Major Upsets at the 2026 Prague Chess Festival: Aravindh Shocks Van Foreest, Gukesh Struggles Again
Aravindh Chithambaram Upsets Tournament Leader at 2026 Prague Chess Festival Masters
Prague, Czech Republic — In a thrilling penultimate round of the 2026 Prague Chess Festival Masters, defending champion Aravindh Chithambaram delivered a stunning upset by defeating tournament leader Jorden van Foreest. Meanwhile, reigning world champion D. Gukesh continued to face challenges, settling for yet another draw.
Playing with the black pieces in round 8, Chithambaram capitalized on a critical mistake by Van Foreest, who had been aggressively pursuing a win. The Dutch Grandmaster faltered late in the game, allowing Chithambaram to execute a precise knight maneuver that forced Van Foreest to resign after 62 intense moves. This victory propelled Chithambaram to 4/8 points, placing him in a tie for fourth in the standings.
For Van Foreest, the defeat was a significant setback, knocking him out of the sole lead just one round before the tournament finale. With 5 points, he now trails behind the emerging frontrunner, Nodirbek Abdusattorov.
In a contrasting performance, Gukesh faced German Grandmaster Vincent Keymer, resulting in a 47-move draw. The Indian Grandmaster attempted a bold strategy by sacrificing his queen to create a dangerous passed pawn, advancing it to the seventh rank. However, Keymer’s calm defense neutralized the threat, leading to a repetition of moves that secured the draw. Gukesh remains at the bottom of the table with 2.5/8 points, having recorded five draws and three losses throughout the tournament.
In another notable upset, Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov claimed victory over Czech favorite David Navara, moving into the sole lead with an impressive 5.5/8 points as the tournament approaches its conclusion.
Current Standings at the Prague Chess Festival Masters 2026:
- Nodirbek Abdusattorov – 5½ points
- Jorden Van Foreest – 5 points
- David Navara – 4½ points
- Parham Maghsoodloo – 4 points
- Vincent Keymer – 4 points
- Aravindh Chithambaram – 4 points
- Nodirbek Yakubboev – 3½ points
- Hans Niemann – 3½ points
- David Anton Guijarro – 3½ points
- Dommaraju Gukesh – 2½ points
As the tournament heads into its final round, all eyes will be on Abdusattorov as he seeks to maintain his lead and secure the championship title. Meanwhile, Gukesh will aim to end his tournament on a high note, hoping to break free from his winless streak.
For more insights, read Gukesh’s heartfelt apology to fans amid his challenging run at the festival here.