GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov scored top-of-the-line outcomes of his profession to date to win sole first place within the 2026 Tata Metal Chess Masters, with second-placed GM Javokhir Sindarov finishing the Uzbek domination. We glance again at some conclusions from an occasion filled with decisive video games, stunning collapses (it was a uncommon dangerous occasion for the Indian stars), and younger skills like GM Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, GM Andy Woodward, and IM Faustino Oro persevering with their climb.
- Abdusattorov Ended His Tata Metal Chess Jinx In Fashion
- Sindarov Accomplished A Triumph For Uzbek Chess
- Time Management A Issue In Blunders And Violence
- Erdogmus Is Rising Quick
- Bluebaum Seems Prepared For Candidates
- It Was A Uncommon Failure For Indian Chess
- Woodward Earned His Spot In The Masters
- Ivanchuk Got here Extremely Shut
- Oro Is On The Proper Trajectory
- Yip Virtually Received The Greatest Prize
- FIDE Circuit Has A New Chief As Assaubayeva Makes Checklist
1. Abdusattorov Ended His Tata Metal Chess Jinx In Fashion
“I had a dream to win this event once I was a child and eventually my dream got here true,” mentioned Abdusattorov, who added:
It was a good distance for me. I used to be very shut each time and I failed 12 months after 12 months. I’m extraordinarily glad to lastly be capable to win this event and win in a really good model.
The Uzbek number-one is already a veteran of Wijk aan Zee regardless of being solely 21 years previous, and his disappointment started early on. As an 18-year-old he entered the ultimate spherical in 2023 with a half-point lead, however fell to GM Jorden van Foreest, permitting GM Anish Giri to grab the title.
In 2024 he resulted in a tie for first place however misplaced to the eventual winner GM Wei Yi within the first match of a four-player playoff. Then in 2025 he “solely” ended half a degree off the lead (making a draw within the last spherical) after a penultimate spherical when, on an unbeaten +4 rating, he misplaced to GM Arjun Erigaisi, who on the time was on a winless -4.
In 2026, nevertheless, it was completely different, with six wins, one loss (to GM Anish Giri in a sport the place he rejected a draw by repetition), and 6 attracts incomes a genuinely-earned sole first place. The wins included beating GMs Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, Gukesh Dommaraju, Vincent Keymer, and Arjun Erigaisi, who all started the occasion greater rated.
After the 2862 efficiency earned 19.5 ranking factors, Abdusattorov is as much as 2770.5 and world number-five, under solely Keymer among the many Masters gamers—a exceptional rise since December 2025, when within the wake of a disastrous World Cup Abdusattorov had dropped to seventeenth with 2732.
The one unhappy notice is that we cannot see Abdusattorov on this 12 months’s FIDE Candidates Event, however we are going to see one other star from Uzbekistan.
2. Sindarov Accomplished A Triumph For Uzbek Chess
2025 was in some ways the 12 months of Sindarov as he starred as a late substitute in Weissenhaus in February earlier than profitable the FIDE World Cup in November. Now 20, his rise has continued into 2026, and because the solely unbeaten participant in both the Masters or the Challengers he gained 4 video games and rose 19 factors to world number-11. He was in severe hazard solely within the first sport, the place he defended a misplaced place brilliantly towards Gukesh, and within the last spherical, when Thai Dai Van Nguyen, in deep time hassle, missed a one-move probability.
There might have been extra wins, as Sindarov was twice profitable towards Giri—the primary time to some hilarity on either side…
Sindarov fails to punish Giri’s blunder — each gamers see the humorous facet! https://t.co/Ee7cHoKLW5 pic.twitter.com/C9EU8GhjkS
— chess24 (@chess24com) January 18, 2026
…and missed a time-trouble clincher on transfer 40 towards GM Aravindh Chithambaram.
Sindarov’s achievements included taking part in maybe the transfer of the occasion, 24…Nd3!! towards GM Matthias Bluebaum.
Sindarov missed out on a playoff by half a degree, however completed a full level away from the gamers in third place, GMs Jorden van Foreest, Vincent Keymer, and Hans Niemann.
Dutch star Van Foreest was once more extraordinarily strong, however whereas in 2025 he scored 11 attracts, no wins, and two losses, this time it was 9 attracts, but additionally three wins (together with vs. his Dutch rival Giri) and one loss, to Erdogmus.
