Gukesh Suffers Shock Defeat in Prague

World Champion D Gukesh faced a surprising defeat in the third round of the Masters section at the Prague International Chess Festival in Prague. He lost to Dutch Grandmaster Jorden van Foreest in a closely fought game.

Gukesh is still searching for his first win in the tournament. In this round, he struggled to find his rhythm from the start. Van Foreest, playing with the white pieces, chose the Ruy Lopez opening. In the Tartakower variation of the opening, the Dutch player gained an early advantage by using his pair of bishops effectively. He slowly built pressure and did not allow Gukesh to recover.

Meanwhile, Indian Grandmaster Aravindh Chithambaram played a steady game against Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran. Their match ended in a draw after both players carefully balanced attack and defence. Neither side was able to create a clear winning chance.

With this result, Gukesh will now aim to bounce back in the upcoming rounds. The tournament remains competitive, with several top players fighting for the title in the Masters section.