Gukesh Triumphs at Prague Chess Festival, Ending Winless Streak; Aravindh Secures Joint Second Place

D Gukesh Ends Losing Streak with Victory at Prague Chess Festival

Prague, March 6, 2026 — In a thrilling conclusion to the Prague International Chess Festival, World Champion D Gukesh triumphed over Spain’s David Anton Guijarro in the final round, marking a much-needed end to his winless streak. Gukesh’s victory came after a challenging tournament where he faced a series of draws and three losses.

The ninth and final round saw Gukesh showcasing his exceptional skills, decisively overpowering Guijarro, who suffered his third consecutive defeat. Gukesh’s performance was a testament to his resilience and strategic prowess, as he outmaneuvered his opponent in both creativity and endgame tactics.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov clinched the tournament title after securing an easy draw against the United States’ Hans Moke Niemann. Abdusattorov, who previously won the Tata Steel Masters in February, remained unbeaten throughout the festival, finishing with three victories and six draws.

In a remarkable display of talent, Indian Grandmaster Aravindh Chithambaram also shone in the final round, defeating Czech Republic’s David Navara to finish joint second alongside Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran and Jorden van Foreest of Holland, each scoring five points. Aravindh’s comeback was particularly impressive, as he played his trademark complex chess, creating threats on both sides of the board against Navara.

The tournament saw a dramatic shift in momentum, especially for Van Foreest, who, after leading for the first seven rounds, faltered with two consecutive losses, including one to Maghsoodloo. Gukesh and Guijarro ended the tournament tied for ninth place in the ten-player round-robin format.

In the Challengers’ section, Divya Deshmukh made headlines by defeating Czech player Hrbek Stepan, securing a commendable third place. This performance is sure to send warning signals to her competitors ahead of the upcoming Women’s Candidates’ Tournament in Cyprus.

Grandmaster Surya Shekhar Ganguly also concluded his tournament on a high note, defeating the higher-rated Benjamin Gledura of Hungary in his final game. Sixteen-year-old Finek Vanclav of the Czech Republic emerged victorious in the Challengers’ section, scoring an impressive 6.5 points, half a point ahead of Spain’s Daniel Yuffa.

As the chess world reflects on this exciting tournament, Gukesh’s return to form and Abdusattorov’s consistent excellence highlight the ever-evolving landscape of competitive chess.

Results Summary:

• Masters:

  • D Gukesh (Ind) defeated David Anton Guijarro (Esp)
  • Aravindh Chithambaram (Ind) defeated David Navara (Cze)
  • Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzb) drew with Hans Moke Niemann (USA)

• Challengers:

  • Divya Deshmukh (Ind) defeated Hrbek Stepan (Cze)
  • Finek Vanclav (Cze) won the section with 6.5 points.

As the chess community looks forward to future tournaments, Gukesh’s resurgence and Abdusattorov’s triumph will undoubtedly be key talking points in the months to come.