Prague R3: Aravindh wins again, leads

by Stefan Liebig
3/1/2025 – Aravindh Chithambaran grabbed a second win in a row to grab the sole lead at the Masters section of the Prague Chess Festival. Meanwhile, Vincent Keymer continues to play all or nothing - after his round-one win against Wei Yi, he lost to Aravindh, and has now defeated Sam Shankland with black. The third decisive game of the day in the Masters saw Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu beating Thai Dai Van Nguyen. | Photo: Petr Vrabec
Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

Aravindh sole leader

The Masters tournament at the Prague Chess Festival has been up and down for Weissenhaus winner Vincent Keymer: three games, three decisive results. In round three, he faced the US grandmaster Sam Shankland, who had started with 1½ out of 2 and was therefore half a point ahead of the German.

Out of an English opening, Keymer played with the better pawn structure in an equal position against the white bishop pair. He gradually took the initiative, was better from move 30 and won the full point thanks to his good endgame technique. Shankland was unable to keep the black passed pawns away from the promotion square for long.

Shankland, Sam26700–1Keymer, Vincent2731
Prague Festival Masters 2025
28.02.2025[TA]
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.Nf3 Bxc3 4.dxc3 d6 5.e4 Nd7 6.Bd3 A21: English Opening: 1...e5 2 Nc3. Ne7 7.Be3 b6 8.Bc2 a5 9.Nh4 Ba6 10.b3 h6 11.a4 Bb7 12.Qe2 Nf6 13.f3 g5 14.Nf5 Nxf5 15.exf5 Qe7 16.0-0-0 0-0-0 17.Kb2 Qf8 Black should try 17...Rde8= 18.h4 Qg7 19.g4 19.hxg5 hxg5 20.Rxh8 Qxh8 20...Rxh8 21.Bxb6 cxb6 22.Rxd6± 21.Bxg5 19...Rhe8 20.Rhg1 d5 21.hxg5 hxg5 22.Qf2 dxc4 23.bxc4
23...Nd7 24.c5 Qf6 25.cxb6 Nxb6 26.Bb3 Rh8 26...Nd5 is more appropriate. 27.Bxb6 Qxb6 28.Qxb6 cxb6 29.Rxd8+ Kxd8 30.Rd1+ Kc7 31.Bd5 31.Bxf7 Bxf3 32.Rf1 31...Bxd5 32.Rxd5 f6 33.Rd3 Rh3 34.Kc2 Rg3 35.Kd2 35.c4 35...Rg2+ 36.Ke3 Ra2 37.Ke4 Rxa4+ 37...Kc6! 38.Rd8 Rxa4+ 39.Ke3 Rc4 38.Kd5 Kd7 39.Rd1 Ra2 40.Kc4+ Better is 40.Ke4+ Kc6 41.Rd8 40...Kc6 41.Rd8 b5+ 42.Kd3
42...Ra3! 43.Rf8 b4 44.Rxf6+ Kb5 Stronger than 44...Kd5 45.Ra6= 45.Rf8 Rxc3+ 46.Ke4 Rc7 47.f6 Rb7 48.Re8 b3 49.Kd3 Ka4 50.Rxe5 b2 51.Re1 Kb3 52.f4 a4 53.fxg5 a3 54.Kd4 a2 0–1

Vincent Keymer

Vincent Keymer | Photo: Petr Vrabec

Keymer is now level on points with Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu. The winner of the Tata Steel Masters Wijk aan Zee scored a full point on Friday as well - the game featured tripled pawn on the e-file. It was a nice attacking game against Thai Dai Van Nguyen, who had won the Challengers tournament in Wijk.

