Prague Festival
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Indian players secure draws and wins in Prague chess festival
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World champion D Gukesh drew with Hans Moke Niemann in the opening round of the Prague International Chess Festival 2026 Masters section. Defending champion Aravindh Chithambaram bounced back with a victory over Niemann in round two. In the Challengers section, Divya Deshmukh held higher-rated opponents to draws in both rounds.
Reigning world chess champion D Gukesh has expressed his desire to face fellow Indian R Praggnanandhaa in his maiden title defense. Speaking at the Prague International Chess Festival, Gukesh highlighted the appeal of an all-Indian showdown for fans. The comments come amid India's rising prominence in global chess.