In a significant turn of events at the Tata Steel Chess Masters 2026, Indian grandmaster D. Gukesh secured his first victory of the tournament by defeating Thai Dai Van Nguyen in the fifth round. This win not only boosted his position in the standings but also reaffirmed his competitive spirit with a bold declaration—“Any tournament I play, I want to win.”
Gukesh, who has been considered one of the rising stars in world chess, expressed relief and satisfaction after grinding out a win against Nguyen with the black pieces. The victory elevated him to joint second place, positioning him strongly ahead of the upcoming rest day.
A Long Wait Ends with a Confident Win
Prior to this, Gukesh had narrowly missed a win in the opening round against FIDE World Cup winner Javokhir Sindarov. He then played out draws against notable players including Jorden van Foreest, Arjun Erigaisi, and R. Praggnanandhaa. The victory over Nguyen marked a crucial milestone in his campaign, giving him momentum and confidence.
Reflecting on his performance, Gukesh shared his thoughts: “It feels good. I was supposed to win the first one, but I missed by a whisker. I am pretty much happy with most games so far. But I didn’t get a win, so I was expecting to get one at some point. Today, it was a nice grind. Nice to get a win after draws and before a rest day.”
On Overcoming Fatigue and Maintaining Focus
Gukesh also discussed the challenges faced during the tournament, especially after a lengthy 78-move game against Sindarov, which ended in a draw. He attributed his ability to stay positive despite the fatigue: “One thing that helped was that it was so long that I was too tired to be upset. Of course, I would have preferred to win, but it’s a 13-game tournament, so there will be some disappointing results. After I warmed up, my play has been good.”
Connecting with Fans and Indian Supporters
The young grandmaster’s popularity continues to grow, with a large number of fans gathering at Tata Steel Chess 2026 to witness his matches and meet him in person. When asked about his fans, Gukesh expressed appreciation: “It is always nice to see so many people coming to the venue and watching the classical game. It’s not easy. When you have disappointing results and see so many people waiting for you, it’s tricky—you don’t want to disappoint them—but especially there are so many kids here. For me, it’s always nice to see that most of the fans are Indians.”
Looking Ahead: A Determined Gukesh
Ending on a confident note, Gukesh reaffirmed his competitive mindset: “Any tournament I play, I want to win. I will be trying my best.” His bold declaration and recent performance suggest that the Indian prodigy is eager to make a strong statement in this prestigious event and beyond.
As the Tata Steel Chess 2026 progresses, all eyes will be on Gukesh as he aims to continue his upward trajectory, inspired by his first victory and driven by his unwavering ambition to emerge victorious in every tournament he competes in.
