Arjun, Gukesh Draw in Round 3 as Tata Steel Masters Race Tightens

Top seed Arjun Erigaisi and world champion D Gukesh played out a tense but balanced draw in Round 3 of the Tata Steel Masters at Wijk aan Zee on Monday. Arjun, who has started strongly, moved to 2/3 , while Gukesh reached 1.5/3 with his third straight draw. Their clash, the most awaited game of the day, showed high-level preparation from both sides and ended peacefully after neither player found a clear breakthrough. With just three rounds completed in the 13-round tournament, the standings remain extremely tight, and every half point is already proving valuable.

The game between Arjun and Gukesh followed the Queen’s Gambit Accepted , an opening that had earlier brought Praggnanandhaa trouble against Arjun. This time, however, Gukesh looked well prepared and defended accurately, keeping Arjun’s pieces away from his king and countering on the queenside. Arjun, usually an aggressive player, avoided unnecessary risks and chose a practical approach, agreeing to a draw even though the position still offered play on the board. The result keeps Arjun among the frontrunners while Gukesh stays close enough to challenge as the tournament progresses.

Elsewhere, Matthias Bluebaum scored his first win of the event by beating compatriot Vincent Keymer , taking his score to 2/3 and joining the leaders. Bluebaum, already a Candidates qualifier, has now added momentum and strengthened the competition at the top. In another key game involving the Indian contingent, Aravindh Chithambaram drew with Nodirbek Abdusattorov , leaving Aravindh on 1.5/3 and Abdusattorov on 2/3 . The draw came after Abdusattorov equalised comfortably and neither side found a path to create serious winning chances.

After two early defeats, R Praggnanandhaa showed signs of recovery in Round 3 against Czech Republic’s Thai Dai Van Nguyen . He looked sharper and more confident, pushing for a result and trying to score his first win in the tournament. Even though he has struggled at the start, the event is still long, with 10 rounds remaining, and the defending champion has enough time to bounce back if he converts his chances in the coming days.

At the top, four players share the lead on 2/3 — Arjun, Abdusattorov, Bluebaum and Hans Moke Niemann . Just half a point behind, a large chasing group remains in striking distance, making it clear that no player has escaped the pack yet. The fight is also heating up at the lower end of the table, where Praggnanandhaa and Anish Giri will be eager to climb quickly. With the margins so small, the next few rounds before the rest day could decide whether someone begins to pull away or if the tournament stays wide open.

Round 3 results (scores):

Arjun Erigaisi (2) drew with D Gukesh (1.5) ; Aravindh Chithambaram (1.5) drew with Nodirbek Abdusattorov (2) ; Hans Moke Niemann (2) drew with Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus (1.5) ; Matthias Bluebaum (2) beat Vincent Keymer (1) ; Javokhir Sindarov (1.5) drew with Vladimir Fedoseev (1.5) ; Jorden van Foreest vs Anish Giri; Thai Dai Van Nguyen vs R Praggnanandhaa.