GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov takes a half-point lead into the final round of the 2026 Tata Steel Chess Masters after beating GM Matthias Bluebaum while GM Javokhir Sindarov made a quick draw against GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu. Sindarov is the main challenger to Abdusattorov, but the three players a point behind can still force a playoff if the leader loses. Those are GM Vincent Keymer, who defeated GM Thai Dai Van Nguyen, GM Hans Niemann, who pulled off a great escape against GM Gukesh Dommaraju, and GM Jorden van Foreest, who drew against GM Arjun Erigaisi. 14-year-old GM Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus hit back after two losses by beating GM Vladimir Fedoseev.
GM Aydin Suleymanli bounced back to beat GM Marc’Andria Maurizzi and catch GM Andy Woodward in the 2026 Tata Steel Chess Challengers lead. The only other player still in contention for tournament victory and a spot in the 2027 Masters is GM Vasyl Ivanchuk, who is half a point back after being held to a draw by GM Faustino Oro.
This is a flash report—come back later for full player quotes and analysis!
Round 13 starts two hours earlier on Sunday, February 1, at 6 a.m. ET / 12:00 CET / 4:30 p.m. IST.
Masters: Abdusattorov Stakes His Claim
There were three wins in the Masters, though it really should have been four. For a second day in a row, Gukesh let his opponent off the hook, which was good news for Niemann’s tournament chances.
Tata Steel Masters: Round 12 Results
Abdusattorov takes a half-point lead into the final round and can guarantee victory with a win or ensure at least a playoff with a draw. If he loses, however, then Van Foreest, Niemann, and Keymer can all potentially reach a playoff.
Tata Steel Masters: Standings After Round 12
Our Game of the Day is a bounce-back win for the strongest 14-year-old in chess history, Erdogmus, which GM Rafael Leitao will analyze below.
The final-round pairings don’t include any direct encounters between the five players battling for the title, so that multiple outcomes are possible. All eyes, first and foremost, will be on Arjun-Abdusattorov, which can decide the title whatever happens elsewhere.
Tata Steel Masters: Round 13 Pairings
Challengers: Suleymanli, Woodward, Ivanchuk Battle For Masters Spot
The four wins in the Challengers included a welcome second win for IM Eline Roebers, GM norm heartbreak for IM Carissa Yip, and a crucial win for Suleymanli.
Tata Steel Challengers: Round 12 Results
Suleymanli is now back level with Woodward before the final round, while Suleymanli’s win also ended Maurizzi’s chances. Ivanchuk, meanwhile, is still in the hunt.
Tata Steel Challengers: Standings After Round 12
The final-round pairings in the Challengers also see no head-to-head clashes for the players fighting for the title. Woodward and Suleymanli have White, against GMs Erwin l’Ami and Velimir Ivic respectively, while Ivanchuk is Black vs. GM Daniil Yuffa.
Tata Steel Challengers: Pairings For Round 13
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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