Former world champion and Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand got off to a flying start in the Rapid section of the Superbet Rapid and Blitz Poland chess tournament on Thursday, registering wins in the first three rounds. Playing as a wildcard, the Indian chess maestro defeated Radoslaw Wojtaszek of Poland in the first round, before getting the better of American Wesley So and ended the day one of the tournament with a win over Anton Korobov of Ukraine.

The veteran Indian star took the early lead in the 10-player tournament, which features rapid and blitz games. Pitted against local player Wojtaszek in the first round, Anand prevailed in 36 moves in a Ruy Lopez game and tamed So in a 30-game affair in the second round. Against Korobov in the third round, he won in 28 moves in a French Euwe variation game to wrap up a superb first day.