Tata Steel Masters: Gukesh loses to Giri, tough day for Indians

World Champion D Gukesh lost to Anish Giri in round 7 of Tata Steel Masters, while Arjun Erigaisi and Aravindh Chithambaram also suffered defeats. Nodirbek Abdusattorov leads with 5.5 points, as Indians struggle in the prestigious chess event

Wijk Aan Zee (The Netherlands): World Champion D Gukesh suffered his second defeat in a row and third in the event, going down to local star Anish Giri in the seventh round of the Tata Steel Masters here.

It turned out to be a tough day for Indians as Arjun Erigaisi lost to Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus of Turkey, who played a remarkable game to beat the world No 5 and top seed.

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Aravindh Chithambaram also ended up losing with black pieces against Dutchman Jorden van Foreest, while R Praggnanandhaa was held to a draw by Matthias Bluebaum of Germany.

With six rounds still to come in the 14-player, 13-round event, Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan extended his lead by a full point after defeating Germany’s Vincent Keymer with black pieces.

Abdusattorov now leads with 5.5 points, while World Cup winner and his teammate Javokhir Sindarov remains his closest rival on 4.5 points.

Erdogmus, Foreest, Hans Moke Niemann of the United States and Vladimir Fedoseev of Slovenia share the third spot on 4 points apiece, half a point ahead of Bluebaum and Keymer.

Gukesh and Arjun share the ninth spot with Giri on 3 points, while Praggnanandhaa, on 2.5, is still looking for his first victory. Aravindh is currently at the bottom with just 2 points.

For Aravindh, it became a tricky choice as he went for the King’s Indian Defence, an opening that van Foreest had already used a couple of times.

“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,” Foreest said.

For Gukesh, things did not go well in an English Opening as white, when Giri got the initiative rolling in his favour with a central bind. By the time Gukesh was able to remove the bind, his position had worsened and the Dutchman made no mistakes.

Arjun was outdone in another English Opening, but it was some great imaginative play by the young Turk. Arjun felt the heat right from the start and the consistent pressure from Erdogmus became impossible to handle even after the trade of queens.

Results round 7: Jorden van Foreest (Ned, 4) beat 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).