2/25/2026 – The eighth edition of the Prague International Chess Festival was officially opened at the Don Giovanni Hotel in Prague, launching the Masters, Challengers and Futures tournaments. The event features the reigning World Champion, Gukesh Dommaraju, who played a symbolic opening duel with Czech beach volleyball world champion Ondřej Perušič. The game was part of the festival's ceremonial start ahead of play through 6 March. | Photo: Petr Vrabec
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Gukesh: "I have very good memories of this place"
Press release
The eighth edition of the Prague International Chess Festival was officially opened by a ceremonial event at the Don Giovanni Hotel Prague. The Czech capital welcomes top world players, including the reigning World Champion, 19-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju. Fans of the royal game can look forward to thrilling matches until 6 March. The Masters, Challengers and Futures tournaments all began today.
Two Super Grandmasters from India explain the ins & outs of Attack, Tactics an Calculations in these two video courses.
Gukesh previously competed at the Prague International Chess Festival in 2024, before becoming the World Champion. He explained:
Two years ago, Prague was my final test before the Candidates Tournament, which I went on to win, so I have very good memories of this place. Much has changed since then. After becoming World Champion, expectations are higher and I face greater pressure. I’m looking forward to show what I’ve learned since then.
Gukesh also delighted many fans by attending an autograph session, allowing visitors to take home a valuable memory from the Don Giovanni Hotel.
Both guests and fans of the royal game were guided through the evening by host Mikoláš Tuček, who joked light-heartedly about his "victory" over a seven-year-old computer bot named Magnus Carlsen. The floor was soon given to the reigning king of classical chess, who, of course, drew the number one.
Gukesh Dommaraju drew number one | Photo: Petr Vrabec
Players from the elite Masters category also took part in the drawing of lots to pair up with players from the Futures tournament, continuing the Prague tradition of mutual inspiration, where experienced grandmasters line up side by side with the youngest talents.
Among the guests of the gala evening were, among others, the President of the Nový Bor Chess Club Roman Mužík, Executive Director of Czech Inn Hotels Jaroslav Svoboda, FIDE Secretary General Łukasz Turlej and Czech mathematician and innovator Karel Janeček.
VIP guests and chess personalities were treated not only to a performance by magician David Kopecký, but also to a unique duel that symbolically opened the eighth battle for the Prague chess crown. Two world champions faced each other across the board - the reigning World Chess Champion Gukesh Dommaraju and beach volleyball world champion from Czechia Ondřej Perušič. Both elite athletes showcased several strategic moves on the new Česká klubovka digital chessboards by DGT, which are offered in the Czech Republic by our partner Sachy.biz.
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Beach volleyball world champion Ondřej Perušič | Photo: Petr Vrabec
A painting of defending champion Aravindh Chithambaram was disclosed during the opening ceremony | Photo: Petr Vrabec
The participants of the Challengers tournament | Photo: Petr Vrabec
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