source: chess.com
Nodirbek Abdusattorov takes home the Masters champion's trophy in the Tata Steel Chess tournament. He did so by beating in the final round an out of form Arjun Erigaisi who struggled in the tournament.
source: chess.com
Chasing Nodirbek was his compatriot Javokhir Sindarov who settled for second place with a score of 8.5. It was a competitive tournament with the world's top players including world champion Gukesh and candidates for world championship challengers Giri, Pragg, Bluebaum and Sindarov.
In an opposite colored bishop ending, Arjun was saddled with three isolated weak pawns that gave Black the advantage. Nodirbek exchanged Queens, picked off White's weak pawns and soon won the game.
Link: https://lichess.org/broadcast/tata-steel-chess-2026--masters/round-13/yuTondoz/c4NPy4mw
In the Challengers tournament, fifteen year old Andy Woodward edged out legend Vasyl Ivanchuk to win the tournament with ten points.
source: chess.com
The winner of the Challengers tournament qualifies to participate in next year's Master's tournament.
source: chess.com
Woodward beat strong Dutch player Erwin L'ami in the last round to clinch the victory.
Their game was from a rare line in the Gruenfeld Defense.
h4 is rarely played. The usual moves are Qb3 or cxd5 or Bg5. Woodward shows he wants a fight.
Gives up the pawn and opens up the h file. 8. Nxb5 runs into Qa5+ 9. Nc3 Nxe4 and Black has pressure on the c3 Knight.
The game was even and reached the following position.
Woodward moved his King to d2 with the idea of exchanging Queens and activating his King on e3 where it guards the f4 square.
An endgame was reached where Black had four pawn islands including two remote isolated pawns. White converted this position to a win.
Link: https://lichess.org/broadcast/tata-steel-chess-2026--challengers/round-13/jJs1KFbZ/sO5xG8xC
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