India, Jan. 24 -- A win in the previous match, boosting his confidence, India's world champion D Gukesh will meet joint leader Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan in the sixth round of the Tata Steel Masters chess tournament. Gukesh, who defeated Thai Dai Van Nguyen of the Czech Republic with black pieces in the fifth round, will have another black game to negotiate. But, if the form of the youngest ever world champion is any indication, the colour of the pieces should not matter.

Missing out on a superior position in the opening round against Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan and then being slightly shaky against Dutch Grandmaster Jorden van Foreest, Gukesh conceded that the start might have been indifferent, but everything was well now. ...