15 - 31 January 2016 Click here for Challengers group
Magnus Carlsen won the Tata Steel Masters after a safe draw against Ding Liren. Ding could catch Carlsen with a win but this seemed unlikely with the black pieces and especially after Carlsen chose a solid line against his Open Spanish. Carlsen found a way to press in the endgame but Ding's technique held the Rook and Bishop vs Rook endgame convincingly. This is Carlsen's fifth win of the main event taking him alongside the record holder Viswanathan Anand and above Max Euwe, Levon Aronian, Viktor Korchnoi and Lajos Portisch all of whom have scored four. Fabiano Caruana could have caught Carlsen with a win against the struggling Evgeny Tomashevsky but his choice of 4...b6 in the Nimzo-Indian wasn't a normal one for him and he later got his bishop trapped. Tomashevsky was winning but having struggled all tournament he made a bit of a meal of the conversion to a win, eventually managing it in 63 moves.
Results of Tata Steel Masters 2016
| Score | Rating | TPR | SB | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | ||
| 1 | Carlsen, Magnus | 9.0 / 13 | 2844 | 2881 | 54.75 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2 | Caruana, Fabiano | 8.0 / 13 | 2787 | 2831 | 51.75 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | |
| 3 | Ding, Liren | 8.0 / 13 | 2766 | 2833 | 49.25 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | |
| 4 | So, Wesley | 7.0 / 13 | 2773 | 2775 | 45.5 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | |
| 5 | Giri, Anish | 7.0 / 13 | 2798 | 2773 | 44.25 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | |
| 6 | Eljanov, Pavel | 7.0 / 13 | 2760 | 2776 | 40.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | |
| 7 | Wei, Yi | 6.5 / 13 | 2706 | 2751 | 41 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | |
| 8 | Mamedyarov, Shakhryar | 6.5 / 13 | 2747 | 2748 | 40.25 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | |
| 9 | Karjakin, Sergey | 6.0 / 13 | 2769 | 2717 | 38.75 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | |
| 10 | Navara, David | 5.5 / 13 | 2730 | 2692 | 37.5 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | |
| 11 | Tomashevsky, Evgeny | 5.5 / 13 | 2728 | 2692 | 35.25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | |
| 12 | Hou, Yifan | 5.0 / 13 | 2673 | 2666 | 32 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | |
| 13 | Adams, Michael | 5.0 / 13 | 2744 | 2661 | 30.25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | |
| 14 | Van Wely, Loek | 5.0 / 13 | 2640 | 2669 | 30 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ |
| Round 1 (January 16, 2016) | Live Show  |
Recap |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caruana, Fabiano | - Eljanov, Pavel | 1-0 | 38 | D37 | QGD 5.Bf4 | |
| Ding, Liren | - Adams, Michael | 1-0 | 61 | A20 | English Opening | |
| So, Wesley | - Giri, Anish | 1-0 | 37 | A36 | English Botvinnik | |
| Wei, Yi | - Tomashevsky, Evgeny | ½-½ | 23 | C88 | Ruy Lopez Closed | |
| Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | - Van Wely, Loek | ½-½ | 76 | D11 | Slav Defence | |
| Navara, David | - Carlsen, Magnus | ½-½ | 31 | D37 | QGD 5.Bf4 | |
| Hou, Yifan | - Karjakin, Sergey | ½-½ | 40 | A07 | Barcza System | |
| Round 2 (January 17, 2016) | Live Show |
Recap |
||||
| Carlsen, Magnus | - Caruana, Fabiano | ½-½ | 32 | A00 | Irregular Openings | |
| Giri, Anish | - Ding, Liren | ½-½ | 33 | D11 | Slav Defence | |
| Eljanov, Pavel | - Wei, Yi | ½-½ | 36 | E60 | King's Indian without Nc3 | |
| Karjakin, Sergey | - Van Wely, Loek | ½-½ | 20 | B35 | Sicilian Defence | |
