The 2025 Tata Steel Chess Masters tournament, often dubbed the “Wimbledon of Chess,” continued its high-stakes run with a dynamic Round 5 that reshuffled the top of the leaderboard and intensified the chase for the title. While the tournament`s pace had been brisk, this round offered a mix of cautious draws and decisive, hard-fought wins.
A particularly notable game was the lengthy encounter between World Champion D. Gukesh and Germany`s Vincent Keymer. In a rather curious twist of fate that only chess tournaments seem to conjure, Keymer had served as Gukesh`s second during his successful world championship match just a month prior. Now, they faced each other across the 64 squares in a direct confrontation. The game became a test of endurance, stretching out for over six hours and requiring a full 72 moves. Gukesh obtained a pawn advantage relatively early due to a misstep by Keymer, but converting this material edge proved to be a painstaking task. Keymer defended resolutely, pushing the game deep into the endgame. Gukesh, demonstrating the relentless technique required at the highest level, patiently maneuvered, and finally, after a few critical inaccuracies from Keymer under pressure, secured the full point. This victory was crucial for Gukesh, bringing him within striking distance of the leaders.
Reflecting on his ambitions, Gukesh articulated the special significance of the event, stating that winning Tata Steel is a “dream” for any chess player, adding with a touch of dramatic flair that “A grandmaster has to win Wijk aan Zee before dying!” High standards indeed for a tournament title, but it perfectly captures the reverence in which this event is held.
Meanwhile, at the very top of the standings, the picture changed. R. Praggnanandhaa, who had enjoyed the sole lead, played a quiet game against Max Warmerdam. Warmerdam, who hadn`t had the most favorable start to the tournament, seemed content with a solid result. Praggnanandhaa, perhaps prioritizing stability, also agreed to a relatively early draw after just 40 moves. While a draw is rarely a disaster, in a competitive field like this, it meant surrendering his solitary position.
Catching up with Praggnanandhaa was Nodirbek Abdusattorov. The Uzbek Grandmaster played a sharp game against Jordan van Foreest, demonstrating impressive tactical acumen. Abdusattorov handled Van Foreest`s attempt at a non-standard variation in the Caro-Kann with confidence, even responding to a knight sacrifice offer with one of his own (a rook sacrifice) to seize the initiative decisively. His aggressive and accurate play led to a win in 47 moves, pulling him level with Praggnanandhaa at 4 points.
Elsewhere, a significant upset occurred when Vladimir Fedoseev defeated the highly-rated American Fabiano Caruana. This result not only boosted Fedoseev`s position but also tightened the race behind the leaders, bringing him level with Gukesh on 3.5 points. The remaining games saw draws: Arjun Erigaisi stopped his run of losses by drawing against Leon Luke Mendonca in a game where neither player could gain a significant foothold; Pentala Harikrishna played out a draw with Wei Yi; and Anish Giri drew with Alexey Sarana.
As Round 5 concluded, the standings present a thrilling picture: Praggnanandhaa and Abdusattorov share the lead at 4 points, with Gukesh and Fedoseev just half a point behind. The stage is set for a fascinating second half of the tournament, kicking off with a highly anticipated clash between the joint-leader Abdusattorov and the determined world champion Gukesh after the upcoming rest day. With several elite players still within striking distance, the fight for Wijk aan Zee is far from over.
Dominic Ashworth