Rarely does a legend return to the board after stepping away from the professional circuit. Yet the flexibility of being a semi-retired player allows Viswanathan Anand to still choose an occasion to display his class.
When the 2026 Tata Steel Chess India Rapid and Blitz opens on Wednesday at Kolkata’s Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium, the city’s chess-loving audience will welcome back its icon. After appearing in the first three editions as a player, and later as the event’s ambassador and promoter, Anand returns to compete following a six-year absence.
Asked how it feels to be back, Anand found humour in the question. “Well… it was exhausting not playing,” he joked, before explaining how his return came about. “Last year, I mentioned to Aruna (his wife) that maybe next year I should take part. Luckily, Jeet (Banerjee – organiser of Tata Steel Chess) and I were doing an event in Mumbai in February (2024). We kind of bounced the idea then. I actually play some strong events every year. And here’s a fantastic, attractive event right here in Kolkata so why not play that. I mentioned to Jeet and I’m very happy he kept a spot for me and here I am,” he said.
Three Indian Candidates in the Field
While all 20 players across the Open and Women’s section hope to start the year strongly, this event carries particular weight for three Indian participants: R. Praggnanandhaa, Divya Deshmukh, and R. Vaishali. All three are set to represent India at the upcoming Candidates tournament in Cyprus, along with Koneru Humpy.
After an impeccable start in 2025, boosting his Candidates qualification bid through the FIDE Circuit, Praggnanandhaa’s momentum somewhat slowed slightly toward year’s end. The grandmaster from Chennai won numerous super elite closed and Open events but missed out to stamp his authority on big events like the Grand Chess Tour finals, 2025 FIDE World Cup and World Rapid & Blitz Championship.
Participants of the Open section of the 2026 Tata Steel Chess India Rapid and Blitz pose for photos. (TATA Steel)
Acknowledging the important year ahead, Praggnanandhaa is focused on the present. “Yes, 2026 is significant, but right now this event matters most. After this, I play in Wijk aan Zee. My plan is to take one tournament at a time. I’ll concentrate on these two Tata Steel events before thinking about the Candidates.”
For Divya Deshmukh, her ambitious strategy of entering Open sections to challenge herself hasn’t yet yielded short-term results but has definite long-term gains. In the women’s event, she remains a formidable title contender. Vaishali, meanwhile, will be looking to test her form against this strong field.
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American Grandmaster Hans Niemann’s recent performances speak for themselves. Moving past a controversial period, he has shifted the conversation toward his chess. Niemann delivered two standout performances at the last two World Rapid & Blitz Championships, missing the podium only by narrow margins. In a format that suits his dynamic style, he enters this event as more than just a dark horse.
Another American, Carissa Yip, is an extremely exciting talent. At just 22, she is already a four-time US Women’s Champion. She would be the prime threat to Aleksandra Goryachkina’s title defence.
Rapid Round 1 pairing:
Open: Viswanathan Anand vs Wesley So (USA), Wei Yi (CHN) vs Nihal Sarin, Aravindh Chithambaram vs R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi vs Vidit Gujrathi, Hans Niemann (USA) vs Volodar Murzin (RUS).
Women: Rakshitta Ravi vs Aleksandra Goryachkina (RUS), Carissa Yip (USA) vs Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE), Divya Deshmukh vs Harika Dronavalli, Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) vs Kateryna Lagno (RUS), Vantika Agarwal vs Vaishali R.