Exciting Results and Standings from Prague Chess Festival 2025: Praggnanandhaa and Chithambaram at the Top, Divya Deshmukh Suffers Defeat

The Prague Chess Festival 2025 continues to be a battleground for top chess players, with Indian Grandmasters R Praggnanandhaa and Aravindh Chithambaram maintaining their joint lead after five rounds. The highly anticipated match between the two ended in a draw, showcasing their strategic prowess and determination to stay at the top of the standings.

In the latest round, China’s GM Wei Yi emerged victorious by defeating American grandmaster Sam Shankland, while Vincent Keymer, who had previously lost to both Praggnanandhaa and Chithambaram, failed to secure a win against Vietnam’s Lê Quang Liêm.

The Praggnanandhaa vs Chithambaram match was a closely contested affair, with both players opting for cautious gameplay that ultimately led to a draw after 59 moves. Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri humorously commented on the match, highlighting the tactical approach taken by the players.

Meanwhile, in the Challengers section, India’s Divya Deshmukh suffered another loss, this time to 17-year-old Marc’Andria Maurizzi of France. Deshmukh is currently ninth in the standings with 1.5 points and will look to bounce back in her upcoming match against Vaclav Finek from the Czech Republic.

As the tournament progresses, the competition remains fierce, with players vying for the top spots in both the Masters and Challengers sections. The standings reflect the intense battles that have taken place so far, setting the stage for more thrilling matches in the remaining rounds of the Prague Chess Festival.