The competition at the Tata Steel Chess–2026 tournament in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands, is intensifying. The 6th round has concluded, and it is after this round that the strength of the Uzbek chess school became clearly evident in the Masters group.
In the 6th round, Nodirbek Abdusattorov defeated the reigning world champion, Indian Gukesh Dommaraju, achieving one of the most sensational victories of the tournament. This result, after a tense and intriguing game, made Nodirbek the sole leader.
Another representative, Javohir Sindarov, displayed a wise and stable game against Indian Aravindh Chithambaram, resulting in a draw. This point was crucial for Javohir to remain at the top of the standings.
After the 6th round, Abdusattorov leads the Masters group standings with 4.5 points. Sindarov is in second place with 4 points. Among the other competitors, Vladimir Fedoseev, Hans Niemann, and Vincent Keymer have each collected 3.5 points, closely chasing the leaders.
Notably, the reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju is in the middle of the standings with 3 points after the 6th round. This indicates unexpected twists in the tournament.
Tata Steel Chess-2026. Standings of the Masters group after the 6th round.
Previously, it was reported that Nodirbek Abdusattorov secured a spot in the World Championship. His confident play in the current tournament further confirms his excellent form.
In short, the first half of the Tata Steel Chess–2026 tournament is a festive occasion for Uzbek chess fans. There are still several challenging rounds ahead, but the current scenario already shows the Uzbek flag flying high in Wijk aan Zee.
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