As the Tata Steel Chess tournament in Wijk aan Zee barrels towards its conclusion, Round 11 delivered significant results that have tightened the race at the top, ensuring a thrilling finish to one of the most prestigious events on the chess calendar. With just two rounds remaining, the contenders are jostling for position, and every move carries immense weight.
The headline of the round undoubtedly belongs to Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa, who scored a crucial victory against the formidable American Fabiano Caruana. Playing with the black pieces, Praggnanandhaa navigated Caruana`s initial aggression with composed and active play. The game remained relatively balanced until the mid-game, where Caruana committed a couple of inaccuracies. Praggnanandhaa, seizing the initiative, pressed his advantage. The decisive moment arrived on move 32 when a misstep by Caruana, involving moving his queen away, allowed Praggnanandhaa to exploit a tactical opportunity, capturing a key defensive pawn with his knight and creating fatal threats. The writing was on the wall, and Caruana resigned just five moves later. This impressive win propelled Praggnanandhaa to 7.5 points, positioning him just half a point behind the current leader.
Tournament leader D Gukesh maintained his position at the summit, preserving his unbeaten streak with a draw against Chinese Grandmaster Wei Yi. Gukesh opted for a less common knight maneuver in the opening, successfully steering Wei Yi out of his pre-game preparation early on. His ninth move in particular sparked a complex variation that required deep calculation from both players. The resulting line involved numerous material exchanges, ultimately leading to a position where neither side could realistically hope for more than a draw. A handshake was agreed upon on move 30, a pragmatic result that keeps Gukesh in the lead, albeit with the chasing pack now breathing down his neck.
Another player at 7.5 points is Nodirbek Abdusattorov, though his draw against Vincent Keymer in Round 11 will likely feel more like a loss. Abdusattorov held a clearly winning position after Keymer`s 28th move weakened his king structure. Navigating the complexities, Abdusattorov found the correct sequence to gain a decisive advantage. However, a critical error with 38…Qe7 allowed Keymer to simplify the position into a draw, effectively throwing away a golden opportunity to join Gukesh in the lead. Such are the fine margins at the elite level, where one slip can cost valuable points and potentially the tournament title.
In other results from the Master`s section, Pentala Harikrishna secured a hard-fought, patient victory over Alexey Sarana. Meanwhile, Leon Luke Mendonca earned his first win of the tournament, defeating Vladimir Fedoseev with the black pieces, capitalizing on an endgame error by his opponent – a moment of relief and reward for Mendonca`s efforts. Arjun Erigaisi`s indifferent run continued with another draw against Jordan van Foreest, though he managed to find drawing resources after being in a difficult position briefly. Anish Giri defeated Max Warmerdam, but remains too far back to contend for first place with only two rounds left.
In the parallel Tata Steel Challengers event, Divya Deshmukh picked up a win against Irina Bulmaga. Unfortunately for R Vaishali, her losing streak persisted against Aydin Suleymanli, dropping her out of contention for first place in her section.
Standings After Round 11 (Top):
- Dommaraju Gukesh: 8 points
- Nodirbek Abdusattorov: 7.5 points
- R Praggnanandhaa: 7.5 points
- Wei Yi: 6 points
- Anish Giri: 6 points
- Vladimir Fedoseev: 6 points
With Gukesh holding a slender half-point lead over Praggnanandhaa and Abdusattorov, the final two rounds promise high drama. Every game is critical, and the destination of the 2025 Tata Steel Chess title is still very much in doubt. The Steel City is poised for a captivating conclusion.
Tristan Blackwood