D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa Play Bloodless Draw at Tata Steel Chess Tournament

The highly anticipated match between D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa at the Tata Steel chess tournament ended in a bloodless draw in round 8. The two Indian grandmasters, who started the game as joint leaders in the standings, battled it out in a tense game that ultimately resulted in a stalemate after 33 moves.

Pragg, playing with the white pieces, made a strategic move by waiting almost a full minute before playing 1.e4, setting the tone for a mind game between the two players. The game saw both players employing different opening strategies, with Praggnanandhaa opting for the Anti-Berlin against Gukesh’s Berlin defense.

The match briefly came alive on the 23rd move when Gukesh’s pawn advanced, leading to a series of exchanges on the board. However, both players soon realized that the game was heading towards a draw and decided to conserve energy by agreeing to split the point.

In a surprising turn of events, all five Indian players in the masters section settled for draws in round 8. India’s top-ranked player Arjun Erigaisi, who has been struggling in the tournament, accepted a draw against Serbian GM Alexey Sarana. Erigaisi has now lost 30 rating points in eight games and is yet to secure a win in the tournament.

Overall, the Tata Steel chess tournament continues to be a closely contested event, with Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, and Uzbek star Nodirbek Abdusattarov maintaining their joint lead after 8 rounds. The tournament’s second rest day follows round 8, giving players a chance to regroup and prepare for the remaining games.