Prague Masters: Praggnanandhaa Held to Another Draw, Chidambaram Overpowers Kaymer

Prague, February 28, 2025 – The Prague Masters Chess Tournament witnessed closely fought battles in Round 2, with mixed luck for India’s top grandmasters. While R Praggnanandhaa was held to another draw, Aravindh Chidambaram gave a dominating performance, winning a crucial game against Vincent Kaymer.

Chithambaram Overpowers Keymer in a Tactical Masterclass

Indian GM Aravindh Chithambaram displayed his strategic acumen with a commanding win over Germany’s Vincent Keymer. Playing the white pieces, Chithambaram navigated the complexities of the Queen’s Gambit Accepted, gaining a favorable position in the middlegame. A silky smooth tactical progression took him to overpower Keymer, scoring his first win in the tournament.

With this result, Chithambaram now equals the leadership position with US American Sam Shankland, both sporting 1.5 points after two rounds.

Praggnanandhaa Must Satisfy Himself with a Second Draw

Despite his attacking style and stringent practice, R Praggnanandhaa failed to make it through against Turkey’s Gurel Ediz, posting a second consecutive draw. The match remained level throughout, Ediz able to withstand Praggnanandhaa’s tactician plays.

With two draws in two rounds, Praggnanandhaa is now in the middle of the table, and he will have to win in the coming rounds to stay in the running.

Standings After Round 2

With two rounds in the bag, the Prague Masters board stands as follows:

• 1st Place: Sam Shankland, Aravindh Chithambaram (1.5 each)
• Joint on 1 Point: R Praggnanandhaa, Vincent Keymer, Le Quang Liem, Nguyen Thai Dai Van, David Navara, Anish Giri
• Lagging at the Bottom: Wei Yi, Gurel Ediz (0.5 each)

Challengers’ Section: Divya Deshmukh Bounces Back

In the Challengers’ section, IM Divya Deshmukh made a strong comeback, defeating Czech IM Richard Stalmach. Having lost in Round 1 early on, her victory in the second round puts her back in the contention for the top spots.

Upcoming Matches and Expectations

The third round of the Prague Masters will take place on February 28, 2025, at 3:00 PM CET (7:30 PM IST).

📌 Must-see Matchups:

• Aravindh Chithambaram will attempt to extend his winning streak and maintain his lead.
• Praggnanandhaa will attempt to break his drawing streak and win his first game of the tournament.