Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin delivered an outstanding performance at the ‘Titled Tuesday’ online chess event on March 4, 2025, surpassing World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in the overall standings. The 20-year-old from Thrissur, Kerala, showcased his exceptional skills in both the ‘early’ and ‘late’ editions of the tournament.
Remarkable Recovery in the ‘Early’ Edition
In the ‘early’ edition, which commenced at 8:00 AM PT (9:30 PM IST), Sarin faced a challenging start, suffering a loss in the first round. Demonstrating resilience, he secured nine victories and one draw in the subsequent rounds, finishing with 9.5 points. This impressive performance earned him second place, just behind GM ‘mishanick’ (Alexey Sarana), who also scored 9.5 points but had a superior tiebreak score. GM ‘wonderfultime’ (Tuan Minh Le) secured third place with the same score.
Notably, Sarin’s victories included wins against top-tier players such as GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda, highlighting his exceptional form.
Consistent Performance in the ‘Late’ Edition
The ‘late’ edition, starting at 1:00 PM PT (2:30 AM IST), saw Sarin maintaining his strong form. He began with a series of victories but faced tough competition in the later rounds. He finished with 8.5 points, securing a commendable seventh place. GM Benjamin Bok emerged victorious in this edition with an impressive 10 out of 11 points, followed by GM Javokhir Sindarov and GM Magnus Carlsen, who secured second and third places respectively, both with 9 points.
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Final Standings Overview
In the ‘early’ edition, the top standings were as follows:
- GM ‘mishanick’ (Alexey Sarana) – 9.5 points
- GM Nihal Sarin – 9.5 points
- GM ‘wonderfultime’ (Tuan Minh Le) – 9.5 points
In the ‘late’ edition, the top standings were:
- GM Benjamin Bok – 10 points
- GM Javokhir Sindarov – 9 points
- GM Magnus Carlsen – 9 points
Sarin’s combined performance across both editions underscored his exceptional talent and consistency, marking a significant achievement in his burgeoning career. (Source: Chess.com)
Carlsen’s Performance
Five-time World Champion Magnus Carlsen had a mixed outing in this event. He finished 10th in the ‘early’ edition with 8 points and improved to third place in the ‘late’ edition with 9 points. Despite not securing a top position in the ‘early’ edition, Carlsen’s resilience and competitive spirit were evident in his improved performance later in the day.
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