If the Tata Steel Masters is an indication of what lies ahead, it seems that the Indian players are in for a testing time in the open section in 2026. The movers and shakers of world chess have been below par in the year’s first elite competition.
With a round to go in the event held in Wijk Aan Zee in northern Netherlands, all four Indians are still in the bottom half of the table featuring 14 players. RevSportz takes a look at how they have done and what they can do going ahead…
D Gukesh (8th, 6/12 points): The world champion’s beginning to the year of his title defence has been low key. He is still the only Indian with a 50% score. Runner-up on tie-breaker in the last two editions, he waited until the fifth round for a win and got the full point in two more. Three losses neutralised those gains. Experts felt it would be difficult to come back after a blunder in the sixth round. But the Chennai star did better despite two more defeats. Commentators said he should have converted his position in at least two drawn games. Prague Masters from the end of February up next.
World rank in January: 9. Rating points lost: 6.1. Live rank (unofficial): 11.
R Praggnanandhaa (11th, 5.5/12 points): Tired shadow of the player who started his victorious 2025 journey by winning this title. Has his reasons too and no qualms in admitting that endless travel has taken a toll on performance. Barring an event in London, his curve dipped a bit towards the end of last year. In Wijk Aan Zee, it plummeted further – one win, three losses, eight draws. Adventurous by nature, he didn’t look like winning. Less than two months to go before the Candidates, this Chennai player has said he has not even started preparing for the big one. That will happen after a brief break.
World rank in January: 8. Rating points lost: 16. Live rank (unofficial): 13.
Aravindh Chithambaram (12th, 4.5/12 points): The reverse gear that started after he rocketed to world No. 11 last April continues. To be fair to him, this was his first appearance in such a strong competition. The player from Madurai settled in Chennai was never in it and lost his way after three draws first up. There were four defeats and a solitary win. To his credit, he held Gukesh from a disadvantageous position with black in the 10th round. His next outing is the Prague Masters, winning which had catapulted him to the elite league last year.
World rank in January: 32. Rating points lost: 10.7. Live rank (unofficial): 37.
Arjun Erigaisi (13th, 4/12 points): One cannot explain what jinxes this player when he goes to Wijk Aan Zee. Soon after becoming world No. 3 and crossing 2800 in ELO ratings, he had finished a dismal 10th last year. It’s been worse for the world No. 5 and second seed this time. Steady until four rounds, he suffered his most forgettable phase at this level after that. Confidence boosted by a double-bronze effort at the World Rapid and Blitz in December, he has crashed to four defeats. The only win came against Praggnanandhaa in the first round. Experts identify his urge to be aggressive as a prime reason. The maverick from Warangal in Andhra hardly has time to set things right before the Freestyle World Championship in Germany from February 13-15.
World rank in January: 5. Rating points lost: 24.6. Live rank (unofficial): 10.
Note: Data from fide.com and 2700chess.com. Updated after Round 12 of Tata Steel Masters in Wijk Aan Zee.
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