Tata Steel Masters 2024: Anish Giri pulls ahead

Anish Giri notched up a second win in a row in Round 4 of the Tata Steel Masters 204 and leapfrogged Alireza Firouzja, who split a point with Nodirbek Abdusattorov. The Dutchman is coming to the rest day as the sole leader of the event. Wei Yi and Praggnanandhaa R also scored victories and moved up in the standings. Alexander Donchenko was very close to his first win but allowed Ian Nepomniachtchi to escape with a draw. 

Anish Giri – Gukesh D | 1-0, 72 moves

Gukesh comfortably equalized on the black side of English Opening but somewhat straightforwardly forced exchanges, apparently underestimating the dangers of the position with opposite-coloured bishops that emerged on the board. 

Interestingly, the first line of Stockfish is 25…e4!? sacrificing the pawn, followed by Qe5. Gukesh played 25…Qd8 instead, but after 26. h4! h5 27. Rb5 White got a long-lasting pressure that is very hard to withstand in a practical game. 

The young Indian tried to escape in an endgame, but Anish slowly but surely got to Black’s weak pawns and sealed the deal on move 72. 

Alireza Firouzja – Nodirbek Abdusattorov | ½-½, 30 moves

The opponents tested a topical line of the Open Ruy Lopez in which Alireza lost to Vidit three years ago. Firouzja was first to deviate with 18.cxd4, but Nodirbek demonstrated his opening preparation, reeling off several best moves and reaching equality. Shortly after trading the queens, the players split a point in a balanced endgame. 

 Max Wanderdam – Ju Wenjun | ½-½, 30 moves

In a popular line of the Catalan, the players followed the encounter Nepomniachtchi – Firouzja (2022) up to move 19. Max opted for a new move 19.Qa3 but it did not change the evaluation of the position as roughly equal. As soon as the last pair of minor pieces left the board, a draw was agreed on move 31.

Wei Yi – Parham Maghsoodloo | 1-0, 69 moves

Parham went for complications and sacrificed an exchange for two pawns in the Advanced Caro-Kann, which led to a very interesting unbalanced position. The opponents traded inaccuracies in a complicated struggle, with Wei spurning a draw by repetition closer to the time control. The position remained in balance after trading the queens, but shortly after, Maghsoodloo made a nonchalant move that cost him the game. 

Black has to deal with e3-e4, driving the bishop away and white rook’s potential penetration to the seventh rank. The only move addressing both issues is 44…f5! with the idea of meeting 45.g5 with 45…Rb7, followed by 46…h6 with sufficient counterplay. 

Parham, however, played 44…Be4? and after 45.Ra7+ it was all over for Black. Wei transferred his rooks to the seven rank, traded the rooks and advanced his a-pawn, forcing Maghsoodloo’s capitulation. 

Jorden Van Foreest – Vidit Gujrathi | ½-½, 30 moves

The players tested the Rubinstein variation of Four Knights in which Black sacrifices a pawn for initiative. Usually, it is sufficient to maintain equilibrium, and this game was no exception. Vidit regained a pawn, but most of the pieces were exchanged in a process, and the opponents signed a peace in an equal rook endgame. 

Ding Liren – Praggnanandhaa R | 0-1, 62 moves

Things unfolded slowly in the Arkhangelsk Variation of Ruy Lopez, but with his fifteenth move, the World Champion allowed Praggnanandhaa to push in the center with c5-c4 getting some initiative. Several moves down the road, turned into serious pressure on White’s b2-pawn, which eventually fell. Black gradually exchanged most of the pieces liquidating into a knight endgame. Ding had some chances for a draw, but his 43rd move made things much easier for Pragg. 

White should have played 43.Ke3 (or 43.Ne3) keeping his pawn structure intact, whereas 43.f4? played by Ding was tantamount to chess suicide. Black effortlessly converted his extra pawn twenty moves later.  

Ian Nepomniachtchi – Alexander Donchenko | ½-½, 56 moves

In a topical line of the Sicilian Dragon, Alexander used a pawn sacrifice introduced by Nikita Vitiugov in his game with David Navara at the recent European Team Championship and got sufficient compensation. Ian boldly castled long, which led to a very interesting double-edged but roughly equal position. However, with his 28th move, Ian recklessly snatched the b4-pawn, missing a spectacular but simple blow. 

28… Rxc2+! 29. Kxc2 Rc8+ 

According to chess engines, after 30. Kd3 Qxd5+ 31. Ke3, the position is equal, but this line is very hard to venture upon for a human. Ian played more natural 30.Nc3, but after 30…Qf3! Black was winning despite White’s extra rook. Soon, Alexander restored the material balance, but fatigue took its toll at this point as he gradually let his advantage slip away and forced a draw by perpetual. 

Standings after Round 4:

Masters pairings

Photos: Jurriaan Hoefsmit and Lennart Ootes – Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2024

Official website: tatasteelchess.com