Round 4 of the prestigious Tata Steel Chess Masters tournament in Wijk Aan Zee delivered significant shifts on the leaderboard, headlined by a decisive performance from India`s R Praggnanandhaa who seized the outright lead.
Praggnanandhaa cemented his status as the player to watch, securing his third consecutive victory. This time, the young Indian talent overcame his compatriot, 18-year-old Leon Luke Mendonca. Playing with the white pieces, Praggnanandhaa navigated the Ruy Lopez opening with precision, gradually building pressure. Mendonca, facing a tough position, committed an inaccuracy on his 24th move, which allowed Praggnanandhaa to capitalize decisively. Despite Mendonca`s efforts to complicate matters, Praggnanandhaa converted his advantage smoothly, forcing resignation on move 46. This win propelled him to a superb 3.5/4 points, establishing a clear lead.
Meanwhile, reigning world champion Dommaraju Gukesh remained an unyielding force, extending his unbeaten streak in a marathon six-hour, 70-move battle against Alexey Sarana. Playing with the black pieces, Gukesh was often on the defensive, with Sarana holding material advantage for significant portions of the game. However, Gukesh showcased remarkable resilience and found accurate defensive moves when needed, ultimately forcing a hard-fought draw. This result keeps Gukesh firmly in the chasing pack with 2.5/4 points.
For fellow Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi, Round 4 brought a painful twist of fate. After seemingly dominating his game against Vladimir Fedoseev and enjoying a clear advantage, a single misstep proved catastrophic. A pawn sacrifice on move 27, intended perhaps with grand plans of complication or breakthrough, instead unravelled his position, sacrificing a knight in the process. While Erigaisi battled on for another dozen moves, Fedoseev navigated the subsequent complexities accurately to secure the win. A tough lesson in a game where fortunes can turn on a dime, leaving Erigaisi with just 0.5 points.
Adding to India`s mixed fortunes, Pentala Harikrishna secured a valuable win against the struggling Max Warmerdam. Harikrishna`s tactical offering of knights led to a complex position, and despite a few inaccuracies from both sides in the endgame, Harikrishna held his nerve to convert the advantage and reach 2.5/4, joining the crowded middle of the standings.
Elsewhere in the Masters group, the fight was equally intense, though results were largely decided by half-points. Former co-leader Nodirbek Abdusattorov will rue a missed opportunity, drawing against Wei Yi from a winning position, thus relinquishing his share of the lead. Fabiano Caruana navigated time trouble effectively to secure a draw against a well-prepared Anish Giri from a disadvantaged position. Vincent Keymer`s attempts to wear down Jordan van Foreest also ended in a draw.
Round 4 Results at 2025 Tata Steel Chess Masters
| Player 1 | Result | Player 2 |
| :—————- | :—— | :—————— |
| R Praggnanandhaa | 1-0 | Leon Luke Mendonca |
| Alexey Sarana | 0.5-0.5 | Dommaraju Gukesh |
| Arjun Erigaisi | 0-1 | Vladimir Fedoseev |
| Pentala Harikrishna | 1-0 | Max Warmerdam |
| Fabiano Caruana | 0.5-0.5 | Anish Giri |
| Nodirbek Abdusattorov | 0.5-0.5 | Wei Yi |
| Vincent Keymer | 0.5-0.5 | Jordan van Foreest |
Standings after Round 4
| Rank | Player | Points |
| :— | :—————— | :—– |
| 1 | R Praggnanandhaa | 3.5 |
| 2 | Nodirbek Abdusattorov | 3.0 |
| 3 | Fabiano Caruana | 2.5 |
| 4 | Dommaraju Gukesh | 2.5 |
| 5 | Vincent Keymer | 2.5 |
| 6 | Vladimir Fedoseev | 2.5 |
| 7 | Pentala Harikrishna | 2.5 |
| 8 | Wei Yi | 2.0 |
| 9 | Alexey Sarana | 2.0 |
| 10 | Anish Giri | 1.5 |
| 11 | Jordan van Foreest | 1.5 |
| 12 | Max Warmerdam | 1.0 |
| 13 | Leon Luke Mendonca | 0.5 |
| 14 | Arjun Erigaisi | 0.5 |
After four rounds, R Praggnanandhaa sits comfortably atop the standings, having played some impressive chess. The chasing pack, however, remains tight, promising further thrilling battles as players vie for supremacy in the coming rounds of this prestigious event.
