Ding Liren and Nodirbek Abdusattorov scored victories with the black pieces and emerged as early leaders.

The 85th edition of Tata Steel Chess, one of the most prestigious chess events, kicked off in the Wijk aan Zee, the Netherlands, and will last until January 29. Often called the “chess Wimbledon”, the festival traditionally includes the Masters and Challengers tournaments.

This year Tata Steel is a part of FIDE Circuit, with a winner of the Masters earning 27 circuit points and the top-finisher in the Challengers getting 13.3 points.

Magnus Carlsen – Levon Aronian  ½-½

On top board, Carlsen and Aronian had a discussion in a popular line of Catalan in which Levon played the rare 15...Bh7 instead of exchanging his bishop for the f3-knight, which is a more popular continuation. Magnus got some edge but maybe released the tension too early with 19.Nxa5.

Black traded several pieces and ended up in a slightly inferior but defendable position. Carlsen tried his last chance by sacrificing a pawn threatening to infiltrate the eighth rank with his heavy pieces, but Levon was up to the challenge. 

White is threatening with 33.Rd8 which looks very dangerous, but Levon has everything under control – 32…Rxe2! 33.Rd8 Be4! 34. Bxe4 Rxe4 35. Qxf7 Re1 and Magnus delivered perpetual by 36.Qg8+ Kg6 37.Qe8+ ½-½

Fabiano Caruana – Anish Giri ½-½

The opponents played a relatively fresh line of English Opening which was recently tested by Vincent Keymer on both sides. Black comfortably equalized and quickly became the strongest side. White had enough resources to maintain balance, but on move 22 Fabiano accepted a pawn sacrifice and found himself in trouble. Anish correctly sacrificed a piece to increase pressure but regained it too quickly.

After a natural 24…Bf6 White got a sufficient counterplay with 25.Rxc8 Rxc8 26.Qa2 Bxd4 27.Nxd4 Qxd4 28.Qa5 and several moves down the road the game was drawn.

Chess engines suggest 24…a4 25.Nd2 Rxc1 26.Rxc1 Bc5 27.Nff3 Bxf2+ 28.Kh1 a3 29.Qb3, but in this line, Black has to play a piece down, and it is not that easy for a human being.

Gikesh – Ding Liren 0-1

White essayed a new plan Nf3-e1-d3 in a popular line of Queen’s Indian but failed to pose any problems for Black. Moreover, after a timely break in the center Ding’s position seemed more comfortable. Gukesh was doing OK, but then he lost track.

Black’s c6-pawn looks taboo, but 23.Bxc6 was the way to handle this position. After 23…Rc8 24.Nf4 Bb5 White sacrifices his queen 25.Bxb5 Rxc2 26.Rxc2, building some sort of a fortress.

Instead, Gukesh played 23.Nf4 and after 23…g5! 24.Nh5 Qh6 25.Bf3 c5! fell under heavy pressure. To make things worse, he blundered on move 32 and resigned soon afterwards.

 Jorden Van Foreest – Wesley So ½-½

White achieved a slight advantage in the form of two bishops in Catalan. Usually, it is a good idea to trade rooks in this type of position, but Van Forest did not demonstrate the necessary accuracy when implementing it.

20.Be1 (20.Kf1 looks better) was met with 20…Nf4! Apparently, White missed this powerful move. After 21.Rxd7 Nxe2+ 22.Kf1 Rxd7 23.Kxe2 Bxg2 Black emerged a pawn up.

To Jorden’s credit, he put up a stubborn defence and reached a draw on move 49.

Richard Rapport – Nodirbek Abdusattorov 0-1

The opponents battled in a rare line of Vienna with 5.Qf3 in which Richard, true to his creative style, placed his king on d1 but exerted pressure in the center and along the b-file. On move 14 White had an interesting option 14.h4 preventing Black’s kingside pawn advancement, which Nodirbek carried out to get a sufficient counterplay.

In ensuing complications, Abdusattorov managed to exchange the most active White’s pieces and the game transposed in an ending which was favourable for Black. Rapport defended resourcefully and was very close to a draw but being short on time, he let it slip away with the last two moves before reaching the time control. 

Parham Maghsoodloo – Vincent Keymer ½-½

The last-minute replacement for Jan-Krzysztof Duda, who withdrew for personal reasons, Maghsoodloo tried some sort of reversed Benoni but did not achieve much. After the light-squared bishops left the board, Black got a very promising position but first missed a very strong 23…Re6 (or 23…Qd7), then an interesting exchange sacrifice 25…Rxd3 and let White get off the hook.

Praggnanandhaa R – Arjun Erigaisi  ½-½

The Indian youngsters played a high-quality game and demonstrated excellent opening preparation. In a popular line of Gruenfeld Defense White sacrificed his h-pawn (the idea introduced by Gukesh vs. Svidler) and got compensation but hardly more. Both opponents played with precision, and as soon as Praggnanandhaa regained a pawn, a draw was agreed.  

Standings after Round 1: 1-2. Ding Liren, Abdusattorov – 1; 3-12. Carlsen, Caruana, Giri, So, Aronian, Erigaisi, Maghsoodloo, Keymer, Praggnanandhaa, Van Foreest – ½; 13-14. Rapport, Gukesh – 0.

Photos:  tatasteelchess.com, Jurriaan Hoefsmit and Lennart Ootes