As the Tata Steel Chess Masters 2025 heads into its final rest day, World Champion D Gukesh continues to demonstrate remarkable form, maintaining his sole lead after a hard-fought Round 10 in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands. Gukesh remains undefeated in the prestigious tournament, solidifying his position at the top with 7.5 points.
His latest victory came against Dutch player Max Warmerdam. The game saw Warmerdam attempting unusual opening moves, to which Gukesh responded effectively. The decisive moment arrived when Warmerdam committed a significant blunder, which Gukesh promptly capitalized on to secure the full point.
Speaking after the game, Gukesh commented on the unexpected opening and his mindset just a month after his World Championship triumph. He expressed contentment in being back at the chessboard in a high-level event like Tata Steel, viewing it as a welcome focus after a busy period at home. His performance certainly reflects a player comfortable and driven, even post-championship.
The Chasing Pack: Wins for Abdusattorov and Praggnanandhaa
The race for the title is far from over, with the chasing pack maintaining relentless pressure. Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Gukesh`s closest competitor, secured a crucial win against Alexey Sarana, handing Sarana his first loss of the tournament. Abdusattorov`s victory, achieved through tactical complications, kept him just half a point behind Gukesh on 7.0 points. Interestingly, despite the vital nature of the win, Abdusattorov lightheartedly referred to the game as his “worst” of the tournament – a testament, perhaps, to the high standards and peculiar battles at this level.
Equally significant was the performance of R Praggnanandhaa. After a setback in the previous round, the young Indian grandmaster bounced back with a critical victory over Vladimir Fedoseev, reclaiming his spot in the top three. Praggnanandhaa`s win moved him to 6.5 points, just one point shy of the lead. He later indicated his approach for the round was simple: he “wanted to have a fight,” knowing his opponent was likely to oblige. This proactive mindset paid off handsomely.
Fedoseev`s loss meant he dropped down the standings, illustrating the volatile nature of tournament play where a single result can significantly alter the table.
Other Results
In other Masters section games, draws were the order of the day. India`s Pentala Harikrishna drew his game against top American player Fabiano Caruana. While a draw against a player of Caruana`s caliber is generally solid, it potentially dampens Harikrishna`s chances for a late surge in the standings.
Arjun Erigaisi drew with Vincent Keymer, and Leon Mendonca drew with Anish Giri. These results see Erigaisi and Mendonca remain in the bottom half of the scoreboard, highlighting the tough competition they face.
In the Tata Steel Challengers tournament, India`s R Vaishali faced a difficult round, losing her six-hour, 76-move game against the section leader, Thai Dai Van Nguyen.
Current Standings (After Round 10)
- Dommaraju Gukesh: 7.5 points
- Nodirbek Abdusattorov: 7.0 points
- R Praggnanandhaa: 6.5 points
- Vladimir Fedoseev: 6.0 points
- Fabiano Caruana: 5.5 points
- Wei Yi: 5.5 points
- Anish Giri: 5.0 points
- Alexey Sarana: 5.0 points
- Pentala Harikrishna: 4.5 points
- Jordan van Foreest: 4.0 points
- Vincent Keymer: 4.0 points
- Max Warmerdam: 3.5 points
- Leon Luke Mendonca: 3.0 points
- Arjun Erigaisi: 3.0 points
With only three rounds remaining after the final rest day, the tournament is poised for a dramatic conclusion. Gukesh holds the advantage, but the narrow margins ensure that every game will be critical in determining the champion of the Tata Steel Chess Masters 2025.
