GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov scored one of the results of his career so far to win sole first place in the 2026 Tata Steel Chess Masters, with second-placed GM Javokhir Sindarov completing the Uzbek domination. We look back at some conclusions from an event packed with decisive games, surprising collapses (it was a rare bad event for the Indian stars), and young talents like GM Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, GM Andy Woodward, and IM Faustino Oro continuing their climb.
- Abdusattorov Ended His Tata Steel Chess Jinx In Style
- Sindarov Completed A Triumph For Uzbek Chess
- Time Control A Factor In Blunders And Violence
- Erdogmus Is Rising Fast
- Bluebaum Looks Ready For Candidates
- It Was A Rare Failure For Indian Chess
- Woodward Earned His Spot In The Masters
- Ivanchuk Came Incredibly Close
- Oro Is On The Right Trajectory
- Yip Almost Won The Biggest Prize
- FIDE Circuit Has A New Leader As Assaubayeva Makes List
1. Abdusattorov Ended His Tata Steel Chess Jinx In Style
“I had a dream to win this tournament when I was a kid and finally my dream came true,” said Abdusattorov, who added:
It was a long way for me. I was very close every time and I failed year after year. I’m extremely happy to finally be able to win this tournament and win in a very nice style.
The Uzbek number-one is already a veteran of Wijk aan Zee despite being only 21 years old, and his disappointment began early on. As an 18-year-old he entered the final round in 2023 with a half-point lead, but fell to GM Jorden van Foreest, allowing GM Anish Giri to snatch the title.
In 2024 he ended in a tie for first place but lost to the eventual winner GM Wei Yi in the first match of a four-player playoff. Then in 2025 he “only” ended half a point off the lead (making a draw in the final round) after a penultimate round when, on an unbeaten +4 score, he lost to GM Arjun Erigaisi, who at the time was on a winless -4.
In 2026, however, it was different, with six wins, one loss (to GM Anish Giri in a game where he rejected a draw by repetition), and six draws earning a richly deserved sole first place. The wins included beating GMs Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, Gukesh Dommaraju, Vincent Keymer, and Arjun Erigaisi, who all began the event higher rated.
After the 2862 performance earned 19.5 rating points, Abdusattorov is up to 2770.5 and world number-five, below only Keymer among the Masters players—a remarkable rise since December 2025, when in the wake of a disastrous World Cup Abdusattorov had dropped to 17th with 2732.
The only sad note is that we won’t see Abdusattorov in this year’s FIDE Candidates Tournament, but we will see another star from Uzbekistan.
2. Sindarov Completed A Triumph For Uzbek Chess
2025 was in many ways the year of Sindarov as he starred as a late replacement in Weissenhaus in February before winning the FIDE World Cup in November. Now 20, his rise has continued into 2026, and as the only unbeaten player in either the Masters or the Challengers he won four games and rose 19 points to world number-11. He was in serious danger only in the first game, where he defended a lost position brilliantly against Gukesh, and in the final round, when Thai Dai Van Nguyen, in deep time trouble, missed a one-move chance.
There could have been more wins, as Sindarov was twice winning against Giri—the first time to some hilarity on both sides…
Sindarov fails to punish Giri’s blunder — both players see the funny side! https://t.co/Ee7cHoKLW5 pic.twitter.com/C9EU8GhjkS
— chess24 (@chess24com) January 18, 2026
…and missed a time-trouble clincher on move 40 against GM Aravindh Chithambaram.
Sindarov’s achievements included playing perhaps the move of the event, 24…Nd3!! against GM Matthias Bluebaum.
Sindarov missed out on a playoff by half a point, but finished a full point clear of the players in third place, GMs Jorden van Foreest, Vincent Keymer, and Hans Niemann.
Dutch star Van Foreest was again extremely solid, but whereas in 2025 he scored 11 draws, no wins, and two losses, this time it was nine draws, but also three wins (including vs. his Dutch rival Giri) and one loss, to Erdogmus.
