TWIC is 30. First issue 17th September 1994.
87th Tata Steel 2025 (6)
Disappointment for Abdusattorov as he allows Gukesh to escape with a draw in Tata Steel Round 6
Mark Crowther - Friday 24th January 2025
Nodirbek Abdusattorov allowed Gukesh to escape with a draw in Round 6. Photo © | https://tatasteelchess.com/en
Nodirbek Abdusattorov continues to share the lead with Praggnanandhaa on 4.5/6 after both drew their games today. Praggnanandhaa drew a well conducted Open Spanish against Wei Yi where there weren't any clear chances for either player. In contrast Abdusattorov built up a winning position against World Champion Gukesh only to let it slip at the end. Gukesh remains very much in touch half a point behind the leaders.
There was in fact only one decisive game today where Alexey Sarana beat Vladimir Fedoseev in a complicated Queen's Gambit where Fedoseev started to go wrong about move 20 and resigned on move 45. Arjun Erigaisi is having a nightmare of a tournament, it turns out he was a little sick today so he played for, and got, a quick draw against Fabiano Caruana. Vincent Keymer's draw against Anish Giri was probably the most interesting of the remaining games, Luke Leon Mendonca against Max Warmerdam was a very balanced Queen's Gambit and Pentala Harikrishna had some small chances against Jorden Van Foreest who prepared a big idea as a surprise in the Steinitz Ruy Lopez but it turned out Harikrishna knew it anyway.
Erwin L'Ami continues to lead the Challengers and the Top Tienkamp, a qualifier for the Challengers, started today.
My thanks to Michiel Abeln for the annotated games and photos.
Masters Round 6 Standings: 1st= Abdusattorov, Praggnanandhaa 4.5pts, 3rd Gukesh 4pts, 4th= Sarana, Fedoseev, Harikrishna 3.5pts, 7th= Wei Yi, Caruana, Keymer 3pts, 10th Giri 2.5pts 11th Van Foreest, Warmerdam 2pts 13th Erigaisi, Mendonca 1.5pts
Round 7 pairings: Jan 25 at 13.00 GMT Warmerdam vs Erigaisi, Wei Yi vs Mendonca, Van Foreest vs Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh vs Harikrishna, Giri vs Abdusattorov, Fedoseev vs Keymer, Caruana vs Sarana,
Challengers Round 6 Standings: 1st L'Ami 4.5pts, 2nd= Bok, Nguyen 4pts, 4th= Lu, Nogerbek, Vaishali, Suleymanli 3.5pts, 8th= Svane, Yakubboev 3pts, 10th Gurel, Faustino Oro 2.5pts, 12th Pijpers, Arthur 2pts, 13th Divya, Deshmukh 1.5pts, 14th Bulmaga, Irina 1pt.
Round 7 pairings: Jan 25 at 13.00 GMT Gurel vs Yakubboev, L'Ami vs Suleymanli, Oro vs Nguyen, Lu vs Divya, Nogerbek vs Pijpers, Vaishali vs Bok, Svane vs Bulmaga,
Tienkamp Round Standings: 1st= Grutter, Kobe Smeets 1pt, 3rd= Slagboom, Lohia, Holzke, Zwirs, Panesar, Beukema 0.5pts 9th= Tudor, Sofronie 0pts.
Round 6 Summary
Abdusattorov vs Gukesh Tata Steel 2025 Round 6 Photo © Michiel Abeln
The game of the day was undoubtably the clash between Nodirbek Abdusattorov and World Champion Gukesh. The Giuoco Piano opening followed the game Nepomniachtchi against Giri from Saint Louis in 2023, Gukesh's 9...Ne7 being the first new move. It's hard to say if there were any true inaccuracies but when 15...Bg4 was met by 16.h4 which doesn't fail to 16...Qe3? due to 17.Qc2 and the Queen is still lost. Gukesh's 18...Ne7 (18...Nf4 is better) wasn't liked by the engines and indeed Abdusattorov took the initiative. Perhaps Gukesh's position got a little better after 28.Qa4 (28.Rfd3) and by first time control a draw looked the likely result. Perhaps 41...Ne8 was the start of Gukesh's troubles but 45...Kf8? (45...Rb3) was the move that led to a losing position. Gukesh kept fighting in what was still a very complicated endgame 57.Ra8? gave Gukesh hope, he was still lost and then 59.Re8? (59.h6! wins) allowed black to co-ordinate his forces and suddenly the game was drawn. A great escape for Gukesh and a huge disappointment for the confident Abdusattorov.
