Abdusattorov leads with one round to go @ Wijk aan Zee
London Chess Classic winner GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (8.0) wrested the lead back defeating in-form GM Matthias Bluebaum in the 12th and penultimate round of the 88th TATA Steel Masters Chess 2026 at De Moriaan Community Centre, Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands. Half a point behind leader stood fellow Uzbek GM Javokhir Sindarov at 7.5 points. In the Challengers section, American teenaged prodigy GM Andy Woodward along with Azeri GM Aydin Suleymanli shared the lead with an 9.0/12 score. Former Wijk aan Zee Masters Champion legendary Grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk remained in sole third spot with 8.5 points.
In a Queen’s Gambit Declined Exchange Variation game tournament leader GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov scored a crucial win over GM Matthias Bluebaum. The victory lifted the Uzbek Grandmaster to the sole first position with just one round to go. In his shadow lurks fellow Uzbek GM Javokhir Sindarov just half a point behind and all stakes will be decided in the final round where both play with black pieces. While Nodirbek faces the dangerous Indian GM Erigaisi Arjun, the World Cup winner Sindarov takes on tail-ender Czech GM Nguyen Thai Dai Van.
In a Ruy Lopez closed world champion Gukesh Dommaraju failed land a winning blow against GM Hans Moke Niemann of USA. A surprising knight sacrifice in the middle game by GM Niemann offered the Indian Grandmaster a golden opportunity to snatch the full point. But, Goddess Caissa smiled on Niemann when Gukesh gave up the knight miscalculating for a win when the American hung on well for a draw. The elusive half a point offers Niemann a good chance in the final round to play for higher positions.
14 year old GM Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus continued to impress defeating GM Vladimir Fedoseev, while World No. 4 GM Vincent Keymer piled more agony on last placed Czech GM Nguyen Thai Dai Van. In a Sicilian Najdorf game GM Aravindh Chithambaram comfortably held higher rated GM Anish Giri to a draw in 52 moves. Second placed GM Javokhir Sindarov took a quick 14 move draw against Indian GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu.
In the final round, it will a race between two Uzbek Grandmasters – Abdusattorov & Sindarov – for the “Wimbledon of Chess” going for the coveted start of the year title. Grandmasters fancying their outside chances for a play-off would be the trio at 7.0 points viz., Jorden van Foreest, Hans Moke Niemann and Vincent Keymer respectively.
The 13th & final round starts two hours early on Sunday, 1st February at 6 AM ET/ 12 Noon CET / 4:30 PM IST.
Pairings (Round 13): Erigaisi vs Abdusattorov, Pragg vs van Foreest, Nguyen vs Sindarov, Gukesh vs Keymer, Giri vs Niemann, Fedoseev vs Aravindh, Bluebaum vs Erdogmus.
Results (Masters Round 12): Abdusattorov (8.0) beat Bluebaum (6.5), Erdogmus (6.5) beat Fedoseev (5.5), Aravindh (4.5) drew with Giri (6.0), Niemann (7.0) drew with Gukesh (6.0), Keymer (7.0) beat Nguyen (3.0), Sindarov (7.5) drew with Pragg (5.0), van Foreest (7.0) drew with Erigaisi (4.5).
Results (Challengers Round 12): Assaubayeva (6.5) lost to Warmerdam(6.0), Ivanchuk (8.5) drew with Oro (6.5), Roebers (2.0) beat Miaoyi (3.5), Ivic (5.0) drew with Woodward (9.0), Yip (6.0) lost to Yuffa (5.5), Maurizzi (7.5) lost to Suleymanli (9.0), L’Ami (5.0) drew with Panesar (4.0).
Nodirbek Abdusattorov (2751) – Matthias Bluebaum (2679) 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 O-O 8. Bd3 Re8 9. Nge2 c6 10. Qc2 Nbd7 11. h3 Nf8 12. Bg3 Ne6 13. O-O Bd6 14. Be5 Bxe5 15. dxe5 Nd7 16. f4 Nec5 17. Bh7+ Kh8 18. b4 Nf8 19. bxc5 Nxh7 20. e4 Qa5 21. exd5 Qxc5+ 22. Kh1 cxd5 23. Qd2 Bd7 24. Rac1 Qa5 25. Qb2 Qb6 26. Qd2 Qa5 27. Nd4 f6 28. Qb2 fxe5 29. fxe5 Rxe5 30. Rf7 Nf6 31. Rf1 Qc7 32. Ncb5 Qc4 33. R1xf6 gxf6 34. Qf2 Qc1+ 35. Kh2 Qg5 36. Rxd7 Re4 37. Nd6 Qe5+ 38. g3 Qxd4 39. Nxe4 Qxf2+ 40. Nxf2 Rc8 41. Rxb7 Rc2 42. Kg1 Rxa2
43. Ng4 1-0
Complete Results
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Photo courtesy: Jurriaan Hoefsmit / Lennart Ootes / TATA Steel Chess 2026
