Anish Giri’s Tough Start at Tata Steel Chess Tournament
NEW DELHI: Anish Giri, the Dutch No.1 and a local favourite, faced a challenging beginning to the 2025 Masters at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands. In a gripping opening-round encounter, he suffered a setback against the newly crowned World Chess Champion, D Gukesh, leaving chess enthusiasts buzzing with excitement.
Giri started strong, demonstrating his trademark sharp play and securing an early advantage while playing with the black pieces. By the 15th move, he seemed to have an upper hand. However, a critical mistake—moving his queen to b6—turned the tide dramatically. Gukesh seized the opportunity with a brilliant counter, repositioning his queen to f6, which swiftly shifted the balance of power.
The moment was emblematic of Giri’s dismay; as the position deteriorated, he visibly slumped in his chair and let out a deep sigh of disappointment. Giri’s subsequent moves only accelerated his downfall, leading to a resigned handshake that marked Gukesh’s impressive opening victory.
For the 18-year-old Gukesh, this win was a fantastic start to his campaign. Despite a hectic schedule—having recently received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award—he showed no signs of fatigue. “I just landed in Amsterdam at 9 am and played around 2 pm, so it was a new experience, but it went well!” Gukesh remarked after the match.
As the tournament progresses, Giri will need to regroup quickly, as he prepares to face India’s No. 1 Arjun Erigaisi next. Meanwhile, Gukesh will take on Russian grandmaster Vladimir Fedoseev in Round 2 on Sunday.
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