Prague R7: Aravindh scores brilliant victory, becomes sole leader

by Johannes Fischer
3/6/2025 – The seventh round of the Masters at the Prague Chess Festival saw Aravindh Chithambaram beating Anish Giri with black in what perhaps was the best game of the tournament so far. With this victory, Aravindh took the sole lead in the standings, as Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu was unable to get more than a draw against Wei Yi. Vincent Keymer fared similarly, as he put David Navara under pressure for a long time, but in the end had to be satisfied with half a point. Sam Shankland and Ediz Gürel had more luck: Shankland won with black against Le Quang Liem, while Gürel won with white against Thai Dai Van Nguyen. | Photo: Petr Vrabec
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A late bloomer

Aravindh Chithambaram has been regarded as one of India's greatest talents ever since he won the 2013 Chennai Open at the age of 14 with a Tournament Performance Rating of 2728. But while players like Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh and Arjun gradually rose to the top of the world rankings and were able to establish themselves as elite GMs, Aravindh did not seem to be able to realise his potential for a long time.

Recently, however, things have been looking up for the 25-year-old, and at the Masters event in Prague he showed that he can also hold his own against the best players in the world.

Aravindh won a brilliant game with black against Anish Giri in round seven, which also left him as the sole leader with two rounds to go.

Anish Giri

Anish Giri | Photo: Petr Vrabec

Entering into the seventh round, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu and Aravindh were sharing the lead. Pragg failed to convert a strong position into a win against Wei Yi.

Wei Yi

Wei Yi | Photo: Petr Vrabec

Vincent Keymer was also unable to score a full point in an endgame with an extra pawn against David Navara.

Sam Shankland played for a win in almost every game of the tournament so far, but had little luck. Against Le Quang Liem, who suffered a blackout shortly after the opening, the US grandmaster scored an unexpectedly easy win with black in round seven.

Sam Shankland

Sam Shankland | Photo: Petr Vrabec

The tournament has not gone well for young Turkish grandmaster Ediz Gürel. But in round seven, he scored his first victory in the Master while playing white against Thai Dai Van Nguyen - and he did it in convincing fashion to boot.

Two rounds remain to be played at the Masters tournament in Prague, and it looks as if Aravindh and Praggnanandhaa will battle in a two-horse race for overall victory. Aravind has a 1½-point lead over the chasing pack, while Pragg stands a half point behind his compatriot.

Round 7 results

Standings

All games

Challengers: Bjerre and Yakubboev keep on winning

Jonas Buhl Bjerre and Nodirbek Yakubboev are fighting for the tournament victory in the Challengers. Both co-leaders scored victories in round seven, over Ivan Salgado and Divya Deshmukh respectively, and are now 1½ points ahead of their closest rivals.

Jonas Buhl Bjerre

Jonas Buhl Bjerre | Photo: Petr Vrabec

Round 7 results

Standings

All games

Links

Johannes Fischer was born in 1963 in Hamburg and studied English and German literature in Frankfurt. He now lives as a writer and translator in Nürnberg. He is a FIDE-Master and regularly writes for KARL, a German chess magazine focusing on the links between culture and chess. On his own blog he regularly publishes notes on "Film, Literature and Chess".