Praggnanandhaa R27411–0Nguyen, Thai Dai Van2668
Prague Festival Masters 2025
28.02.2025[TA]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.g3 0-0 5.Bg2 d5 6.Nf3 dxc4 7.0-0 Nc6 8.a3 8.Re1 injects fresh life into this line. Be7 9.e4 E20: Nimzo-Indian: 4 g3 and 4 f3. Rb8 10.Bf4!?       An interesting side line. b5 11.Re1 Black is slightly better. a6 12.d5 Na5 13.Qc2 White sacrificed a pawn Nh5N Predecessor: 13...exd5 14.Rad1 Bb7 15.Nd4 Nh5 16.Be5 Bf6 17.Bxf6 Nxf6 18.e5 Nd7 19.e6 fxe6 20.Nxe6 1-0 Sabuk,P (2380)-Fishchuk,V (2276) Malakhatko Memorial op blitz 2023 (7) 14.Be3 f5 14...Nf6= remains equal. 15.dxe6± White has a strong passed pawn f4 16.Rad1 Qe8 17.gxf4 White is much more active. 17.Ba7?! Rb7= 17...Nxf4 18.Bxf4 Rxf4 19.Nd5! Excellent horsemanship. Rg4 20.Nxe7+ Don't do 20.Nxc7 Qg6 21.Nd5 Rxg2+= White should play 20.Qd2!± Nxe7+ is the strong threat. Nc6 21.Nxe7+ 21.Nxc7 Qg6= 21...Nxe7 22.Ne5 Rxg2+ 23.Kxg2 Bxe6 24.Kh1 20...Qxe7 21.Qd2       White is more active. Bb7?       This costs Black the game. 22.Ne5 Rg5 22...Rxg2+ 23.Kxg2 Nc6 23.f4+- Rxe5 24.fxe5 Nc6
25.Qd7! Re8       26.Qxe7 Rxe7
27.Rd7! Rxe6 28.Rxc7 Na5 28...Re7 29.Rxe7 Nxe7 29.Rd1 Threatening mate with Rd8+. Bc6 Weighted Error Value: White=0.15 (very precise) /Black=0.55 Loses game: --- Black=1 Mistake: White=1 Black=3 Inaccurate: White=1 Black=2 OK: White=9 Black=7 Best: White=3 Black=2 Strong: White=2 --- 1–0

Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu

Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu next to his grandmaster colleagues during the opening ceremony | Photo: Petr Vrabec

Only Aravindh Chithambaram is now ahead of the aforementioned winners of the day - i.e. Keymer and Pragg. With a strong victory against Wei Yi, he grabbed the sole lead. After his loss against Keymer on Wednesday, the Chinese player has now suffered his second defeat - after such a poor start to the tournament, Wei now stands in last place with just half a point to his name.

Aravindh, Chithambaram VR27291–0Wei, Yi2755
Prague Festival Masters 2025
28.02.2025[TA]
1.d4       Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Qb3 c5 6.dxc5 Nc6
The main line 6...Nc6 scores better than 6...Na6. D38: Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defence (4 Nf3 Bb4). 7.Bg5 Qa5 Threatens to win with ...d4. 8.Bxf6 dxc4 White has an edge. 9.Qxc4 gxf6 10.Rc1 Qxc5 11.Qf4 Ke7 12.g3 e5 13.Qe4 Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 A sharp opening Be6 15.Bg2 Kf8 16.Qh4N Predecessor: 16.0-0 Kg7 17.Nh4 Ne7 18.Qxb7 Rhb8 19.Qf3 Rd8 20.Qh5 Qc4 21.Bf3 Rd2 22.Ng2 ½-½ Silva,R (2340)-Almeida,R (2302) BRA-ch28 final email 2022 16...Kg7 16...Bxa2? 17.Qxf6 Kg8 18.Qg5+ Kf8 19.Qh6+ Kg8 20.0-0+- 17.Nd2 Qe7 17...Bxa2?! 18.Qxf6+ Kxf6 19.Ne4+ Ke7 20.Nxc5± 18.Bxc6 bxc6 19.g4 Rhg8 20.Ne4 Bd5 21.Ng3 Kh8! 22.0-0 Bxa2 23.c4 23.Nf5!? Qe6 24.Kh1 23...Qe6 24.h3 Rg6 25.Rfd1 f5 Prevents Ne4 25...Bxc4= keeps the balance. 26.e4 Bb3 26.f3 26.Ra1± aiming for gxf5. Bb3 27.Rd8+ Rxd8 28.Qxd8+ Rg8 29.gxf5 Rxd8 30.fxe6 fxe6 31.Rxa7 26...Rag8 27.Rd8 fxg4 28.hxg4 Bxc4 29.Rxg8+ Rxg8 30.Kf2! Bb5? 30...Rg6= and Black stays safe. 31.Ne4 Better is 31.Rh1+- Qg6 32.Nf5 31...Kg7 31...f5± 32.Nf6 Qe7 32...Rg7 33.Rd1± 32.Rh1+- Qg6 33.Qe7 Qe6 34.Qg5+ 34.Qxa7 Kh8 35.g5 Bxe2+- 34...Kf8 35.Qd2       White has strong compensation. Rg6 36.Qd8+ Qe8 36...Kg7? 37.Ng5 Rxg5 38.Qxg5+ Qg6 39.Qxe5+ f6 40.Qe7+ Kg8 41.Qd8+ 41.Qxa7 Bc4+- 41...Kg7 42.g5 Qxg5 43.Qe7+ 43.Rg1 Qxg1+ 44.Kxg1 a5+- 43...Kg8 44.Rg1+- 44.Qxa7 Qe5+- 44.Rxh7 Bc4+- 44.Qxh7+ Kf8+- 37.Qh4 White is much more active. 37.Qc7± 37...h6!= 38.Rd1! Inhibits Qd7. Qe6?
Black should play 38...Kg7 39.Qd8+!+- 39.Rd6 Qxd6 40.Nxd6 Rxd6+- 39...Kg7 40.Rd6 Qc4 40...Qa2 41.Rxg6+ fxg6 42.Qf6+ Kg8 43.Qxg6+ Kf8 44.Qxh6+ Ke8 45.Qh8+ Kd7 46.Qg7+ 46.Qxe5 Qxe2+ 47.Kg3 Qe1+ 48.Kf4 Qc1+ 49.Kf5 Qh1+- 46...Kd8 47.Qf8+ 47.Qxe5 Qxe2+ 48.Kg3 Qe1+ 49.Kf4 Qh4+- 47...Kd7 48.Qf5+ 48.Qg7+ Kd8+- 48...Kd8 49.Qf8+ 49.Qxe5 Qxe2+ 50.Kg3 a5+- 41.Rxg6+
White is clearly winning. 41...fxg6 42.Qf6+ Kh7 43.Qe7+ 43.Qxe5 Qxe2+ 44.Kg1 44.Kg3 Qe1+ 45.Kh2 Qe2+ 46.Kg3 Qe1+ 47.Kh2 Qe2+ 48.Kg3= 44...Qe1+ 44...Qxf3? 45.Nf6++- 45.Kh2 Qe2+ 46.Kg1 46.Kg3 Qe1+ 47.Kh2 Qe2+ 48.Kg1 Qf1+ 49.Kh2 Qe2+= 46...Qd1+ 47.Kh2 Qe2+ 47...Qxf3? 48.Nf6++- 48.Kg1= 43...Kh8 44.Kg3 Weighted Error Value: White=0.17 (very precise) /Black=0.54 Loses game: --- Black=3 Mistake: White=3 Black=2 Inaccurate: White=1 Black=1 OK: White=16 Black=14 Best: White=3 Black=5 Strong: White=3 Black=2 Worse is 44.Qxa7 Qd4+ 44...Qxe2+ 45.Kg3= 45.Qxd4 exd4 Weaker is 44.Qxe5+ Kg8+- 1–0

