TWIC is 31. First issue 17th September 1994.88th Tata Steel 2026 (13)
Abdusattorov beats Erigaisi to win the Tata Steel Masters
Mark Crowther - Sunday 1st February 2026
Abdusattorov on his way to victory in the tournament. Photo © | https://theweekinchess.com
Nodirbek Abdusattorov took clear first in the Tata Steel Masters 2026. This is his second major victor in a row after winning the London Chess Classic, that followed a disaster at the Sinquefield Cup in August last year where he finished last.
Abdusattorov was unsurprisingly very happy to win this year having come so close to winning the tournament several times in recent years. He said winning this tournament was a childhood dream. Abdusattorov had a half point lead and he beat Arjun Erigaisi in convincing style on the black side of an Evans Gambit. The result relegated Erigaisi to 13th place a terrible result for a player of his class. Javokhir Sindarov managed to squeeze out a win against Thai Dai Van Nguyen and finished in clear second place. Jorden Van Foreest had good winning chances against Praggnanandhaa but failed to convert in the end, he was on the same score was Hans Moke Niemann and Vincent Keymer but took 3rd on tie-break.
My thanks to Michiel Abeln for his help with notes and photos throughout the tournament.
In the Challengers Andy Woodward won in the final round against Erwin L'Ami to qualify for next year's Masters event, his rivals for this place for much of the time were Marc'andria Maurizzi and Aydin Suleymanli but losses toward the end cost them. Instead it was Vasyl Ivanchuk who scored 6 wins and 2 draws in his final 8 rounds and he took second place half a point behind the winner.
Final Standings Masters: 1st Nodirbek Abdusattorov 9pts, 2nd Javokhir Sindarov 8.5pts, 3rd Jorden Van Foreest 7.5pts, 4th Hans Moke Niemann 7.5pts, 5th Vincent Keymer 7.5pts, 6th Matthias Bluebaum 7pts, 7th Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus 7pts, 8th Anish Giri 6.5pts, 9th Vladimir Fedoseev 6.5pts, 10th D Gukesh 6.5pts, 11th R Praggnanandhaa 5.5pts, 12th Chithambaram V Aravindh 4.5pts, 13th Arjun Erigaisi 4.5pts, 14th Thai Dai Van Nguyen 3pts.
Final Standings Challengers: 1st Andy Woodward 10pts, 2nd Vasyl Ivanchuk 9.5pts, 3rd Aydin Suleymanli 9pts, 4th Marc'andria Maurizzi 8pts, 5th Bibisara Assaubayeva 7.5pts, 6th Faustino Oro 7pts, 7th Carissa Yip 7pts, 8th Max Warmerdam 6.5pts, 9th Velimir Ivic 6pts, 10th Daniil Yuffa 5.5pts, 11th Erwin L'ami 5pts, 12th Vedant Panesar 4pts, 13th Miaoyi Lu 3.5pts, 14th Eline Roebers 2.5pts.
Round 13
Tata Steel Round 13 Erigaisi-Abdusattorov Photo © Michiel Abeln
Erigaisi played the Evans Gambit against Abdusattorov, 14...Qe6 wasn't what Abdusattorov had in his notes but it turned out well as Erigaisi soon went wrong. I covered what I great tournament this was for Abdusattorov but Erigaisi, who finished in 13th place of 14 had a real disaster. He played poorly throughout.
Tata Steel Round 13 Nguyen-Sindarov Photo © Michiel Abeln
Javokhir Sindarov finished second after grinding out a win against Thai Dai Van Nguyen, I don't know if he'll be disappointed or not but his failure to test Praggnanandhaa in Round 12 cost him a chance at winning the tournament. Nguyen qualified for the Masters from the Challengers last year and was bottom seed, it was always going to be tough for him, he played well at times, it took him far too long to play his moves and he was plagued with time trouble. Towards the end, including in the final round, his opponents regarded games against him as must win. Nguyen strikes me as a level headed guy, I hope he got something good out of this.
