Sindarov joins Abdusattorov in the lead of the Tata Steel Masters with two rounds to go - 11

Javokhir Sindarov won a sharp game against Arjun Erigaisi, Sindarov got a winning advantage on the run up to move 40 but things were still very tricky and it was only after 52.Re4? that he was winning. In the meantime the leader Nodirbek Abdusattorov had a calm draw against Jorden Van Foreest.

Hans Moke Niemann took a huge amount of risks against the struggling Thai Dai Van Nguyen, although the engine says he was losing at various points Nguyen's desperate time trouble was enough to justify his approach. 40.f4? left Niemann winning, 42...b2? gave Nguyen a final chance but after 43.Kf2? he was lost.

Anish Giri won a sharp calculating game against Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, 23...Ba6? was the losing move. Vincent Keymer beat Praggnanandhaa, 25.Nd6? was the move that started the trouble.

Vladimir Fedoseev and Matthias Bluebaum drew in 66 moves, it seemed pretty accurate. Gukesh couldn't convert a winning advantage against Chithambaram Aravindh.

My thanks to Michiel Abeln for the photos and notes.

In the Challengers Andy Woodward bounced back from his loss to Vasyl Ivanchuk to beat Marc'andria Maurizzi. Woodward leads on 8.5/11 by half a point from Vasyl Ivanchuk and Aydin Suleymanli. Ivanchuk beat Suleymanli today.

Round 11 Standings: 1 Sindarov, Abdusattorov 7pts, 3 Niemann, Van Foreest, Bluebaum 6.5pts, 6 Keymer 6pts, 7 Erdogmus, Gukesh,Giri, Fedoseev 5.5pts, 11 Praggnanandhaa 4.5pts, 12 Aravindh, Erigaisi 4pts, 14 Nguyen 3pts.

Round 12 Sat 1pm 31st Jan 2026. Abdusattorov-Bluebaum, Erdogmus-Fedoseev, Aravindh-Giri, Niemann-Gukesh, Keymer-Nguyen, Sindarov-Praggnanandhaa, Van Foreest-Erigaisi.