The Tata Steel Chess Masters in Wijk Aan Zee, Netherlands, concluded its tenth round with significant developments at the top of the leaderboard. World Champion D. Gukesh maintained his position at the front of the pack with another victory, while the chasing group demonstrated their intent with crucial wins, keeping the tournament race intensely competitive as players head into the final rest day.
Gukesh Extends Unbeaten Streak
D. Gukesh continued his impressive form, securing his fifth win of the tournament by defeating Dutch player Max Warmerdam. Playing with the black pieces, Gukesh navigated Warmerdam`s opening choices effectively. As Gukesh himself noted, he aimed for an interesting game, and Warmerdam obliged with somewhat unconventional play. The turning point came when Warmerdam committed a critical error, which Gukesh swiftly capitalized on to clinch the full point. This victory brings Gukesh`s score to 7.5 points, solidifying his sole lead.
Reflecting on his performance and presence at the tournament shortly after his World Championship match, Gukesh conveyed his satisfaction. “I think that at this level you don`t get here unless you love what you`re doing,” he stated. He added that it felt “pleasant” to return to tournament play after a demanding period, appreciating the opportunity to simply “focus on what I do the best.” His calm approach appears to be serving him well.
Praggnanandhaa Bounces Back
Following a tough loss in the previous round, R. Praggnanandhaa demonstrated resilience by winning his Round 10 game against Vladimir Fedoseev. This was a particularly important matchup as Fedoseev had overtaken Praggnanandhaa in the standings. Praggnanandhaa approached the game with a clear objective: “I wanted to have a fight today,” he said, acknowledging Fedoseev`s fighting style. The young Indian Grandmaster delivered on his intention, securing a vital win that moved him back into third place, just one point behind the leader, Gukesh.
Abdusattorov Stays in Hot Pursuit
Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Gukesh`s closest competitor, also secured a significant win in Round 10, defeating Alexey Sarana. This result handed Sarana his first loss of the tournament. Abdusattorov`s victory came after employing some high-risk maneuvers, a strategy that paid off despite his own assessment of the game. With a touch of self-deprecating humor, he described the game as his “worst game of the tournament,” yet it was precisely the result he needed to remain just half a point behind Gukesh, keeping the pressure on the leader.
Other Results
While the top three battled for full points, other games in the Masters section concluded in draws. Among the Indian contingent, Pentala Harikrishna drew his game against the formidable Fabiano Caruana, a result that likely hinders his chances of making a significant late-tournament surge towards the very top. Arjun Erigaisi drew with Vincent Keymer, and Leon Mendonca drew with Anish Giri. These results see Erigaisi and Mendonca continue to occupy the bottom positions in the standings heading into the final stretch.
Standings After Round 10
The leaderboard reflects the intense competition, with minimal separation among the contenders:
- Dommaraju Gukesh: 7.5 points
- Nodirbek Abdusattorov: 7.0 points
- R Praggnanandhaa: 6.5 points
- Vladimir Fedoseev: 6.0 points
- Fabiano Caruana: 5.5 points
- Wei Yi: 5.5 points
- Anish Giri: 5.0 points
- Alexey Sarana: 5.0 points
- Pentala Harikrishna: 4.5 points
- Jordan van Foreest: 4.0 points
- Vincent Keymer: 4.0 points
- Max Warmerdam: 3.5 points
- Leon Luke Mendonca: 3.0 points
- Arjun Erigaisi: 3.0 points
With only a few rounds remaining after the upcoming rest day, the stage is set for a dramatic conclusion to the Tata Steel Masters. Gukesh holds the advantage, but Abdusattorov and Praggnanandhaa have proven they are ready to fight for every half-point.
Dominic Ashworth