GM Hans Niemann, on his debut within the Masters, additionally posted precisely the identical outcomes, beating GM Vladimir Fedoseev, Aravindh, and Van Nguyen, whereas drawing towards everybody else besides Keymer.
More than happy to complete the Tata Metal with 7.5/13 tying for third place. Gained 10 elo factors and moved to #18 on this planet. I am very grateful to the group for giving me the chance to take part and let the chess converse for itself! Thanks to everybody for his or her… pic.twitter.com/9MGFYLeDNw
— Hans Niemann (@HansMokeNiemann) February 2, 2026
High-seed Keymer, in the meantime, reached that very same +2 rating by the wildest of doable routes!
3. Time Management A Issue In Blunders And Violence
The defining characteristic of Tata Metal Chess 2026 was the variety of decisive video games. Keymer led that listing, with a wild six wins and 4 losses.
2026 Tata Metal Chess Masters: Decisive Video games vs. Attracts
| Rank | FED | Participant | Decisive Video games | Wins | Losses | Attracts |
| 1 | Vincent Keymer | 10 | 6 | 4 | 3 | |
| 2 | Nodirbek Abdusattorov | 7 | 6 | 1 | 6 | |
| 3 | Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus | 7 | 4 | 3 | 6 | |
| 4 | Thai Dai Van Nguyen | 7 | 0 | 7 | 6 | |
| 5 | Gukesh Dommaraju | 6 | 3 | 3 | 7 | |
| 6 | Anish Giri | 6 | 3 | 3 | 7 | |
| 7 | Vladimir Fedoseev | 6 | 3 | 3 | 7 | |
| 8 | Aravindh Chithambaram | 6 | 1 | 5 | 7 | |
| 9 | Arjun Erigaisi | 6 | 1 | 5 | 7 | |
| 10 | Matthias Bluebaum | 5 | 3 | 2 | 8 | |
| 11 | Javokhir Sindarov | 4 | 4 | 0 | 9 | |
| 12 | Hans Moke Niemann | 4 | 3 | 1 | 9 | |
| 13 | Jorden Van Foreest | 4 | 3 | 1 | 9 | |
| 14 | Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu | 4 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
The Wijk aan Zee formulation of a diverse discipline the place the higher-rated gamers are nearly obliged by ranking math to try to beat up the outsiders normally results in decisive chess, however on this case it was completely different. The general variety of decisive video games was 45 p.c, up from 40 p.c in 2025, however remarkably in video games solely among the many absolute 2750+ elite, two thirds of the video games had been decisive, with 10 wins in 15 video games.
2026 Tata Metal Chess Masters: Crosstable Solely For 2750+ Gamers
| Rank | FED | Title | Score | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Whole |
| 1 | Nodirbek Abdusattorov | 2751 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4.0 | ||
| 2 | Vincent Keymer | 2776 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 3.5 | ||
| 3 | Anish Giri | 2760 | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 3.0 | ||
| 4 | Arjun Erigaisi | 2775 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 2.0 | ||
| 5 | Gukesh Dommaraju | 2754 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1.5 | ||
| 6 | Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu | 2758 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1.0 |
Notice Abdusattorov’s path to victory included no attracts towards the very prime gamers!
Explanations diverse. Some pointed to a rearrangement of the taking part in corridor, in order that the Challengers not shaped a wall in entrance of the Masters and followers might get near the highest gamers.
Many others identified the time management. As an alternative of the very lengthy format we had been used to with 100 minutes and an increment from transfer one, then 50 minutes added at transfer 40, we acquired 120 minutes for 40 strikes, then half-hour added. The true change, nevertheless, was that, precisely just like the format we’ll see within the Candidates in March, the gamers get no 30-second increment till transfer 40 and time hassle will be very actual.
GM Vasyl Ivanchuk demonstrated that completely in a second of pure drama, when he had one second left on his clock to answer to his opponent’s transfer—he survived and gained the sport, although each GM Simon Williams in commentary and Ivanchuk himself identified that if GM Velimir Ivic had made a very random transfer it will most likely have been sufficient to take the complete level!
Vasyl Ivanchuk will get a spherical of applause as he manages to make his fortieth transfer with just one second on his clock! https://t.co/AhxI72iDWX pic.twitter.com/cD6ztHq5Pk
— chess24 (@chess24com) January 19, 2026
The added strain little doubt did affect the gamers, however most of the blunders weren’t close to the time management. Already within the first spherical we noticed Fedoseev blunder and resign on transfer 16 vs. Niemann, whereas with 35 minutes on the clock Giri blundered a easy fork of two bishops vs. Keymer.
