
Photo credit: Jurriaan Hoefsmit / Tata Steel Chess
Tata Steel Chess 2025 Round 12: Praggnanandhaa Joins Gukesh in Lead
GM Gukesh D and GM Praggnanandhaa R are in the joint lead going into tomorrow's 13th and final round of the 2025 Tata Steel Masters as Praggnanandhaa defeated GM Alexey Sarana, while Gukesh drew GM Jorden van Foreest and GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov is one point behind the leaders after he lost to GM Arjun Erigaisi.Tournament Information
The Tata Steel Chess tournament is one of the longest-running chess tournaments in history. It has attracted the world's top players for decades and is currently celebrating its 87th edition. The Masters section pits 14 players in a big single-player round robin, setting the stage for exhilarating chess battles as the clash of styles and ratings makes for quite the spectacle. The Challengers section is similarly structured, and Tata Steel Chess also includes a well-attended Amateurs section.
The Lichess broadcast coverage can be found here.
Schedule
Round | Date and Time |
---|---|
13 | February 2, 13:00 UTC |
Leaderboard
GM Jorden van Foreest vs. GM Gukesh D 1/2-1/2
Photo credit: Jurriaan Hoefsmit / Tata Steel Chess
There were many small points of interest in World champion GM Gukesh D's game against GM Jorden van Foreest, including the particular variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined chosen and Gukesh being the first to decline a move repetition. However, the main point of intrigue came on move 34, when van Foreest played 34. Rxc4!?, sacrificing an exchange to create a more solid position which seemed easier to defend. Van Foreest's decision came back to haunt him, though, as Gukesh counter-sacrificed on move 39 with 39...Rxe5!, transforming his advantage to a winning queen + rook vs. queen + rook position. Unfortunately for Gukesh, when it came time to go for another transformation of the advantage on move 42 with 42...Rxh3, heading to a winning queen endgame, he missed his chance and from that point forward van Foreest defended well and held the draw. In fact, Gukesh was at one point even completely lost had van Foreest found 47. Qg6!!, but perhaps not expecting his opponent to give him such a chance, van Foreest played 47. Rxe3 rather quickly and drew the game four moves later.
GM Praggnanandhaa R vs. GM Alexey Sarana 1-0
Photo credit: Jurriaan Hoefsmit / Tata Steel Chess
GM Praggnanandhaa R's game against GM Alexey Sarana had hints of Praggnanandhaa's encounter yesterday against GM Fabiano Caruana: an opposite-side castling game with one side having the much faster attack. Once again, it was Praggnanandhaa whose attack was more rapid, but Sarana at some point had achieved dynamic equality. With just one incorrect move in 21...Nb5, Sarana was lost and Praggnanandhaa demonstrated a precise attacking plan to bring home the full point and join Gukesh in the lead.
GM Arjun Erigaisi vs. GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov 1-0
Photo credit: Jurriaan Hoefsmit / Tata Steel Chess
In what could not have been a more fortunate time for both Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa, GM Arjun Erigaisi scored his first win of the tournament against GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov. From the early opening phase, Abdusattorov was never in the game, and when he had a small chance to recover, it looked as if the position would still be very tough for a human to hold. Even with computer-like play, White's bishop pair vs. Abdusattorov's sole rook would always pose practical problems, so it was clear that Erigaisi would convert his position even though his 32. Rxc6 exchange sacrifice may not have been the most accurate.
GM Max Warmerdam vs. GM Vladimir Fedoseev 0-1
Photo credit: Jurriaan Hoefsmit / Tata Steel Chess
GM Vladimir Fedoseev has, amazingly enough, played a mere four draws in twelve games, a record of decisive chess that few can boast — apart from his opponent, GM Max Warmerdam, who similarly only played five draws. Initially, Warmerdam's English Opening worked out well enough; he had a small advantage, but Fedoseev was playing precisely and there weren't any opportunities for Warmerdam to play for more. With opposite-colored bishops on the board, the game looked to be equal — with the presence of all the major pieces, though, such dynamic equality could be rather volatile. Tragically for Warmerdam, he allowed a sudden infiltration of Fedoseev's rook and queen, after which he abruptly lost the game.
GM Wei Yi vs. GM Anish Giri 1/2-1/2
Photo credit: Jurriaan Hoefsmit / Tata Steel Chess
While both GM Anish Giri and GM Wei Yi have shown fighting chess in this tournament, their overall strategy has been clear: play interesting and creative opening ideas, and, if given the chance, play for the win; otherwise, no excessive risks shall be taken. With such a pragmatic approach, the draw between these players made a lot of sense as Wei did not achieve much of an edge from the White side of the Petrov Defense, while Giri comfortably equalized.
GM Leon Luke Mendonca vs. GM Fabiano Caruana 1/2-1/2
Photo credit: Jurriaan Hoefsmit / Tata Steel Chess
In a day that was marked by transformations of advantages, GM Fabiano Caruana survived a small scare against GM Leon Luke Mendonca. Maintaining White's first-move advantage against as formidable an opening expert as Caruana was already a big achievement for Mendonca, and the fact that Caruana did not truly equalize until the draw was agreed was also another feat Mendonca could be proud of. Indeed, had Mendonca found 36. Rxd7!, going into the knight endgame, he might have had a winning advantage. It was not in fact clear if 36. Rxd7 was objectively winning, but, at the very least, it would have posed more problems for Caruana to solve. As it stood, Mendonca allowed a rook endgame instead to take place, whereafter the draw became obvious.
GM Pentala Harikrishna vs. GM Vincent Keymer 1/2-1/2
Photo credit: Jurriaan Hoefsmit / Tata Steel Chess
Similar to Wei Yi vs. Anish Giri, GM Pentala Harikrishna vs. GM Vincent Keymer saw the same pragmatic approach employed by both players. Harikrishna was marginally better in his chosen Catalan Opening, but despite doing all the correct moves being played, Keymer was holding on. To play for the win, Harikrishna potentially had to jeopardize his position, so both players saw it fit to trade more pieces and acquiesce to equality.
Round 13 Pairings
Player (White) | Player (Black) |
---|---|
GM Gukesh D | GM Arjun Erigaisi |
GM Vincent Keymer | GM Praggnanandhaa R |
GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov | GM Pentala Harikrishna |
GM Vladimir Fedoseev | GM Wei Yi |
GM Anish Giri | GM Jorden van Foreest |
GM Fabiano Caruana | GM Max Warmerdam |
GM Alexey Sarana | GM Leon Luke Mendonca |
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