The remaining two games ended drawn: Ediz Gurel was unable to make the most of a favourable position against Le Quang Liem, while Anish Giri reached an endgame with bishops of opposite colours - which was unwinnable - against David Navara.

Round 3 results

NameRtg.Nt.Pts.Pts.NameRtgNt.
Shankland,S
2670
1½
0-1
1
Keymer,V
2731
Aravindh,C
2729
1½
1-0
½
Wei,Y
2755
Praggnanandhaa R
2741
1
1-0
1
Nguyen,T
2668
Giri,A
2728
1
½-½
1
Navara,D
2677
Le,Q
2739
1
½-½
½
Gurel,E
2624

Standings

Rk.NameRtg.Nt.Pts.n
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
TBPerf.
1
Aravindh,C
2729
2.5
3
1
½
1
3.00
2991
2
Praggnanandhaa R
2741
2.0
3
½
1
½
2.25
2781
3
Keymer,V
2731
2.0
3
0
1
1
2.00
2843
4
Navara,D
2677
1.5
3
½
½
½
2.50
2736
5
Le,Q
2739
1.5
3
½
½
½
2.00
2676
6
Giri,A
2728
1.5
3
½
½
½
1.75
2724
7
Shankland,S
2670
1.5
3
0
½
1
1.50
2674
8
Nguyen,T
2668
1.0
3
½
0
½
2.00
2588
9
Gurel,E
2624
1.0
3
½
½
0
1.75
2592
10
Wei,Y
2755
0.5
3
0
0
½
0.75
2456
TBs: Sonneborn-Berger

