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Following a long hiatus from competitive chess, world champion Ding Liren is struggling to recover his usual form in Wijk aan Zee. So far in the 14-player Tata Steel Masters, Ding has signed five draws, defeated Gukesh D., and lost to Praggnanandhaa R. and Alireza Firouzja.
These results have cost him 10.8 rating points, as he now stands 1½ points behind the leaders with five rounds to go.
In the last round before the second rest day of the event, Ding had the black pieces against Firouzja, who came from playing three decisive games in a row — a loss, a win and a loss — in the previous rounds.
The contenders entered a sharp line out of a QGD Semi-Tarrasch, with Firouzja giving up a pawn as early as on move 11. Consequently, tactical opportunities emerged rather quickly.
White has a strong initiative for the pawn, and Black needs to be permanently careful due to his weakened dark squares on the kingside (he was forced to play ...g7-g6 to deal with his opponent’s threat along the b1-h7 diagonal).
After thinking for around 25 minutes, Firouzja here played the strong sequence 17.Rxe7 Nxe7 18.Rxd4, when Black needs to tread lightly to keep things under control.
Placing one of the knights on d5 is Black’s best chance here, though extreme precision would still be needed in order to consolidate his position in the ensuing struggle.
Ding was surely in trouble, but his next move (a blunder) was nonetheless a big surprise for those following the game live — 18...Qc7 simply gives up material after 19.Ne4 Qxc2 20.Nxf6+ Kg7 21.Bxc2
White has two minor pieces for a rook, and the better coordinated army. Ding’s facial expressions showed disappointment, but he continued playing until move 43, forcing his opponent to demonstrate good technique before grabbing his fourth win of the event.
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Another crucial matchup in the fight for the lead ended decisively in round 8. Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who came from scoring an outstanding positional victory over long-time sole leader Anish Giri, was defeated by Ian Nepomniachtchi in similar, positional style. Nepo’s handling of his strategic edge was nothing short of impressive (find below expert analysis of the game by GM Karsten Müller).
With Giri and Abdusattorov losing in consecutive rounds, the top of the standings looks crowded in the Masters. Firouzja, Giri and Gukesh are now sharing the lead with +2 scores, while there are no fewer than four players standing a half point back: Nepomniachtchi, Abdusattorov, Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Gujrathi.
On Tuesday, after the participants get a second rest day, Giri will play black against Ding, Gukesh will have the white pieces against Vidit, and Firouzja will try to make the most of his game with black against underdog Alexander Donchenko.
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In this Fritztrainer: “Attack like a Super GM†with Gukesh we touch upon all aspects of his play, with special emphasis on how you can become a better attacking player.
Co-leader Anish Giri | Photo: Tata Steel Chess Tournament / Lennart Ootes
Analysis by GM Karsten Müller
Master advanced Tactics and Calculations like a super Grandmaster
The Indian chess grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi with an ELO of over 2700 (June 2023) is one of the best 20 players in the world. For the first time, the sympathetic top player presents himself in a video course. Let a world-class player show you tactical moti
Divya Deshmukh following Ian Nepomniachtchi’s game | Photo: Tata Steel Chess Tournament / Jurriaan Hoefsmit
For a second day in a row, we saw the sole leader of the Challengers losing and allowing another contestant to get sole first place in the standings. Saleh Salem, who inflicted a first loss on Erwin l’Ami to grab the lead in round 7, was defeated by Marc’Andria Maurizzi, the new sole leader in the ‘B group’.
Maurizzi recently won the World Junior Championship (for players under 20) at 16 years of age. In round 8, the youngster saw Salem giving up a pawn for activity in the middlegame.
White controls the open c-file and has the bishop pair, but Black looks fairly solid — and has an extra pawn, after all.
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What followed was a combative struggle, lasting 59 moves, with Maurizzi showing tenacity to take down a resourceful defender. The junior world champion told Fiona Steil-Antoni afterwards that he was not sure exactly where Salem had gone wrong in the middlegame.
Marc’Andria Maurizzi | Photo: Tata Steel Chess Tournament / Lennart Ootes
Three more games finished decisively in the Challengers:
Daniel Dardha beat Mustafa Yilmaz | Photo: Tata Steel Chess Tournament / Jurriaan Hoefsmit
Analysis by GM Karsten Müller
The Keymer Variation - 1.Nf3 d5 2.e3
This video course features the ins-and-outs of the possible setups Black can choose. You’ll learn the key concepts and strategies needed to add this fantastic opening to your repertoire. An easy-to-learn and yet venomous weapon.
