World champion D Gukesh will be keen to arrest a dip in form when he leads India’s campaign at the Prague International Chess Festival, set to begin on Wednesday in Prague, Czechoslovakia. The teenage Grandmaster is looking to bounce back after an early departure from the World Cup and a below-par showing at the Tata Steel Masters.
Seeded second in a dynamic and youthful Masters field, Gukesh faces a stern challenge from top seed Vincent Keymer of Germany and Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov, both of whom have enjoyed stronger recent results. Keymer currently occupies fourth place in the live world rankings, marginally ahead of Abdusattorov, while Gukesh, ranked 10th, remains India’s highest-rated player.
Not long ago, India boasted of three players in the world’s top 10, but rating slips for Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa have reshaped the standings, elevating Gukesh to the position of India’s No. 1 in the live rankings. Though he has not consistently hit peak form, his steady performances have kept him ahead of his compatriots.
Joining Gukesh in the Masters section is defending champion Aravindh Chithambaram, for whom this tournament proved to be a breakthrough moment in his career. However, after an underwhelming campaign at Wijk aan Zee, Chithambaram—seeded seventh—will be eager to regain his place in the 2700 rating bracket. Successfully defending his title will be no easy task.
Also read: Abdusattorov lifts Tata Steel Masters title; Gukesh ends 8th
Abdusattorov, buoyed by his maiden title at the Tata Steel Masters, could start as the crowd favourite to lift another trophy, while Keymer’s consistency makes him a formidable contender. American Grandmaster Hans Niemann is another dangerous participant, having repeatedly answered his critics with strong performances.
The field also features Iran’s Parham Maghsoodloo, who continues to push for greater recognition at the elite level, and Dutch GM Jorden van Foreest, known for his steady displays despite fewer appearances in top-tier events. Rounding out the 10-player Masters line-up are Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Yakubboev, Spain’s David Anton Guijarro and Czech stalwart David Navara, who will enjoy home support in the nine-round competition.
In the Challengers section, experienced GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly will lead the Indian contingent alongside Women’s World Cup champion Divya Deshmukh. Hungary’s Benjamin Gledura heads the field as the top seed, with Denmark’s Jonas Buhl Bjerre close behind in what promises to be a competitive section.
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