The chase for the 2025 Tata Steel Chess Masters title heated up in Round 5 as reigning world champion Dommaraju Gukesh ground out a tenacious 72-move victory over his former world championship second, Vincent Keymer. The win drew Gukesh within half a point of joint leaders R Praggnanandhaa and Nodirbek Abdusattorov with seven rounds remaining.
Gukesh, who at 15 years old became the youngest ever undisputed world chess champion last month, showed the fighting spirit and technical endgame mastery that led him to the global chess summit. Despite gaining an early pawn advantage against Keymer, the prodigy needed over six hours and all his tenacity to convert the full point in a tricky rook and pawn ending.
Praggnanandhaa, Abdusattorov Share Lead
Overnight leader Praggnanandhaa played it safe against Dutch GM Max Warmerdam, quickly agreeing to a draw in an uneventful game to reach 4/5. He was caught atop the standings by Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who showcased scintillating attacking chess to defeat Dutchman Jorden van Foreest with a picturesque rook sacrifice.
Erigaisi, Harikrishna Draw
In the all-Indian clash, 19-year-old phenom Arjun Erigaisi could only manage a draw against compatriot Leon Mendonca despite pressing with the white pieces. Erigaisi, who started with 0.5/4, will need a huge second half surge to contend for top honors. Pentala Harikrishna, India’s third player in the field, also settled for a tame draw against China’s Wei Yi.
Fedoseev Stuns Caruana
The upset of the round was delivered by Russia’s Vladimir Fedoseev, who stunned American No. 1 Fabiano Caruana to move into clear fourth. Caruana, who lost a heartbreaking tiebreak match to Gukesh for the world title, continued his miserable event and will need a miracle to challenge for first.
Gukesh on Wijk Mission
In the post-game interview, a determined Gukesh set his sights on Tata Steel glory, declaring:
For any chess player winning Tata Steel is one dream… A grandmaster has to win Wijk aan Zee before dying!
Gukesh will have a golden opportunity to close the gap even further in Round 6 when he faces co-leader Abdusattorov with the advantageous white pieces. Will the wunderkind edge closer to achieving his “dream” of capturing the Tata Steel Masters at his first attempt? The chess world anxiously awaits the answer when play resumes after the rest day.
Round 5 Results
- Dommaraju Gukesh 1-0 Vincent Keymer
- Max Warmerdam 0.5-0.5 R Praggnanandhaa
- Leon Luke Mendonca 0.5-0.5 Arjun Erigaisi
- Wei Yi 0.5-0.5 Pentala Harikrishna
- Vladimir Fedoseev 1-0 Fabiano Caruana
- Jordan van Foreest 0-1 Nodirbek Abdusattorov
- Anish Giri 0.5-0.5 Alexey Sarana
Standings after Round 5
| 1-2 | R Praggnanandhaa | 4.0/5 |
| 1-2 | Nodirbek Abdusattorov | 4.0/5 |
| 3-4 | Dommaraju Gukesh | 3.5/5 |
| 3-4 | Vladimir Fedoseev | 3.5/5 |
| 5 | Pentala Harikrishna | 3.0/5 |
