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    Praggnanandhaa Stumbles Again as Gukesh Settles for Draw at Tata Steel Masters Chess

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    India’s young chess sensation R. Praggnanandhaa suffered a second consecutive defeat at the ongoing Tata Steel Masters Chess Tournament, while reigning world champion D. Gukesh had to settle for a hard-fought draw in Round 2 of the prestigious event.

    Defending champion Praggnanandhaa went down to Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov, extending his difficult start to the tournament. The loss leaves the Indian grandmaster without a point after two rounds, placing him at the bottom of the standings and putting pressure on him to recover strongly in the remaining games.

    Praggnanandhaa’s Early Struggles Continue

    Praggnanandhaa, who enjoyed an impressive run through much of 2025, appeared composed in the early stages of the game despite playing with the black pieces. The encounter followed a Queen’s Gambit Declined structure, where the Indian equalised comfortably out of the opening.

    However, the turning point came in the endgame. A minor error on the 31st move allowed Abdusattorov to gain a pawn advantage in a rook-and-pawns endgame. Although chess analysts believed the position was defensible and could have ended in a draw, Praggnanandhaa struggled to find the precise moves required to hold the balance. After prolonged resistance, he resigned on the 60th move.

    With 11 rounds still to play, the Indian prodigy will need a significant turnaround to remain in contention in one of the toughest classical chess tournaments in the world.

    Gukesh Holds Firm in Complicated Battle

    World champion D. Gukesh, playing with the white pieces, was held to a draw by Dutch grandmaster Jorden van Foreest. The game featured an unconventional opening that led to a complex middlegame with dynamic chances for both sides.

    Gukesh pressed aggressively and even sacrificed a bishop to force perpetual checks, demonstrating his fighting spirit. Van Foreest defended accurately, ensuring the game ended in a draw. This result leaves Gukesh with one point from two rounds, following back-to-back draws.

    Arjun Erigaisi Remains Among the Leaders

    Top-seeded Indian Arjun Erigaisi continued his steady run, drawing his Round 2 game against Czech grandmaster Thai Dai Van Nguyen. Arjun attempted to break through in the middlegame but was unable to dismantle Nguyen’s solid defensive setup. The game eventually transitioned into a rook endgame and concluded peacefully.

    With 1.5 points from two rounds, Arjun remains joint leader alongside Abdusattorov and American grandmaster Hans Moke Niemann.

    Mixed Results for Other Indian Players

    Aravindh Chithambaram, the fourth Indian participant, played out a draw against Turkey’s Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus. The game, which arose from a Sicilian Defence, saw Aravindh escape a tricky position to secure half a point. He now has one point from two games.

    Among other notable results, Slovenia’s Vladimir Fedoseev bounced back from an opening-round loss by defeating Germany’s Vincent Keymer, while Dutch star Anish Giri was held to a draw by Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov.

    Tournament Outlook

    After two rounds, the leaderboard remains tightly packed. While three players share the lead, as many as nine competitors are close behind, separated by just half a point. With many rounds still remaining, the Tata Steel Masters promises intense battles and potential shifts in momentum.

     

    For Praggnanandhaa, the focus will be on regaining confidence and consistency, while Indian fans will be watching closely as Gukesh and Arjun aim to stay in the title race.

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