Tata Steel Masters: World Champion D Gukesh Suffers Second Straight Defeat

Last Updated:January 25, 2026, 20:16 IST

Gukesh and Arjun share ninth place with Giri, all on three points, while Praggnanandhaa, with 2.5 points, is still seeking his first victory.

D Gukesh has now lost three games in the competition. (PTI Photo)

World Champion D Gukesh slumped to a second consecutive defeat and third overall of the ongoing Tata Steel Masters, losing to local favourite Anish Giri in the seventh round in Wijk Aan Zee, Netherlands.

It was a challenging day for the Indian players as Arjun Erigaisi was defeated by Turkey’s Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, who played an exceptional game to overcome the world No. 5 and top seed.

Aravindh Chithambaram also suffered a loss with the black pieces against Dutchman Jorden van Foreest, while R Praggnanandhaa was held to a draw by Germany’s Matthias Bluebaum.

With six rounds remaining in the 14-player, 13-round event, Nodirbek Abdusattorov from Uzbekistan played his best game of the tournament so far, extending his lead by a full point.

The Uzbek player defeated Germany’s Vincent Keymer with a flawless performance using the black pieces.

With Abdusattorov leading on 5.5 points, World Cup winner and teammate Javokhir Sindarov remains his closest competitor with 4.5 points.

Erdogmus, van Foreest, Hans Moke Niemann from the United States, and Slovenia’s Vladimir Fedoseev share the third spot with 4 points each, half a point ahead of Bluebaum and Keymer.

Gukesh and Arjun share ninth place with Giri, all on three points, while Praggnanandhaa, with 2.5 points, is still seeking his first victory.

Aravindh is currently positioned last with just two points.

Aravindh faced a difficult choice as he opted for the King’s Indian defense, an opening van Foreest had used several times before.

“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. Sometimes it’s good to use your opponent’s weapons against him, but I don’t think it really worked out for him today," van Foreest commented.

For Gukesh, the game did not go well in an English opening as white, as Giri took the initiative with a central bind. By the time Gukesh managed to break free from the bind, his position had deteriorated, and Giri capitalised on this advantage.

Arjun struggled against a highly imaginative display by the young Turk in another English opening. The continuous pressure from Erdogmus proved too much for Arjun, even after the queens were traded.

Results for round 7: Jorden van Foreest (Ned, 4) defeated Aravindh Chithambaram (Ind, 2); D Gukesh (Ind, 3) lost to Anish Giri (Ned, 3); Arjun Erigaisi (Ind, 3) lost to Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus (Tur, 4); R Praggnanandhaa (Ind, 2.5) drew with Matthias Bluebaum (Ger, 3.5); Vincent Keymer (Ger, 3.5) lost to Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzb, 5.5); Javokhir Sindarov (Uzb, 4.5) drew with Hans Moke Niemann (Usa, 4); Thai Dai Van Nguyen (Cze, 2.5) drew with Vladimir Fedoseev (Slo, 4).

With PTI Inputs

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