Essentially the most obvious blunder of the entire occasion, by Gukesh, was made when he was down to 5 and a half minutes, however 36…Rg5?? was a transfer each Abdusattorov and the world champion referred to as inexplicable.
You did not must be Abdusattorov to identify 37.Qxf6+, planning to choose up the free rook on g5 subsequent.
Giri steered one thing has modified as prior to now elite gamers would goal the outsiders and make attracts towards their “friends,” however that not works:
Now the highest gamers activate one another. Initially I used to be offended by that. I felt like they’re turning on me. What’s unsuitable with me, why am I being focused? However then I noticed they’re turning on one another too… It’s most likely essentially the most enjoyable time to play classical prime tournaments in my private profession span.
It is enjoyable for followers too.
4. Erdogmus Is Rising Quick
Fourteen-year-old Erdogmus started with 4 attracts towards prime gamers, then misplaced a considerably unlucky sport to Sindarov, earlier than bursting into life with three wins in 4 video games, over Van Foreest, Arjun, and Van Nguyen. His obvious nervousness, Williams referred to as it the “loss of life sway”…
Simon christens Erdogmus rocking backwards and forwards “the loss of life sway!” #TataSteelChess pic.twitter.com/CFSkPUG5r2
— chess24 (@chess24com) January 25, 2026
…hid the actual fact he is an absolute beast when low on time, with participant after participant mentioning his energy within the post-game interviews. As an example, Van Foreest commented, “The child is simply insanely sturdy! I do not know how one can be this good at chess at 14.”
The run might have gotten even higher, since Erdogmus had what he referred to as “an easy probability” to beat the world champion and take the lead after 10 rounds. It definitely wasn’t apparent, however it will have been stunning!
In the long run Erdogmus misplaced that sport, then to Giri, earlier than bouncing again towards Fedoseev for a +1 rating in his Masters debut. He is as much as 2686.6 and world number-38 on the stay ranking listing, with smashing Wei’s report because the youngest ever 2700 participant wanting solely like a matter of time—and it is unlikely he will cease there!
5. Bluebaum Seems Prepared For Candidates
One of many themes of the event was the 4 Candidates getting an nearly excellent rehearsal—13 rounds as an alternative of 14, and the identical time management. Sindarov edged the mini-tournament among the many gamers.
2026 Tata Metal Chess Masters: Crosstable Amongst Candidates
| Rank | FED | Participant | Score | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Whole |
| 1 | Javokhir Sindarov | 2726 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 2.0 | ||
| 2 | Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu | 2758 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1.5 | ||
| 3 | Matthias Bluebaum | 2679 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1.5 | ||
| 4 | Anish Giri | 2760 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1.0 |
Essentially the most spectacular story, nevertheless, was that of Bluebaum. The FIDE Grand Swiss runner-up has confronted some inevitable questions over whether or not as a 28-year-old participant who’s hovered round 2640-60 for a few years he is worthy of a spot within the Candidates Event. Properly, in his Wijk aan Zee debut he beat Keymer (2776), Gukesh (2754), and Giri (2760), climbing above 2700 for the primary time in his profession.
He slipped again underneath 2700 with a loss to Abdusattorov (in reality he misplaced solely to the 2 Uzbek stars), however he is confirmed once more he can maintain his personal on the prime degree. Candidates could must assume twice whether or not they wish to go “all-out” to beat one of many outsiders in the primary occasion—in Wijk aan Zee, it led to self-impalement.
6. It Was A Uncommon Failure For Indian Chess
For some to succeed, others should fail, and it was a grim event for the Indian stars. It is tempting to level to the Dutch winter climate being robust for the Indian contingent, nevertheless it was solely a 12 months in the past that Praggnanandhaa gained the occasion in a playoff towards Gukesh.
This 12 months Aravindh (-15.6) fell out of the 2700 membership, Praggnanandhaa (-16.8) and Arjun (-29.9) dropped out of the highest 10, and Gukesh (-5.8), who scored 50 p.c with three wins and three losses, is just hanging on within the prime 10 by a whisker. We abruptly discover ourselves with no Indian gamers rated above 2750 for the primary time in two years.
