88th Tata Steel 2026 R3: Arjun Erigaisi draws against World Champion Gukesh

by Shahid Ahmed - 20/01/2026

The third round witnessed only two decisive games at 88th Tata Steel Masters 2026. Arjun Erigaisi drew against the World Champion, D Gukesh. R Praggnanandhaa and Aravindh Chithambaram also shared the point against the Czech Republic no.1 - Thai Dai Van Nguyen and World Rapid 2021 champion - Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) respectively. Matthias Bluebaum (GER) and Jorden van Foreest (NED) defeated their fellow compatriots - Vincent Keymer (GER) and Anish Giri (NED) respectively. Five players - Hans Niemann (USA), Jorden, Arjun, Bluebaum and Abdusattorov are at 2/3 each. Round 4 starts today at 2 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST for both Masters and Challengers section. Photo: Lennart Ootes / Tata Steel Chess

Ivanchuk wins a thriller against Ivic

In the Challengers section, GM Aydin Suleymanli (AZE) defeated IM Eline Roebers (NED) to gain an early sole lead 2.5/3. Six out of seven games ended decisively. The legend, GM Vasyl Ivanchuk (UKR) won a thrilling battle against GM Velimir Ivic (SRB).

Praggnanandhaa - Thai Dai Van: 0.5-0.5

R Praggnanandhaa (2758) and Thai Dai Van Nguyen (CZE, 2656) have played four Classical rated games against each other. Three of them ended in draws and Praggnanandhaa won one last year. Their fifth battle was a well-contested draw.

R Praggnanandhaa - Thai Dai Van Nguyen (CZE): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Tata Steel Chess

Arjun - Gukesh: 0.5-0.5

The World no.5, Arjun Erigaisi (2775) and the reigning World Champion, D Gukesh (2754) have played a dozen Classical rated games against each other. Arjun won six, Gukesh won one and the remaining five ended in draws. Their 13th Classical battle against each other was a lukewarm draw.

Arjun Erigaisi - D Gukesh: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Tata Steel Chess

Interview with GM Matthias Bluebaum (GER) | Video: Tata Steel Chess Tournament

Matthias Bluebaum won the All-German clash against Vincent Keymer | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Tata Steel Chess

Interview with Jorden van Foreest (NED) | Video: Tata Steel Chess Tournament

Jorden van Foreest prevailed in an All-Dutch and former Tata Steel Masters winners' clash against Anish Giri | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Tata Steel Chess

Aravindh Chithambaram (pictured) - Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Tata Steel Chess

Interview with GM Vasyl Ivanchuk (UKR) | Video: Tata Steel Chess Tournament

Fans of the sport and Indian chess players | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Tata Steel Chess

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Replay Round 3 live commentary by IM Sagar Shah, Amruta Mokal and IM Soumya Swaminathan | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Round 3 Masters games

Replay Round 3 Challengers games

Masters Round 3 results

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.
1	2	2700	GM	Aravindh, Chithambaram Vr.	½ - ½	GM	Abdusattorov, Nodirbek	2751	14
2	3	2725	GM	Niemann, Hans Moke	½ - ½	GM	Erdogmus, Yagiz Kaan	2658	1
3	4	2776	GM	Keymer, Vincent	0 - 1	GM	Bluebaum, Matthias	2679	13
4	5	2726	GM	Sindarov, Javokhir	½ - ½	GM	Fedoseev, Vladimir	2705	12
5	6	2703	GM	Van Foreest, Jorden	1 - 0	GM	Giri, Anish	2760	11
6	7	2775	GM	Erigaisi, Arjun	½ - ½	GM	Gukesh, D	2754	10
7	8	2758	GM	Praggnanandhaa, R	½ - ½	GM	Nguyen, Thai Dai Van	2656	9