All games

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.Nf3 7 d5 16 2.g3 8 g6 10 3.Bg2 8 Bg7 9 4.d4 10 Nf6 7 5.0-0 16 0-0 9 6.c4 52 c6 9       7.Qb3 12 a5 34       8.cxd5 1:07 D78: Fianchetto Grünfeld: 6 0-0 c6. a4 52 9.Qd1 20 cxd5 2:25 10.Nc3 14 White has an edge. Ne4 6:14 11.Ng5 1:09 Nxc3 14:18 12.bxc3 16 h6 2:51 13.Nh3 28 Qc7 6:37 14.Bd2N 19:31 14.Qe1 b6 15.Nf4 e6 16.Nd3 Nc6 17.Bf4 Qa7 18.h4 h5 19.Qd2 Ba6 20.Bf3 Rfc8 21.Rab1 ½-½ Mezera,L (2189)-Artner,M (2148) W-ch WS/M/886 email 2023 14...Bxh3 5:05 15.Bxh3 11 e6 18 16.Rb1 6:21 Nd7 1:08       17.Rb4 51 Nb6 5:24 18.Qb1 7:02 Ra6 10:26 19.Rc1 40 Nc4 7:10 20.Be1 4:38 20.Bf4= Qc6 21.Rxb7 20...Rb8! 6:19 21.Qd3 5:16 Bf8 2:03 22.Rbb1 13 Ba3 8 23.Rc2 1:04 Rb6 12 24.Qd1 4:09 Nb2 2:04 25.Qd2 29 Nc4 10 26.Qd1 14 Rxb1 4:24 27.Qxb1 12 b5 10 28.Bf1 1:05 Kg7 8:18 29.e3 42 h5 49 30.Qd1 5:35 Rb6 1:49 31.Qf3 3:11 Qc6 2:24 32.h3 4:05 Qb7 3:36 33.Kh2 4:32 Bd6 57 34.Kg1 1:23 Ba3 4:52 35.Be2 28 Bd6 2:16 36.Rc1 53 Ba3 18 37.Rb1 2:09 Bd6 1:09 38.Bf1 56 Na3 25 39.Rc1 1:15 Qc6 31 40.Qd1 2:16 Rb8 1:53 41.Qd2 34:02 Bc7 5:27 42.h4 0 Rc8 3:10 43.Qb2 0 Nc4 51 44.Qb1 0 Ba5 1:18 45.Bd3 0 Nd6 2:41 46.Rc2 0 Nc4 1:49 47.Rc1! 0 Nd6 1:36 48.Rc2 0 Qd7 1:25 49.Kg2 0 Qb7 2:10 50.Qd1 0 Rc7 4:04 50...Nc4 51.Kh2 0 51.g4= 51...Qc8 2:22 52.Qc1 0 Rc6 1:37 53.Kg2 0 Qc7 10 54.Kh2 0 Qc8 6 55.Kg2 0 Qc7 3 56.Kh2 0 Qe7 1:41 57.Qb1 0 Qb7 3:01 58.Qc1 0 Qc7 27 59.Kg2 0 Qc8 1 60.Kh2 0 Rc7 26 61.Qa3 4:52 Nc4 1:03 62.Qc1 6 e5 3:01       Black is on the roll. 63.dxe5 5:22 Nxe5 1 64.Be2 6
64.Bxb5? d4 65.Qd1 65.exd4? Nf3+ 66.Kg2 Qb7-+ 65...Qf5-+ 65...Bxc3 66.Bxc3 dxc3 67.Qd4 65...dxc3 66.Qd4 64...b4! 1:35       65.Qd1 10
65...Qf5 2:40 65...bxc3?! 66.Qxd5 Rc5 67.Qd4= 65...Rc5! 66.Qd4 f6 66.Rc1? 48
66.Kg2!= 66...Rxc3!-+ 1:02 66...bxc3 67.Qxa4 d4 68.exd4± 67.Bxc3 10:02 Qxf2+ 2 68.Kh3 4 bxc3 3 69.Qd4 5 Bc7 1:25 69...f6 Hoping for ...Ng4!. 70.Qa7+ Nf7 71.Qxa5 Qxe2 72.Qxd5 g5 72...Qxe3 73.Rb1= 70.Rxc3? 11 70.Bd3 70...Qxe2? 32 Black should play 70...Bd6-+ 71.Bd1 f6 71...Qxa2 72.Rc2= 72.Qxd5 72.Qxa4 gets mated. Nf3 72...Qg1 73.Qb7+ 73.Qxd6? Qh1# 73...Nf7 71.Rxc7 5 KQR-KQN. The position is equal. Qf1+ 16 72.Kh2 4 Qf2+ 9 73.Kh3 49 Qf1+ 44 74.Kh2 3 Qf2+ 7 75.Kh3 4 Qf1+ 46 76.Kh2 6 Black had all chances to win. Weighted Error Value: White=0.11 (very precise) /Black=0.12 (very precise) Loses game: White=1 --- Missed win: --- Black=1 Mistake: White=3 Black=3 Inaccurate: White=9 Black=7 OK: White=23 Black=23 Best: White=4 Black=3 Strong: White=1 Black=2 ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Aravindh,C2729Nguyen,T2668½–½2025D78Prague Festival Masters 20251.1
Shankland,S2670Gurel,E26241–02025D02Prague Festival Masters 20251.2
Praggnanandhaa R2741Navara,D2677½–½2025D38Prague Festival Masters 20251.3
