Tata Steel 2024 R5: Gukesh bounces back with a statement victory over Nepomniachtchi
After suffering two losses in-a-row, it was time for D Gukesh to make a comeback. He did it against the two-time World Championship Challenger, Ian Nepomniachtchi in the fifth round of 86th Tata Steel Masters 2024. Gukesh seized his opportunity when his opponent made a tactical mistake. Reigning four-time Women's World Champion, Wenjun Ju (CHN) defeated Alireza Firouzja (FRA), beating her highest rated opponent she ever faced. Lowest rated in the Challengers section, IM Eline Roebers (NED) defeated the top seed, GM Hans Niemann (USA) emphatically, after suffering four losses consecutively. It will be Nepomniachtchi v Praggnanandhaa, Jorden van Foreest v Gukesh, Wenjun v Vidit, Liam Vrolijk Leon, IM Stefan Beukema v GM Harika and GM Salem v IM Divya in Round 6. It starts today at 2 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit/Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2024
Anish Giri increases his sole lead, Wenjun stuns Firouzja
"...Bb4 is also such a logical move, also Nc6 is like very hard to, the coordination is very messy. I was hoping he would play it and yeah heartbeat was racing." - Gukesh on if he feels his heartbeat is racing when he spots a mistake on the board. This win was certainly important for Gukesh, considering the fact that they are going to face each other twice at the FIDE Candidates 2024 which is less than three months away.
Gukesh - Nepomniachtchi: 1-0
D Gukesh (2725) faced Ian Nepomniachtchi (2769) only once earlier in a Classical rated game last year. That game ended in a draw. This time, Gukesh made the most out of his opportunity.
Black made a tactical oversight 34...Bb4? Gukesh correctly spotted 35.Nxc6 Rcxc6 36.Rxd5 h5 37.Qf4 Rd6 38.Rxd6 Bxd6 39.Rxd6 Rxd6 40.Qxd6 Qe1+ 41.Kh2 Qxf2 although Black recovered a pawn, White is still winning due to his two extra pawns. Gukesh played precisely and won the game in the next few moves.
After suffering four losses, IM Eline Roebers (NED, 2381) scored the biggest win of her career against the top seed, GM Hans Niemann (USA, 2692).
Anish Giri made a short tweet on Round 5
ChessBase India turned eight years old. On that occassion, Vishy Anand wished us in his own sweet and elegant way
The traditional chess-football match between a delegation of the top chess players of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament mixed with players from Telstar turned into a true football party. Naturally, white (with team captain Marc ‘Andria Maurizzi) played against black (with team captain Loek van Wely). Maurizzi led his team to a 6-4 victory with two beautiful goals in the first half. Other ‘chess goals’ were scored by top chess players Praggnanandhaa, Leon Luke Mendonca, Salem Saleh and Loek van Wely. Source
Both Praggnanandhaa and Leon Luke Mendonca scored a goal each on the first rest day
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Schedule
Starting from Saturday 13th to 27th January, all round starts at 2 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. Only Sunday 28th January, the final round will start at 12 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. Rest days are same for both Masters and Challengers section - 17th, 22nd and 25th January 2024.
Time Control
100 minutes for 40 moves, followed by 50 minutes for the remaining moves with 30 seconds increment for each move starting from the first move.
