India, Jan. 31 -- Fresh from his victory over Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus of Turkey, world champion D Gukesh will start the final laps of the Tata Steel Masters with a match against compatriot Aravindh Chithambaram in the 11th round here. With just three rounds to come in the first super tournament of the year, Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan is firmly in front with 6.5 points in his bag and has teammate Javokhir Sindarov, Matthias Bluebaum of Germany and local star Jorden van Foreest following him a half point adrift.

Hans Moke Niemann of United States and Erdogmus are in joint fifth spot on 5.5 points and they are trailed by Gukesh, Vincent Keymer of Germany and Vladimir Fedoseev of Slovenia with five points apiece. R Praggnanandhaa and An...