TWIC is 31. First issue 17th September 1994.88th Tata Steel 2026 (11)
Sindarov joins Abdusattorov in the lead of the Tata Steel Masters with two rounds to go
Mark Crowther - Friday 30th January 2026
Sindarov in action in Round 11. Photo © | https://theweekinchess.com
Javokhir Sindarov won a sharp game against Arjun Erigaisi, Sindarov got a winning advantage on the run up to move 40 but things were still very tricky and it was only after 52.Re4? that he was winning. In the meantime the leader Nodirbek Abdusattorov had a calm draw against Jorden Van Foreest.
Hans Moke Niemann took a huge amount of risks against the struggling Thai Dai Van Nguyen, although the engine says he was losing at various points Nguyen's desperate time trouble was enough to justify his approach. 40.f4? left Niemann winning, 42...b2? gave Nguyen a final chance but after 43.Kf2? he was lost.
Anish Giri won a sharp calculating game against Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, 23...Ba6? was the losing move. Vincent Keymer beat Praggnanandhaa, 25.Nd6? was the move that started the trouble.
Vladimir Fedoseev and Matthias Bluebaum drew in 66 moves, it seemed pretty accurate. Gukesh couldn't convert a winning advantage against Chithambaram Aravindh.
My thanks to Michiel Abeln for the photos and notes.
In the Challengers Andy Woodward bounced back from his loss to Vasyl Ivanchuk to beat Marc'andria Maurizzi. Woodward leads on 8.5/11 by half a point from Vasyl Ivanchuk and Aydin Suleymanli. Ivanchuk beat Suleymanli today.
Round 11 Standings: 1 Sindarov, Abdusattorov 7pts, 3 Niemann, Van Foreest, Bluebaum 6.5pts, 6 Keymer 6pts, 7 Erdogmus, Gukesh,Giri, Fedoseev 5.5pts, 11 Praggnanandhaa 4.5pts, 12 Aravindh, Erigaisi 4pts, 14 Nguyen 3pts.
Round 12 Sat 1pm 31st Jan 2026. Abdusattorov-Bluebaum, Erdogmus-Fedoseev, Aravindh-Giri, Niemann-Gukesh, Keymer-Nguyen, Sindarov-Praggnanandhaa, Van Foreest-Erigaisi.
Round 11
Tata Steel Round 11 Erigaisi-Sindarov Photo © Michiel Abeln
Javokhir Sindarov beat a now struggling Arjun Erigaisi in 66 moves. This was a difficult, calculating game 40.f5? was likely the decisive blunder.
Tata Steel Round 11 Gukesh-Aravindh Photo © Michiel Abeln
Gukesh would have been very disappointed not to convert a winning advantage against Chithambaram Aravindh.
Tata Steel Round 11 Fedoseev-Bluebaum Photo © Michiel Abeln
Vladimir Fedoseev chose the Four Knights against Matthias Bluebaum, even though it's played more than it used to be the theoretical verdict that it isn't much for white hasn't changed. This was drawn in 66 moves.
Tata Steel Round 11 Praggnanandhaa-Keymer Photo © Michiel Abeln
Vincent Keymer promised no more mistakes in the final rounds of Tata Steel after losing four games so far. Here he won his fifth game beating a worryingly out of form Candidate Praggnanandhaa. 25.Nd6? was the serious mistake but he resisted a long time, losing in 63 moves.
Tata Steel Round 11 Giri-Erdogmus Photo © Michiel Abeln
Anish Giri beat Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus in a very complicated game. Giri gave up the exchange, he had at least enough for it and Erdogmus's 23...Ba6? (23...Bb5 was strictly necessary) cost him the game.
Tata Steel Round 11 Van Foreest-Abdusattorov Photo © Michiel Abeln
Jorden van Foreest and Nodirbek Abdusattorov drew in 33 moves, not much to report.
