World Champion Candidates Jiner Zhu and Divya Deshmukh in Prague Challengers

by Press release
12/18/2025 – The Prague International Chess Festival will be held from 24 February to 6 March 2026. As the organisers have announced, Divya Deshmukh and Jiner Zhu, two of the world’s leading women players, will compete in the Challengers tournament. The event combines high-level chess with the opportunity to enjoy Prague, one of Europe’s most attractive cultural and tourist destinations.
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Press release

The Prague International Chess Festival 2026 has unveiled the line-up for its closed Challengers tournament. The event will once again bring together outstanding international players and some of the most promising talents of Czech chess, offering a diverse and highly competitive field.

One of the headline names is Jiner Zhu, currently ranked world number two among women. The 23-year-old Chinese WGM is regarded as one of the best-prepared players of her generation. Known for her impeccable technique, resilience in closed positions and remarkable consistency, she is considered one of the main favourites for the upcoming Women’s Candidates Tournament. The 2026 Festival will mark her debut appearance in Prague.

The Challengers will also feature Indian national team player Divya Deshmukh, who impressed audiences at the Festival earlier this year. With her energetic playing style, sharp calculation in dynamic positions and ability to control the course of the game, she has produced a string of strong results and quickly become a fan favourite.

India will be further represented by GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly, a long-time member of former World Champion Viswanathan Anand’s support team. His deep analytical skills, refined positional understanding and vast tournament experience make him one of the most formidable competitors in the Challengers. Joining him is Thomas Beerdsen, winner of the 2025 Prague Open, who now aims to reproduce his best form in the closed tournament format.

Among the Czech representatives is Václav Finěk, one of the most promising players of the current generation. He made his Festival debut in the Futures tournament in 2020 and has been a regular participant in the Challengers since 2023. In 2024, he claimed victory at the Czech Open in Pardubice and has maintained a consistently high level of performance ever since. The Prague tournament will be one of the most important events of his career to date.

Also returning to the Challengers is Štěpán Hrbek, the reigning Czech classical champion and the newest member of the 14-time Czech extra league champions Nový Bor. After a one-year absence, he is back in the Challengers field.

Another Czech player to watch is Jáchym Němec. He first appeared at the Festival in 2020, finishing third in the Futures tournament behind Václav Finěk and Ediz Gurel. After three appearances in the Open, he made his Challengers debut earlier this year. One of the fastest-improving Czech players, his return to the tournament could bring further surprises.

The remaining three participants in the Challengers tournament – the highest-rated players on paper – will be announced shortly.

The eighth edition of the Prague International Chess Festival will take place from 24 February to 6 March 2026 at the Don Giovanni Hotel Prague. By now firmly established as one of Europe’s leading chess events, the Festival will once again feature an elite Masters tournament, a wide range of side events and numerous competitions for both professional and amateur players.

Registration for the Festival is now open. Binding applications for the open tournaments D and E must be submitted by 10 February 2026.

Prague Chess Festival 2026

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Topics: Divya Deshmukh, Prague Chess Festival 2026, Zhu Jiner
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