World champion D Gukesh continued his impressive run at the Tata Steel Masters, holding onto his half-point lead after an easy draw against China’s Wei Yi in Round 11. Meanwhile, R Praggnanandhaa produced a sensational performance, defeating top seed Fabiano Caruana of the United States with black pieces, putting himself in contention for the title.
Gukesh’s Draw Against Wei Yi: A Tactical Standoff
Playing with the white pieces, Gukesh opted for the Italian Game, introducing a relatively new central pawn push early in the opening. However, Wei Yi managed to keep control after an early queen exchange, leading to a balanced middle game.
As the endgame unfolded, Gukesh found himself a pawn up, but the position remained equal due to accurate play from Wei Yi. Neither player saw a clear way to force a win, and the game concluded in a peaceful 30-move draw.
With this result, Gukesh moved to eight points out of a possible eleven, ensuring that he retained his lead heading into the penultimate round.
Praggnanandhaa Outwits Caruana in a Tactical Masterclass
The biggest upset of the round came when R Praggnanandhaa outplayed Fabiano Caruana, the tournament’s top seed. Praggnanandhaa, playing with the black pieces, employed a Queen’s Gambit Declined, forcing Caruana into a complex and aggressive variation.
Caruana, looking to improve his tournament standing after some lackluster performances, tried to create a complicated battlefield. However, Praggnanandhaa, known for his sharp tactical abilities, handled the complications better.
The game took a decisive turn when Caruana blundered on move 32, giving Praggnanandhaa a clear advantage. Five moves later, the Indian grandmaster sealed victory, moving to 7.5 points and just half a point behind Gukesh.
Nodirbek Abdusattorov Also in the Title Race
Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan remains in contention for the title, sitting alongside Praggnanandhaa with 7.5 points. In Round 11, Abdusattorov drew against Vincent Keymer of Germany in a well-balanced game.
With just two rounds remaining, Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, and Abdusattorov are the three main contenders for the Tata Steel Masters title.
Other Indian Performances: Harikrishna and Mendonca Shine
It was a strong round for Indian players, as P Harikrishna defeated Serbia’s Alexey Sarana, while Leon Luke Mendonca outplayed Slovenia’s Vladimir Fedoseev. Both players have been showing solid form in the tournament and added crucial wins to their tally.
Meanwhile, Arjun Erigaisi played out another draw with Jorden van Foreest, continuing his run of mixed results.
Upcoming Round: High-Stakes Games Await
With only two rounds remaining, every game is crucial for the title contenders.
- Gukesh vs. Foreest – Gukesh will face Jorden van Foreest with the black pieces. Given Foreest’s aggressive style, fans can expect an exciting battle as Gukesh tries to extend his lead.
- Praggnanandhaa vs. Sarana – Praggnanandhaa will play his last game with white in the tournament against Alexey Sarana. A win would push him closer to Gukesh.
- Abdusattorov vs. Erigaisi – Abdusattorov plays another black game against Arjun Erigaisi. While Erigaisi has struggled in the tournament, he has the ability to challenge top opponents.
Tata Steel Challengers: Mixed Results for Indian Players
In the Challengers’ section, Divya Deshmukh secured a much-needed victory against Irina Bulmaga of Romania, moving to three points in the tournament. However, R Vaishali had a tough outing, losing to Aydin Suleymanli of Azerbaijan.
Meanwhile, Dutch GM Erwin L’Ami regained sole leadership of the Challengers’ section after a strategic win over Chinese teenager Lu Miaoyi. L’Ami, now at eight points, benefited as overnight leader Nguyen Thai Dai Van suffered a shock defeat to Germany’s Svane Frederik.
Round 11 Results
Tata Steel Masters
- Jorden van Foreest (NED, 4.5) drew with Arjun Erigaisi (IND, 3.5)
- D Gukesh (IND, 8) drew with Wei Yi (CHN, 6)
- Fabiano Caruana (USA, 5.5) lost to R Praggnanandhaa (IND, 7.5)
- Vincent Keymer (GER, 4.5) drew with Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB, 7.5)
- Anish Giri (NED, 6) beat Max Warmerdam (NED, 3.5)
- Alexey Sarana (SRB, 5) lost to P Harikrishna (IND, 5.5)
- Vladimir Fedoseev (SLO, 6) lost to Leon Luke Mendonca (IND, 4)
Tata Steel Challengers
- Oro Faustino (ARG, 2.5) lost to Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB, 6)
- Lu Miaoyi (CHN, 5.5) lost to Erwin L’Ami (NED, 8)
- Nogerbek Kazybek (KAZ, 6) drew with Ediz Gurel (TUR, 6)
- R Vaishali (IND, 5) lost to Aydin Suleymanli (AZE, 7.5)
- Svane Frederik (GER, 7) beat Nguyen Thai Dai Van (CZE, 7.5)
- Irina Bulmaga (ROM, 1) lost to Divya Deshmukh (IND, 3)
- Benjamin Bok (NED, 7) drew with Arthur Pijpers (NED, 5)
What’s Next? Title Race Heats Up
As the Tata Steel Masters approaches its final rounds, the race for the championship has intensified. Gukesh holds a slim lead, but Praggnanandhaa and Abdusattorov are just behind him, ready to capitalize on any slip-up.
For Gukesh, a win against Foreest in the next round would put him in pole position for the title. Meanwhile, Praggnanandhaa must defeat Sarana to keep up the pressure. Abdusattorov, also in contention, faces a tricky test against Erigaisi, who is yet to win a game.With just two rounds remaining, the Tata Steel Masters promises an electrifying finish as India’s young grandmasters make their mark on the world stage.
