NEW DELHI: A heartwarming second stole the highlight on the Tata Metal Chess India Competition 2024 in Kolkata when India’s Bristy Mukherjee touched Magnus Carlsen’s toes earlier than receiving her trophy.
Mukherjee, who triumphed within the All India Ladies Speedy occasion with a flawless 7/7 rating, approached the rostrum to gather her award.
Earlier than taking the trophy, she first paid her respects to Indian chess icon Viswanathan Anand after which prolonged the standard Indian gesture of touching toes to Carlsen.
The Norwegian Grandmaster, initially taken without warning, responded with a large smile, embodying his shock and appreciation for the importance of the act. Going by his response, maybe Magnus had no thought what the gesture would’ve meant.
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Mukherjee, the gesture symbolized deep respect for each her mentors and a world chess legend who has impressed numerous gamers worldwide.
For Carlsen, it was a memorable and maybe sudden introduction to an Indian customized, the place touching somebody’s toes reveals nice respect for the particular person.
Carlsen, contemporary off his double title win on the event, has additional cemented his legacy as a chess powerhouse.
The 33-year-old clinched each the fast and blitz titles with dominant performances, together with a dramatic penultimate-round victory over Indian prodigy Arjun Erigaisi.
He completed the blitz occasion with 13 factors, replicating his double-title triumph in Kolkata from 2019.
Filipino-American Grandmaster Wesley So secured second place within the blitz with an outstanding comeback, whereas Erigaisi took third.
The ladies’s part was equally compelling, with Russia’s Kateryna Lagno rising victorious, narrowly edging out Valentina Gunina. India’s Vantika Agrawal additionally shone, tying for third.