Le,Q2739Giri,A2728½–½2025D26Prague Festival Masters 20251.4
Keymer,V2731Wei,Y27551–02025E32Prague Festival Masters 20251.5
Nguyen,T2668Shankland,S2670½–½2025E94Prague Festival Masters 20252.1
Gurel,E2624Praggnanandhaa R2741½–½2025C07Prague Festival Masters 20252.2
Navara,D2677Le,Q2739½–½2025D37Prague Festival Masters 20252.3
Wei,Y2755Giri,A2728½–½2025C55Prague Festival Masters 20252.4
Keymer,V2731Aravindh,C27290–12025D22Prague Festival Masters 20252.5
Le,Q2739Gurel,E2624½–½2025C43Prague Festival Masters 20253.1
Praggnanandhaa R2741Nguyen,T26681–02025E20Prague Festival Masters 20253.2
Giri,A2728Navara,D2677½–½2025C65Prague Festival Masters 20253.3
Shankland,S2670Keymer,V27310–12025A21Prague Festival Masters 20253.4
Aravindh,C2729Wei,Y27551–02025D38Prague Festival Masters 20253.5
Nguyen,T2668Le,Q2739½–½2025D35Prague Festival Masters 20254.1
Gurel,E2624Giri,A2728½–½2025B52Prague Festival Masters 20254.2
Wei,Y2755Navara,D26771–02025C54Prague Festival Masters 20254.3
Aravindh,C2729Shankland,S2670½–½2025B51Prague Festival Masters 20254.4
Keymer,V2731Praggnanandhaa R27410–12025C17Prague Festival Masters 20254.5
Navara,D2677Gurel,E2624½–½2025D27Prague Festival Masters 20255.1
Giri,A2728Nguyen,T2668½–½2025D02Prague Festival Masters 20255.2
Le,Q2739Keymer,V2731½–½2025C77Prague Festival Masters 20255.3
Shankland,S2670Wei,Y27550–12025E20Prague Festival Masters 20255.4
Praggnanandhaa R2741Aravindh,C2729½–½2025C67Prague Festival Masters 20255.5
Wei,Y2755Gurel,E2624½–½2025B40Prague Festival Masters 20256.1
Nguyen,T2668Navara,D2677½–½2025C67Prague Festival Masters 20256.2
Keymer,V2731Giri,A2728½–½2025E04Prague Festival Masters 20256.3
Aravindh,C2729Le,Q2739½–½2025D63Prague Festival Masters 20256.4
Shankland,S2670Praggnanandhaa R2741½–½2025C50Prague Festival Masters 20256.5
Gurel,E2624Nguyen,T26681–02025C85Prague Festival Masters 20257.1
Navara,D2677Keymer,V2731½–½2025D52Prague Festival Masters 20257.2
Le,Q2739Shankland,S26700–12025B84Prague Festival Masters 20257.3
Giri,A2728Aravindh,C27290–12025D35Prague Festival Masters 20257.4
Praggnanandhaa R2741Wei,Y2755½–½2025D33Prague Festival Masters 20257.5
Wei,Y2755Nguyen,T26681–02025C58Prague Festival Masters 20258.1
Keymer,V2731Gurel,E2624½–½2025C43Prague Festival Masters 20258.2
Shankland,S2670Giri,A27280–12025B66Prague Festival Masters 20258.3
Praggnanandhaa R2741Le,Q2739½–½2025E07Prague Festival Masters 20258.4
Aravindh,C2729Navara,D2677½–½2025C67Prague Festival Masters 20258.5
Nguyen,T2668Keymer,V2731½–½2025C89Prague Festival Masters 20259.1
Navara,D2677Shankland,S2670½–½2025B45Prague Festival Masters 20259.2
Le,Q2739Wei,Y2755½–½2025D38Prague Festival Masters 20259.3
Giri,A2728Praggnanandhaa R27411–02025E94Prague Festival Masters 20259.4
Gurel,E2624Aravindh,C2729½–½2025B12Prague Festival Masters 20259.5

