The Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2024 in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands, was significant for the Optiver Chess Team, featuring Anish Giri defending his Masters title and Eline Roebers competing in the Challengers. This represented a major step for Optiver, showcasing our commitment to nurturing chess talent at various levels of expertise.

Anish Giri: The defending champion’s journey

In the opening round of the Tata Steel Masters, Anish Giri, playing black, engaged in a closely fought battle with Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun. Despite a material deficit, the game extended over 80 moves and spanned approximately seven hours, with Anish’s endurance and tactical prowess leading to a hard-earned victory.

In the subsequent rounds, Anish drew against Vidit Gujrathi and achieved a victory over Alexander Donchenko, demonstrating his strategic depth. Notable was his 72-move win against Indian prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju.

Mid-tournament, Anish faced a setback against Nodirbek Abdusattorov, but bounced back, drawing with Wei Yi in a near-flawless game, keeping him in contention for the title.

Round 9 brought an added thrill to the Tata Steel Masters, with the “chess on tour” day in Anish’s hometown in Den Haag. In this round, facing world champion Ding Liren with black pieces, Anish demonstrated remarkable preparation, maintaining almost his full time after 17 moves. Despite Ding’s cautious approach and time deficit, the match ended in a well-fought draw.

As the tournament approached its climax, Anish’s crucial match against Ian Nepomniachtchi in Round 11 ramped up the excitement. This was followed by a swift victory over Jorden van Foreest. In the final round against Max Warmerdam, Anish’s win led him to a tie for first place with 8.5/13, advancing to the tie-break playoffs. Competing fiercely, Anish shared a winning position with Gukesh D and Nodirbek Abdusattorov, as Wei Yi clinched the championship.

Anish Giri’s performance in the 2024 Tata Steel Chess Tournament was a narrative of resilience and strategic brilliance. His ability to rebound from setbacks and execute critical moves under pressure led to an impressive score against the world’s best players. His performance in defending his title solidly reaffirmed his standing among the chess elite, demonstrating that his 2023 victory was not just a one-time achievement but a true reflection of his exceptional skill and determination.

Eline Roebers: Talent on the rise

Eline Roebers, the current Dutch Women’s Champion and the latest addition to the Optiver Chess Team, returned to Tata Steel Chess 2024 in the Challengers section.

Eline demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability in the tournament, overcoming a challenging start against tough opponents. Despite initial setbacks in the first four rounds, her perseverance and skill became increasingly evident as the tournament progressed.

A remarkable shift occurred in Round 5. Facing the top-seeded Hans Niemann, Eline defied expectations by capitalising on her opponent’s errors, securing her first tournament victory. She continued this momentum with a hard-fought win over Mustafa Yilmaz in Round 6 after a six-hour battle, demonstrating her formidable attacking skills.

Subsequent rounds, however, had mixed results. Eline had setbacks in Rounds 7 and 8, and a loss in Round 9 after a bold King’s Gambit. Despite challenges against Daniel Dardha and Erwin L’Ami in the last rounds, Eline’s determination and learning spirit were clear.

Her victory over Hans Niemann was a career highlight, the highest-rated player she has defeated to date. Her advice to aspiring players, “Work a lot, play a lot, and most importantly, have fun in what you do,” reflects her approach and serves as an inspiration.

Eline’s performance at Tata Steel Chess 2024, highlights her as an emerging talent with a promising future in chess.

Looking ahead

As we continue our support for chess, the remarkable achievements of Anish and Eline at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2024 are a source of pride and inspiration. We congratulate our team for their exceptional performances and look forward to more success in the future, as they continue to make their marks in chess.

Learn more about the Optiver Chess Team

Discover the stories behind our team’s passion for chess. Learn about their journeys, the challenges they’ve overcome and the parallels between chess and trading.