World chess champion Gukesh Dommaraju delivered a masterclass performance that left 14-year-old Turkish prodigy Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus in tears during their intense Round 10 encounter at the prestigious Tata Steel Chess tournament in Wijk aan Zee. The emotional victory marked a significant moment for the 19-year-old Indian grandmaster, who had been struggling earlier in the tournament.
A Battle of Generations at Wijk aan Zee
The highly anticipated match between the reigning world champion and the teenage sensation unfolded with dramatic tension from the opening moves. Erdogmus, who had been enjoying a remarkable tournament run with victories against established players like Arjun Erigaisi and Jorden Van Foreest, started strongly with impressive opening preparation that gave him a substantial time advantage over Gukesh in the early stages.
Time Trouble Turns the Tide
Despite his promising start, Erdogmus found himself in familiar territory as the game progressed. The young player, known for frequently encountering time pressure in classical games, spent a staggering 50 minutes contemplating his 11th move. By the time he reached move 21, Erdogmus had only 12 minutes remaining on his clock in a tournament format that offers no time increment until move 40.
The critical moment arrived on move 27 when Gukesh appeared to blunder with his bishop move to a6. However, Erdogmus, now in severe time trouble, responded with an even more significant error by capturing with his rook instead of choosing the engine-recommended rook to d1 move that could have secured victory against the world champion.
Gukesh's Candid Post-Game Reflections
After securing the win, Gukesh acknowledged his opponent's missed opportunities in a post-game interview. "There were moves available for Erdogmus, like playing queen to e8, which was winning on the spot for his opponent," Gukesh revealed. "But lucky for me, he did not find it. We both missed it. I've had so many unlucky moments here... always good to get some luck back."
The world champion expressed genuine admiration for his young opponent, particularly when learning about Erdogmus's age. "It was a nice feeling to be the youngest player in tournaments I played in. Now it's not the case anymore. I've been really impressed by him. What he's been doing over the last one year has been impressive," Gukesh commented before adding with a chuckle, "Today I wanted to teach him some lessons."
Tournament Context and Indian Contingent Performance
This victory held special significance for Gukesh, who had suffered three defeats in his previous nine rounds at Wijk aan Zee. The world champion had experienced several frustrating moments earlier in the tournament, including a game-ending blunder against Nodirbek Abdusattorov and losses to Anish Giri and Matthias Bluebaum.
The win also avenged Gukesh's previous encounter with Erdogmus at last year's FIDE Grand Swiss, where the 14-year-old had managed to salvage a draw from a losing position against the Indian champion.
Meanwhile, other Indian players faced mixed results in Round 10. Arjun Erigaisi suffered his third defeat of the tournament against German grandmaster Vincent Keymer, resigning in 41 moves while playing with black pieces. R Praggnanandhaa managed to secure a draw against American grandmaster Hans Moke Niemann in their encounter.
The Tata Steel Chess tournament continues to showcase the evolving landscape of international chess, where established champions like Gukesh must constantly prove themselves against emerging talents like Erdogmus, whose emotional reaction to the defeat underscores the intense pressure and passion that defines elite competitive chess.
