The prestigious Tata Steel Chess Masters in Wijk Aan Zee, Netherlands, reached a critical juncture after a dramatic Round 7. Indian prodigy Dommaraju Gukesh delivered a crucial victory, securing his spot at the very top of the leaderboard and setting the stage for an electrifying second half of the tournament.
Gukesh’s decisive win came against his compatriot, Pentala Harikrishna. This wasn`t just another game; it was the second instance in this tournament where Gukesh overcame a player who served as one of his seconds for the upcoming 2024 World Championship match. Harikrishna opted for the French Defense, an opening choice often favored by the reigning World Champion Ding Liren. However, this did little to deter Gukesh, who navigated the complexities effectively. The turning point seemed to arrive around move 15, when Harikrishna`s play wasn`t quite accurate, allowing Gukesh to establish an advantage.
Despite gaining an edge, Gukesh still faced the task of converting his positional superiority into a full point. This required precise play and persistent pressure, which he successfully applied. Ultimately, Harikrishna found himself in a losing position and resigned on move 45, handing Gukesh a significant victory.
While Gukesh was busy climbing the ranks, the other two players sharing the lead, R Praggnanandhaa and Nodirbek Abdusattorov, were held to draws. Praggnanandhaa agreed to a quick draw against the local player Jordan van Foreest, while Abdusattorov split the point with Anish Giri. These draws allowed Gukesh to catch up, creating a thrilling three-way tie at the summit with 5 points each after seven rounds.
Round 7 also saw decisive results elsewhere. Max Warmerdam secured a win against Arjun Erigaisi, and Vladimir Fedoseev defeated Vincent Keymer. Erigaisi`s performance continues to be a talking point; this loss marked his 20th consecutive game at the Tata Steel Masters (across 2023 and 2025 editions) without a win. His struggles have impacted his rating significantly, costing him the status of India`s top-ranked player in the live ratings.
Other games saw draws: Wei Yi vs. Leon Luke Mendonca, and Fabiano Caruana vs. Alexey Sarana.
Looking ahead, the schedule delivers high drama. In Round 8, Gukesh is set to face R Praggnanandhaa. This clash between two of the co-leaders, and incidentally, two rising Indian stars, could very well be a pivotal moment that shapes the final destination of the 2025 Tata Steel Chess Masters title.
Round 7 Results – 2025 Tata Steel Chess Masters:
- Dommaraju Gukesh 1-0 Pentala Harikrishna
- Jordan van Foreest 0.5-0.5 R Praggnanandhaa
- Max Warmerdam 1-0 Arjun Erigaisi
- Anish Giri 0.5-0.5 Nodirbek Abdusattorov
- Wei Yi 0.5-0.5 Leon Luke Mendonca
- Fabiano Caruana 0.5-0.5 Alexey Sarana
- Vladimir Fedoseev 1-0 Vincent Keymer
Standings After Round 7:
- Dommaraju Gukesh: 5
- R Praggnanandhaa: 5
- Nodirbek Abdusattorov: 5
- Vladimir Fedoseev: 4.5
- Alexey Sarana: 4
- Wei Yi: 3.5
- Pentala Harikrishna: 3.5
- Fabiano Caruana: 3.5
- Anish Giri: 3
- Max Warmerdam: 3
- Vincent Keymer: 3
- Jordan van Foreest: 2.5
- Leon Luke Mendonca: 2
- Arjun Erigaisi: 1.5