Challengers: Yakubboev and Bjerre share the lead

There were also three decisive games in round three of the Challengers tournament. The Uzbek grandmaster Nodirbek Yakubboev defeated Indian IM Divya Deshmukh, who had beat Czech IM Richard Stalmach in the previous round.

Yakubboev, Nodirbek26591–0Divya Deshmukh2490
Prague Festival Challengers 2025
28.02.2025[TA]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 cxd4 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.Bg5 Be7 8.e3 0-0 D50: Queen's Gambit Declined: Dutch-Peruvian Gambit. 9.Rd1 Be6 The main line 9...Be6 scores better than 9...Nc6. 10.Bd3 h6 The position is equal. 11.Bh4 Nc6 12.Qa4 Qb6 13.Rd2 Rfd8 14.0-0 Rd7N Predecessor: 14...Qb4 15.Qxb4 Nxb4 16.Nd4 Nxd3 17.Rxd3 g5 18.Bg3 Ne4 19.Ncb5 Nxg3 20.hxg3 Rdc8 ½-½ Artemiev,V (2694)-Sadhwani,R (2644) Moscow Stars Blitz 2024 (10) 15.Rfd1 Rad8 16.h3 a6 17.Bg3 Bb4 18.Ne5 Re7 19.Nxc6 bxc6 20.a3 Inhibits c5. 20.Bxa6? Ra8 21.Be5 Rxa6-+ 20.Qxa6 Qxa6 21.Bxa6 Bf5 20...Bxc3 21.bxc3 c5
21...Ree8 22.Rb1± 22.Bxa6? Bd7 23.Qf4 Qxa6-+ 22.Qxa6 Qxa6 23.Bxa6 Ne4-+ 22...Qa7 23.Rdb2 Against Rb7. White is much more active. Of course not 23.Qxa6?! Qxa6 24.Bxa6 Ra7= 24...Ne4 25.Rdb2= 23.Bxa6? Ra8 24.c4 Bd7-+ 24...Qxa6? 25.Rb8+ Re8 26.Rxe8+ Nxe8 27.Qxa6-+ 23...Bc8 23...Ne4± 24.Qa5+- Ree8
24...Qd7 was necessary. 25.Qxc5 Ne4 26.Bxe4 Rxe4 25.Bc7!       Rd7 26.Bb6 Qa8 27.Bxc5 Ne4 28.Bd4 This pair of bishops is nice. Bb7 29.Rb6 Nd2? 29...Qd8 30.Qa4 30.Bxa6 Bxa6 31.Rxa6 Qc8+- 30...Bc8 30.Qa4 Black is weak on the dark squares Red8
31.Qd1! Threatens to win with Qg4!. Nxb1 31...Ne4 32.Qg4 32.Qg4 f6 33.Rxf6 Weighted Error Value: White=0.03 (flawless) /Black=0.69 Mistake: --- Black=4 Inaccurate: White=1 Black=2 OK: White=15 Black=7 Best: White=1 --- Strong: White=1 --- 1–0

Much like the Uzbek, Denmark's Jonas Buhl Bjerre now has 2½ points to his name. He won against Stalmach. Czech FM Jachym Nemec is half a point behind the leading duo after defeating former co-leader Ivan Salgado Lopez.

Nodirbek Yakubboev

Nodirbek Yakubboev | Photo: Petr Vrabec

Round 3 results

NameRtg.Nt.Pts.Pts.NameRtgNt.
Yakubboev,N
2659
1½
1-0
1
Divya Deshmukh
2490
Salgado Lopez,I
2599
1½
0-1
1
Nemec,J
2433
Stalmach,R
2449
½
0-1
1½
Bjerre,J
2640
Ma,Q
2645
1
½-½
½
Maurizzi,M
2581
Kourkoulos-Arditis,S
2580
½
½-½
1
Finek,V
2478

Standings

Rk.NameRtg.Nt.Pts.n
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
TBPerf.
1
Yakubboev,N
2659
2.5
3
½
1
1
2.75
2845
2
Bjerre,J
2640
2.5
3
½
1
1
2.25
2816
3
Nemec,J
2433
2.0
3
1
½
½
2.75
2677
4
Ma,Q
2645
1.5
3
½
½
½
2.50
2573
5
Salgado Lopez,I
2599
1.5
3
½
0
1
2.25
2521
6
Finek,V
2478
1.5
3
½
½
½
2.25
2553
7
Kourkoulos-Arditis,S
2580
1.0
3
0
½
½
1.75
2392
8
Maurizzi,M
2581
1.0
3
0
½
½
1.00
2459
9
Divya Deshmukh
2490
1.0
3
0
0
1
0.50
2444
10
Stalmach,R
2449
0.5
3
0
½
0
0.50
2297
TBs: Sonneborn-Berger

