As the prestigious Tata Steel Chess Masters tournament heads towards its climax in Wijk aan Zee, the penultimate Round 12 delivered high-stakes drama, completely reshaping the top of the leaderboard. Following a day of sharp battles and pivotal results, young Indian Grandmasters R Praggnanandhaa and D Gukesh are now locked in a tie for first place, setting the stage for an electrifying final round.
Adding to the intrigue, their compatriot Arjun Erigaisi secured a crucial and long-awaited victory, impacting the title hopes of another leading contender.
Praggnanandhaa`s Decisive Charge
Continuing his impressive late-tournament form, R Praggnanandhaa clinched his third consecutive win, defeating Alexey Sarana. Praggnanandhaa adopted an unconventional approach from the outset, reportedly opting for an `unorthodox` opening sequence, perhaps aiming to throw his opponent off balance and force a complex fight. The game remained tightly contested, but Praggnanandhaa found a path to victory with what was described as a `remarkable queen sacrifice`, demonstrating tactical sharpness under pressure. This win brings his score to 8.5 points, drawing level with Gukesh, and also sees him ascend to world number seven in the live rating lists – a significant milestone reflecting his rapid progress.
Gukesh Navigates a Near Miss
Current co-leader D Gukesh faced local hero Jorden van Foreest in a game that proved to be a rollercoaster of emotions and fortunes. Van Foreest held the initiative for a significant portion of the encounter. However, a late oversight from the Dutchman (move 39…Rxe5) appeared to swing the momentum squarely in Gukesh`s favor. Yet, in a twist of fate not uncommon in the high-pressure environment of complex endgames, Gukesh immediately committed a substantial error of his own (move 42…Rb1). With time running down for both players, Van Foreest couldn`t fully capitalize on the opportunity. Gukesh, demonstrating resilience, managed to navigate the ensuing tactical skirmish and secure a crucial draw. Reflecting on the game, Gukesh admitted his relief at escaping, noting that despite the tension, the result ensures `everything is set up for an exciting finish`.
Arjun Erigaisi`s Long-Awaited Breakthrough
Perhaps the most emotionally significant result of the round belonged to Arjun Erigaisi. After a challenging run of 24 previous games in the Tata Steel Masters without a victory, Erigaisi finally broke through with a stunning win against Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Abdusattorov had been a strong contender positioned near the top of the standings for much of the tournament. The game was relatively balanced until a critical mid-game blunder by Abdusattorov (move 24…Qg5). Arjun seized this opportunity with precision, culminating his attack with a decisive bishop sacrifice that forced resignation. This long-awaited victory is a major confidence boost for Erigaisi, while simultaneously delivering a significant blow to Abdusattorov`s title aspirations, dropping him out of the leading pack.
In other results from the Masters group, Leon Mendonca drew with Fabiano Caruana, and Pentala Harikrishna drew with Vincent Keymer.
Standings After Round 12
The standings heading into the final round are exceptionally tight at the top:
- Dommaraju Gukesh: 8.5 points
- R Praggnanandhaa: 8.5 points
- Nodirbek Abdusattorov: 7.5 points
- Vladimir Fedoseev: 7 points
- Wei Yi: 6.5 points
- Anish Giri: 6.5 points
- Fabiano Caruana: 6 points
- Pentala Harikrishna: 6 points
- Vincent Keymer: 5 points
- Jordan van Foreest: 5 points
- Alexey Sarana: 5 points
- Arjun Erigaisi: 4.5 points
- Leon Luke Mendonca: 4.5 points
- Max Warmerdam: 3.5 points
The Final Round Showdown
With Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa tied for the lead, the 2025 Tata Steel Chess Masters is guaranteed a thrilling conclusion. The key matchups for the leaders in the final round are:
- D Gukesh will face his compatriot Arjun Erigaisi, who will be looking to finish the tournament on a high note after his breakthrough win.
- R Praggnanandhaa will play Vincent Keymer.
Nodirbek Abdusattorov`s path to a potential tiebreak is now significantly narrower, requiring a win against Pentala Harikrishna and losses from both Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa.
All eyes will be on Wijk aan Zee for the decisive final round to see which player, or possibly players, will claim the prestigious Tata Steel Chess Masters title.
