By Khabar Rojana 
Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand made a strong comeback at the 2026 Tata Steel India Rapid and Blitz Chess Tournament in Kolkata, proving that age has not dulled his speed or tactical sharpness. Returning to competitive action after a six-year break, the 56-year-old looked refreshed and confident, finishing the opening day in joint lead.
Ahead of the event, Anand admitted that staying away from competitive chess had been exhausting. Once the games began, however, he quickly found his rhythm, outplaying much younger opponents with composure and precision.
In the first round of the Rapid section, Anand faced American grandmaster Wesley So, widely regarded as one of the toughest and most solid players in modern chess. The game remained evenly balanced through much of the opening and middlegame, with neither side gaining a clear advantage. That changed when So pushed his g-pawn, a costly error that Anand immediately exploited. Showing trademark speed, Anand launched a tactical sequence that won material and created a decisive kingside attack, forcing So into defeat.
Anand’s second game against China’s Wei Yi tested his resilience. After making a few inaccurate moves, Anand found himself in a difficult position with his king under heavy pressure. The situation appeared close to lost, but Wei missed a critical continuation, allowing the game to end in a threefold repetition and saving Anand half a point.
In the third round, Anand again demonstrated excellent time management against compatriot Aravindh Chithambaram. Under pressure, Chithambaram blundered a piece, enabling Anand to convert the advantage comfortably.
With two wins and a draw from the first three rapid games, Anand finished the day sharing the lead with Hans Niemann, underlining a promising start to his return on the elite stage.
Shalu Shalu