The Tata Steel Chess Masters tournament delivered another round of intense battles and shifts in the standings. After four rounds, Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has surged ahead, claiming the sole lead following his third successive win. Meanwhile, World Champion Dommaraju Gukesh demonstrated remarkable resilience, grinding out a lengthy draw in a challenging position, keeping his tournament hopes very much alive.
Praggnanandhaa`s ascent to the top of the leaderboard was marked by a decisive victory against his young Indian counterpart, Leon Luke Mendonca. Playing with the white pieces, Praggnanandhaa navigated the complexities of the Ruy Lopez opening with precision. Mendonca, the youngest participant, faced difficulties and made a crucial inaccuracy around the 24th move, which Praggnanandhaa efficiently converted into a winning advantage. Despite Mendonca`s determined defense, the position was unsalvageable, leading to his resignation on move 46. This win brings Praggnanandhaa`s score to an impressive 3.5 out of 4, establishing a clear lead.
World Champion D Gukesh, playing black against Alexey Sarana, was involved in the longest game of the round – a gruelling six-hour, 70-move marathon. Sarana held a material and positional advantage for a significant portion of the game, putting Gukesh under considerable pressure. However, the young World Champion showcased his defensive prowess and accurate calculation under duress, finding the necessary precise moves to hold the balance and force a draw. This hard-fought half-point maintains Gukesh`s unbeaten streak as World Champion and places him firmly in contention with a score of 2.5/4.
The round proved less kind to another highly-touted Indian player, Arjun Erigaisi. In a game against Vladimir Fedoseev, Erigaisi seemed to be in control, benefiting from errors by his opponent. However, chess, as they say, can be a cruel game. A tactical oversight on move 27 saw Erigaisi sacrifice a knight incorrectly, a mistake that proved fatal. Despite attempting to fight on, Fedoseev capitalized expertly, securing the full point and handing Erigaisi a heart-breaking loss. This leaves Erigaisi on 0.5/4, a tough start for the talented player.
Pentala Harikrishna added to the Indian successes of the day, securing a valuable win against Max Warmerdam. Harikrishna navigated a tricky endgame, baiting Warmerdam before capitalizing on inaccuracies from the Dutchman. Despite a slight wobble of his own later in the game, Harikrishna maintained control to clinch the victory, moving to a respectable 2.5/4 and staying within striking distance of the leaders.
Elsewhere in the Masters section, former co-leader Nodirbek Abdusattorov would be disappointed, drawing against Wei Yi from a position where he held a significant advantage. Fabiano Caruana managed to escape with a draw against Anish Giri, successfully navigating a difficult position despite facing time pressure. Vincent Keymer`s attempts to break down Jordan van Foreest`s defenses also ended in a draw, leaving both players sharing the point.
The standings after Round 4 reflect Praggnanandhaa`s strong performance, with a tight pack trailing behind. The tournament is shaping up for a thrilling middle section as players jockey for position.
Tata Steel Chess Masters – Round 4 Results:
R Praggnanandhaa 1 – 0 Leon Luke Mendonca
Alexey Sarana 0.5 – 0.5 Dommaraju Gukesh
Arjun Erigaisi 0 – 1 Vladimir Fedoseev
Pentala Harikrishna 1 – 0 Max Warmerdam
Fabiano Caruana 0.5 – 0.5 Anish Giri
Nodirbek Abdusattorov 0.5 – 0.5 Wei Yi
Vincent Keymer 0.5 – 0.5 Jordan van Foreest
Standings After Round 4:
R Praggnanandhaa: 3.5
Nodirbek Abdusattorov: 3
Fabiano Caruana: 2.5
Dommaraju Gukesh: 2.5
Vincent Keymer: 2.5
Vladimir Fedoseev: 2.5
Pentala Harikrishna: 2.5
Wei Yi: 2
Alexey Sarana: 2
Anish Giri: 1.5
Jordan van Foreest: 1.5
Max Warmerdam: 1
Leon Luke Mendonca: 0.5
Arjun Erigaisi: 0.5
