Gukesh battles tough stretch at Prague Chess Festival, Van Foreest retains lead

Indian chess sensation D Gukesh Dommaraju , reigning World Champion, has faced a challenging run at the 2026 Prague International Chess Festival , as the tournament continues to test even the most elite players. On Thursday, March 5 , in Masters Round 7 , Gukesh was held to a draw by Iran’s Parham Maghsoodloo , extending a series of difficult results that have seen him slip toward the lower end of the leaderboard with just two points from seven games . Fans and analysts alike are closely watching to see if the young grandmaster can regain form in the closing rounds.

While Gukesh struggled, fellow Indian Aravindh Chithambaram maintained his momentum, drawing against Nodirbek Yakubboev to hold a solid mid‑table score. The matchups of Round 7 produced only one decisive result, highlighting the high level of competition and cautious strategies among the top players. Germany’s Vincent Keymer secured the day’s sole win by defeating David Anton Guijarro , injecting fresh energy into his tournament campaign.

At the top, Jorden van Foreest of the Netherlands continued to impress, drawing against Nodirbek Abdusattorov to retain a slim but critical lead. Trailing closely behind are David Navara of the Czech Republic and Abdusattorov, both with 4.5 points , keeping the title race tight and competitive. Van Foreest now leads with 5 points , positioning himself as the player to beat in the Masters section.

The Challengers section also saw notable action. India’s Surya Shekhar Ganguly claimed a hard-fought victory, while Vaclav Finek and other top contenders continued their push for supremacy. Performances here will determine standings and potential promotions in future editions of the festival.

The Masters also saw Jorden van Foreest maintain his lead with another solid performance , while Vincent Keymer added crucial points to stay in contention . D Gukesh was held to a draw once again , extending his challenging run, and Aravindh Chithambaram secured a draw , keeping his steady mid-table score. The action in the Challengers and Futures sections also produced decisive results, shaping the standings as the festival moved closer to its final round.

The 2026 Prague Chess Festival continues to showcase intense competition, strategic brilliance, and emerging storylines, keeping the chess world captivated as it approaches its climactic conclusion.