Alexey Sarana dominated Titled Tuesday on June 16, finishing 10.5/11 with a draw against Magnus Carlsen being his only blemish. That draw came in round eight when Carlsen, returning to competitive play after weeks away, couldn't generate enough to break through.
Sarana's performance was clinical. Nine wins out of eleven games represents the kind of consistency that separates elite players from everyone else in online blitz. He converted advantages ruthlessly and avoided the traps that catch even strong GMs when fatigue sets in over eleven rounds.
Carlsen's return wasn't a disappointment despite the draw. He played the full tournament for the first time in recent weeks, which suggests he's testing himself against the current field. Getting a draw against the tournament's hottest player isn't a bad line for someone shaking off rust. Whether this marks the beginning of a more regular schedule from Carlsen remains to be seen.
What stands out is Sarana's execution. 10.5/11 in a field full of titled players signals he's playing at a peak level right now. The draw against Carlsen shows he wasn't invincible, but wins against everyone else demonstrate he was the clear favorite all week.