Wijk Aan Zee, Netherlands – Round 10 of the prestigious Tata Steel Chess Masters delivered significant results, solidifying the lead of the reigning World Champion, D Gukesh, while seeing R Praggnanandhaa make a critical comeback. The penultimate rounds promise intense battles as the chasing pack attempts to bridge the gap ahead of the tournament`s conclusion.
Gukesh Extends Unbeaten Streak
D Gukesh continued his formidable run, securing his fifth victory of the tournament in Round 10. Facing Max Warmerdam, Gukesh navigated an interesting opening choice from his opponent. As Gukesh later noted, Warmerdam`s unusual 2.g3 move in the opening, while initially appearing “weird,” seemed to make tactical sense. However, it was a subsequent blunder from Warmerdam that ultimately allowed Gukesh to clinch the full point.
Maintaining his unbeaten record through ten rounds is a testament to Gukesh`s form, especially considering this is his first major event since claiming the World Championship title. He remains comfortable in the lead with 7.5 points. Speaking after his game, Gukesh expressed satisfaction with being back at the board after a busy period, highlighting the pleasure of focusing on chess in the competitive environment of Wijk Aan Zee.
Praggnanandhaa Bounces Back, Abdusattorov Holds On
Following a setback in the previous round, R Praggnanandhaa demonstrated resilience by securing a crucial victory against Vladimir Fedoseev. This win allowed the young Indian Grandmaster to regain third place in the standings and narrow the distance to the top to just one point. Praggnanandhaa`s approach against Fedoseev was clear: “I wanted to have a fight today,” he stated, acknowledging Fedoseev as an opponent who readily engages in complex battles. The determination paid off.
Meanwhile, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Gukesh`s closest competitor, also secured a vital win. His game against Alexey Sarana was described by Abdusattorov himself as his “worst game of the tournament,” yet his willingness to engage in high-risk manoeuvres paid dividends, handing Sarana his first loss. This victory keeps Abdusattorov just half a point behind Gukesh, maintaining significant pressure.
Other Encounters
While the top boards saw decisive results shaping the standings, several other games ended in draws. Pentala Harikrishna drew with Fabiano Caruana, impacting Harikrishna`s potential final push. Arjun Erigaisi drew his game against Vincent Keymer, while Leon Mendonca also drew against Anish Giri. These results leave Erigaisi and Mendonca towards the bottom of the table, though the focus remains firmly on the gripping battle at the top.
In the Tata Steel Challengers section, India`s R Vaishali faced a tough six-hour, 76-move game against the section leader, Thai Dai Van Nguyen, ultimately resulting in a loss.
Standings After Round 10
- Dommaraju Gukesh: 7.5
- Nodirbek Abdusattorov: 7.0
- R Praggnanandhaa: 6.5
- Vladimir Fedoseev: 6.0
- Fabiano Caruana: 5.5
- Wei Yi: 5.5
- Anish Giri: 5.0
- Alexey Sarana: 5.0
- Pentala Harikrishna: 4.5
- Jordan van Foreest: 4.0
- Vincent Keymer: 4.0
- Max Warmerdam: 3.5
- Leon Luke Mendonca: 3.0
- Arjun Erigaisi: 3.0
With only three rounds remaining after the upcoming rest day, the tension is palpable. Gukesh holds the advantage, but Abdusattorov and Praggnanandhaa are well within striking distance, promising a dramatic conclusion to the Tata Steel Masters.