All games

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Position not in LiveBook
1.d4 26 Nf6 9 2.Nf3 35 d5 11 3.c4 10 e6 11 4.Nc3 5 c5 23 5.cxd5 11 Nxd5 4 6.g3 15 cxd4 3:21 7.Nxd5 1:58 Qxd5 6 8.Qxd4 6 Qb5! 12 8...Qb5 is better than 8...Qxd4. D41: Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch with 5 cxd5. 8...Nc6 simplifies 9.Qxd5 exd5 10.Bg2 Be7 9.e4 17:25 Qb4+ 9 10.Bd2 30 Nc6 1:20 11.Qxb4 6:27 Bxb4 13 12.Bb5 7:02 Bd7 30 13.Rc1 11 Bxd2+ 2:06 14.Kxd2 28 Ke7 30 15.Rc3 8:36 Rhc8 21:57 16.Rhc1 2:17 f6 1:10 17.Bxc6 15:06 The position is equal. Rxc6 6:22 18.Rxc6 38 Bxc6= 4       Endgame KRB-KRN 19.Nd4 7 Bd7 9:55 20.f4 1:19 e5 20:31 21.fxe5 3:00 fxe5 2 22.Nf3 4:42 Kd6N 3:40 Prevents Rc7 Predecessor: 22...Bc6 23.Ke3 Kd6 24.Rd1+ Ke6 25.Ng5+ Ke7 26.Rf1 h6 27.Rf7+ Kd6 28.Nf3 Rg8 ½-½ Halkias,S (2579)-Mastrovasilis,A (2518) GRE-chT 36th 2008 (3.1) 23.Ke3 4:15 Bg4 24 24.h3 5:17 Bxf3 29 25.Kxf3 2 KR-KR Rf8+ 46 26.Ke3 12 h5 23 27.h4 3:10 Rg8 11:50 28.Kf3 7:52 Rf8+ 7 29.Ke2 37 Rf7 6:06 30.Rd1+ 3:56 Ke6 10 31.Rc1 2:56 Kd6 5 32.Rd1+ 2:44 Ke6 6 33.Rc1 5 Kd6 5 34.Rd1+ 1:26 Ke6 20 An interesting draw. Weighted Error Value: White=0.01 (flawless) /Black=0.00 (flawless) OK: White=13 Black=15 ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Yakubboev,N2659Ma,Q2645½–½2025D41Prague Festival Challengers 20251.1
Nemec,J2433Finek,V2478½–½2025E21Prague Festival Challengers 20251.2
Kourkoulos-Arditis,S2580Bjerre,J26400–12025B90Prague Festival Challengers 20251.3
Salgado Lopez,I2599Divya Deshmukh24901–02025D32Prague Festival Challengers 20251.4
Stalmach,R2449Maurizzi,M2581½–½2025E04Prague Festival Challengers 20251.5
Bjerre,J2640Salgado Lopez,I2599½–½2025C65Prague Festival Challengers 20252.1
Finek,V2478Ma,Q2645½–½2025D13Prague Festival Challengers 20252.2
Maurizzi,M2581Yakubboev,N26590–12025B90Prague Festival Challengers 20252.3
Divya Deshmukh2490Stalmach,R24491–02025D35Prague Festival Challengers 20252.4
Nemec,J2433Kourkoulos-Arditis,S2580½–½2025E46Prague Festival Challengers 20252.5
Yakubboev,N2659Divya Deshmukh24901–02025D50Prague Festival Challengers 20253.1
Salgado Lopez,I2599Nemec,J24330–12025E53Prague Festival Challengers 20253.2
Stalmach,R2449Bjerre,J26400–12025E14Prague Festival Challengers 20253.3
Kourkoulos-Arditis,S2580Finek,V2478½–½2025B27Prague Festival Challengers 20253.4
Ma,Q2645Maurizzi,M2581½–½2025C67Prague Festival Challengers 20253.5
Bjerre,J2640Yakubboev,N2659½–½2025B46Prague Festival Challengers 20254.1
Nemec,J2433Stalmach,R24490–12025E05Prague Festival Challengers 20254.2
Finek,V2478Maurizzi,M25810–12025E62Prague Festival Challengers 20254.3
Divya Deshmukh2490Ma,Q2645½–½2025C67Prague Festival Challengers 20254.4
Kourkoulos-Arditis,S2580Salgado Lopez,I2599½–½2025C50Prague Festival Challengers 20254.5
Yakubboev,N2659Nemec,J24331–02025B30Prague Festival Challengers 20255.1
Ma,Q2645Bjerre,J2640½–½2025C92Prague Festival Challengers 20255.2
Salgado Lopez,I2599Finek,V24781–02025A05Prague Festival Challengers 20255.3
Maurizzi,M2581Divya Deshmukh24901–02025D40Prague Festival Challengers 20255.4
Stalmach,R2449Kourkoulos-Arditis,S2580½–½2025E11Prague Festival Challengers 20255.5
Kourkoulos-Arditis,S2580Yakubboev,N2659½–½2025B92Prague Festival Challengers 20256.1
Bjerre,J2640Maurizzi,M25811–02025C48Prague Festival Challengers 20256.2
Salgado Lopez,I2599Stalmach,R2449½–½2025A30Prague Festival Challengers 20256.3
Finek,V2478Divya Deshmukh24901–02025E05Prague Festival Challengers 20256.4
Nemec,J2433Ma,Q26450–12025A07Prague Festival Challengers 20256.5
Yakubboev,N2659Salgado Lopez,I25991–02025C54Prague Festival Challengers 20257.1
Divya Deshmukh2490Bjerre,J26400–12025E49Prague Festival Challengers 20257.2
Ma,Q2645Kourkoulos-Arditis,S2580½–½2025C78Prague Festival Challengers 20257.3
Stalmach,R2449Finek,V2478½–½2025A13Prague Festival Challengers 20257.4
Maurizzi,M2581Nemec,J24331–02025E51Prague Festival Challengers 20257.5
Finek,V2478Bjerre,J2640½–½2025E11Prague Festival Challengers 20258.1
Stalmach,R2449Yakubboev,N26590–12025E16Prague Festival Challengers 20258.2
Salgado Lopez,I2599Ma,Q2645½–½2025C67Prague Festival Challengers 20258.3
Kourkoulos-Arditis,S2580Maurizzi,M25810–12025B31Prague Festival Challengers 20258.4
Nemec,J2433Divya Deshmukh2490½–½2025A31Prague Festival Challengers 20258.5
Yakubboev,N2659Finek,V2478½–½2025E11Prague Festival Challengers 20259.1
Bjerre,J2640Nemec,J24331–02025B30Prague Festival Challengers 20259.2
Ma,Q2645Stalmach,R24491–02025B96Prague Festival Challengers 20259.3
Maurizzi,M2581Salgado Lopez,I25991–02025Prague Festival Challengers 20259.4
Divya Deshmukh2490Kourkoulos-Arditis,S25801–02025C79Prague Festival Challengers 20259.5

