88th Tata Steel 2026 R7: Abdusattorov increases his sole lead, A tough day for Indians

by Shahid Ahmed - 25/01/2026

Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) increases his sole lead at the conclusion of Round 7 of 88th Tata Steel Masters 2026. Abdusattorov got the better of World no.4, Vincent Keymer (GER) to move to 5.5/7. He is now a full point ahead of compatriot, Javokhir Sindarov (UZB). The FIDE World Cup 2025 winner, Sindarov drew against Hans Niemann (USA). The World Champion, D Gukesh could not overcome the previous day's grief. He suffered his second loss in-a-row against the off-form Anish Giri (NED). Arjun Erigaisi tried too hard for a win against Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus (TUR) and paid a heavy price. Round 8 starts today at 2 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST for both Masters and Challengers section. Photo: Lennart Ootes / Tata Steel Chess

Challengers: Maurizzi joins Woodward at the top, Vedant splits the point with Oro

In the Masters event, four players - Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, Hans Niemann, Jorden van Foreest and Vladimir Fedoseev are at 4/7 each. At the halfway mark, all three Indians are at the bottom half of the table. There are still six rounds to go. In the Challengers section, IM Eline Roebers (NED) lost to GM Marc` Andria Maurizzi (FRA). GM Andy Woodward (USA) drew against GM Aydin Suleymanli (AZE). Thus, Maurizzi and Woodward are now coleaders at 5.5/7 each, closely followed by Suleymanli 5/7.

Nodirbek Abdusattorov increased his sole lead by a full point 5.5/7 | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Tata Steel Chess

Keymer - Abdusattorov: 0-1

Vincent Keymer (GER, 2776) and Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB, 2751) have played ten Classical rated games against each other. Their first Classical battle was at the very same event six years ago. Out of the ten games, Abdusattorov won three, Keymer won and the remaining six ended in draws.

Position after 11...Qh1

Statistically, the World's most successful chess coach, GM Peter Heine Nielsen (DEN) tweeted that he prepared then novelty 11...Qh1 with Vishy Anand for the World Championship in Mexico. Soon White gave up the exchange and could not maintain the compensation. Things spiraled out of control and Abdusattorov scored the win.

Interview with Nodirbek Abdusattorov | Video: Tata Steel Chess Tournament

Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) played his best game of the tournament so far against Vincent Keymer (GER) | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Tata Steel Chess

Jorden van Foreest analyzes his win against Aravindh Chithambaram | Video: Tata Steel Chess Tournament

Arjun - Yagiz: 0-1

Arjun Erigaisi (2775) faced Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus (TUR, 2658) only once in a Classical rated game. Arjun had won that encounter nearly two years ago. However, things have changed since then.

Position after 35...Bb3

White actually tried too hard to push for a win 36.f5 Bg5 37.Kd3 Bf4 38.Ke4 g5 39.h4? just invited trouble Bxe3 40.Kxe3 gxh4 41.Kd2 Bd5 practically the position is now difficult to defend for White and pleasant for Black to play.

Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus (TUR) got the better of World no.5 | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Tata Steel Chess

R Praggnanandhaa - Matthias Bluebaum (GER): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Tata Steel Chess

Gukesh - Giri: 0-1

The reigning World Champion, D Gukesh (2754) and FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 winner, Anish Giri (NED, 2760) have played seven Classical rated games against each other. Giri won two, Gukesh one and the remaning four games ended in draws. He could not overcome the previous round's loss. In a difficult position, Gukesh miscalculated and missed an obvious idea which led to his quick loss.

Anish Giri analyzes his win over the World Champion D Gukesh | Video: Tata Steel Chess Tournament

D Gukesh suffered his second loss in-a-row | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Tata Steel Chess

Challengers: GM Marc` Andria Maurizzi (FRA) joined GM Andy Woodward (USA) in the lead after the former's victory over IM Eline Roebers (NED) | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Tata Steel Chess

FM Vedant Panesar - IM Faustino Oro (ARG): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Tata Steel Chess

Watch Live stream

Replay Round 7 live commentary by IM Sagar Shah, Amruta Mokal and IM Soumya Swaminathan | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Round 7 Masters games

Replay Round 7 Challengers games

Masters Round 7 results

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.
1	4	2776	GM	Keymer, Vincent	0 - 1	GM	Abdusattorov, Nodirbek	2751	14
2	5	2726	GM	Sindarov, Javokhir	½ - ½	GM	Niemann, Hans Moke	2725	3
3	6	2703	GM	Van Foreest, Jorden	1 - 0	GM	Aravindh, Chithambaram Vr.	2700	2
4	7	2775	GM	Erigaisi, Arjun	0 - 1	GM	Erdogmus, Yagiz Kaan	2658	1
5	8	2758	GM	Praggnanandhaa, R	½ - ½	GM	Bluebaum, Matthias	2679	13
6	9	2656	GM	Nguyen, Thai Dai Van	½ - ½	GM	Fedoseev, Vladimir	2705	12
7	10	2754	GM	Gukesh, D	0 - 1	GM	Giri, Anish	2760	11