Tata Steel Round 13 Bluebaum-Erdogmus Photo © Michiel Abeln
Candidate Matthias Bluebaum and Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus drew their game and finished on 7pts/13 they were 12th and 13th seeds but Bluebaum is obviously playing much better than his rating and Erdogmus is the new prodigy, both have reasons to be satisfied.
Tata Steel Round 13 Giri-Niemann Photo © Michiel Abeln
Anish Giri and Hans Moke Niemann drew quickly in the final round. Niemann finished tied for 3rd, I don't know if he should have done better, he certainly could have, he started fast but then was becalmed in the middle with a run of draws and that put him out of the running. Anish Giri was lost at one stage in all of his first four games, but at some point he started playing decent chess, got back to 50% and will I guess feel this was a good test before the Candidates.
Tata Steel Round 13 Fedoseev-Aravindh Photo © Michiel Abeln
Vladimir Fedoseev finished the tournament with a win following a single error by his opponent Chithambaram Aravindh. This allowed Fedoseev to finish on 50%, not a bad result. Aravindh Chithambaram had a torrid event, he finished tied with Erigaisi at the tail end of the field but he survived a number of additional games where he was lost. He's had a great year, I expect he'll take some lessons from this experience.
Tata Steel Round 13 Praggnanandhaa-Van Foreest Photo © Michiel Abeln
Praggnanandhaa and Jorden van Foreest drew their final round game but, one precise move from the Dutchman on move 40, and he really thought about it, would have secured him the win. Praggnanandhaa's form has been rather poor recently, he'll now go into training for the Candidates, I'm not sure he got anything out of this event as there seemed to be a lot of suffering here. van Foreest had a very decent tournament to finish 3rd on tie-break, he'll perhaps be looking to use this as a jumping off point for an improved rating.
Tata Steel Round 13 Gukesh-Keymer Photo © Michiel Abeln
The World Champion Gukesh finished on 50% after drawing with Vincent Keymer in the final round but the German had a chance late on in the game to be seriously better. Gukesh is only 19, he's obviously World Champion but his form since that event has been less than stellar, he is it seems to me psychologically resilient and he played some good games. Of course there was the horrible blunder against Abdusattorov which he recovered from quickly but could be said to have decided the tournament.
21 year old Keymer lost just two games in the last half of 2025 but he lost four games at Tata Steel, that he still finished with a plus score and kept his rating was quite impressive. Keymer is a special player, he just has lapses that are really hampering him, including one that prevented him qualifying for the Candidates. He did show here a remarkable mental stability and ability to bounce back, an important quality.
Tata Steel Chess Wijk aan Zee 2026
| 88th Tata Steel Masters Wijk aan Zee (NED), 16 i-1 ii 2026 | cat. XIX (2723) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||||||
| 1. | Abdusattorov, Nodirbek | g | UZB | 2751 | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 9 | 2862 | |||||||
| 2. | Sindarov, Javokhir | g | UZB | 2726 | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 8½ | 2833 | |||||||
| 3. | Van Foreest, Jorden | g | NED | 2703 | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 7½ | 2781 | |||||||
| 4. | Niemann, Hans Moke | g | USA | 2725 | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 7½ | 2780 | |||||||
| 5. | Keymer, Vincent | g | GER | 2776 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | * | 0 | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7½ | 2776 | |||||||
| 6. | Bluebaum, Matthias | g | GER | 2679 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | * | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 7 | 2755 | |||||||
| 7. | Erdogmus, Yagiz Kaan | g | TUR | 2658 | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | 0 | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 7 | 2757 | |||||||
| 8. | Giri, Anish | g | NED | 2760 | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 1 | * | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 6½ | 2720 | |||||||
