The prestigious Tata Steel Chess Masters tournament in Wijk Aan Zee, Netherlands, delivered another dose of high-stakes drama in Round 7, significantly tightening the race at the top. Indian Grandmaster Dommaraju Gukesh scored a crucial win, vaulting himself into a shared lead alongside compatriots R Praggnanandhaa and Uzbek star Nodirbek Abdusattorov, all perched on five points as the event crosses its halfway mark.
Gukesh`s victory came against fellow Indian Grandmaster Pentala Harikrishna. Interestingly, Harikrishna served as one of Gukesh`s seconds for the upcoming World Championship match, adding a peculiar dynamic to the encounter. Gukesh also previously defeated another of his seconds, Vincent Keymer, earlier in the tournament. For this game, Harikrishna opted for the French Defense, a favored weapon of World Champion Ding Liren, which some might see as a rather bold, perhaps even ironic, choice when facing a challenger`s preparation team member. However, the opening held no surprises for Gukesh.
The critical moment arrived around move 15, where an inaccuracy from Harikrishna granted Gukesh a clear positional advantage. Yet, converting this edge into a full point proved to be a test of patience and precision. Gukesh demonstrated commendable technique, steadily improving his position and applying pressure until Harikrishna saw no viable defense and resigned on move 45. It was a masterclass in squeezing water from a stone, or in this case, a win from a complex but favorable position.
While Gukesh surged, his co-leaders faced tougher challenges. Praggnanandhaa agreed to a swift draw against Dutch player Jordan van Foreest, a result that kept him tied at the top but prevented him from pulling ahead. Similarly, Nodirbek Abdusattorov drew his game against Anish Giri, maintaining his position in the leading pack.
The round also saw decisive results for Max Warmerdam, who defeated Arjun Erigaisi, and Vladimir Fedoseev, who overcame Vincent Keymer. For Arjun Erigaisi, this tournament continues to be a difficult spell. His loss marked his 20th consecutive game in the Tata Steel Masters (across 2023 and 2025 editions) without a win. This challenging run has seen him shed valuable rating points and, significantly, lose his status as India`s top-ranked player in the live ratings. It`s a stark reminder of the unforgiving nature of elite chess tournaments.
Looking ahead, the stage is set for a potential fireworks display in Round 8, where the two leading Indians, Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa, are scheduled to face off. This highly anticipated clash could well be a pivotal moment, potentially shaping the destination of the 2025 Tata Steel Chess Masters title.
Round 7 Results at 2025 Tata Steel Chess Masters
- Dommaraju Gukesh 1-0 Pentala Harikrishna
- Jordan van Foreest 0.5-0.5 R Praggnanandhaa
- Max Warmerdam 1-0 Arjun Erigaisi
- Anish Giri 0.5-0.5 Nodirbek Abdusattorov
- Wei Yi 0.5-0.5 Leon Luke Mendonca
- Fabiano Caruana 0.5-0.5 Alexey Sarana
- Vladimir Fedoseev 1-0 Vincent Keymer
Standings after Round 7
- Dommaraju Gukesh: 5
- R Praggnanandhaa: 5
- Nodirbek Abdusattorov: 5
- Vladimir Fedoseev: 4.5
- Alexey Sarana: 4
- Wei Yi: 3.5
- Pentala Harikrishna: 3.5
- Fabiano Caruana: 3.5
- Anish Giri: 3
- Max Warmerdam: 3
- Vincent Keymer: 3
- Jordan van Foreest: 2.5
- Leon Luke Mendonca: 2
- Arjun Erigaisi: 1.5