| Tomashevsky, Evgeny | - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | ½-½ | 33 | D06 | Queen's Pawn Gambit | |
| Hou, Yifan | - So, Wesley | ½-½ | 54 | C65 | Ruy Lopez Berlin | |
| Adams, Michael | - Navara, David | ½-½ | 31 | B12 | Caro Kann Advanced | |
| Round 3 (January 18, 2016) | Live Show |
Recap |
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| Caruana, Fabiano | - Adams, Michael | 1-0 | 64 | E21 | Nimzo Indian 4.Nf3 | |
| Ding, Liren | - Hou, Yifan | ½-½ | 37 | D38 | QGD Ragozin | |
| So, Wesley | - Karjakin, Sergey | ½-½ | 44 | E10 | Blumenfeld Counter Gambit | |
| Wei, Yi | - Carlsen, Magnus | ½-½ | 60 | C89 | Ruy Lopez Marshall | |
| Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | - Eljanov, Pavel | 0-1 | 38 | D45 | Anti-Meran Variations | |
| Navara, David | - Giri, Anish | ½-½ | 42 | D97 | Gruenfeld Russian | |
| Van Wely, Loek | - Tomashevsky, Evgeny | ½-½ | 30 | E17 | Queens Indian | |
| Round 4 (January 19, 2016) | Live Show |
Recap |
||||
| Carlsen, Magnus | - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | ½-½ | 36 | E60 | King's Indian without Nc3 | |
| So, Wesley | - Ding, Liren | ½-½ | 41 | D11 | Slav Defence | |
| Giri, Anish | - Caruana, Fabiano | ½-½ | 63 | C80 | Ruy Lopez Open | |
| Eljanov, Pavel | - Van Wely, Loek | 1-0 | 38 | D11 | Slav Defence | |
| Karjakin, Sergey | - Tomashevsky, Evgeny | 1-0 | 36 | C50 | Giuoco Piano | |
| Hou, Yifan | - Navara, David | 1-0 | 40 | B12 | Caro Kann Advanced | |
| Adams, Michael | - Wei, Yi | ½-½ | 52 | A37 | English Symmetrical | |
| Round 5 (January 21, 2016) | Live Show |
Recap |
||||
| Caruana, Fabiano | - Hou, Yifan | ½-½ | 79 | C42 | Petroff's Defence | |
| Ding, Liren | - Karjakin, Sergey | 1-0 | 55 | E15 | Queens Indian | |
| Wei, Yi | - Giri, Anish | ½-½ | 39 | B91 | Sicilian Najdorf with 6.g3 | |
| Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | - Adams, Michael | 1-0 | 50 | E21 | Nimzo Indian 4.Nf3 | |
| Navara, David | - So, Wesley | ½-½ | 46 | D38 | QGD Ragozin | |
| Tomashevsky, Evgeny | - Eljanov, Pavel | ½-½ | 38 | E00 | Catalan | |
| Van Wely, Loek | - Carlsen, Magnus | 0-1 | 39 | D83 | Gruenfeld 4.Bf4 | |
| Round 6 (January 22, 2016) | Live Show |
Recap |
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| Carlsen, Magnus | - Tomashevsky, Evgeny | 1-0 | 30 | A46 | Queen's Pawn Opening | |
| Ding, Liren | - Navara, David | ½-½ | 41 | E60 | King's Indian without Nc3 | |
| So, Wesley | - Caruana, Fabiano | ½-½ | 80 | C50 | Giuoco Piano | |
| Giri, Anish | - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | 1-0 | 66 | A13 | Reti Opening | |
| Karjakin, Sergey | - Eljanov, Pavel | ½-½ | 28 | E00 | Catalan | |
| Hou, Yifan | - Wei, Yi | ½-½ | 66 | A15 | English counter King's Fianchetto | |
| Adams, Michael | - Van Wely, Loek | ½-½ | 39 | B91 | Sicilian Najdorf with 6.g3 | |
| Round 7 (January 23, 2016) | Live Show |
Recap |
||||
| Caruana, Fabiano | - Ding, Liren | 1-0 | 83 | C84 | Ruy Lopez Centre Attack | |
| Eljanov, Pavel | - Carlsen, Magnus | 0-1 | 34 | E10 | Blumenfeld Counter Gambit | |
| Wei, Yi | - So, Wesley | ½-½ | 70 | C80 | Ruy Lopez Open | |
| Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | - Hou, Yifan | 1-0 | 55 | D38 | QGD Ragozin | |
| Navara, David | - Karjakin, Sergey | ½-½ | 35 | D45 | Anti-Meran Variations | |
| Tomashevsky, Evgeny | - Adams, Michael | ½-½ | 34 | D35 | QGD Exchange | |
| Van Wely, Loek | - Giri, Anish | 0-1 | 45 | D11 | Slav Defence | |
| Round 8 (January 24, 2016) | Live Show |
Recap |
||||
| Ding, Liren | - Wei, Yi | ½-½ | 27 | D97 | Gruenfeld Russian | |
