Indian Chess Stars Falter at Tata Steel Tournament; Abdusattorov Claims Title

• Uzbek Grandmaster Nodirbek Abdusattorov won the Tata Steel Chess 2026 tournament, defeating India's Arjun Erigaisi in the final round.
• Abdusattorov's victory marks his first triumph at the prestigious event after three previous near misses, showcasing rising Uzbek chess talent.
• Indian players D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, and Aravindh Chitambaram had a dismal performance, winning only six out of 52 games.
• All four Indian stars experienced significant FIDE rating point drops, with Arjun losing 30 points and Praggnanandhaa 17.
• The poor showing raises concerns for Indian players ahead of crucial tournaments, including the Candidates and the Olympiad title defense.

Why It Matters: Indian chess grandmasters faced a significant setback at the Tata Steel tournament, raising concerns for future events.