Tata Steel Masters: A Humbling Reality Check for Indian Chess Stars
The Tata Steel Chess Masters in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands, served as a stark reality check for India's top chess players, with a disappointing campaign that saw significant rating point losses and few victories.
Rating Point Plunge for Indian Grandmasters
Over the three-week tournament, India's elite chess contingent collectively lost 69 rating points. World champion Gukesh D dropped 6 points, while R. Praggnanandhaa lost 17 points, Arjun Erigaisi suffered a substantial 30-point decline, and Aravindh Chithambaram fell by 16 points.
Disappointing Win-Loss Record
The four Indian players managed just six wins from 52 games played. Gukesh secured three victories, while Praggnanandhaa, Erigaisi, and Chithambaram could only manage one win each. Notably, two of these wins came in all-Indian encounters, with Erigaisi defeating Praggnanandhaa and Praggnanandhaa overcoming Chithambaram.
Uzbek Dominance and Indian Struggles
The tournament was dominated by Uzbek players Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov, who finished first and second respectively. This continues a simmering rivalry between Indian and Uzbek chess that began with Uzbekistan's 2022 Olympiad gold win on Indian soil, followed by India's 2024 gold in Budapest.
In contrast, Gukesh was the top Indian finisher at joint 8th position with 6.5 points, while Praggnanandhaa (5.5 points), Erigaisi (4.5 points), and Chithambaram (4.5 points) found themselves among the bottom four players.
Alarming Timing for Setbacks
The poor performance comes at a crucial time for Indian chess. Praggnanandhaa is preparing for his second Candidates tournament, hoping to earn a world championship shot, while Gukesh will defend his world title later this year. The Indian team also faces the challenge of defending their Olympiad crown in Samarkand later this year.
Post-Tournament Rankings Impact
Following the tournament, Gukesh remains India's only player in the world top 10 at number 10, while Sindarov jumped to 11th position, surpassing Arjun Erigaisi (world number 12) and Praggnanandhaa (number 14).
Concerning Performance Patterns
Despite having more wins than his compatriots, Gukesh made several alarming decisions during the tournament, including critical blunders against Abdusattorov, Anish Giri, and Hans Niemann. He also let winning positions slip away in multiple games, most notably against Sindarov.
The results are particularly surprising given the players' recent form. Praggnanandhaa entered 2026 after a spectacular 2025 with multiple tournament wins, while Erigaisi had won twin bronze medals at the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championship.
This year's Tata Steel tournament featured one of its youngest fields ever, including 14-year-old Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, making the Indian struggles even more pronounced against emerging competition.