GM Hans Niemann, on his debut in the Masters, also posted exactly the same results, beating GM Vladimir Fedoseev, Aravindh, and Van Nguyen, while drawing against everyone else except Keymer.
Very pleased to finish the Tata Steel with 7.5/13 tying for 3rd place. Gained 10 elo points and moved to #18 in the world. I’m very thankful to the organization for giving me the opportunity to participate and let the chess speak for itself! Thank you to everyone for their… pic.twitter.com/9MGFYLeDNw
— Hans Niemann (@HansMokeNiemann) February 2, 2026
Top-seed Keymer, meanwhile, reached that same +2 score by the wildest of possible routes!
3. Time Control A Factor In Blunders And Violence
The defining feature of Tata Steel Chess 2026 was the number of decisive games. Keymer led that list, with a wild six wins and four losses.
2026 Tata Steel Chess Masters: Decisive Games vs. Draws
| Rank | FED | Player | Decisive Games | Wins | Losses | Draws |
| 1 | Vincent Keymer | 10 | 6 | 4 | 3 | |
| 2 | Nodirbek Abdusattorov | 7 | 6 | 1 | 6 | |
| 3 | Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus | 7 | 4 | 3 | 6 | |
| 4 | Thai Dai Van Nguyen | 7 | 0 | 7 | 6 | |
| 5 | Gukesh Dommaraju | 6 | 3 | 3 | 7 | |
| 6 | Anish Giri | 6 | 3 | 3 | 7 | |
| 7 | Vladimir Fedoseev | 6 | 3 | 3 | 7 | |
| 8 | Aravindh Chithambaram | 6 | 1 | 5 | 7 | |
| 9 | Arjun Erigaisi | 6 | 1 | 5 | 7 | |
| 10 | Matthias Bluebaum | 5 | 3 | 2 | 8 | |
| 11 | Javokhir Sindarov | 4 | 4 | 0 | 9 | |
| 12 | Hans Moke Niemann | 4 | 3 | 1 | 9 | |
| 13 | Jorden Van Foreest | 4 | 3 | 1 | 9 | |
| 14 | Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu | 4 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
The Wijk aan Zee formula of a varied field where the higher-rated players are almost obliged by rating math to try and beat up the outsiders usually leads to decisive chess, but in this case it was different. The overall number of decisive games was 45 percent, up from 40 percent in 2025, but remarkably in games only among the absolute 2750+ elite, two thirds of the games were decisive, with 10 wins in 15 games.
2026 Tata Steel Chess Masters: Crosstable Only For 2750+ Players
| Rank | FED | Name | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Total |
| 1 | Nodirbek Abdusattorov | 2751 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4.0 | ||
| 2 | Vincent Keymer | 2776 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 3.5 | ||
| 3 | Anish Giri | 2760 | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 3.0 | ||
| 4 | Arjun Erigaisi | 2775 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 2.0 | ||
| 5 | Gukesh Dommaraju | 2754 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1.5 | ||
| 6 | Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu | 2758 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1.0 |
Note Abdusattorov’s path to victory included no draws against the very top players!
Explanations varied. Some pointed to a rearrangement of the playing hall, so that the Challengers no longer formed a wall in front of the Masters and fans could get close to the top players.
Many others pointed out the time control. Instead of the very long format we were used to with 100 minutes and an increment from move one, then 50 minutes added at move 40, we got 120 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes added. The real change, however, was that, exactly like the format we’ll see in the Candidates in March, the players get no 30-second increment until move 40 and time trouble can be very real.
GM Vasyl Ivanchuk demonstrated that perfectly in a moment of pure drama, when he had one second left on his clock to reply to his opponent’s move—he survived and won the game, though both GM Simon Williams in commentary and Ivanchuk himself pointed out that if GM Velimir Ivic had made a completely random move it would probably have been enough to take the full point!
Vasyl Ivanchuk gets a round of applause as he manages to make his 40th move with only one second on his clock! https://t.co/AhxI72iDWX pic.twitter.com/cD6ztHq5Pk
— chess24 (@chess24com) January 19, 2026
The added pressure no doubt did influence the players, but many of the blunders weren’t near the time control. Already in the first round we saw Fedoseev blunder and resign on move 16 vs. Niemann, while with 35 minutes on the clock Giri blundered a simple fork of two bishops vs. Keymer.