Gukesh talked about his save
Sarana vs Fedoseev Tata Steel 2025 Round 6 Photo © Michiel Abeln
Alexey Sarana moved up into a tie for fourth place after defeating Vladimir Fedoseev. The opening was a very complicated Queen's Gambit and at first black seemed to be doing well. After 20...Qc8? (20...Nc7, 20...c5) it was Sarana who was better and after 23...cxb5? and 24...Bc5? Sarana was winning. Sarana brought home the point in 45 moves.
Sarana talks about his win.
Praggnanandhaa vs Wei Yi Tata Steel 2025 Round 6 Photo © Michiel Abeln
Praggnanandhaa against Wei Yi was an Open Spanish where white had very little out of the opening and after 22.b4 the position was equal and the evaluation never really changed.
Keymer vs Giri Tata Steel 2025 Round 6 Photo © Michiel Abeln
Vincent Keymer and Anish Giri drew a Fianchetto Gruenfeld which was complicated but didn't really shift much from equality.
Erigaisi vs Caruana Tata Steel 2025 Round 6 Photo © Michiel Abeln
To add to his woes it turns out Arjun Erigaisi is now a little sick and today he played directly for a draw against Fabiano Caruana in a Berlin and he got that result fairly quickly.
Harikrishna vs Van Foreest Tata Steel 2025 Round 6 Photo © Michiel Abeln
Jorden Van Foreest was hoping to surprise Pentala Harikrishna in a Ruy Lopez Steinitz Variation but Harikrishna knew a lot and indeed was better for a little while after some inaccuracies. The game just drifted to a draw in the end.
Mendonca vs Warmerdam Tata Steel 2025 Round 6 Photo © Michiel Abeln
Leon Luke Mendonca qualified for the Masters by winning the Challengers last year but as bottom seed he is a target for everyone. He played solidly against Max Warmerdam's Queen's Gambit and they drew in 33 moves.
Standings:
| 87th Tata Steel Masters Wijk aan Zee (NED), 18 i-2 ii 2025 | cat. XX (2726) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||||||
| 1. | Abdusattorov, Nodirbek | g | UZB | 2768 | * | ½ | ½ | . | . | . | ½ | . | . | . | 1 | 1 | . | 1 | 4½ | 2898 | |||||||
| 2. | Praggnanandhaa, R | g | IND | 2741 | ½ | * | . | . | . | 1 | ½ | . | . | . | . | ½ | 1 | 1 | 4½ | 2909 | |||||||
| 3. | Gukesh, D | g | IND | 2777 | ½ | . | * | ½ | ½ | . | . | ½ | 1 | 1 | . | . | . | . | 4 | 2863 | |||||||
| 4. | Sarana, Alexey | g | SRB | 2677 | . | . | ½ | * | 1 | . | ½ | . | . | ½ | ½ | ½ | . | . | 3½ | 2774 | |||||||
| 5. | Fedoseev, Vladimir | g | SLO | 2717 | . | . | ½ | 0 | * | . | . | 1 | . | ½ | ½ | . | 1 | . | 3½ | 2801 | |||||||
| 6. | Harikrishna, Pentala | g | IND | 2695 | . | 0 | . | . | . | * | ½ | . | . | . | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 3½ | 2766 | |||||||
| 7. | Wei, Yi | g | CHN | 2751 | ½ | ½ | . | ½ | . | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | . | . | . | . | . | 3 | 2736 | |||||||