Essentially the most surprising case is that of Arjun, one in all solely 16 gamers ever to cross 2800 on the stay ranking listing.
He can play effectively in Wijk aan Zee, since he dominated the Challengers with 10.5/13 in 2022, however his Masters report is a horror present: 14th (-21.4 ranking factors) in 2023 and tenth (-24.3) in 2025.
When he gained sport one towards Praggnanandhaa this time spherical it was a 3rd win in a row within the Masters, and it appeared issues may flip round. He commented: “The final couple of instances I performed this event, it took me without end to win video games and I am glad to begin effectively.” Alas, 5 losses and no wins adopted.
If one factor’s sure, nevertheless, it is that Arjun and co. will hit again in upcoming occasions!
7. Woodward Earned His Spot In The Masters
To win the Challengers and declare a spot within the Masters you normally must publish a implausible rating, and that is simply what 15-year-old U.S. star Woodward did, bouncing again from an unlucky round-one loss to attain 9 wins and 10/13.
He is persevering with the shape that noticed him go into the ultimate spherical of final 12 months’s Grand Swiss with an out of doors probability of qualifying for the Candidates, and it appears to be like as if he’ll be difficult on the very prime within the years to return.
It wasn’t simple, nevertheless, as the whole lot finally got here all the way down to a nail-biting last spherical.
8. Ivanchuk Got here Extremely Shut
Woodward went into the ultimate spherical tied for first with GM Aydin Suleymanli, who in 2025 had missed out on profitable the event on tiebreaks. This 12 months the leaders each had an issue, nevertheless, which was that half a degree behind them was 56-year-old Ivanchuk, who had overwhelmed them each. If he gained they usually drew, his tiebreaks could be higher.
Ivanchuk did his half, Suleymanli overpressed and misplaced to Ivic, however ultimately Woodward denied Ivanchuk an eleventh shot on the Masters, a event the Ukrainian had gained in his first look in 1996.
It was all of the extra spectacular for Ivanchuk for the reason that lack of an increment is what, as an illustration, had doomed him within the 2013 FIDE Candidates Event when he misplaced a number of video games on time regardless of occurring to beat each GMs Magnus Carlsen and Vladimir Kramnik. Just lately Ivanchuk missed out on a gold medal within the European Fast Championship due to the clock…
Chess will be pure ache — Ivanchuk loses on time within the last spherical when urgent to beat Pultinevicius and win the European Fast Championship! https://t.co/hjMeeiBSR7 pic.twitter.com/ODt63o0kGG
— chess24 (@chess24com) November 29, 2025
…however the one sport he misplaced in Wijk aan Zee, to GM Erwin l’Ami, got here as a result of he performed too quick. That is to not say there weren’t dramatic moments—we additionally acquired a massively chaotic finish to a sport towards GM Max Warmerdam, however as within the one-second instance above, Ivanchuk took the win.
Ivanchuk beats the clock once more, this time with 13 seconds for 4 strikes! https://t.co/mmHH9yVyM3 pic.twitter.com/3vluRFZYol
— chess24 (@chess24com) January 25, 2026
“I nonetheless really feel Ivanchuk taking part in within the Masters may very well be nice if it might occur subsequent 12 months!” mentioned Woodward, and it is exhausting to disagree.
9. Oro Is On The Proper Trajectory
From the oldest participant to the youngest, we come to 12-year-old Argentinian IM Faustino Oro. This 12 months he scored 4 wins (most notably over L’Ami and GM Daniil Yuffa), which was just one greater than in 2025, however this time as an alternative of 9 losses he suffered simply three, doubling his rating from 3.5/13 to 7/13. The beginning briefly hinted at much more.
Chessi! 🇦🇷 https://t.co/4Oc45C9jcf
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) January 22, 2026
Doubling once more will not be doable, however it will be no shock in 2027 to see Oro as a grandmaster preventing for the highest spot.
If he does play the Challengers he’ll come up towards one other prodigy, 14-year-old German IM Christian Gloekler, who powered to a shocking 8.5/9 within the Qualifiers, nearly matching Abdusattorov’s efficiency ranking for the occasion.
Gloeckler is just a little behind the insane Oro/Erdogmus schedule, however what finally issues for all prodigies will not be how briskly they rise however the place their ceiling finally ends up being.
