 "D Gukesh is among five GMs currently leading the Tata Steel Chess standings. Image: Tata Steel Chess")
Indian chess sensation D Gukesh has managed to stay at the top of the Tata Steel Chess 2025 standings despite a draw in Round 2 against Russian Grandmaster Vladimir Fedoseev on Sunday. Besides Gukesh, India’s R Praggnanandhaa, Fabiano Caruana, Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Vincent Keymer are also at the top of the Tata Steel Chess standings.
The prestigious chess tournament in Netherlands’ Wijk aan Zee, which is also known as the ‘Wimbledon’ of chess , is Gukesh’s first tournament since he became the youngest world champion last month by beating Chinese GM Ding Liren. Gukesh defeated former champion Liren in a best-of-14-game series to clinch the World Chess Championship 2024 .
Gukesh secures draw vs Fedoseev
At Tata Steel Chess 2025, Gukesh defeated Dutch GM Anish Giri in the first round to make a winning start to his 2025 campaign before settling for a draw against Fedoseev.
Sunday was the first time Gukesh was playing with black pieces since stunning Ding in Game 14 as the veteran Chinese chess committed a late blunder. Fedoseev, however, showed great initiative and had Gukesh under the cosh but the 18-year-old Indian chess Grandmaster showed great resilience and defensive gameplay to eke out a draw .
Meanwhile, in an all-Indian clash in the second round, Praggnanandhaa defeated Pentala Harikrishna. He had played out a draw against Abdusattorov in the first round. Harikrishna had defeated Arjun Erigaisi on Saturday.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsTata Steel Chess 2025 standings after second round
| # | Player | Rating | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GM Fabiano Caruana | 2803 | 1.5 |
| 2 | GM Gukesh Dommaraju | 2777 | 1.5 |
| 3 | GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov | 2768 | 1.5 |
| 4 | GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu | 2741 | 1.5 |
| 5 | GM Vincent Keymer | 2733 | 1.5 |
| 6 | GM Wei Yi | 2751 | 1 |
| 7 | GM Vladimir Fedoseev | 2717 | 1 |
| 8 | GM Pentala Harikrishna | 2695 | 1 |
| 9 | GM Alexey Sarana | 2677 | 1 |
| 10 | GM Max Warmerdam | 2646 | 1 |
| 11 | GM Arjun Erigaisi | 2801 | 0.5 |
| 12 | GM Anish Giri | 2731 | 0.5 |
| 13 | GM Jorden van Foreest | 2680 | 0.5 |
| 14 | GM Leon Luke Mendonca | 2639 | 0 |
Erigaisi allows Giri to squeeze out a draw
Erigaisi on Sunday settled for a draw against local favourite Giri despite a strong middlegame in which it looked like the Indian was set for a victory.
Another 18-year-old Indian GM Leon Luke Mendonca lost to Abdusattorov in Round 2 after suffering a defeat to Vincent Keymer on the opening day.
Fabiano Caruana was the other player to win a match in Round 2 as he defeated Jorden van Foreest.