GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov took advantage of a heartbreaking blunder in an equal position by World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju to take the sole lead in the 2026 Tata Steel Chess Masters on 4.5/6. GM Javokhir Sindarov is now half a point behind in second place after missing a win against GM Aravindh Chithambaram, while GM Hans Niemann was beaten and caught by GM Vincent Keymer. In the day’s other decisive game, 14-year-old GM Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus found a brilliant finish to defeat GM Jorden van Foreest and return to 50 percent.
GM Andy Woodward is the sole leader of the 2026 Tata Steel Chess Challengers after grinding IM Carissa Yip down in a 131-move queen endgame to notch a fifth win in a row. It was the day of the rating favorites, with wins for GM Max Warmerdam (vs. IM Faustino Oro), GM Daniil Yuffa (vs. IM Lu Miaoyi), GM Vasyl Ivanchuk (vs. IM Eline Roebers), GM Marc’Andria Maurizzi (vs. GM Bibisara Assaubayeva), and GM Velimir Ivic (vs. GM Erwin l’Ami).
This is a flash report—come back later for full player quotes and analysis!
Round seven starts on Saturday, January 24, at 8 a.m. ET/ 14:00 CET / 6:30 p.m. IST.
Masters: Gukesh Heartbreak Gifts Abdusattorov Sole Lead
Tata Steel Masters: Round 6 Results
There were three wins in the Masters, and two very near misses.
Tata Steel Masters: Standings After Round 6
Abdusattorov was gifted the sole lead by Gukesh’s mistake, while Sindarov is in sole second place after a draw. Niemann lost and was caught by both GM Vladimir Fedoseev and Keymer in the tie for third place.
The moment of round six was undoubtedly Gukesh making an almost inexplicable blunder and having to resign immediately after Abdusattorov’s simple reply.
Gukesh makes a huge blunder and has to resign on the spot against Abdusattorov! 🤯 https://t.co/9swvI7qPTI pic.twitter.com/AbKfcBCRIz
— chess24 (@chess24com) January 23, 2026
For our Game of the Day, however, we’ve chosen 14-year-old Erdogmus’ first win in the Masters, which he achieved with some impressive piece play against Van Foreest. GM Dejan Bojkov will analyze that game below.
Challengers: Woodward Takes Sole Lead On Day Of Rating Favorites
We had another day of six decisive results in the Challengers, and this time all the wins came for the higher-rated player.
Tata Steel Challengers: Round 6 Results
Woodward’s fifth win in a row gave him the sole lead as his co-leaders couldn’t keep pace: GM Aydin Suleymanli was held to a draw and Oro lost.
Tata Steel Challengers: Standings After Round 6
How To Watch
The 88th edition of Tata Steel Chess takes place January 17-February 1, 2026, in Wijk aan Zee, the Netherlands. Both the Masters and Challengers groups are 14-player round-robin tournaments. The time control is 120 minutes for 40 moves followed by 30 minutes to the end of the game, with a 30-second increment only from move 41. No draw offers are allowed before move 40.
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