdusattorov drew with Gujrathi; Praggnanandhaa bt Nihal.

Fourth spherical: Keymer drew with Praggnanandhaa; Nihal drew with Abdusattorov; Gujrathi drew with Dubov; Narayanan misplaced to Carlsen; So bt Arjun.

Ladies:

Sixth spherical: D. Harika 3.5 drew with Valentina Gunina (Rus) 3.5; Alexandra Kosteniuk (Swi) 2 misplaced to Divya Deshmukh 2.5; Nana Dzagnidze (Geo) 4 bt Koneru Humpy 2; Aleksandra Goryachkina (Rus) 5 bt Kateryna Lagno (Rus) 3; Vantika Agrawal 3.5 bt R. Vaishali 1.

Fifth spherical: Vantika drew with Harika; Vaishali misplaced to Goryachkina; Lagno drew with Dzagnidze; Humpy drew with Kosteniuk; Divya misplaced to Gunina.

Fourth spherical: Harika bt Divya; Gunina bt Humpy; Kosteniuk drew with Lagno; Dzagnidze bt Vaishali; Goryachkina bt Vantika.