The penultimate round of the Tata Steel Chess Masters in Wijk aan Zee delivered significant shifts, most notably with Indian prodigy R Praggnanandhaa catching up to his compatriot D Gukesh at the top of the leaderboard. Round 12 proved pivotal, clarifying the path towards the tournament`s conclusion and injecting considerable tension into the final day`s pairings.
Key results from Round 12 included Praggnanandhaa`s victory over Alexey Sarana, Gukesh`s draw against Jorden van Foreest, and a notable win for Arjun Erigaisi against Nodirbek Abdusattorov.
Praggnanandhaa`s Powerful Push
Building on recent momentum, Praggnanandhaa secured his third consecutive win by defeating Alexey Sarana. Recognizing the necessity of a win to stay in contention, Praggnanandhaa adopted an aggressive posture from the outset, employing an unconventional opening that saw his bishop make multiple forward moves early in the game. Sarana responded with aggression of his own as the game progressed, but Praggnanandhaa navigated the complications expertly. The game reached a dramatic conclusion with Praggnanandhaa executing a remarkable queen sacrifice, which ultimately led to a decisive advantage and victory.
This win elevates Praggnanandhaa to 8.5 points, drawing him level with Gukesh. The result also had implications for the live world rankings, propelling him past Alireza Firouzja to claim the world number seven spot.
Gukesh Survives a Scare
Tournament co-leader D Gukesh faced Jorden van Foreest in a game that proved far from straightforward. Van Foreest held an advantage for a significant portion of the encounter, applying steady pressure. The game saw fortunes swing dramatically in the endgame; a critical error by Van Foreest (39…Rxe5) seemed to hand the initiative to Gukesh, only for the champion to immediately make a costly mistake himself (42…Rb1). In a tense, fast-paced finish under time constraints, Gukesh managed to find the necessary resources to secure a draw. Reflecting on the game, Gukesh acknowledged the difficulty, stating he was “already happy today that I managed to escape this game.” The draw, while maintaining his lead position, means he now shares it with a surging Praggnanandhaa.
Arjun Erigaisi Secures Landmark Victory
Perhaps one of the most emotionally significant results of the round was Arjun Erigaisi`s victory over Nodirbek Abdusattorov. This win marked Arjun`s first in the Tata Steel Chess Masters (WAZ), ending a streak of 24 previous games without a victory in this prestigious event. The game itself was tightly contested for the majority, but a mid-game blunder by Abdusattorov (24…Qg5) provided Arjun with a critical opportunity. Erigaisi seized his chance decisively, concluding the game with a thematic bishop sacrifice that forced resignation. This result is a major blow to Abdusattorov`s title aspirations, effectively knocking him out of the leading pack and allowing Arjun to finally put a win on the board in this top-tier section.
The Final Round Showdown
With two players tied at the top, the final round promises a thrilling climax. The pairings are set to decide the tournament winner, potentially necessitating tiebreakers.
- D Gukesh will play Arjun Erigaisi. Gukesh must navigate a potentially tricky encounter against a player who has just found his winning form, knowing that a slip could cost him the title.
- R Praggnanandhaa is paired against Vincent Keymer. Praggnanandhaa will look to continue his winning streak and apply pressure on Gukesh.
- Nodirbek Abdusattorov faces Pentala Harikrishna. Abdusattorov`s title chances are now slim, requiring not only a win but also losses from both Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa to potentially force a tiebreaker scenario involving multiple players, a highly improbable outcome.
Standings After Round 12
The standings heading into the final round are as follows:
- Dommaraju Gukesh: 8.5 points
- R Praggnanandhaa: 8.5 points
- Nodirbek Abdusattorov: 7.5 points
- Vladimir Fedoseev: 7 points
- Wei Yi: 6.5 points
- Anish Giri: 6.5 points
- Fabiano Caruana: 6 points
- Pentala Harikrishna: 6 points
- Vincent Keymer: 5 points
- Jordan van Foreest: 5 points
- Alexey Sarana: 5 points
- Arjun Erigaisi: 4.5 points
- Leon Luke Mendonca: 4.5 points
- Max Warmerdam: 3.5 points
Round 13 will determine the champion, with all eyes on the two young Indian players tied at the summit as they fight for the prestigious Tata Steel Chess Masters title.