The most glaring blunder of the whole event, by Gukesh, was made when he was down to five and a half minutes, but 36…Rg5?? was a move both Abdusattorov and the world champion called inexplicable.
You didn’t need to be Abdusattorov to spot 37.Qxf6+, planning to pick up the free rook on g5 next.
Giri suggested something has changed as in the past elite players would target the outsiders and make draws against their “peers,” but that no longer works:
Now the top players turn on each other. Initially I was offended by that. I felt like they’re turning on me. What’s wrong with me, why am I being targeted? But then I realized they’re turning on each other too… It’s probably the most fun time to play classical top tournaments in my personal career span.
It’s fun for fans too.
4. Erdogmus Is Rising Fast
14-year-old Erdogmus began with four draws against top players, then lost a somewhat unfortunate game to Sindarov, before bursting into life with three wins in four games, over Van Foreest, Arjun, and Van Nguyen. His apparent nervousness, Williams called it the “death sway”…
Simon christens Erdogmus rocking back and forth “the death sway!” #TataSteelChess pic.twitter.com/CFSkPUG5r2
— chess24 (@chess24com) January 25, 2026
…hid the fact he’s an absolute beast when low on time, with player after player mentioning his strength in the post-game interviews. For instance, Van Foreest commented, “The kid is just insanely strong! I don’t know how you can be this good at chess at 14.”
The run could have got even better, since Erdogmus had what he called “a very easy chance” to beat the world champion and take the lead after 10 rounds. It certainly wasn’t obvious, but it would have been beautiful!
In the end Erdogmus lost that game, then to Giri, before bouncing back against Fedoseev for a +1 score in his Masters debut. He’s up to 2686.6 and world number-38 on the live rating list, with smashing Wei’s record as the youngest ever 2700 player looking only like a matter of time—and it’s unlikely he’s going to stop there!
5. Bluebaum Looks Ready For Candidates
One of the themes of the tournament was the four Candidates getting an almost perfect rehearsal—13 rounds instead of 14, and the same time control. Sindarov edged the mini-tournament among the players.
2026 Tata Steel Chess Masters: Crosstable Among Candidates
| Rank | FED | Player | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| 1 | Javokhir Sindarov | 2726 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 2.0 | ||
| 2 | Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu | 2758 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1.5 | ||
| 3 | Matthias Bluebaum | 2679 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1.5 | ||
| 4 | Anish Giri | 2760 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1.0 |
The most impressive story, however, was that of Bluebaum. The FIDE Grand Swiss runner-up has faced some inevitable questions over whether as a 28-year-old player who’s hovered around 2640-60 for many years he’s worthy of a place in the Candidates Tournament. Well, in his Wijk aan Zee debut he beat Keymer (2776), Gukesh (2754), and Giri (2760), climbing above 2700 for the first time in his career.
He slipped back under 2700 with a loss to Abdusattorov (in fact he lost only to the two Uzbek stars), but he’s proven again he can hold his own at the top level. Candidates may have to think twice whether they want to go “all-out” to beat one of the outsiders in the main event—in Wijk aan Zee, it led to self-impalement.
6. It Was A Rare Failure For Indian Chess
For some to succeed, others must fail, and it was a grim tournament for the Indian stars. It’s tempting to point to the Dutch winter weather being tough for the Indian contingent, but it was only a year ago that Praggnanandhaa won the event in a playoff against Gukesh.
This year Aravindh (-15.6) fell out of the 2700 club, Praggnanandhaa (-16.8) and Arjun (-29.9) dropped out of the top 10, and Gukesh (-5.8), who scored 50 percent with three wins and three losses, is only hanging on in the top 10 by a whisker. We suddenly find ourselves with no Indian players rated above 2750 for the first time in two years.
The most shocking case is that of Arjun, one of only 16 players ever to cross 2800 on the live rating list.
