Carlsen, the reigning world chess champion, drew his last match with Japanese-born American Hikaru Nakamura to seal first place at the Russian capital's Central Chess Club.

Nakamura needed to win to force a play-off but Carlsen held his nerve to add to his growing list of major chess honours.

The 29-year-old won the world rapid crown in 2014 and 2015, and will go in pursuit of a fifth blitz title when competition in that discipline begins tomorrow.

Carlsen scored 11.5 points out of a possible 15 and was undefeated during the rapid event.

India's Humpy Koneru clinched the women's rapid title after she beat China's Lei Tingjie in an Armageddon game.

Koneru lost the opening play-off game against Lei but recovered in the second to send the final round contest into a decider.

Ekaterina Atalik of Russia, who finished in a three-way tie with Koneru and Lei, took bronze.