| 8. | Caruana, Fabiano | g | USA | 2803 | . | . | ½ | . | 0 | . | ½ | * | . | ½ | 1 | . | ½ | . | 3 | 2742 | |||||||
| 9. | Keymer, Vincent | g | GER | 2733 | . | . | 0 | . | . | . | ½ | . | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | . | 1 | 3 | 2704 | |||||||
| 10. | Giri, Anish | g | NED | 2731 | . | . | 0 | ½ | ½ | . | . | ½ | ½ | * | . | . | ½ | . | 2½ | 2694 | |||||||
| 11. | Van Foreest, Jorden | g | NED | 2680 | 0 | . | . | ½ | ½ | ½ | . | 0 | ½ | . | * | . | . | . | 2 | 2607 | |||||||
| 12. | Warmerdam, Max | g | NED | 2646 | 0 | ½ | . | ½ | . | 0 | . | . | ½ | . | . | * | . | ½ | 2 | 2583 | |||||||
| 13. | Erigaisi, Arjun | g | IND | 2801 | . | 0 | . | . | 0 | 0 | . | ½ | . | ½ | . | . | * | ½ | 1½ | 2528 | |||||||
| 14. | Mendonca, Leon Luke | g | IND | 2639 | 0 | 0 | . | . | . | ½ | . | . | 0 | . | . | ½ | ½ | * | 1½ | 2537 | |||||||
| Round 6 (January 24, 2025) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdusattorov, Nodirbek | - Gukesh, D | ½-½ | 66 | C50 | Giuoco Piano | |
| Praggnanandhaa, R | - Wei, Yi | ½-½ | 58 | C83 | Ruy Lopez Open | |
| Sarana, Alexey | - Fedoseev, Vladimir | 1-0 | 45 | D31 | Semi-Slav Defence | |
| Harikrishna, Pentala | - Van Foreest, Jorden | ½-½ | 54 | C65 | Ruy Lopez Berlin | |
| Keymer, Vincent | - Giri, Anish | ½-½ | 54 | E60 | King's Indian without Nc3 | |
| Erigaisi, Arjun | - Caruana, Fabiano | ½-½ | 30 | C67 | Ruy Lopez Berlin | |
| Mendonca, Leon Luke | - Warmerdam, Max | ½-½ | 33 | D35 | QGD Exchange | |
| Tata Steel Challengers Wijk aan Zee (NED), 18 i-2 ii 2025 | cat. XII (2547) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||||||
| 1. | L'Ami, Erwin | g | NED | 2614 | * | 1 | ½ | . | . | . | . | ½ | . | . | . | ½ | 1 | 1 | 4½ | 2737 | |||||||
| 2. | Bok, Benjamin | g | NED | 2583 | 0 | * | . | 1 | ½ | . | ½ | . | . | 1 | 1 | . | . | . | 4 | 2666 | |||||||
| 3. | Nguyen, Thai Dai Van | g | CZE | 2668 | ½ | . | * | . | . | . | ½ | . | 1 | ½ | . | 1 | ½ | . | 4 | 2705 | |||||||
| 4. | Lu, Miaoyi | m | CHN | 2429 | . | 0 | . | * | 1 | ½ | . | 1 | . | . | . | ½ | . | ½ | 3½ | 2573 | |||||||
| 5. | Nogerbek, Kazybek | g | KAZ | 2514 | . | ½ | . | 0 | * | 1 | . | ½ | ½ | . | . | . | . | 1 | 3½ | 2589 | |||||||
| 6. | Vaishali, Rameshbabu | g | IND | 2476 | . | . | . | ½ | 0 | * | . | ½ | 1 | . | 1 | . | . | ½ | 3½ | 2573 | |||||||
| 7. | Suleymanli, Aydin | g | AZE | 2623 | . | ½ | ½ | . | . | . | * | . | 0 | 1 | . | ½ | 1 | . | 3½ | 2640 | |||||||
| 8. | Svane, Frederik | g | GER | 2664 | ½ | . | . | 0 | ½ | ½ | . | * | ½ | . | 1 | . | . | . | 3 | 2523 | |||||||
| 9. | Yakubboev, Nodirbek | g | UZB | 2659 | . | . | 0 | . | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | * | . | . | . | 1 | . | 3 | 2572 | |||||||
| 10. | Gurel, Ediz | g | TUR | 2624 | . | 0 | ½ | . | . | . | 0 | . | . | * | . | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2½ | 2480 | |||||||
