Thrilling Round 7 at the 2026 Prague Chess Festival: Keymer’s Narrow Victory and Key Standings Update

Keymer’s Thrilling Victory Highlights Round 7 of the 2026 Prague Chess Festival Masters

Prague, Czech Republic — In a nail-biting showdown at the 2026 Prague Chess Festival Masters, GM Vincent Keymer narrowly edged out GM David Anton in a match that had spectators on the edge of their seats. “At the end, I made it far too exciting!” Keymer exclaimed after the game, reflecting on a tense battle that almost slipped from his grasp.

The seventh round saw only one decisive game, but it was enough to shake up the standings as Keymer closed the gap to the leader, GM Jorden van Foreest, who retained a half-point lead after a sharp draw against GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov. With just two rounds remaining, the competition is heating up.

Round 7 Highlights

Keymer’s victory over Anton came in a sharp line of the Anti-Berlin, where he initially gained a commanding position. However, a series of missteps nearly allowed Anton to escape with a draw. “It was a crazy game, not a great conversion by me, but I managed to win,” Keymer admitted, showcasing the rollercoaster nature of the match.

Meanwhile, GM Aravindh Chithambaram faced disappointment after a promising position against GM Nodirbek Yakubboev turned sour due to a critical blunder. Chithambaram, who had been aiming for a second consecutive win, let a winning position slip away with a single move, leaving him frustrated.

In other matches, GM David Navara and U.S. star GM Hans Niemann played a relatively quiet draw, while Gukesh Dommaraju, the reigning World Champion, struggled against GM Parham Maghsoodloo, ultimately ending in a draw as well.

Standings Update

After Round 7, the standings remain tight at the top, with Van Foreest leading the pack. Keymer’s win puts him just 1.5 points behind the leader, raising the stakes for the upcoming rounds.

Looking Ahead

As the tournament progresses, Round 8 promises to be pivotal. Keymer will face Gukesh, while Van Foreest takes on Chithambaram. With the title race still wide open, every move counts.

Round 8 Pairings: Masters

• Keymer vs. Gukesh
• Van Foreest vs. Chithambaram
• Navara vs. Abdusattorov

The excitement continues on Thursday, March 5, with games starting at 9:15 a.m. ET / 15:15 CET / 7:45 p.m. IST. Fans can expect more thrilling chess action as the tournament nears its conclusion.

Challengers Update

In the Challengers section, 16-year-old IM Vaclav Finek held firm against top seed GM Benjamin Gledura in a grueling 134-move battle, maintaining his lead with just two rounds to go. With wins from GM Daniil Yuffa and IM Jachym Nemec, the competition remains fierce as they vie for a chance to challenge in next year’s Masters.

As the 2026 Prague Chess Festival unfolds, the chess world watches closely, eager to see who will emerge victorious in this prestigious event.