Links

<< Boris Spassky: 1937–2025
The other day in the centre >>
Topics: Aravindh Chithambaram, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, Prague Chess Festival 2025, Vincent Keymer
Stefan Liebig, born in 1974, is a journalist and co-owner of a marketing agency. He now lives in Barterode near Göttingen. At the age of five, strange pieces on his neighbour’s shelf aroused his curiosity. Since then, the game of chess has cast a spell over him. Flying high in the NRW youth league with his home club SV Bad Laasphe and several appearances in the second division team of Tempo Göttingen were highlights for the former youth South Westphalia champion.
Discussion and Feedback Submit your feedback to the editors

See also

Prague R2: Aravindh takes down Keymer

2/28/2025 – Vincent Keymer started the Prague Chess Festival with a convincing win, but in round two he suffered a defeat against Aravindh Chithambaram (pictured), who surprised Keymer with a double-edged and rare opening. The four other games in the Masters section all ended in draws. In the Challengers, two of the five games ended decisively, but there could have easily been more. | Photo: Petr Vrabec
More...
 1

See also

Prague R1: Keymer and Shankland start with wins

2/27/2025 – Vincent Keymer had a good start at the Masters section of the Chess Festival in Prague: he defeated top seed Wei Yi in Wednesday's first round. The second victory of the day was secured by Sam Shankland, who won against Ediz Gürel. The three remaining games all ended in draws. There were also two wins and three draws in the Challengers: the two winners were Jonas Buhl Bjerre, who beat Stamatis Kourkoulos-Arditis with black, and Ivan Salgado Lopez, who defeated Divya Deshmukh with white. | Photo: Petr Vrabec
More...
 1

Video

60m How to fight Queen's Pawn Openigns

After 1.d4 d5 many players with White avoid the great amount of theory in the Slav, Semi-Slav, QGA and Orthodox Queen's Gambit and do not therefore play 2.c4. This is not very ambitious, but the painful experience of many chess players has been that the Colle System, the Trompowsky Attack, the Torre Attack and the London System are nevertheless extremely dangerous. Black has to be prepared for each of these openings and IM Valeri Lilov offers you some help with his six instructive videos, in which he demonstrates for each single opening a relevant plan for Black. In addition to the openings mentioned, the Bulgarian trainer also delves into the Catalan, the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit and the Richter-Veresov Opening.
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.