Van Foreest, Bluebaum Lead Tata Steel Masters After Round 3 | Quick Digest
Jorden van Foreest and Matthias Bluebaum secured victories against Anish Giri and Vincent Keymer respectively in Round 3 of the Tata Steel Chess Masters 2026. These wins propelled them into a five-way tie for the lead, alongside Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Hans Niemann, and Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi. The prestigious tournament is currently underway in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands.
Van Foreest beat Giri, Bluebaum defeated Keymer in Round 3.
Five players now share the lead in Tata Steel Masters 2026.
Indian GM Arjun Erigaisi is among the five co-leaders.
The tournament is a major international chess event in the Netherlands.
Round 3 results set the stage for upcoming decisive rounds.
The 2026 Tata Steel Chess Masters, often dubbed the 'Wimbledon of Chess', saw significant developments in its third round, with Jorden van Foreest of the Netherlands and Matthias Bluebaum of Germany scoring crucial victories. Van Foreest, the Dutch number-two, impressively defeated his higher-rated compatriot, Anish Giri, while Bluebaum mirrored this 'underdog' success by overcoming Germany's top player, Vincent Keymer.
These pivotal wins moved both Van Foreest and Bluebaum into a five-way tie for the top spot. They now share the lead with Uzbek Grandmaster Nodirbek Abdusattorov, American Grandmaster Hans Niemann, and Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi, each accumulating 2 points after three rounds. The tournament, held annually in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands, is a prominent fixture in the global chess calendar, attracting an elite field of international players.
The Tata Steel Chess Masters 2026 commenced on January 16 and is scheduled to conclude on February 1. Round 3 took place on January 19, 2026, with Round 4 slated for January 20. The event features both Masters and Challengers sections, bringing together established top players and rising talents. Indian participation is notable, with Grandmasters like Arjun Erigaisi and Gukesh Dommaraju competing in the Masters section. The early rounds have seen intense battles and upsets, highlighting the competitive nature of the tournament. The original article's claims about the victories and the resulting five-way tie for the lead are fully corroborated by multiple credible chess news outlets and official tournament sources.
Read the full story on Quick Digest