Gukesh D's Beautiful Queen Sacrifice against Javokhir Sindarov in Tata Steel Chess 2026

Gukesh D's Beautiful Queen Sacrifice against Javokhir Sindarov in Tata Steel Chess 2026 ‪@GodardTalsChessGames‬

Gukesh D won the game and then lost it to a draw.

Game Commentary:

Sindarov, Javokhir vs Gukesh D
Tata Steel Chess Masters 2026 – Round 1.5
Result: ½–½

This was a fascinating game that transformed from a quiet Queen’s Gambit Declined into a long, chaotic defensive marathon, ending in a remarkable perpetual-check save.

Opening & Early Middlegame

The game followed a Queen’s Gambit Declined, Barmen Variation, where both sides opted for solid development and early structural clarity. Gukesh’s 5…Bb4 and timely exchanges led to a balanced position with symmetrical pawn structures and no immediate weaknesses.

Sindarov’s 14.Ne5 was ambitious, trying to seize space and provoke concessions, but it slightly overextended his pieces. Gukesh responded calmly, neutralizing central pressure and gradually improving his piece coordination. By move 20, Black was already very comfortable, with pressure on the queenside and flexible rook play.

Strategic Phase

From moves 18–35, the game revolved around:
• Queenside pawn tension
• Knight rerouting (Nd6–Ne4–Nd6 motifs)
• Rook lifts and lateral defense

Gukesh handled this phase extremely well, slowly increasing pressure without taking risks. Sindarov, meanwhile, had to spend time regrouping his pieces, often repeating maneuvers just to stay afloat.

Critical Errors & Swing in Evaluation

The turning point came with 38.Nb4?, a serious positional mistake. This allowed Black to break through tactically, and after 39.Rxa4?, the position collapsed rapidly. Gukesh emerged with:
• Active rooks
• A centralized king
• A winning material and positional advantage

By move 42, Black was completely winning (–4 to –5 range), and Sindarov’s position looked beyond repair.

The Incredible Escape

What followed was the most dramatic part of the game.

Despite being objectively lost, Sindarov:
• Activated his queen aggressively
• Forced Black’s king into the open
• Created a perpetual-check net through sheer calculation and resourcefulness

The crucial moment came at 70…Nf6??, a decisive blunder by Gukesh. Instead of calmly stepping away (e.g., Ke6), Black allowed White to force perpetual checks, instantly equalizing the evaluation.

From that moment onward, the result was no longer in doubt.

Conclusion

This game is a textbook example of elite-level resilience:
• Gukesh outplayed White strategically and tactically for a large part of the game
• Sindarov demonstrated exceptional fighting spirit and calculation under pressure
• One late slip erased a nearly flawless conversion

Key takeaway:

At the highest level, winning the position is only half the job — finishing it accurately under time pressure is just as critical.

A dramatic and instructive draw to start Tata Steel Chess Masters 2026.