R Praggnanandhaa in joint lead with Uzbek Nodirbek Abdusattorov after the third round of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament

World champion D Gukesh had it easy in the third round of Tata Steel Chess Tournament as the Indian played out a draw with top seed Fabiano Caruana of the United States here on Monday.

D Gukesh, playing with black pieces, drew his second-round match in the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2025 against Vladimir Fedoseev. The day saw several players settling for draws, including Arjun Erigaisi and defending champion Yi Wei.

It’s something of a rite of passage in chess — the new champ is a marked man when he first returns to the board. Indian teenager Dommaraju Gukesh, who became the youngest world champion ever when he dethroned Chinese GM Deng Liren in their December title match,

The cream of India's chess talent is playing at Wijk aan Zee this year. Besides Gukesh, Harikrishna, Arjun Erigaisi, Praggnanandhaa, Leon Mendonca, Vaishali and Divya Deshmukh are in action.

World champion D Gukesh had it easy in the third round of Tata Steel Chess Tournament as the Indian played out a draw with top seed Fabiano Caruana of the United States here on Monday.Gukesh thus moved to 2 points out of a possible three in the first major tournament of the year.

In the third round of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, D Gukesh played a cautious game resulting in a draw with Fabiano Caruana. Both players now have two points, maintaining their positions in this competitive chess event.

Indian chess stars, including new World Champion D Gukesh, are set to compete in the prestigious 87th Tata Steel Chess Tournament. Beginning January 1

The village of Wijk aan Zee has been the host of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament since 1968. The tournament website sayd that the seaside location offers the widest sandbeach of the Netherlands and is located next to the beautiful dune reserve of Noord-Holland.

R Praggnanandhaa is the only Indian to win in Round 2 as he defeated Pentala Harikrishna. D Gukesh drew against Vladimir Fedoseev and Arjun Erigaisi was held to a draw by Anish Giri. Leon Mendonca lost to Nodirbek Abdusattorov.

Playing white, was a rare game by Gukesh as he decided against taking risks. The Ragozine defense met the Queen pawn opening and Caruana acted true to the position's will to expand his king side pawns.