Prague Masters: Aravindh Chithambaram Secures Decisive Win, Praggnanandhaa Draws Again

Prague, February 28 – Indian Grandmaster Aravindh Chithambaram made a strong statement in the second round of the Prague Masters by securing a decisive victory against Germany’s Vincent Keymer, while R Praggnanandhaa settled for a second consecutive draw against Turkey’s Gurel Ediz.

Chithambaram, who has been pushing toward elite chess circles, showcased his tactical prowess with the black pieces. After surviving a tough first-round encounter against Czech Grandmaster Nguyen Thai Dai Van, he bounced back with an aggressive approach. His game against Keymer was the only decisive match of the day in the 10-player round-robin event, as all other games ended in draws.

In other matches, Dai Van and Sam Shankland (USA) drew their game, while top-seeded Wei Yi of China split the point with Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri. Vietnam’s Quang Leim Le and Czech Republic’s David Navara also settled for a draw.

Standings After Round 2​

With seven rounds remaining, Chithambaram joined Shankland at the top of the leaderboard with 1.5 points from two games. The duo is closely followed by Giri, Le, Dai Van, Navara, Keymer, and Praggnanandhaa, all with 1 point each. Wei Yi and Ediz currently share the last spot with 0.5 points.

Chithambaram’s Masterclass​

On the day of chess legend Boris Spassky’s passing, Chithambaram displayed shades of the Russian champion’s attacking style. Opting for the Queen’s Gambit Accepted, he played dynamically, sacrificing positional safety for greater tactical activity. His precise maneuvering allowed him to win a crucial pawn in the middle game, eventually forcing a queen exchange to capitalize on his advantage. With relentless pressure, he transitioned into a winning rook and pawn endgame, securing victory in 45 moves.

Praggnanandhaa Holds Ground​

The young Indian prodigy Praggnanandhaa demonstrated his versatility by deploying the French Defense against Ediz. Despite securing an equal position, finding winning opportunities proved challenging. Ediz, regarded as one of Europe’s most promising young talents, held firm, leading to a draw after 46 moves in a balanced rook endgame.

Divya Deshmukh Shines in Challengers Section​

In the concurrently running Challengers section, Indian talent Divya Deshmukh secured her first victory, defeating Czech player Richard Stalmach. The game saw fluctuating evaluations, but in the endgame, her strategic use of two connected passed pawns, supported by an advancing king, proved decisive. The game lasted 50 moves.

Round 2 Results:​

Prague Masters:

• Vincent Keymer (GER, 1) lost to Aravindh Chithambaram (IND, 1.5)
• Wei Yi (CHN, 0.5) drew with Anish Giri (NED, 1)
• Nguyen Thai Dai Van (CZE, 1) drew with Sam Shankland (USA, 1.5)
• Gurel Ediz (TUR, 0.5) drew with R Praggnanandhaa (IND, 1)
• David Navara (CZE, 1) drew with Le Quang Leim (VIE, 1)

Challengers Section:

• Vaclav Finek (CZE, 1) drew with Ma Qun (CHN, 1)
• Marc`andria Maurizzi (FRA, 0.5) drew with Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB, 1.5)
• Divya Deshmukh (IND, 1) defeated Richard Stalmach (CZE, 0.5)
• Jonas Buhl Bjerre (DEN, 1.5) drew with Ivan Salgado Lopez (ESP, 1.5)
• Jachym Nemec (CZE, 0.5) drew with Stamatis Kourkoulous-Arditis (GER, 0.5)

With intense competition ahead, all eyes will be on the next rounds to see if Chithambaram can maintain his momentum and whether Praggnanandhaa can break into the top rankings.