D Gukesh Falls to World No. 20 After Defeat by Aravindh Chithambaram in Prague Chess Tournament
D Gukesh Slips to World No. 20 Following Prague Setback to Aravindh Chithambaram
Prague, March 4, 2026 — In a surprising turn of events at the Prague Chess tournament, reigning world champion D Gukesh faced a crushing defeat against compatriot Aravindh Chithambaram, resulting in a significant drop to world No. 20 in the live FIDE ratings. This loss marks Gukesh’s third consecutive defeat in the competition, leaving him at the bottom of the tournament standings among ten players.
The match, which took place on Tuesday, showcased a dramatic shift in momentum. After a promising start, Gukesh, who had previously clinched the world title in December 2024, struggled to maintain his top-tier status. His only notable performance since then was a shared lead at the Tata Steel Masters in January 2025, where he ultimately fell to R Praggnanandhaa in a tiebreak.
Chithambaram’s victory over Gukesh was a pivotal moment in the tournament. The match began with Gukesh opting for an aggressive pawn sacrifice early in the middle game, but a critical blunder on the 40th move sealed his fate just eight moves later. Aravindh, who had initially struggled with his opening, switched to a Sicilian Defense that ultimately played to his advantage.
While Gukesh’s defeat was the only decisive match of the day, the remaining four games ended in draws, leaving Jorden van Foreest in the lead with 4.5 points. Local star David Navara and Nodirbek Abdusattorov are close behind, both sitting at 4 points.
As the tournament progresses, Gukesh’s recent form raises questions about his ability to reclaim his former glory. With three rounds left in this Super Tournament, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if the young champion can turn his fortunes around.
In the Masters section, World Women’s Cup winner Divya Deshmukh drew with Thomas Beerdsen, while Surya Shekhar Ganguly also split points with Daniil Yuffa, adding to the day’s competitive atmosphere.
As Gukesh reflects on his recent performances, the chess world waits to see if he can bounce back and reclaim his position among the elite.