The former world champion Vishy Anand has described the current crop of young Indian talents as a golden generation. At last month’s Fide World Cup, four of the quarter-finalists were Indian. Most eminent was 17-year-old Gukesh, who recently entered the world top ten, narrowly overtaking Anand himself. Praggnanandhaa, 18 years old, went as far as the final, where he was beaten by Magnus Carlsen. The others were Erigaisi, who turned 20 earlier this month, and Vidit, almost a veteran at age 28!

All four players were back at the board at the Tata Steel India Rapid and Blitz, held in Kolkata earlier this month. Impressive as they are, it was reassuring to see that the teenagers have not entirely eclipsed the older generation. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave took first place in the rapid event, while the blitz was won by 39-year-old Alexander Grischuk, the oldest player in the field. His controlled aggression in the following game would be impressive even at a much slower time limit.

Vidit Gujrathi-Alexander Grischuk

Tata Steel India Blitz, September 2023

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 O-O 5 Bd3 d5 6 cxd5 exd5 7 Nge2 Re8 8 O-O Bd6 9 Bd2 b6 10 Nf4 Bb7 11 Qf3 c5 12 Rad1 Na6 13 Rfe1 Nc7 14 Bc1 Qe7 15 Nb5 Nxb5 16 Bxb5 Red8 17 b3 a6 18 Bd3 c4 19 Bb1 b5 20 bxc4 bxc4 21 Qh3 h6 22 Bd2 a5 23 Qf3 Bb4 24 Ne2 Ne4 25 Bxe4 dxe4 26 Qg4 Ra6

This nimble move switches focus from the passed c-pawn to the kingside, where the pawn on e4 is a significant asset in the attack. 27 Nc3 Rg6 28 Qe2 Bc8 29 Kh1 Qh4 30 f3 exf3 31 gxf3 Bb7 32 Rg1 Qh3 33 Rdf1 Rxg1+ 34 Kxg1 Rd6 35 Be1 Rg6+ 36 Kh1 Bd6 White resigns

The women’s event, whose lineup was headed by world champion Ju Wenjun, did see a notable teenage triumph: 17-year-old Divya Deshmukh joined the elite field at the last minute, filling in for Praggnanandhaa’s sister Vaishali. Against all odds, she won the rapid event, beating India’s highest-ranked woman in the final round:

Humpy Koneru-Divya Deshmukh

Tata Steel India Rapid, September 2023

39…cxb3 40 Rxc8 The decisive mistake. Instead 40 axb3 Rxc2 41 Rxc2 Bxe2 42 Rxe2 Rc8 43 Kg2 was defensible, since 43…Rc1? 44 Nd3+ turns the tables. Rxc8 41 Rxc8 bxa2! Now 42 Rc1 Bxe2 43 Ra1 Bc4 secures the pawn, which will soon decide the game. 42 Re8+ Kd6 43 Nc2 Bxe2 44 Ra8 Nf3+ 45 Kh1 Ne1 Here, White should bail out with 46 Rxa7 Nxc2 47 Rxa2, retaining hopes of a draw. For that reason, 45…a6 was more precise than the move played. 46 Na1 a6 47 Rc8 Bd3 48 Rc1 Nc2 49 Rxc2 Bxc2 50 Nxc2 Kc5 51 Kg2 Kc4 White resigns