Gukesh Defeats Keymer in Tata Steel Chess Tournament, Becomes India No 1

After an intense battle lasting over six hours, Gukesh emerged victorious against Vincent Keymer in the fifth round of the Tata Steel chess tournament in Wijk aan Zee. This win not only solidifies Gukesh’s position as the new India no 1 but also elevates him to the world no 4 spot in the live ratings, which are updated in real-time.

Keymer, who was part of Team Gukesh during the Indian’s historic win against Ding Liren to become the youngest world champion in chess history, seemed to employ a similar strategy of prolonging the game against Gukesh. Despite being in an inferior position on the board from the middle game onwards, Keymer refused to resign and continued playing until the 72nd move when Gukesh’s victory was inevitable.

The game saw both players facing time pressure, with Keymer making moves with mere seconds on his clock. Keymer, who is one of Gukesh’s seconds in the tournament, will face another second, Pentala Harikrishna, in Round 7.

Meanwhile, Praggnanandhaa managed to maintain his unbeaten streak at the Tata Steel chess tournament, securing a draw against Dutch grandmaster Max Warmerdam in the fifth round. Despite being overtaken in the standings by Nodirbek Abdusattarov, Pragg has had a strong showing in the tournament, defeating three compatriots and holding Abdusattarov to a draw.

In other matches, Indian players Arjun Erigaisi and Leon Luke Mendonca were held to a draw, with both players still seeking their first win in the tournament. Erigaisi and Mendonca currently find themselves at the bottom of the masters standings with one point each.

Overall, the Tata Steel chess tournament has seen intense battles and surprising outcomes, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. With Gukesh’s impressive performance and Pragg’s resilience, the tournament promises more excitement in the rounds to come.