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. | Sindarov, Javokhir | g | UZB | 2726 | * | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | . | ½ | 1 | . | 7 | 2828 | |||||||
| 2. | Abdusattorov, Nodirbek | g | UZB | 2751 | ½ | * | ½ | . | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | . | 1 | 7 | 2822 | |||||||
| 3. | Van Foreest, Jorden | g | NED | 2703 | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | . | 1 | . | ½ | 6½ | 2782 | |||||||
| 4. | Bluebaum, Matthias | g | GER | 2679 | 0 | . | ½ | * | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | . | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 6½ | 2795 | |||||||
| 5. | Niemann, Hans Moke | g | USA | 2725 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | 0 | . | 1 | ½ | . | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 6½ | 2782 | |||||||
| 6. | Keymer, Vincent | g | GER | 2776 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | * | 1 | 0 | ½ | . | 1 | 1 | 1 | . | 6 | 2757 | |||||||
| 7. | Giri, Anish | g | NED | 2760 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 0 | . | 0 | * | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | . | ½ | ½ | 5½ | 2721 | |||||||
| 8. | Fedoseev, Vladimir | g | SLO | 2705 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | * | . | 0 | ½ | . | 1 | ½ | 5½ | 2733 | |||||||
| 9. | Erdogmus, Yagiz Kaan | g | TUR | 2658 | 0 | ½ | 1 | . | ½ | ½ | 0 | . | * | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 5½ | 2734 | |||||||
| 10. | Gukesh, D | g | IND | 2754 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | . | . | 0 | 1 | 1 | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 5½ | 2715 | |||||||
| 11. | Praggnanandhaa, R | g | IND | 2758 | . | 0 | . | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | 1 | 0 | ½ | 4½ | 2656 | |||||||
| 12. | Aravindh, Chithambaram VR. | g | IND | 2700 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | . | . | ½ | ½ | 0 | * | ½ | 1 | 4 | 2621 | |||||||
| 13. | Erigaisi, Arjun | g | IND | 2775 | 0 | . | . | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | * | ½ | 4 | 2615 | |||||||
| 14. | Nguyen, Thai Dai Van | g | CZE | 2656 | . | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | . | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | * | 3 | 2549 | |||||||
| Round 11 (January 30, 2026) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Foreest, Jorden | - Abdusattorov, Nodirbek | ½-½ | 33 | A30 | English Symmetrical | |
| Giri, Anish | - Erdogmus, Yagiz Kaan | 1-0 | 32 | D37 | QGD 5.Bf4 | |
| Fedoseev, Vladimir | - Bluebaum, Matthias | ½-½ | 66 | C47 | Four Knights | |
| Gukesh, D | - Aravindh, Chithambaram VR. | ½-½ | 68 | D37 | QGD 5.Bf4 | |
| Praggnanandhaa, R | - Keymer, Vincent | 0-1 | 63 | A20 | English Opening | |
| Erigaisi, Arjun | - Sindarov, Javokhir | 0-1 | 66 | D43 | Anti-Meran Gambit | |
| Nguyen, Thai Dai Van | - Niemann, Hans Moke | 0-1 | 66 | A28 | English Four Knights | |
| 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 | . | 1 | . | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8½ | 2732 | |||||||
| 2. | Ivanchuk, Vasyl | g | UKR | 2605 | 1 | * | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | . | 1 | 0 | . | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 8 | 2710 | |||||||
| 3. | Suleymanli, Aydin | g | AZE | 2628 | ½ | 0 | * | . | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | . | ½ | 1 | 1 | 8 | 2696 | |||||||
| 4. | Maurizzi, MarcAndria | g | FRA | 2611 | 0 | ½ | . | * | 1 | 1 | . | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7½ | 2666 | |||||||
| 5. | Assaubayeva, Bibisara | g | KAZ | 2497 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | * | ½ | ½ | . | 1 | ½ | ½ | . | ½ | 1 | 6½ | 2623 | |||||||
| 6. | Yip, Carissa | m | USA | 2466 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | * | ½ | 1 | ½ | . | 1 | 1 | . | 1 | 6 | 2592 | |||||||
| 7. | Oro, Faustino | m | ARG | 2516 | 0 | . | 0 | . | ½ | ½ | * | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2571 | |||||||
| 8. | Warmerdam, Max | g | NED | 2576 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | . | 0 | 1 | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | . | 5 | 2522 | |||||||
| 9. | L'Ami, Erwin | g | NED | 2634 | . | 1 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | * | 0 | 0 | . | 1 | 1 | 4½ | 2477 | |||||||
| 10. | Yuffa, Daniil | g | ESP | 2604 | 0 | . | 0 | ½ | ½ | . | 0 | ½ | 1 | * | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | 4½ | 2475 | |||||||
| 11. | Ivic, Velimir | g | SRB | 2638 | . | 0 | . | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | * | ½ | 0 | 1 | 4½ | 2457 | |||||||
| 12. | Panesar, Vedant | f | IND | 2406 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | . | 0 | ½ | 0 | . | ½ | ½ | * | 0 | 1 | 3½ | 2419 | |||||||
| 13. | Lu, Miaoyi | m | CHN | 2431 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | . | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | * | . | 3½ | 2441 | |||||||
| 14. | Roebers, Eline | m | NED | 2398 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | . | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | . | * | 1 | 2181 | |||||||
| Round 11 (January 30, 2026) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodward, Andy | - Maurizzi, MarcAndria | 1-0 | 22 | E06 | Catalan | |
| Suleymanli, Aydin | - Ivanchuk, Vasyl | 0-1 | 41 | B93 | Sicilian Najdorf with 6.f4 | |
| Oro, Faustino | - Yuffa, Daniil | 1-0 | 41 | B45 | Sicilian Classical | |
| Warmerdam, Max | - L'Ami, Erwin | ½-½ | 41 | E60 | King's Indian without Nc3 | |
| Panesar, Vedant | - Ivic, Velimir | ½-½ | 87 | C95 | Ruy Lopez Breyer | |
| Lu, Miaoyi | - Assaubayeva, Bibisara | ½-½ | 43 | B53 | Sicilian Hungarian | |
| Roebers, Eline | - Yip, Carissa | 0-1 | 62 | C46 | Four Knights | |
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