India’s D Gukesh suffered his second successive defeat at the Tata Steel Masters, falling to Dutch star Anish Giri in the seventh round. Fellow Indians Arjun Erigaisi and Aravindh Chithambaram also lost, while R Praggnanandhaa drew with Matthias Bluebaum of Germany.
The seventh round proved challenging for the Indian contingent as Gukesh, playing white in an English Opening, found himself constrained by Giri’s central bind. Despite attempts to neutralise the pressure, Gukesh’s position deteriorated, allowing the Dutchman to secure a flawless win.
Arjun Erigaisi was outplayed by Turkey’s Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus in another English Opening. Arjun felt the heat right from the opening. The consistent pressure from Erdogmus became impossible to handle even after trade of Queens.
Aravindh Chithambaram, on black against Netherlands’ Jorden van Foreest, also succumbed in a complex King’s Indian Defence. “The opening caught me by surprise. I know he’s really unpredictable, but still, the King’s Indian is what I have been playing this tournament for a couple of games and somehow he hit me with it,” Aravindh said. Van Foreest added, “Sometimes it’s good to use your opponent’s weapons against him, but I don’t think it really worked out for him today.”
R Praggnanandhaa managed a draw with Germany’s Matthias Bluebaum, keeping him in contention for the middle rankings.
Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov extended his lead to 5.5 points with a convincing victory over Vincent Keymer of Germany. World Cup winner Javokhir Sindarov, his closest rival, is on 4.5 points, while Erdogmus, Van Foreest, Hans Moke Niemann (USA), and Vladimir Fedoseev (Slovenia) share third place on 4 points each.
Gukesh and Arjun are tied at ninth with 3 points each, Praggnanandhaa has 2.5, and Aravindh occupies the last spot with 2 points. With six rounds remaining in the 13-round event, the tournament remains wide open, though Abdusattorov continues to dominate.
Also read: Gukesh to face Abdusattorov in Tata Steel Masters Round 6
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