10. Yip Virtually Received The Greatest Prize
IM Carissa Yip had an important occasion, profitable 5 video games, gaining 19.6 ranking factors, and climbing to the Girls’s world number-13 spot, nevertheless it might have been even higher. She was clearly profitable in a sport she drew towards GM Bibisara Assaubayeva, and briefly had an important probability towards Yuffa within the penultimate spherical in a sport she went on to lose.
Half a degree extra would have given the U.S. 22-year-old her third and last GM norm, whereas her ranking would have gotten even nearer to the 2500 mark.
Getting the GM title is not simply prestigious for Yip, for the reason that title can even earn her a $100,000 prize from Jeanne Sinquefield and the Saint Louis Chess Membership. That is nonetheless up for grabs till July 4, 2029, so there’s loads of time!
11. FIDE Circuit Has A New Chief As Assaubayeva Makes Checklist
It is no shock that the chief of the new two-year FIDE Circuit is now the runner-up in 2025, Abdusattorov, who scored 25.78 factors for sole first place within the Masters. There are additionally factors for Sindarov, Van Foreest, Keymer, and Niemann, although it is one of many quirks of the Circuit that locations under fifth do not rely in a 14-player occasion, so whereas as an illustration Bluebaum and Erdogmus miss out for sixth place, there are factors on provide to the highest 5 within the Challengers.
FIDE Circuit Factors From Tata Metal Chess
| # | Participant | FED | Placement | Factors |
| 1 | Nodirbek Abdusattorov | 1st Masters | 25.78 | |
| 2 | Javokhir Sindarov | 2nd Masters | 18.75 | |
| 3= | Jorden van Foreest | Shared third Masters | 14.06 | |
| 3= | Vincent Keymer | Shared third Masters | 14.06 | |
| 3= | Hans Moke Niemann | Shared third Masters | 14.06 | |
| 6 | Andy Woodward | 1st Challengers | 7.46 | |
| 7 | Vasyl Ivanchuk | 2nd Challengers | 5.43 | |
| 8 | Aydin Suleymanli | third Challengers | 4.75 | |
| 9 | Marc’Andria Maurizzi | 4th Challengers | 4.07 | |
| 10 | Bibisara Assaubayeva | fifth Challengers | 3.39 |
It is noteworthy that Assaubayeva’s fantastic 7.5/13 efficiency means she picks up 3.39 factors, the very best haul by a feminine participant since GM Zhu Jiner earned 5.40 factors for taking fifth place within the Fujairah World Superstars in 2025. Assaubayeva has damaged into the Girls’s prime 10 with a 2516.1 stay ranking.
In order that’s all for the Tata Metal Chess Pageant, however for most of the gamers there’s solely a really quick break. Abdusattorov, Sindarov, Keymer, Niemann, and Arjun be a part of GMs Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, and Levon Aronian within the 2026 FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship that runs February 13-15.
Then 10 days later the Prague Chess Pageant begins. That features Abdusattorov, Keymer, Gukesh, Van Foreest, Aravindh, and Van Nguyen.
Earlier protection:
- Spherical 13: Abdusattorov Wins ‘Dream’ Tata Metal Masters, Woodward Takes Challengers
- Spherical 12: Abdusattorov Grabs Lead Earlier than Tata Metal Masters Remaining Spherical
- Spherical 11: Sindarov Catches Abdusattorov, Niemann Climbs To 2nd
- Spherical 10: Bluebaum Joins 2700 Membership As Gukesh, Keymer Bounce Again
- Spherical 9: Erdogmus, Van Foreest Climb To 2nd As Bluebaum Beats Gukesh
- Spherical 8: Giri Beats Chief Abdusattorov As Gukesh Bounces Again
- Spherical 7: Abdusattorov Grows Lead As Giri Beats Gukesh
- Spherical 6: Abdusattorov Pounces On Gukesh’s Blunder To Seize Sole Lead
- Spherical 5: Sindarov Catches Leaders As Gukesh, Keymer, Fedoseev Additionally Strike
- Spherical 4: Niemann Sacs Queen To Lead Tata Metal Chess With Abdusattorov
- Spherical 3: Van Foreest, Bluebaum Beat Giri, Keymer To Be part of 5-Means Tie For Lead
- Spherical 2: Abdusattorov Beats Praggnanandhaa; Lu Miaoyi Takes Sole Lead In Challengers
- Spherical 1: Sindarov Denies Gukesh As Niemann, Keymer, Arjun Pounce On Blunders
- Tata Metal Chess 2026: All The Data
