Aravindh Chithambaram Wins Prague Masters with 2830 TPR!
The seventh edition of the Prague Chess Festival ended in style! Aravindh Chithambaram won the Masters section with an impressive undefeated score of 6/9. His final-round draw against Ediz Gürel secured his victory. Meanwhile, Anish Giri defeated Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, ensuring that no one could catch up with Aravindh.
A Historic Achievement
Aravindh, the 25-year-old Indian Grandmaster, entered the tournament as the fifth seed. Despite this, he dominated the event, securing victories against top players rated 2700+, including Vincent Keymer, Wei Yi, and Anish Giri. These wins proved his strength at the elite level.
Rising in World Rankings
This victory is not new for Aravindh. Last year, he won the Chennai Grand Masters, finishing ahead of big names like Levon Aronian, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and Arjun Erigaisi.
In Prague, he achieved an astonishing tournament performance rating (TPR) of 2830 and gained 12 rating points. His live rating now stands at 2743, making him World No. 14. Interestingly, he is now tied with Vishy Anand, India’s chess legend!
Indian Chess Dominance
India is rising in global chess! Currently, three Indian players – Gukesh, Arjun, and Praggnanandhaa – are ranked in the world’s top 10. Aravindh’s win adds another feather to India’s growing chess legacy.
The Final Showdown
Aravindh started the final round in sole lead. Playing Black, he chose a solid approach and drew against Ediz Gürel, finishing undefeated.
Aravindh Chithambaram dominates @PragueChess International Festival 2025 Masters
Top 3
🥇GM Aravindh Chithambaram (@Pawnof64squares)🇮🇳 6/9
🥈GM @AnishGiri🇳🇱 5/9
🥉GM Wei Yi🇨🇳 5/9📷Shahid Ahmed pic.twitter.com/1zmLcMJ7OI
— ChessBase India (@ChessbaseIndia) March 7, 2025
Praggnanandhaa was just half a point behind and had a chance to tie for first place. However, he lost to Anish Giri, making Aravindh the clear champion.
Giri’s tournament was full of ups and downs. He started with six draws, lost to Aravindh, but finished strong with back-to-back wins. His final-round victory over Praggnanandhaa helped him tie for second place alongside Praggnanandhaa and Wei Yi.
Who Trained Aravindh?
Aravindh credits his success to his coaches. He has been trained by the legendary RB Ramesh. During this tournament, he also received direct help from Sundararajan Kidambi.
Challengers Section: Yakubboev’s Big Win
In the Challengers section, Nodirbek Yakubboev emerged as the winner after a thrilling blitz tiebreak against Jonas Buhl Bjerre. This victory earns Yakubboev a place in next year’s Masters tournament.
The Tiebreak Drama
Heading into the final round, Yakubboev led Bjerre by half a point. Both played aggressively, but Yakubboev’s game ended in a draw, while Bjerre won, forcing a tiebreaker.
Jonas Buhl Bjerre finishes off in spectacular fashion against Nemec Jachym in the final round of Prague Chess Challengers!
With this win, now we will see playoffs for the top spot between Jonas Bjerre and Nodirbek Yakubboev. Both of them end the classical event with an amazing… pic.twitter.com/bmafGqFN3t
— ChessBase India (@ChessbaseIndia) March 7, 2025
- In the first blitz game, Yakubboev, playing Black, gained an extra pawn in an endgame. After a long 150-move battle, the game ended in a draw.
- In the second blitz game, Bjerre blundered on move 21, allowing Yakubboev to win an exchange and secure victory.
Final Standings
With this result, Yakubboev won the Challengers section and secured his spot in next year’s Masters tournament.
Marc’Andria Maurizzi finished in third place, while Ma Qun took fourth. Both players ended their tournament with final-round wins.
After a complete roller-coaster battle, the first Blitz playoffs game between Jonas Bjerre and Nodirbek Yakubboev ends in a draw in the Prague Chess Challengers! Both the players broke out in laughter after the game. pic.twitter.com/aASZfi7iSw
— ChessBase India (@ChessbaseIndia) March 7, 2025
Chess Continues to Excite!
The Prague Chess Festival 2025 was filled with thrilling games, top performances, and rising stars. Aravindh’s victory cements his position among the world’s best players. We look forward to seeing him and other top talents compete in future events!
Photos: Petr Vrabec, ChessBase
Source: ChessBase Post
