As the 88th Tata Steel Chess Masters enters its third round on January 19, 2026, all eyes are on the high-stakes encounter between World Champion Gukesh D and the surging World No. 3 Arjun Erigaisi. Erigaisi enters the round as a co-leader with 1.5/2 points, following a dominant opening-round victory over R Praggnanandhaa and a solid draw against Thai Dai Van Nguyen. Meanwhile, Gukesh has shown remarkable defensive resilience, recording two hard-fought draws—most notably a 78-move battle in the opening round where he nearly converted a brilliant queen sacrifice against Javokhir Sindarov.
The tournament in Wijk aan Zee began with unexpected drama after climate activists delayed the first round by dumping over two tons of coal at the venue entrance, but the focus has since shifted entirely to the board. This matchup is a pivotal moment for both players: a win for Erigaisi would tighten his grip on the tournament lead alongside Hans Niemann and Nodirbek Abdusattorov, while Gukesh aims to secure his first full point of the event and reassert his status as the reigning champion.
