2025 Tata Steel Chess Masters: Gukesh Dommaraju leads as Vincent Keymer stuns Nodirbek Abdusattorov

The 2025 Tata Steel Chess Masters continues to deliver thrilling matchups, with Indian Grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju maintaining his lead after Round 11. The reigning world champion secured a solid draw against last year’s winner, Wei Yi, keeping him at the top of the leaderboard. Meanwhile, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who was on the verge of sharing the lead, suffered a setback as he failed to capitalize on a winning position against Vincent Keymer.

The German grandmaster defended resiliently, escaping into an opposite-color bishop endgame to salvage a crucial draw. With just a few rounds left, the tournament remains wide open, with several contenders still in the hunt.

Gukesh Dommaraju holds firm, Abdusattorov falters

Gukesh, who has been in commanding form since Round 9, faced a strategic battle against Chinese number-one Wei Yi. Opting for a surprise move, 6.Nbd2, Gukesh caught Wei off guard early in the game. While both players navigated a sharp opening phase, the tension quickly dissipated after a series of exchanges, leading to a balanced position where neither side had much to gain. Wei, who has drawn ten games with only one victory, admitted feeling frustrated with his results but acknowledged the strength of his opponents.

For Gukesh, the draw might not have been the most exciting result, but it was enough to keep him at the top. More importantly, his consistency has propelled him to world number three in live rankings, surpassing Fabiano Caruana.

Meanwhile, Abdusattorov had a golden opportunity to join Gukesh at the top but missed a decisive blow against Keymer. The Uzbek grandmaster built a strong position but hesitated at a critical moment, allowing his opponent to escape. Keymer defended tenaciously, eventually forcing a draw in an opposite-color bishop endgame. The result was a major blow for Abdusattorov, who now trails Gukesh and must rely on strong performances in the final rounds to stay in contention.

With Praggnanandhaa and Anish Giri also making strides, the battle for the Tata Steel Chess Masters title is far from over. As the tournament nears its conclusion, the pressure is mounting, and every move counts. Will Gukesh maintain his lead, or will Abdusattorov and others mount a late comeback? The final rounds promise an intense finish in one of the year’s most prestigious chess events.