GM Javokhir Sindarov has joined his compatriot GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov in the 2026 Tata Steel Chess Masters lead on 7/11 after winning a pawn and grinding out a win against GM Arjun Erigaisi. GM Hans Niemann joins a three-way tie half a point behind the leaders after defeating GM Thai Dai Van Nguyen, while there was also a spectacular win for GM Anish Giri, over GM Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, and for GM Vincent Keymer over GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu.
GM Vasyl Ivanchuk continues to shake things up in the 2026 Tata Steel Chess Challengers, beating the leader for a second day in a row. In round 11 that meant taking down GM Aydin Suleymanli, while GM Andy Woodward took the chance to regain the sole lead with two rounds to go by beating GM Marc’Andria Maurizzi.
This is a flash report–come back later for full player quotes and analysis!
Round 12 starts on Saturday, January 31, at 8 a.m. ET / 14:00 CET / 6:30 p.m. IST.
Masters: Sindarov Catches Leader As Niemann, Giri, Keymer Also Win
We got our standard four wins for the day in the Masters, though GM Gukesh Dommaraju had for a very long time looked set to add a fifth by beating GM Aravindh Chithambaram.
Tata Steel Masters: Round 11 Results
That meant Abdusattorov was finally caught, by Sindarov, while Niemann joins GMs Jorden van Foreest and Matthias Bluebaum only half a point behind.
Tata Steel Masters: Standings After Round 11
Our game of the day is Giri’s win over Erdogmus, which suddenly swung in the Dutch star’s favor in the run-up to the time control. GM Rafael Leitao analyzes it below.
Challengers: Woodward Regains Sole Lead As Ivanchuk Beats Leader
Both games at the top were decisive, IM Faustino Oro got back to winning ways, and IM Carissa Yip left herself needing to score 1.5 points in the remaining two games for a third and final GM norm.
Tata Steel Challengers: Round 11 Results
After being knocked out of the sole lead a day earlier, Woodward returned with a win over Maurizzi, while Ivanchuk beat and joined Suleymanli half a point behind.
Tata Steel Challengers: Standings After Round 11
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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