Gukesh Seeks Redemption at Prague Chess Festival After Tough Start
Gukesh Seeks Redemption at Prague Chess Festival Amidst Uncharacteristic Struggles
Prague, March 3, 2026 — Reigning world chess champion D Gukesh finds himself in an unexpected battle for redemption at the Prague International Chess Festival, having secured only 1.5 points from five rounds. The 17-year-old Indian grandmaster faces compatriot Aravindh Chithambaram in a crucial sixth-round matchup, hoping to turn his fortunes around.
Gukesh’s performance thus far has been a stark contrast to his usual dominance. With three draws and two losses, he has slipped to No. 17 in the live world rankings, raising the stakes for his upcoming encounter. His defeats have been particularly disheartening; against tournament leader Jorden van Foreest, Gukesh squandered a promising position, while a positional error under time pressure led to a painful loss against Nodirbek Abdusattor.
As the tournament progresses, Gukesh must regain his momentum quickly, with challenging matches against Parham Maghsoodloo, Vincent Keymer, and David Anton Guijarro still on the horizon. Despite his struggles, he enters the match against Chithambaram as a slight favorite, given his status as the defending champion.
Chithambaram, who made waves last year by clinching the title, has also faced difficulties, managing only one win from a worse position against Hans Niemann. Both players are eager to break free from their recent slumps, making their clash a highly anticipated event.
At the top of the leaderboard, Dutch grandmaster Jorden van Foreest has emerged as the standout performer, boasting four wins and one loss, while Czech veteran David Navara surprises many by sitting in second place with 3.5 points.
In the Challengers section, Divya Deshmukh has made a mark with 2.5 points, highlighted by her notable victory over former Indian champion Surya Shekhar Ganguly. However, Czech International Master Václav Finěk leads that section with an impressive 4 out of 5 points.
As the Prague Chess Festival enters its critical phase, all eyes will be on Gukesh as he seeks to reclaim his winning form and navigate through the challenges ahead.