Details

Standings after Round 7

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	TB1
1	14	GM	Abdusattorov, Nodirbek	UZB	2751	5,5
2	5	GM	Sindarov, Javokhir	UZB	2726	4,5
3	1	GM	Erdogmus, Yagiz Kaan	TUR	2658	4
	3	GM	Niemann, Hans Moke	USA	2725	4
	6	GM	Van Foreest, Jorden	NED	2703	4
	12	GM	Fedoseev, Vladimir	SLO	2705	4
7	4	GM	Keymer, Vincent	GER	2776	3,5
	13	GM	Bluebaum, Matthias	GER	2679	3,5
9	7	GM	Erigaisi, Arjun	IND	2775	3
	10	GM	Gukesh, D	IND	2754	3
	11	GM	Giri, Anish	NED	2760	3
12	8	GM	Praggnanandhaa, R	IND	2758	2,5
	9	GM	Nguyen, Thai Dai Van	CZE	2656	2,5
14	2	GM	Aravindh, Chithambaram Vr.	IND	2700	2

Details

Round 8 pairings

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.
1	14	2751	GM	Abdusattorov, Nodirbek		GM	Giri, Anish	2760	11
2	12	2705	GM	Fedoseev, Vladimir		GM	Gukesh, D	2754	10
3	13	2679	GM	Bluebaum, Matthias		GM	Nguyen, Thai Dai Van	2656	9
4	1	2658	GM	Erdogmus, Yagiz Kaan		GM	Praggnanandhaa, R	2758	8
5	2	2700	GM	Aravindh, Chithambaram Vr.		GM	Erigaisi, Arjun	2775	7
6	3	2725	GM	Niemann, Hans Moke		GM	Van Foreest, Jorden	2703	6
7	4	2776	GM	Keymer, Vincent		GM	Sindarov, Javokhir	2726	5

Details

Challengers Round 7 results

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.
1	4	2634	GM	L'ami, Erwin	½ - ½	IM	Yip, Carissa	2466	14
2	5	2497	GM	Assaubayeva, Bibisara	½ - ½	GM	Ivic, Velimir	2638	3
3	6	2398	IM	Roebers, Eline	0 - 1	GM	Maurizzi, Marcandria	2611	2
4	7	2431	IM	Lu, Miaoyi	0 - 1	GM	Ivanchuk, Vasyl	2605	1
5	8	2576	GM	Warmerdam, Max	½ - ½	GM	Yuffa, Daniil	2604	13
6	9	2406	FM	Panesar, Vedant	½ - ½	IM	Oro, Faustino	2516	12
7	10	2608	GM	Woodward, Andy	½ - ½	GM	Suleymanli, Aydin	2628	11

Details

Standings after Round 7

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	TB1
1	2	GM	Maurizzi, Marcandria	FRA	2611	5,5
	10	GM	Woodward, Andy	USA	2608	5,5
3	11	GM	Suleymanli, Aydin	AZE	2628	5
4	1	GM	Ivanchuk, Vasyl	UKR	2605	4,5
	12	IM	Oro, Faustino	ARG	2516	4,5
6	13	GM	Yuffa, Daniil	ESP	2604	4
	14	IM	Yip, Carissa	USA	2466	4
8	5	GM	Assaubayeva, Bibisara	KAZ	2497	3,5
9	8	GM	Warmerdam, Max	NED	2576	3
10	3	GM	Ivic, Velimir	SRB	2638	2,5
11	4	GM	L'ami, Erwin	NED	2634	2
	7	IM	Lu, Miaoyi	CHN	2431	2
	9	FM	Panesar, Vedant	IND	2406	2
14	6	IM	Roebers, Eline	NED	2398	1

Details

Round 8 pairings

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.
1	14	2466	IM	Yip, Carissa		GM	Suleymanli, Aydin	2628	11
2	12	2516	IM	Oro, Faustino		GM	Woodward, Andy	2608	10
3	13	2604	GM	Yuffa, Daniil		FM	Panesar, Vedant	2406	9
4	1	2605	GM	Ivanchuk, Vasyl		GM	Warmerdam, Max	2576	8
5	2	2611	GM	Maurizzi, Marcandria		IM	Lu, Miaoyi	2431	7
6	3	2638	GM	Ivic, Velimir		IM	Roebers, Eline	2398	6
7	4	2634	GM	L'ami, Erwin		GM	Assaubayeva, Bibisara	2497	5