This is the first event Gukesh is competing in after becoming the youngest world champion in history of chess. His final game at the event will be against India No 1 Arjun Erigaisi.

By: Sports Desk January 28, 2025 22:05 IST

Gukesh contemplates his next move in the round 9 game against Leon Luke Mendonca as Anish Giri steals a glance. (Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit via Tata Steel Chess)

With just four rounds remaining at the Tata Steel chess tournament, the reigning world champion Gukesh D has ensured that he is in pole position to win the event known as the Wimbledon of Chess. The 18-year-old Gukesh defeated his contemporary Leon Luke Mendonca in Round 9 at the season-starting chess event in the quaint Dutch town of Wijk aan Zee in a battle lasting just 43 moves.

This is the first event Gukesh is competing in after becoming the youngest world champion in history of chess by defeating Ding Liren in Singapore last month. So far after nine games, Gukesh is yet to lose, winning four games and drawing the others. This is in sharp contrast to the fate of Arjun Erigaisi, who came into the event rated 2801, but has not won a single game at the event.

Tuesday’s win ensures that he will go into tomorrow Round 10 as the leader of the masters section standings. Praggnanandhaa, the other Indian who was leading the standings coming into round 9, is currently locked in a duel to the death against local Dutch star Anish Giri. The third player who was in the lead, Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattarov, was held to a draw by Fabiano Caruana, meaning he fell half a point behind Gukesh.

Gukesh’s final four opponents include two local players. He plays Max Warmerdam (rated 2646) next before taking on last year’s defending champion from China Wei Yi (2751) and Jorden van Foreest (2680). His final game will be against India No 1 Arjun Erigaisi, who is yet to win a single game at the Tata Steel chess tournament this year.

Abdusattarov’s last four rivals include: Alexey Sarana (2677), Vincent Keymer (2733), Erigaisi (2801) and Pentala Harikrishna (2695). Meanwhile Pragg plays Vladimir Fedoseev (2717), Caruana (2803), Alexey Sarana (2677) and Keymer (2733) in his final four games.

INTERACTIVE: How Gukesh defeated Leon Luke Mendonca

Playing with white pieces on Tuesday, Gukesh held an advantage from the early middle game on the board against Mendonca, who is winless at the Tata Steel chess event. When Gukesh opted for a Ruy Lopez in the opening, Mendonca chose to go for a Morphy Defence to kick out Gukesh’s bishop from b5.

The engine analysis of the game showed that there were multiple inaccuracies on the part of Mendonca in the game. At least thrice, the engine showed that Mendonca should have pushed his h pawn forward and had erred in not doing so: 21… Bd7?!, 26… Nh5?! and 31… Bc8?!

Most of these inaccuracies came because Mendonca had misplayed his light-squared bishop.

While Gukesh enjoyed an edge on the board, Mendonca’s 39th move was a blunder that gave the world champion an overwhelming upper hand. Mendonca played 39… Bd7?? (classified as a blunder with the engine still desperately calling for h5).

One move later, both players crossed the choppy waters of time trouble safely, but Mendonca realized that his position was untenable and surrendered on move 43.

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