Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2026 Begins with Four Indian Grandmasters in Elite Field

The Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2026, starting January 17 in Wijk aan Zee, features a strong field including four Indian grandmasters: World Champion D Gukesh, defending champion R Praggnanandhaa, top-rated Arjun Erigaisi, and Aravindh Chithambaram. The Masters event follows a 13-round classical round-robin format with new time controls. Gukesh aims to improve after an inconsistent 2025, Praggnanandhaa prepares for the Candidates tournament, and Arjun seeks his first Tata Steel title amid a competitive international lineup.