Gukesh Struggles at Prague International Chess Festival: Draws with Keymer, Chidambaram Shines Against Van Foreest
Gukesh Stumbles at Prague International Chess Festival; Chidambaram Shines
Prague, March 6, 2026 — In a gripping day of chess at the Prague International Chess Festival, Indian Grandmaster D. Gukesh found himself in a familiar position, drawing yet again, this time against Germany’s Vincent Keymer. Meanwhile, compatriot Aravindh Chidambaram delivered a stunning upset, defeating Dutch player Jorden Van Foreest, adding excitement to the tournament’s narrative.
Gukesh, the reigning World Champion, has struggled to find his footing in the tournament, managing only 2.5 points after eight rounds, placing him at the bottom of the Masters table. His latest draw with Keymer, while not a loss, continues to raise questions about his form as he seeks to regain his competitive edge.
In contrast, Chidambaram’s victory over Van Foreest has injected new life into his campaign, bringing him to a total of 4 points. This win not only boosts his confidence but also highlights the depth of talent emerging from India’s chess scene.
The day’s action also saw American Hans Niemann triumph over David Anton Guijaro, while Parham Maghsoodloo and Nordibek Yakuboev settled for draws in their respective matches. Notably, Abdusattorov secured a crucial win against David Navarra, solidifying his position at the top of the Masters leaderboard with 5.5 points.
In the challengers category, Indian player Divya Deshmukh faced a tough battle, ultimately drawing against Jachym Nemec. Fellow Indian Suriya Shekhar Ganguly also ended his match in a stalemate against Vaclav Finek. The challengers’ section is currently led by Finek with 5.5 points, closely followed by Spaniard Danil Yuffa with 5 points.
As the tournament progresses, the stakes are high, and the competition remains fierce. With Gukesh looking to turn his fortunes around and Chidambaram aiming to build on his momentum, the next rounds promise to deliver thrilling chess action.
Stay tuned as we continue to follow the developments from the Prague International Chess Festival, where every move counts in this high-stakes battle of wits.