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Round 2 of the 2026 Prague Chess Festival Masters brought strong comebacks and dramatic moments. Defending champion Aravindh Chithambaram and Spanish star David Anton bounced back with important victories.

The event is part of the prestigious Prague Chess Festival held in Prague, Czech Republic. Round 3 begins on February 27 at: 9:00 a.m. ET / 15:00 CET / 7:30 p.m. IST.

Masters: Big Comebacks in Round 2

It was a calmer day compared to Round 1. But two games completely changed the standings. The three Round 1 leaders — Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Nodirbek Yakubboev, and David Navara — all made solid draws in Round 2.

Everyone on the board has now scored at least half a point.

Solid Draws on the Top Boards

Maghsoodloo vs Abdusattorov – Quiet Battle

Parham Maghsoodloo played a quiet game against Abdusattorov.

Instead of his usual attacking style, he chose a calmer approach. The opening was a solid Queen’s Gambit Declined. The game never caught fire and ended in a draw.

Keymer vs Navara – Long Maneuvering Game

Vincent Keymer faced Navara in a slow strategic battle. Navara had won Game of the Day in Round 1. But this time, neither player could break through.

Only one set of pawns was traded. The game ended in a closed same-colored bishops draw.

Gukesh vs Yakubboev – Another Draw

World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju had White for the second time in a row. Fans expected a strong push. Instead, the game ended peacefully.

A sacrifice was played, but it only forced a quick draw. It has been a slow start for Gukesh so far.

Game of the Day: Aravindh Defeats Niemann

Niemann 0–1 Aravindh

Aravindh had a tough start in Prague. He faced Abdusattorov and then Hans Niemann with the Black pieces in the first two rounds. In Round 1, his position was good but collapsed later. In Round 2, he repeated the same offbeat opening.

The game became extremely sharp. At one critical moment, the computer showed a winning move for Niemann. But with only seconds on the clock, he missed it. Instead of finding the brilliant tactic, he chose a weaker move. That mistake turned the game around.

Aravindh took full advantage and won. This victory brought him back to 50%. Niemann missed the chance to start with 2/2. A powerful comeback from the defending champion.

" It feels great – after I lost the first round, to come back in the second round, it means a lot to me. I had two Blacks in a row, it wasn't easy at all, I'm happy that I managed to win today!" – Aravindh @pawnof64squares Chithambaram after defeating Hans Niemann in Round 2 of… pic.twitter.com/6yvoiwouUP

— ChessBase India (@ChessbaseIndia) February 26, 2026

Anton Punishes Van Foreest

Anton 1–0 Van Foreest

Dutch grandmaster Jorden van Foreest had been gaining rating points rapidly. A win here could have pushed him to world number 15. He chose the aggressive King’s Indian Defense. The game became sharp and double-edged.

Anton later admitted he felt worse at some point. He was also low on time. Then came the shocking moment. A seemingly harmless move by Black suddenly allowed unstoppable tactics. In just a few moves, the position collapsed.

Anton won the game. He honestly said he was not fully happy with his play. But a win is what matters most.

Masters Round 3: What’s Next?

Van Foreest now faces Gukesh. Abdusattorov vs Keymer will be a battle between elite young stars. The tournament is heating up.

Challengers Section: Surprise Leaders

The Challengers group also produced exciting results. Dutch GM Thomas Beerdsen and Czech IM Stepan Hrbek are leading with 2/2.

Hrbek Defeats Zhu Jiner

Chinese GM Zhu Jiner suffered her second loss. Hrbek outplayed her smoothly. He now has a perfect score.

Beerdsen’s Bold Style Pays Off

Beerdsen started the tournament with two Black games. Still, he scored 2/2. In Round 2, he faced top seed Benjamin Gledura. He grabbed a piece and decided to defend.

At one moment, he thought he was losing. Suddenly, the tables turned — and he won. A fearless performance from the Dutch GM.

Event Details – Prague Chess Festival 2026

The Prague Chess Festival 2026 runs from February 25 to March 6. Venue: Don Giovanni Hotel, Prague.

Format:

10-player round-robin in Masters
10-player round-robin in Challengers
Futures group
Open tournament

Time Control:

90 minutes for 40 moves
30 minutes for the rest of the game
30-second increment from move one

The playing hall became much busier after the Open tournament started.

How To Watch

You can watch live games on:

European Chess Union YouTube
Chess24 India YouTube

Live commentary is hosted by GM Alojzije Jankovic and WGM Keti Tsatsalashvili.

Final Thoughts

Round 2 was about resilience. Aravindh showed champion mentality. Anton proved that one mistake can change everything.

The Prague Masters 2026 is now wide open. Stay tuned for more updates on Warrior Chess Academy.

Photos: Petr Vrabec
Source: Chess.com

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