Tata Steel Masters: Gukesh vs Praggnanandhaa ends in a draw, Erigaisi joint-second after fourth round
World Champion D. Gukesh played a draw against compatriot R. Praggnanandhaa while top seed Arjun Erigaisi was held by Anish Giri in the fourth round of the Tata Steel Masters in Wijk Aan Zee, Netherlands, on Tuesday.
Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa, who faced each other in a playoff for the title in the previous edition, are yet to register to a win this time. Gukesh has played four straight draws while Praggnanandhaa, the reigning champion, began with two losses before managing draws in the last two rounds.
Erigaisi slipped to second as USA’s Hans Niemann and Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov won their respective games against Aravindh Chithambaram and Czechia’s Thai Dai Van Nguyen, respectively to jointly lead by half a point at the top.
Germany’s Vincent Keymer ended a two-game losing streak with a draw against Turkiye’s Yagiz Erdogmus but Matthias Bluebaum, Keymer’s compatriot, went down to World Cup-winner Javokhir Sindarova of Uzbekistan.
In the fifth round on Wednesday, Erigaisi faces Slovenia’s Vladimir Fedoseev, Gukesh will be up against Van Nguyen, Praggnanandhaa will take on Giri and Aravindh will play against Keymer.
Round 4 Results (Indians unless specified)
Arjun Erigaisi (2.5) drew with Anish Giri (Ned, 1); D Gukesh (2) drew with R Praggnanandhaa (1); Jorden van Foreest (Ned, 2.5) drew with Vladimir Fedoseev (Slo, 2); Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzb, 3) beat Thai Dai Van Nguyen (Cze, 1.5); Hand Niemann (USA, 3) beat Aravindh Chithambaram (1.5); Vincent Keymer (Ger, 1.5) drew with Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus (Tur, 2); Javokhir Sindarov (Uzb, 2.5) beat Matthias Bluebaum (Ger, 2)
Published on Jan 21, 2026