He can play well in Wijk aan Zee, since he dominated the Challengers with 10.5/13 in 2022, but his Masters record is a horror show: 14th (-21.4 rating points) in 2023 and 10th (-24.3) in 2025.
When he won game one against Praggnanandhaa this time round it was a third win in a row in the Masters, and it seemed things might turn around. He commented: “The last couple of times I played this tournament, it took me forever to win games and I’m happy to start well.” Alas, five losses and no wins followed.
If one thing’s certain, however, it’s that Arjun and co. will hit back in upcoming events!
7. Woodward Earned His Spot In The Masters
To win the Challengers and claim a spot in the Masters you usually have to post a fantastic score, and that’s just what 15-year-old U.S. star Woodward did, bouncing back from an unfortunate round-one loss to score nine wins and 10/13.
He’s continuing the form that saw him go into the final round of last year’s Grand Swiss with an outside chance of qualifying for the Candidates, and it looks as though he’ll be challenging at the very top in the years to come.
It wasn’t easy, however, as everything ultimately came down to a nail-biting final round.
8. Ivanchuk Came Incredibly Close
Woodward went into the final round tied for first with GM Aydin Suleymanli, who in 2025 had missed out on winning the tournament on tiebreaks. This year the leaders both had a problem, however, which was that half a point behind them was 56-year-old Ivanchuk, who had beaten them both. If he won and they lost, his tiebreaks would be better.
Ivanchuk did his part, Suleymanli overpressed and lost to Ivic, but eventually Woodward denied Ivanchuk an 11th shot at the Masters, a tournament the Ukrainian had won in his first apperance in 1996.
It was all the more impressive for Ivanchuk since the lack of an increment is what, for instance, had doomed him in the 2013 FIDE Candidates Tournament when he lost multiple games on time despite going on to beat both GMs Magnus Carlsen and Vladimir Kramnik. Recently Ivanchuk missed out on a gold medal in the European Rapid Championship because of the clock…
Chess can be pure pain — Ivanchuk loses on time in the final round when pressing to beat Pultinevicius and win the European Rapid Championship! https://t.co/hjMeeiBSR7 pic.twitter.com/ODt63o0kGG
— chess24 (@chess24com) November 29, 2025
…but the one game he lost in Wijk aan Zee, to GM Erwin l’Ami, came because he played too fast. That’s not to say there weren’t dramatic moments—we also got a hugely chaotic end to a game against GM Max Warmerdam, but as in the one-second example above, Ivanchuk took the win.
Ivanchuk beats the clock again, this time with 13 seconds for 4 moves! https://t.co/mmHH9yVyM3 pic.twitter.com/3vluRFZYol
— chess24 (@chess24com) January 25, 2026
“I still feel Ivanchuk playing in the Masters could be great if it could happen next year!” said Woodward, and it’s hard to disagree.
9. Oro Is On The Right Trajectory
From the oldest participant to the youngest, we come to 12-year-old Argentinian IM Faustino Oro. This year he scored four wins (most notably over L’Ami and GM Daniil Yuffa), which was only one more than in 2025, but this time instead of nine losses he suffered just three, doubling his score from 3.5/13 to 7/13. The start briefly hinted at even more.
Chessi! 🇦🇷 https://t.co/4Oc45C9jcf
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) January 22, 2026
Doubling again won’t be possible, but it would be no surprise in 2027 to see Oro as a grandmaster fighting for the top spot.
If he does play the Challengers he’ll come up against another prodigy, 14-year-old German IM Christian Gloekler, who powered to a stunning 8.5/9 in the Qualifiers, almost matching Abdusattorov’s performance rating for the event.
Gloeckler is a little behind the insane Oro/Erdogmus schedule, but what ultimately matters for all prodigies is not how fast they rise but where their ceiling ends up being.
10. Yip Almost Won The Biggest Prize
IM Carissa Yip had a great event, winning five games, gaining 19.6 rating points, and climbing to the Women’s world number-13 spot, but it could have been even better. She was clearly winning in a game she drew against GM Bibisara Assaubayeva, and briefly had a great chance against Yuffa in the penultimate round in a game she went on to lose.
