Gukesh Denied Win by Sindarov in Tata Steel Chess Round 1; Arjun, Niemann Score

• The 88th Tata Steel Chess Tournament in Wijk aan Zee began with a 90-minute delay due to climate protests.
• In the Masters section, Hans Niemann, Vincent Keymer, and Arjun Erigaisi secured wins with white pieces.
• Arjun Erigaisi notably defeated defending champion Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu.
• World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju drew against Javokhir Sindarov after a time trouble mistake, denying him a full point.
• The Challengers section saw four decisive results, with Indian FM Vedant Panesar among the winners.

Why It Matters: Gukesh missed a win in a dramatic opening round of Tata Steel Chess, while Arjun and Niemann started strong.