Details

Standings after Round 3

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	TB1
1	3	GM	Niemann, Hans Moke	USA	2725	2
	6	GM	Van Foreest, Jorden	NED	2703	2
	7	GM	Erigaisi, Arjun	IND	2775	2
	13	GM	Bluebaum, Matthias	GER	2679	2
	14	GM	Abdusattorov, Nodirbek	UZB	2751	2
6	1	GM	Erdogmus, Yagiz Kaan	TUR	2658	1,5
	2	GM	Aravindh, Chithambaram Vr.	IND	2700	1,5
	5	GM	Sindarov, Javokhir	UZB	2726	1,5
	9	GM	Nguyen, Thai Dai Van	CZE	2656	1,5
	10	GM	Gukesh, D	IND	2754	1,5
	12	GM	Fedoseev, Vladimir	SLO	2705	1,5
12	4	GM	Keymer, Vincent	GER	2776	1
13	8	GM	Praggnanandhaa, R	IND	2758	0,5
	11	GM	Giri, Anish	NED	2760	0,5

Details

Round 4 pairings

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.
1	14	2751	GM	Abdusattorov, Nodirbek		GM	Nguyen, Thai Dai Van	2656	9
2	10	2754	GM	Gukesh, D		GM	Praggnanandhaa, R	2758	8
3	11	2760	GM	Giri, Anish		GM	Erigaisi, Arjun	2775	7
4	12	2705	GM	Fedoseev, Vladimir		GM	Van Foreest, Jorden	2703	6
5	13	2679	GM	Bluebaum, Matthias		GM	Sindarov, Javokhir	2726	5
6	1	2658	GM	Erdogmus, Yagiz Kaan		GM	Keymer, Vincent	2776	4
7	2	2700	GM	Aravindh, Chithambaram Vr.		GM	Niemann, Hans Moke	2725	3

Details

Challengers Round 3 results

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.
1	2	2611	GM	Maurizzi, Marcandria	1 - 0	IM	Yip, Carissa	2466	14
2	3	2638	GM	Ivic, Velimir	0 - 1	GM	Ivanchuk, Vasyl	2605	1
3	4	2634	GM	L'ami, Erwin	0 - 1	GM	Yuffa, Daniil	2604	13
4	5	2497	GM	Assaubayeva, Bibisara	½ - ½	IM	Oro, Faustino	2516	12
5	6	2398	IM	Roebers, Eline	0 - 1	GM	Suleymanli, Aydin	2628	11
6	7	2431	IM	Lu, Miaoyi	0 - 1	GM	Woodward, Andy	2608	10
7	8	2576	GM	Warmerdam, Max	1 - 0	FM	Panesar, Vedant	2406	9

Details

Standings after Round 3

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	TB1
1	11	GM	Suleymanli, Aydin	AZE	2628	2,5
2	1	GM	Ivanchuk, Vasyl	UKR	2605	2
	2	GM	Maurizzi, Marcandria	FRA	2611	2
	5	GM	Assaubayeva, Bibisara	KAZ	2497	2
	7	IM	Lu, Miaoyi	CHN	2431	2
	10	GM	Woodward, Andy	USA	2608	2
	12	IM	Oro, Faustino	ARG	2516	2
	13	GM	Yuffa, Daniil	ESP	2604	2
9	14	IM	Yip, Carissa	USA	2466	1,5
10	3	GM	Ivic, Velimir	SRB	2638	1
	8	GM	Warmerdam, Max	NED	2576	1
	9	FM	Panesar, Vedant	IND	2406	1
13	4	GM	L'ami, Erwin	NED	2634	0
	6	IM	Roebers, Eline	NED	2398	0

Details

Round 4 pairings

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.
1	14	2466	IM	Yip, Carissa		FM	Panesar, Vedant	2406	9
2	10	2608	GM	Woodward, Andy		GM	Warmerdam, Max	2576	8
3	11	2628	GM	Suleymanli, Aydin		IM	Lu, Miaoyi	2431	7
4	12	2516	IM	Oro, Faustino		IM	Roebers, Eline	2398	6
5	13	2604	GM	Yuffa, Daniil		GM	Assaubayeva, Bibisara	2497	5
6	1	2605	GM	Ivanchuk, Vasyl		GM	L'ami, Erwin	2634	4
7	2	2611	GM	Maurizzi, Marcandria		GM	Ivic, Velimir	2638	3