| So, Wesley | - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | ½-½ | 38 | C50 | Giuoco Piano | |
| Giri, Anish | - Tomashevsky, Evgeny | ½-½ | 57 | A07 | Barcza System | |
| Karjakin, Sergey | - Carlsen, Magnus | ½-½ | 31 | C60 | Ruy Lopez | |
| Navara, David | - Caruana, Fabiano | 1-0 | 55 | E32 | Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2 | |
| Hou, Yifan | - Van Wely, Loek | 0-1 | 43 | B90 | Sicilian Najdorf Variation | |
| Adams, Michael | - Eljanov, Pavel | ½-½ | 85 | C67 | Ruy Lopez Berlin | |
| Round 9 (January 26, 2016) | Live Show |
Recap |
||||
| Carlsen, Magnus | - Adams, Michael | 1-0 | 66 | C50 | Giuoco Piano | |
| Caruana, Fabiano | - Karjakin, Sergey | ½-½ | 60 | C65 | Ruy Lopez Berlin | |
| Eljanov, Pavel | - Giri, Anish | ½-½ | 48 | E04 | Catalan | |
| Wei, Yi | - Navara, David | 1-0 | 28 | C65 | Ruy Lopez Berlin | |
| Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | - Ding, Liren | ½-½ | 30 | D47 | Queens Gambit Meran | |
| Tomashevsky, Evgeny | - Hou, Yifan | ½-½ | 47 | E53 | Nimzo Indian | |
| Van Wely, Loek | - So, Wesley | ½-½ | 25 | D38 | QGD Ragozin | |
| Round 10 (January 27, 2016) | Live Show |
Recap |
||||
| Caruana, Fabiano | - Wei, Yi | 1-0 | 32 | C83 | Ruy Lopez Open | |
| Ding, Liren | - Van Wely, Loek | ½-½ | 64 | D97 | Gruenfeld Russian | |
| So, Wesley | - Tomashevsky, Evgeny | ½-½ | 40 | A29 | English Four Knights | |
| Giri, Anish | - Carlsen, Magnus | ½-½ | 34 | D38 | QGD Ragozin | |
| Karjakin, Sergey | - Adams, Michael | 0-1 | 31 | A45 | Trompowsky | |
| Navara, David | - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | ½-½ | 31 | C76 | Ruy Lopez Modern Steinitz | |
| Hou, Yifan | - Eljanov, Pavel | 0-1 | 68 | C53 | Giuoco Piano | |
| Round 11 (January 29, 2016) | Live Show |
Recap |
||||
| Carlsen, Magnus | - Hou, Yifan | 1-0 | 54 | C42 | Petroff's Defence | |
| Eljanov, Pavel | - So, Wesley | ½-½ | 60 | D92 | Gruenfeld 5.Bf4 | |
| Wei, Yi | - Karjakin, Sergey | ½-½ | 73 | C67 | Ruy Lopez Berlin | |
| Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | - Caruana, Fabiano | ½-½ | 50 | B22 | Sicilian Alapin | |
| Tomashevsky, Evgeny | - Ding, Liren | 0-1 | 53 | D30 | Queen's Gambit (without Nc3) | |
| Adams, Michael | - Giri, Anish | ½-½ | 42 | B31 | Sicilian Rossolimo | |
| Van Wely, Loek | - Navara, David | ½-½ | 37 | A04 | Dutch System | |
| Round 12 (January 30, 2016) | Live Show |
Recap |
||||
| Caruana, Fabiano | - Van Wely, Loek | 1-0 | 37 | B90 | Sicilian Najdorf Variation | |
| Ding, Liren | - Eljanov, Pavel | 1-0 | 38 | E15 | Queens Indian | |
| So, Wesley | - Carlsen, Magnus | ½-½ | 28 | A30 | English Symmetrical | |
| Wei, Yi | - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | ½-½ | 33 | C95 | Ruy Lopez Breyer | |
| Karjakin, Sergey | - Giri, Anish | ½-½ | 30 | A01 | Larsen Opening | |
| Navara, David | - Tomashevsky, Evgeny | ½-½ | 32 | E15 | Queens Indian | |
| Hou, Yifan | - Adams, Michael | ½-½ | 42 | C67 | Ruy Lopez Berlin | |
| Round 13 (January 31, 2016) | Live Show |
Recap |
||||
| Carlsen, Magnus | - Ding, Liren | ½-½ | 99 | C80 | Ruy Lopez Open | |
| Giri, Anish | - Hou, Yifan | ½-½ | 95 | A46 | Queen's Pawn Opening | |
| Eljanov, Pavel | - Navara, David | 1-0 | 36 | E12 | Queens Indian Petrosian | |
| Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | - Karjakin, Sergey | ½-½ | 31 | D27 | QGA | |
| Tomashevsky, Evgeny | - Caruana, Fabiano | 1-0 | 63 | E44 | Nimzo Indian Rubinstein | |
| Adams, Michael | - So, Wesley | ½-½ | 33 | C80 | Ruy Lopez Open | |
| Van Wely, Loek | - Wei, Yi | ½-½ | 31 | A15 | English counter King's Fianchetto | |
