Carlsen on a roll as he takes sole lead going into final day

Magnus Carlsen dominates Tata Steel Chess India tournament, while Aleksandra Goryachkina leads the women's section with impressive wins.

He began slowly, like a steady wind, but Magnus Carlsen is now turning into a destructive storm.

The World No. 1 won all his three games on the second day of the Tata Steel Chess India tournament at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium here on Thursday. That means he has won his last four games in a row.

Carlsen will go into the final day of the rapid section as the sole leader in the men’s section. But there is one player who could still catch up with him – Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who is trailing the top seed by just half-a-point.

Carlsen defeated S.L. Narayanan, Wesley So of the United States and Arjun Erigaisi to take his tally to five points. Abdusattorov, who started as the sole overnight leader, didn’t have as good a day though, as he had to settle for draws with Nihal Sarin and Vidit Gujrathi before he notched up a win in his last game of the day, against Narayanan with black pieces.

Carlsen and Abdusattorov are scheduled to meet in the last round on Friday. As things stand at the moment – the third-placed So is one full point behind the Uzbek – that game could be something of a final.

Aleksandra Goryachkina’s domination of the women’s tournament has been impressive, too. The Russian, in fact, enjoys a full point lead over her nearest rival, Nana Dzagnidze of Georgia.

Goryachkina had begun the day as a joint leader, along with compatriot Kateryna Lagno and Vantika Agrawal, but she won all her three games to break away from the competition. She has five points.