Gukesh Dommaraju Struggles at 2026 Prague Chess Festival: A World Champion in Last Place

Round 6 Recap: Masters and Challengers

Upcoming Matches: Round 7 Pairings and Key Showdowns

How to Watch the 2026 Prague Chess Festival

Gukesh Dommaraju Faces Tough Times at 2026 Prague Chess Festival

Prague, Czech Republic — In a surprising turn of events, reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju finds himself at the bottom of the leaderboard at the 2026 Prague Chess Festival Masters, currently sitting in last place after a disappointing loss to fellow Indian Grandmaster Aravindh Chithambaram in round six. This defeat has also seen Gukesh plummet to world number 20, a stark contrast to his previous standing.

The tournament, which has captivated chess enthusiasts worldwide, is being led by Dutch Grandmaster Jorden van Foreest, who maintains a narrow half-point lead with three rounds remaining. The other matches in the Masters category ended in draws, leaving the standings largely unchanged at the top.

A Clash of Indian Titans

The highlight of round six was undoubtedly the match between Gukesh and Aravindh, both of whom have struggled throughout the tournament. “It was very hard to actually play this game,” Aravindh admitted, reflecting on the pressure both players faced. “Both of us are having a very bad tournament, but I knew that one would be happy at the end of the day, and it turned out to be me.”

Aravindh, the defending champion, has had a rocky start, suffering three losses in the first five rounds. His victory over Gukesh, however, has reignited hopes for a comeback, albeit while still hovering below a 2680 rating.

Gukesh’s Struggles

For Gukesh, the weight of the world championship title seems to have taken its toll. After a promising performance at Wijk aan Zee in 2025, where he narrowly missed the title against GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, Gukesh has struggled to find his rhythm. With three losses in four games at the Prague Festival, he has faced mounting pressure and criticism.

In their match, Gukesh’s position appeared playable until he made a critical error, playing 40.Rgf3? with only three seconds left on the clock. Aravindh capitalized on this mistake, sealing his victory with a decisive 40…Ne3! move.

Tournament Dynamics

As the tournament progresses, the stakes are high. Van Foreest remains in the lead, closely followed by GMs Nodirbek Abdusattorov and David Navara, both of whom are vying for the top spot. Abdusattorov’s quick play style has kept him competitive, while Navara, the oldest player in the Masters category, remains undefeated.

In the Challengers section, IM Vaclav Finek continues to hold a full-point lead, despite a challenging round. Top seed GM Benjamin Gledura managed to secure a win, bringing him back to a 50% score after a rocky start.

Looking Ahead

Round seven is set to begin on Wednesday, March 4, at 9 a.m. ET / 15:00 CET / 7:30 p.m. IST. The upcoming matches promise to be crucial, particularly the anticipated clash between Abdusattorov and Van Foreest, which could significantly impact the tournament’s outcome.

As the 2026 Prague Chess Festival approaches its climax, all eyes will be on Gukesh to see if he can turn his fortunes around and reclaim his status among the elite. The chess world watches with bated breath as the drama unfolds in this prestigious event.