GM Wesley So has emerged as the leader of the Open Blitz section after the first day of the Tata Steel Chess India 2026 tournament, held in Kolkata. Despite starting the event with a loss, blundering a mate-in-one in his first game against Vidit Gujrathi, So showcased a remarkable comeback. He went on a five-game winning streak, achieving a 2908 performance rating and seizing the lead from GM Arjun Erigaisi, who had an impressive perfect 5/5 start to the day. So concluded Day 1 with seven points from nine games. In the Women's Blitz section, American IM Carissa Yip also established a strong lead, accumulating six points out of nine games. Yip's performance included a dominant four-game winning streak at the outset, securing her pole position despite experiencing two losses later in the day. Indian Grandmasters are prominently featured in the Open section, with Arjun Erigaisi currently holding the second position, a half-point behind So, while Nihal Sarin is in third place. The tournament, which features a blend of international and top Indian talents including Viswanathan Anand, is part of the larger Tata Steel Chess India event. The rapid segment of the tournament concluded earlier, with Nihal Sarin winning the Open Rapid title and Kateryna Lagno securing the Women's Rapid title. The blitz segment is set to conclude on Sunday, January 11, 2026.