World champion Gukesh Dommaraju suffered a shocking blunder in round six of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament but bounced back with a win in round eight. The 19-year-old Indian grandmaster lost to Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Abdusattorov after a fatal move that cost him a rook. Uzbekistan's players now lead the standings after eight rounds.
The Tata Steel Chess Tournament, often called the Wimbledon of chess, is underway in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands, from January 16 to February 1, featuring 13 rounds in the Masters group. In round six on Friday, India's Gukesh Dommaraju, the 19-year-old world champion, appeared headed for a draw against Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Abdusattorov at move 36. Without time pressure and with two safe options available, Gukesh instead played 36...Rg5??, allowing 37 Qxf6+ and 38 Qxg5+, which won a rook for Abdusattorov with check. The moment was captured on video, showing Gukesh covering his face in distress. This loss echoed their 2022 Olympiad encounter, where Abdusattorov also triumphed from a weaker position, securing Uzbekistan's gold medal.
Gukesh lost his next game in round seven but responded strongly in round eight, defeating Russia's Vladimir Fedoseev with black pieces after 41 moves, including a rook sacrifice to force resignation. Now on four points, Gukesh is tied with several players, including Netherlands' Anish Giri, who upset leader Abdusattorov in round eight. Abdusattorov, with four wins and three draws, holds 5.5 points after beating Germany's Vincent Keymer in round seven but falling to Giri. His compatriot Javokhir Sindarov remains unbeaten on five points from two wins and six draws.
After eight rounds, the leaders are Abdusattorov (5.5), Sindarov (5), and tied at 4.5: US's Hans Niemann, Turkey's 14-year-old Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş, and Netherlands' Jorden van Foreest. Erdoğmuş impressed by defeating India's world No. 5 Arjun Erigaisi in round seven with black, using passed pawns on both flanks. Gukesh reflected calmly: “I cannot even explain how that happened... These kinds of blunders maybe are easier to handle than something that you can explain. So this just happens… Shit happens!” The tournament continues daily at 1pm GMT, with rest days on January 26 and 29, and the final round on February 1. Games are live on lichess, chess.com, and the official site.
