Tata Steel Chess R9: The world champion grabs the lead

by André Schulz
1/29/2025 – Gukesh Dommaraju has taken sole lead at the Tata Steel Masters after the ninth round, marking a strong performance in his first tournament as world champion. While former co-leaders Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu and Nodirbek Abdusattorov both dropped points, Gukesh secured a win against Leon Luke Mendonca. Meanwhile, Vladimir Fedoseev moved into shared second place with a victory over Pentala Harikrishna. In the Challengers, Thai Dai Van Nguyen continues to be the sole leader. | Photo: Tata Steel Chess / Jurriaan Hoefsmit

ChessBase 18 - Mega package ChessBase 18 - Mega package

Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

More...

Gukesh leads, Fedoseev joins chasing pack

In his first tournament after winning the World Championship, Gukesh Dommaraju has taken the sole lead after the ninth round of the Tata Steel Masters tournament. While the other two former co-leaders, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu and Nodirbek Abdusattorov, both dropped points - Abdusattorov drawing with black against Fabiano Caruana and Praggnanandhaa suffering a defeat against Anish Giri - the world champion secured a full point against Leon Luke Mendonca. Out of a Spanish Opening, Mendonca held his own with black for a long time, but shortly before the time control, Gukesh gained the upper hand.

Leon Luke Mendonca v. Gukesh Dommaraju | Photo: Tata Steel Chess / Jurriaan Hoefsmit

Gukesh, Dommaraju27771–0Mendonca, Leon Luke2639
87th Tata Steel Masters 2025
Wijk aan Zee28.01.2025[Schulz, A]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.a4 Rb8 8.d3 The main line is 8.c3 d6 9.d4 Bb6 8...d6 9.Bg5 Most often played here is 9.axb5 axb5 10.h3 or 10.c3 9...h6 10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3 11.Nxg5 hxg5 12.Bxg5 did not work at all here without Black having castled: Rg8 13.h4 Bg4 14.Qd2 Nd4 15.Nc3 Qd7 16.Bxf6 Bf3 17.Bxf7+ Kxf7 0-1 (17) Evans, J (1715) - Adams, M (2670) Ebbw Vale 1998 11...0-0 12.c3 Bb6 13.Na3 A fairly recent predecessor game went as follows: 13.Nbd2 Ne7 14.axb5 axb5 15.d4 Ng6 16.dxe5 Nh5 17.exd6 Nxg3 18.dxc7 Qxc7 19.hxg3 Qxg3 20.Nd4 Qh4 21.Re1 Bg4 22.Qc2 Nf4 23.e5 Bh5 24.Ne4 Bg6 25.g3 Qh3 26.gxf4 gxf4 27.f3 Bxe4 28.Qxe4 Kh8 29.Qxf4 Rg8+ 30.Kf2 Bd8 31.Rg1 Bg5 32.Rxg5 1-0 (32) Vitiugov, N (2668) - Stefansson, H (2485) Petrovac 2024 13...Ne7
Black has equalised the position. 14.Nc2 Ng6 15.Ne3 Bxe3 16.fxe3 Kg7 17.Bc2 17.axb5 axb5 18.Ra7= 17...c5 18.axb5 axb5 19.b4 cxb4 19...c4!? 20.cxb4 Qe7 21.Ra5 Bd7 21...h5!? with the idea 22.Nxg5? Ng4 22.d4 Bc6 23.Qa1 Rfe8 24.Bb3 24.dxe5 dxe5 25.Ra7!? 24...Ra8 25.Nd2 Rf8 26.Bc2 Nh5?! This manoeuvre turns out to be a loss of tempo. 26...h5= 27.Be1 Nf6 28.Rf5 28.d5!? Bb7 29.Bd3± 28...Rxa5?! Allows White a passed pawn on the a-file. 28...Rac8= 29.bxa5 Re8 30.d5 Bd7 31.Rf2 Bc8 32.Nf1 Qa7
White now has a spatial advantage, a passed pawn on the a-file, and the bishop pair. 33.Qa3 Rd8 34.Bb4 Ne8 35.Ng3 Ne7 36.Bd1 Ng8 37.Be2 Qb7 38.Bd3 White positions himself against Black’s weaknesses and prevents counterplay. Ngf6 39.Rc2 Bd7 A mistake with the last move before the time control. 39...h5+- 40.Bxd6 Nxd6 41.Qxd6 Qa7 42.Qxe5 Qxe3+ 43.Rf2
1–0

Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu was taken down by Anish Giri | Photo: Tata Steel Chess / Jurriaan Hoefsmit

Giri's victory against Praggnanandhaa was the result of a fine positional game out of a Catalan Opening. In the endgame, Giri converted a small but lasting advantage into a win.

Vladimir Fedoseev is now sharing second place | Photo: Tata Steel Chess / Jurriaan Hoefsmit

The in-form Vladimir Fedoseev also secured another full point. He had opened with the London System, was gifted an exchange by Harikrishna, but had to keep his king in the centre. The white king survived, and Fedoseev was able to capitalise on his material advantage with attacking play.

The Dutch duel between Jorden van Foreest and his occasional second Max Warmerdam ended in a draw. The same result was seen in the game between Serbian GM Alexey Sarana and German star Vincent Keymer.

The game between Wei Yi and Arjun Erigaisi also ended drawn.


Expert commentary

Analysis by GM Daniel King

Analysis by IM Sagar Shah


Round 9 results

Standings

Loading Table...

All games

Loading...
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.

Challengers: Nguyen grabs the sole lead

In the Challengers, Thai Dai Van Nguyen defended his lead with a draw against Kazybek Nogebek, as his closest pursuer, Erwin l'Ami, was also unable to secure more than half a point against Nodirbek Yakubboev.

Frederik Svane also drew against Arthur Pijpers. The game featured the Dragon Variation, where Pijpers, facing the 9.Bc4 line, managed to find a safe equalising path.

Further draws occurred in the games between Lu Miaoyi and Aydin Suleymanli, as well as Vaishali Rameshbabu against Divya Deshmuk.

Additionally, the ninth round of the Challengers saw two victories with the black pieces. Ediz Gürel defeated Faustino Oro, while Benjamin Bok overcame Irina Bulmaga.

Round 9 results

Standings

Loading Table...

All games

Loading...
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.

Links


André Schulz started working for ChessBase in 1991 and is an editor of ChessBase News.
Discussion and Feedback Submit your feedback to the editors


We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.