World chess champion D Gukesh demonstrated exceptional skill of adaptation in round 6 of the Tata Steel Chess Masters 2025 (Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands). In a game that lasted more than six hours, Gukesh eventually parried efforts at victory through a hard-earned draw against fellow GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov.
The one that made the audience gasp for air was Gukesh’s mental fortitude as he turned a hopeless position into one with a 1/2 point advantage. Not only did the draw build his stature, but it also ensured that his arc would continue along this pressure-cooker event.
Abdusattorov, through whom the contest has already been topped so far, took the early part of the game by employing tactical clever and offensive strokes. Commenting on the game, the previous world champion, Magnus Carlsen, described Gukesh’s opening plan as a “spectacularly bad failure.” However, Carlsen did not hesitate to praise Abdusattorov’s work, calling his game “coldblooded” and highlighting the calculation and mental focus possessed by the young grandmaster.
D Gukesh stuns opposition in Tata Steel Chess Masters 2025
The game between Gukesh and Abdusattorov brought about a higher level of suspense to the game. Both come from the 2022 Chennai Olympiad in which Abdusattorov’s victory over Gukesh allowed Uzbekistan to reach the gold and prevent India from any high ranking. This unfolded in the play of the board, Abdusattorov commencing the game by looking down at Gukesh, his opening move.
Despite being under constant siege, Gukesh defended valiantly in the endgame uncovering clever maneuvers to stay in the fight. “I was under pressure for the duration of the game and made a bad start but I kept defending well”, Gukesh confessed, recalling his game. “He had options but I kept managing around it in such a way as to cling to it,” he added.
Gukesh managed to turn a losing computation into a draw again for the second time in the competition after making this happen in the first round with Anish Giri. Currently at half a point behind Abdusattorov and Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh is still a serious contender with the final round of the competition drawing closer.
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