| 9. | Fedoseev, Vladimir | g | SLO | 2705 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | * | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 6½ | 2724 | |||||||
| 10. | Gukesh, D | g | IND | 2754 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 6½ | 2720 | |||||||
| 11. | Praggnanandhaa, R | g | IND | 2758 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | 1 | 0 | ½ | 5½ | 2663 | |||||||
| 12. | Aravindh, Chithambaram VR. | g | IND | 2700 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | * | ½ | 1 | 4½ | 2615 | |||||||
| 13. | Erigaisi, Arjun | g | IND | 2775 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | * | ½ | 4½ | 2609 | |||||||
| 14. | Nguyen, Thai Dai Van | g | CZE | 2656 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | * | 3 | 2517 | |||||||
| Round 13 (February 1, 2027) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluebaum, Matthias | - Erdogmus, Yagiz Kaan | ½-½ | 37 | D45 | Anti-Meran Variations | |
| Giri, Anish | - Niemann, Hans Moke | ½-½ | 29 | C88 | Ruy Lopez Closed | |
| Fedoseev, Vladimir | - Aravindh, Chithambaram VR. | 1-0 | 65 | D31 | Semi-Slav Defence | |
| Gukesh, D | - Keymer, Vincent | ½-½ | 57 | C65 | Ruy Lopez Berlin | |
| Praggnanandhaa, R | - Van Foreest, Jorden | ½-½ | 61 | D15 | Slav Defence | |
| Erigaisi, Arjun | - Abdusattorov, Nodirbek | 0-1 | 55 | C52 | Evans Gambit | |
| Nguyen, Thai Dai Van | - Sindarov, Javokhir | 0-1 | 83 | E73 | King's Indian Averbakh | |
| Tata Steel Challengers Wijk aan Zee (NED), 16 i-1 ii 2026 | cat. XII (2544) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||||||
| 1. | Woodward, Andy | g | USA | 2608 | * | 0 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10.0 | 2750 | |||||||
| 2. | Ivanchuk, Vasyl | g | UKR | 2605 | 1 | * | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 9.5 | 2714 | |||||||
| 3. | Suleymanli, Aydin | g | AZE | 2628 | ½ | 0 | * | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 9.0 | 2678 | |||||||
| 4. | Maurizzi, MarcAndria | g | FRA | 2611 | 0 | ½ | 0 | * | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8.0 | 2626 | |||||||
| 5. | Assaubayeva, Bibisara | g | KAZ | 2497 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | * | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 7.5 | 2604 | |||||||
| 6. | Oro, Faustino | m | ARG | 2516 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 7.0 | 2575 | |||||||
| 7. | Yip, Carissa | m | USA | 2466 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | * | 1 | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7.0 | 2579 | |||||||
| 8. | Warmerdam, Max | g | NED | 2576 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | 6.5 | 2541 | |||||||
| 9. | Ivic, Velimir | g | SRB | 2638 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | * | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 6.0 | 2507 | |||||||
| 10. | Yuffa, Daniil | g | ESP | 2604 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | * | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 5.5 | 2482 | |||||||
| 11. | L'Ami, Erwin | g | NED | 2634 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | * | ½ | 1 | 1 | 5.0 | 2450 | |||||||
| 12. | Panesar, Vedant | f | IND | 2406 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | 0 | 1 | 4.0 | 2413 | |||||||
| 13. | Lu, Miaoyi | m | CHN | 2431 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | * | 0 | 3.5 | 2377 | |||||||
| 14. | Roebers, Eline | m | NED | 2398 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | * | 2.5 | 2304 | |||||||
| Round 13 (February 1, 2026) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodward, Andy | - L'Ami, Erwin | 1-0 | 48 | D90 | Gruenfeld Flohr | |
| Suleymanli, Aydin | - Ivic, Velimir | 0-1 | 34 | A13 | Reti Opening | |
| Oro, Faustino | - Maurizzi, MarcAndria | ½-½ | 42 | C79 | Ruy Lopez Russian Defence | |
| Warmerdam, Max | - Roebers, Eline | ½-½ | 93 | A13 | Reti Opening | |
| Yuffa, Daniil | - Ivanchuk, Vasyl | 0-1 | 47 | D37 | QGD 5.Bf4 | |
| Panesar, Vedant | - Assaubayeva, Bibisara | 0-1 | 40 | B90 | Sicilian Najdorf Variation | |
| Lu, Miaoyi | - Yip, Carissa | 0-1 | 60 | C58 | Two Knights Defence | |
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