Magnus Carlsen, often regarded as one of the greatest chess players of all time, created a buzz in Kolkata with his impressive performance at the recent tournament. The World No. 1 secured the blitz title on Sunday, completing a double after winning the rapid title earlier. Carlsen staged a thrilling comeback against Arjun Erigaisi in the penultimate round and capped off the tournament by defeating Vidit Gujrathi in the final round, finishing with 13 points and three consecutive wins to claim the blitz crown.

However, it was an off-the-board moment that stole the spotlight. During the closing ceremony, Carlsen was asked to hand the trophy to Bristy Mukherjee, the winner of the All India Women’s Rapid event. As a mark of respect, Mukherjee touched his feet on stage to seek his blessings. Carlsen appeared visibly surprised and was left blushing, grinning as he acknowledged the gesture.

Throughout the tournament, fans flocked to Kolkata’s Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium, and Carlsen was often surrounded by crowds eager for a glimpse of the chess legend. This victory marked Carlsen’s second double win in Kolkata, mirroring his 2019 success.

Filipino-American Grandmaster Wesley So finished second, while Arjun Erigaisi claimed third place. R Praggnanandhaa secured fourth, with Vidit Gujrathi in fifth.

Reflecting on his performance, Carlsen said, “It was a really, really nervy day. I was lucky that Wesley went on a big streak but couldn’t realistically catch me. Overall, the tournament win is good. The score is not great but very decent, so I’m happy.”

Carlsen also shared his upcoming plans: “I’m heading to Singapore in a few hours to promote Freestyle Chess with Fabiano Caruana. I’ll be playing a match with Fabi in a few days. It should be fun, and being a tourist at the World Championship for a couple of days will be exciting.”