Abdusattorov and Gukesh lead the Tata Steel Masters with 6.5/10

Nodirbek Abdusattorov and D Gukesh have a half point lead
over Anish Giri and Praggnanandhaa going into the final
rest day. There are three rounds left and it’s still all
to play for.

Nodirbek Abdusattorov had black against Max Warmerdam in
a Queen’s Gambit Accepted. Yesterday’s shocking turn around
may well have still been affecting Warmerdam.
After 13 moves
the game was equal, 23.Ne2 was a clear error in a slightly
worse position (23.Nd2) beautifully exploited by Abdusattorov
with 24…f4! but the position remained a mess and 31..Bf5?
was an error allowing white back into the game with 32.Qe3
and even be better after 35.Bxe4! and then a further
blunder 39…Rd6? (39…e4!) left Warmerdam winning
at first time control. 42.Nxb4 was a safety first
move 42.Nc7 was the winner, then 43.Qb1? (43.Qe5!) brought
the game level. Many moves later with an exposed King
Warmerdam blundered in a difficult position with 67.Bc4?
and lost a second game in a row from a winning position.

Alexander Donchenko rather overdid the aggression
against Gukesh’s Nimzo-Indian. 15.d5?! was dubious
(15.0-0-0) and 16.h5? bad and after 22.Ne4? black
was winning. It wasn’t the quickest conversion in the world
but Gukesh won in 57 moves.

Ian Nepomniachtchi beat Ding Liren in 36 moves. One would
normally call this the game of the day but Ding’s form is now
so clearly wretched that it was not at all a surprise. 31…Rb8? (31…Qd5
was necessary) was just losing.

Anish Giri successfully defended an unusual Queen’s
Gambit against Alireza Firouzja. Santosh Vidit
didn’t get much against Praggnanandhaa’s Bogo Indian
and the game was drawn in 37 moves.
Ju Wenjun got some winning chances against Parham Maghsoodloo.
This was a Vienna Variation of the Queen’s Gambit and Ju
was better after 29…e4 30.Ne7, 34.Qc7 was an improvement
over taking Queen’s off and the game was eventually drawn
by repetition. Wei Yi had the better of a draw against Jorden
van Foreest.

Round 10 Standings
1st= Abdusattorov, Gukesh 6.5pts,
3rd= Giri, Praggnanandhaa 6pts
5th= Vidit, Nepomniachtchi, Wei Yi, Firouzja, Wei Yi 5.5 pts
9th= Ding Liren, Ju Wenjun, Maghsoodloo, Warmerdam 4 pts,
13th Donchenko, Van Foreest 3.5pts

Rest Day 25th Jan

Round 11 26th Jan 1pm
Gukesh-Firouzja,
Praggnanandhaa-Donchenko,
Maghsoodloo-Vidit,
Abdusattorov-Ju Wenjun,
Wei Yi-Warmerdam,
Ding-Van Foreest,
Giri-Nepomniachtchi.