World champion D Gukesh will face compatriot Aravindh Chithambaram in Round 11 of the Tata Steel Masters on Friday as the elite tournament enters its decisive final phase, with three rounds remaining and several players still in podium contention.
Gukesh comes into the round after defeating Turkey’s Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus and currently has five points. The Indian teenager will be looking to build momentum in the closing stretch of the first super tournament of the year.
Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov leads the standings with 6.5 points, holding a half-point advantage over compatriot Javokhir Sindarov, Germany’s Matthias Bluebaum, and local favourite Jorden van Foreest.
Hans Moke Niemann of the United States and Erdogmus share fifth place on 5.5 points, followed by Gukesh, Germany’s Vincent Keymer, and Slovenia’s Vladimir Fedoseev, all on five.
Also read: Gukesh loses yet again, Erigaisi settles for draw
R Praggnanandhaa and Anish Giri are next on 4.5 points, a half-point ahead of Arjun Erigaisi. Chithambaram, on 3.5 points, sits just ahead of Czech Grandmaster Thai Dai Van Nguyen.
After a difficult start, Gukesh has recovered steadily and faces a demanding finish. He is scheduled to play Niemann in the penultimate round and Keymer in the final round, with a podium finish still within reach.
Praggnanandhaa, the only Indian to qualify for the Candidates later this year, has struggled for consistency after losing his first two games. He meets Keymer in Round 11 and will need a strong resurgence to remain competitive.
Erigaisi and Chithambaram have endured uneven campaigns. While Erigaisi showed early promise before faltering, Chithambaram’s sole victory came in the previous round against Nguyen from a difficult position.
Round 11 pairings
-
Jorden van Foreest (Ned, 6) vs Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzb, 6.5)
-
R Praggnanandhaa (Ind, 4.5) vs Vincent Keymer (Ger, 5)
-
D Gukesh (Ind, 5) vs Aravindh Chithambaram (Ind, 3.5)
-
Vladimir Fedoseev (Slo, 5) vs Matthias Bluebaum (Ger, 6)
-
Anish Giri (Ned, 4.5) vs Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus (Tur, 5.5)
-
Arjun Erigaisi (Ind, 4) vs Javokhir Sindarov (Uzb, 6)
-
Thai Dai Van Nguyen (Cze, 3) vs Hans Moke Niemann (USA, 5.5)
Follow us