| 11. | Oro, Faustino | m | ARG | 2447 | . | 0 | . | . | . | 0 | . | 0 | . | . | * | ½ | 1 | 1 | 2½ | 2455 | |||||||
| 12. | Pijpers, Arthur | m | NED | 2474 | ½ | . | 0 | ½ | . | . | ½ | . | . | 0 | ½ | * | . | . | 2 | 2442 | |||||||
| 13. | Divya, Deshmukh | m | IND | 2490 | 0 | . | ½ | . | . | . | 0 | . | 0 | 1 | 0 | . | * | . | 1½ | 2412 | |||||||
| 14. | Bulmaga, Irina | m | ROU | 2386 | 0 | . | . | ½ | 0 | ½ | . | . | . | 0 | 0 | . | . | * | 1 | 2244 | |||||||
| Round 6 (January 24, 2025) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bok, Benjamin | - Nogerbek, Kazybek | ½-½ | 30 | D35 | QGD Exchange | |
| Nguyen, Thai Dai Van | - L'Ami, Erwin | ½-½ | 37 | B90 | Sicilian Najdorf Variation | |
| Suleymanli, Aydin | - Gurel, Ediz | 1-0 | 92 | E48 | Nimzo Indian | |
| Yakubboev, Nodirbek | - Svane, Frederik | ½-½ | 31 | A46 | Queen's Pawn Opening | |
| Pijpers, Arthur | - Lu, Miaoyi | ½-½ | 26 | C67 | Ruy Lopez Berlin | |
| Divya, Deshmukh | - Oro, Faustino | 0-1 | 71 | A05 | Various | |
| Bulmaga, Irina | - Vaishali, Rameshbabu | ½-½ | 32 | C11 | French Defence | |
| Tata Steel Top Tienkamp Wijk aan Zee (NED), 17 i-2 ii 2025 | cat. VI (2400) | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 1. | Grutter, Tim | f | NED | 2380 | * | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | 1 | 1 | ||||
| 2. | Smeets, Kobe | f | NED | 2355 | . | * | . | . | . | . | . | . | 1 | . | 1 | ||||
| 3. | Slagboom, Leandro | f | NED | 2369 | . | . | * | . | . | . | . | ½ | . | . | ½ | 2423 | |||
| 4. | Lohia, Sohum | f | ENG | 2367 | . | . | . | * | . | . | ½ | . | . | . | ½ | 2446 | |||
| 5. | Holzke, Frank | g | GER | 2426 | . | . | . | . | * | ½ | . | . | . | . | ½ | 2476 | |||
| 6. | Zwirs, Nico | m | NED | 2476 | . | . | . | . | ½ | * | . | . | . | . | ½ | 2426 | |||
| 7. | Panesar, Vedant | f | IND | 2446 | . | . | . | ½ | . | . | * | . | . | . | ½ | 2367 | |||
| 8. | Beukema, Stefan | m | BEL | 2423 | . | . | ½ | . | . | . | . | * | . | . | ½ | 2369 | |||
| 9. | Tudor, Henry Edward | f | ROU | 2375 | . | 0 | . | . | . | . | . | . | * | . | 0 | ||||
| 10. | Sofronie, Iulian | m | ROU | 2380 | 0 | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | * | 0 | ||||
| Round 1 (January 24, 2025) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smeets, Kobe | - Tudor, Henry Edward | 1-0 | 55 | B90 | Sicilian Najdorf Variation | |
| Zwirs, Nico | - Holzke, Frank | ½-½ | 32 | C42 | Petroff's Defence | |
| Panesar, Vedant | - Lohia, Sohum | ½-½ | 46 | C70 | Ruy Lopez | |
| Beukema, Stefan | - Slagboom, Leandro | ½-½ | 25 | C11 | French Defence | |
| Sofronie, Iulian | - Grutter, Tim | 0-1 | 31 | A45 | Trompowsky | |
Tata Steel Chess Round 6 Commentary including an hour with Magnus Carlsen 2025
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