World Chess Champion D Gukesh of India scored a comfortable win over compatriot Leon Luke Mendonca in round nine to move into sole lead of the Tata Steel Masters at Wijk aan Zee in the Netherlands on Tuesday.

Gukesh has 6.5 points as he leads the 14-player event, 0.5 point ahead of joint-second Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan and Vlamidir Fedoseev of Slovenia.

R Praggnanandhaa, who was one of the joint leaders till round 8, lost to Anish Giri to slip to fourth position on 5.5 points. Local favourite Giri outplayed him in a thrilling endgame. Another Indian, Pentala Harikrishna, also suffered defeat in his round against Fedoseev.

Meanwhile, Arjun Erigaisi remains in search of his first win of the event after drawing with Wei Yi. Erigaisi, who started the event as India's No. 1, has lost his position in live ratings to Gukesh. Erigaisi will play white against Vincent Keymer of Germany in round 10. Gukesh will play black against Dutchman Max Warmerdam, while Praggananandhaa has white against Fedoseev.

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Gukesh had defeated China's Ding Liren in a 14-game match in December to emerge the youngest World Chess Champion at 18.

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