Half a point more would have given the U.S. 22-year-old her third and final GM norm, while her rating would have got even closer to the 2500 mark.
Getting the GM title isn’t just prestigious for Yip, since the title will also earn her a $100,000 prize from Jeanne Sinquefield and the Saint Louis Chess Club. That’s still up for grabs until July 4, 2029, so there’s plenty of time!
11. FIDE Circuit Has A New Leader As Assaubayeva Makes List
It’s no surprise that the leader of the new two-year FIDE Circuit is now the runner-up in 2025, Abdusattorov, who scored 25.78 points for sole first place in the Masters. There are also points for Sindarov, Van Foreest, Keymer, and Niemann, though it’s one of the quirks of the Circuit that places below fifth don’t count in a 14-player event, so while for instance Bluebaum and Erdogmus miss out for sixth place, there are points on offer to the top five in the Candidates.
FIDE Circuit Points From Tata Steel Chess
| # | Player | FED | Placement | Points |
| 1 | Nodirbek Abdusattorov | 1st Masters | 25.78 | |
| 2 | Javokhir Sindarov | 2nd Masters | 18.75 | |
| 3= | Jorden van Foreest | Shared 3rd Masters | 14.06 | |
| 3= | Vincent Keymer | Shared 3rd Masters | 14.06 | |
| 3= | Hans Moke Niemann | Shared 3rd Masters | 14.06 | |
| 6 | Andy Woodward | 1st Challengers | 7.46 | |
| 7 | Vasyl Ivanchuk | 2nd Challengers | 5.43 | |
| 8 | Aydin Suleymanli | 3rd Challengers | 4.75 | |
| 9 | Marc’Andria Maurizzi | 4th Challengers | 4.07 | |
| 10 | Bibisara Assaubayeva | 5th Challengers | 3.39 |
It’s noteworthy that Assaubayeva’s fine 7.5/13 performance means she picks up 3.39 points, the best haul by a female player since GM Zhu Jiner earned 5.40 points for taking fifth place in the Fujairah Global Superstars in 2025. Assaubayeva has broken into the Women’s top 10 with a 2516.1 live rating.
So that’s all for the Tata Steel Chess Festival, but for many of the players there’s only a very short break. Abdusattorov, Sindarov, Keymer, Niemann, and Arjun join GMs Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, and Levon Aronian in the 2026 FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship that runs February 13-15.
Then 10 days later the Prague Chess Festival begins. That includes Abdusattorov, Keymer, Gukesh, Van Foreest, Aravindh, and Van Nguyen.
Previous coverage:
- Round 13: Abdusattorov Wins ‘Dream’ Tata Steel Masters, Woodward Takes Challengers
- Round 12: Abdusattorov Grabs Lead Before Tata Steel Masters Final Round
- Round 11: Sindarov Catches Abdusattorov, Niemann Climbs To 2nd
- Round 10: Bluebaum Joins 2700 Club As Gukesh, Keymer Bounce Back
- Round 9: Erdogmus, Van Foreest Climb To 2nd As Bluebaum Beats Gukesh
- Round 8: Giri Beats Leader Abdusattorov As Gukesh Bounces Back
- Round 7: Abdusattorov Grows Lead As Giri Beats Gukesh
- Round 6: Abdusattorov Pounces On Gukesh’s Blunder To Grab Sole Lead
- Round 5: Sindarov Catches Leaders As Gukesh, Keymer, Fedoseev Also Strike
- Round 4: Niemann Sacs Queen To Lead Tata Steel Chess With Abdusattorov
- Round 3: Van Foreest, Bluebaum Beat Giri, Keymer To Join 5-Way Tie For Lead
- Round 2: Abdusattorov Beats Praggnanandhaa; Lu Miaoyi Takes Sole Lead In Challengers
- Round 1: Sindarov Denies Gukesh As Niemann, Keymer, Arjun Pounce On Blunders
- Tata Steel Chess 2026: All The Information
