The 11th round of Tata Steel Chess 2026, one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world of chess, is coming to an end. The most pleasant thing is that this round was also good for our team: our compatriots showed a positive result and delighted chess enthusiasts in our country.
First of all, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, having drawn in black against the host Jorden van Foreest, maintained the lead. At such times, there's also a desire to get "1 point," but taking a black risk is sometimes like digging a "proval" for yourself with your own hands. Therefore, the draw for Nodirbek was a very wise and calculated decision in this round.
The brightest news of the day came from Javokhir Sindarov. He defeated Arjun Erigaisi of India - and this victory, indeed, added new dramaturgy to the tournament.
In the match, which lasted almost five and a half hours, Sindarov showed a very persistent and accurate game with the black pieces. In the first hours, both sides acted in an orderly manner, without rushing to "break it down." But one small mistake of the opponent was enough for Javokhir: especially when time was short, Ergaisi made several mistakes in a row and ultimately lost the game. In chess, sometimes it is this - a single moment, a single decision - that changes everything.
As a result, Sindarov reached 7 points and equalized with Abdusattorov. Now, if the points are tied at the end of the tournament, the champion can be determined in tiebreaks, as the two ended the match in a draw. But there is one condition for reaching such a scenario: both Nodirbek and Javohir will have to maintain positive results in the next two rounds.
Another noteworthy fact: Javokhir Sindarov is currently the only player in the tournament who hasn't experienced defeat. He recorded 8 draws and 3 wins in 11 matches. Such stability means going "without selling nerves" until the final.
In short, the most interesting part of the tournament is just beginning: two Uzbek chess players are standing shoulder to shoulder. Now each game is like a final. For fans, the task is simple: prayer + patience. Because in the last two types, nerves are even more interesting than Netflix.
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