Warmerdam shocks Erigaisi, Gukesh joins leaders @ Wijk aan Zee

World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju (5/7) caught up with the leaders defeating in-form Indian Grandmaster Pentala Harikrishna in the seventh round of the 87th edition of the Tata Steel Masters Chess 2025, at Dorpshuis De Moriaan, Wijk aan Zee here today. Sharing the top spot with Gukesh at 5.0 points were GMs Abdusattorov Nodirbek and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu respectively. Fedoseev (4.5) and Sarana (4.0) trailed the leaders close by.

Grandmaster Max Warmerdam employed the Sicilian Alapin scalping Indian Grandmaster Erigaisi Arjun (2801) with a fine middle game attack that would make any Dutchman proud. The fluent victory showed no signs of the huge rating difference between the players. That he cornered Erigaisi in 38 moves well within the first time control showed the complete domination of the host GM. Four setbacks in seven rounds, coupled with a loss of precious ELO 28.6 points – a forgettable start for the year 2025 for World No. 4 Erigaisi Arjun. Just a month back Erigaisi has missed the Candidates qualifier by a close margin, but with this Wijk aan Zee boomerang he has huge damage control work on hands.

Shrugging off yesterday’s narrow escape world champion Gukesh Dommaraju was back in his elements against his world championship second Pentala Harikrishna. Thriving in complications arising from the French defence Advanced variation, Gukesh wrapped up the game in 44 moves. His 12. g4 will stand out as a typical aggressive Gukesh that we could get to see in the past few months. Following it up nicely, the world champ finished with a flowing attack using his king!!, queen, rook and knight. With six more rounds to go, the changing gear Gukesh could well be eyeing for World No. 3 spot.

GM Fedoseev Vladimir bounced from yesterday’s loss to defeat GM Keymer Vincent today. The Semi-Slav defense game saw both going for the jugular. Superior middle game play saw Fedoseev gaining the upper hand closer to the first time control. Elegant maneuvers of queen and two rooks by Fedoseev put the black king in high danger. Boxed at the corner square of the board, Keymar was unable to fend the multiple mate threats by white and threw in the towel on the 51st turn.

The other games between Wei Yi – Mendonca Leon Luke, Caruana Fabiano – Sarana Alexey, van Foreest Jorden – Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, Giri Anish – Abdusattorov Nodirbek ended in draws.

In the Challengers section, top seed GM Nguyen Thai Dai Van (5/7) caught overnight leader GM L’Ami Erwin defeating Argentine prodigy IM Oro Faustino. Following the leaders at 4.5 points were Dutch Grandmaster Bok Benjamin and 14 year old Chinese IM Lu Miaoyi.

The eighth round starts Sunday 26th January at 8 AM ET / 2 PM CET / 6:30 PM IST.

Gukesh Dommaraju (2777) – Harikrishna Pentala (2695) 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Be2 Nge7 7. O-O cxd4 8. cxd4 Nf5 9. Nc3 a6 10. Kh1 Rc8 11. Rb1 Qb6 12. g4 Nfe7 13. Be3 h5 14. g5 Nf5 15. g6 f6 16. exf6 gxf6 17. Bd3 Nce7 18. Rg1 Bg7 19. Na4 Qd6 20. b4 b6 21. b5 axb5 22. Bxb5 Bxb5 23. Rxb5 Nxe3 24. fxe3 Rc6 25. Qb3 O-O 26. Nxb6 Bh6 27. Na4 Nf5 28. Rc5 Rxc5 29. Nxc5 Nxe3 30. Qb7 Bg7 31. Re1 Nf5 32. Nxe6 Rb8 33. Qf7+ Kh8 34. Nxg7 Nxg7 35. Re7 Rg8 36. Rd7 Qb6 37. Rxd5 Qb1+ 38. Kg2 f5 39. Rc5 Qb2+ 40. Kf1 Qa1+ 41. Kf2 Qb2+ 42. Kg3 h4+ 43. Kf4 Qb8+ 44. Re5 Qd6 45. Kg5 Qb8 46. Kf4 Qd6 1-0

Warmerdam Max (2646) – Erigaisi Arjun (2801) 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. h3 Bd7 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Bc2 Rc8 7. O-O g5 8. d4 g4 9. d5 gxf3 10. dxc6 Bxc6 11. Qxf3 Rg8 12. Rd1 e6 13. Nd2 b5 14. a4 a6 15. axb5 axb5 16. Nf1 Nd7 17. Ng3 Ne5 18. Qh5 Rg7 19. Kh2 Qf6 20. f4 Nd7 21. Qe2 Qd8 22. e5 Qh4 23. Ne4 Bxe4 24. Bxe4 d5 25. Qxb5 c4 26. Ra7 Rd8 27. Bxd5 exd5 28. Qxd5 Qe7 29. Ra8 Rxa8 30. Qxa8+ Qd8 31. Qb7 Bc5 32. f5 Bb6 33. Bh6 Rg8 34. Kh1 Qc7 35. Qd5 Rg3 36. e6 fxe6 37. Qxe6+ Kd8 38. Bf4 1-0

Fedoseev Vladimir (2717) – Keymer Vincent (2733) 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Be2 Qe7 9. c5 g5 10. b4 Bg7 11. Rc1 O-O 12. b5 g4 13. Nd2 e5 14. Nb3 exd4 15. Nxd4 Ne5 16. O-O Qxc5 17. bxc6 bxc6 18. Ncb5 Qb6 19. Nd6 Bd7 20. N4f5 h5 21. f3 Rfb8 22. Kh1 Bf8 23. f4 Ng6 24. e4 Qb4 25. e5 Qa3 26. Ng3 Bxd6 27. exd6 Qxd6 28. Nxh5 Rb4 29. Bxg4 f5 30. Bf3 Rf8 31. a3 Rb7 32. Re1 Rf7 33. Qd4 Nf8 34. Re3 Nh7 35. Be2 Nf6 36. Rg3+ Kh7 37. Rg5 c5 38. Nxf6+ Rxf6 39. Qe3 Rb8 40. Bd3 c4 41. Qh3+ Rh6 42. Bxf5+ Bxf5 43. Qxf5+ Kh8 44. h3 Rd8 45. Rd1 d4 46. Qf7 Rh7 47. Qxc4 Qxf4 48. Qc5 Qe4 49. Rd3 a6 50. Rdg3 Qf4 51. Rf3 1-0

Masters (Round 7 results): Wei Yi (3.5) drew with Mendonca Leon Luke (2.0), Caruana Fabiano (3.5) drew with Sarana Alexey (4.0), van Foreest Jorden (2.5) drew with Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu(5.0), Giri Anish (3.0) drew with Abdusattorov Nodirbek (5.0), Gukesh Dommaraju (5.0) bt Harikrishna Pentala (3.5), Fedoseev Vladmimir (4.5) bt Keymer Vincent (3.0), Warmerdam Max (3.0) bt Erigaisi Arjun (1.5)

Challengers (Round 7 results): Svane Frederik (4.0) bt Bulmaga Irina (1.0), Lu Miaoyi (4.5) bt Divya Deshmukh (1.5), Oro Faustino (2.5) lost to Nguyen Thai Dai Van (5.0), L’Ami Erwin (5.0) drew with Suleymanli Aydin (4.0), Vaishali Rameshbabu (4.0) drew with Bok Benjamin (4.5), Gurel Ediz (3.5) bt Yakubboev Nodirbek (3.0), Nogerbek Kazybek (4.0) drew with Pijpers Arthur (2.5)

Picture courtesy: Tata Steel Chess 2025

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