8th Prague Masters 2026: Aravindh Chithambaram set to defend his crown against Gukesh and co.

By admin February 25, 2026 Updated: May 11, 2026 0 comments

The eighth edition of Prague International Chess Festival 2026 starts today. Four Indians will be seen in action – D Gukesh, Aravindh Chithambaram, Surya Sekhar Ganguly and Divya Deshmukh. The first two will play in the Masters section, while the latter will fight in the Challengers. Round 1 for Masters, Challengers and Futures start today at 3 p.m. local time, 7:30 p.m. IST.

Surya Sekhar Ganguly and Divya Deshmukh in the Challengers, Vaibhav Suri, Sasikiran in the Open

This is the first time a reigning World Champion will play in Czech Republic in 95 years. FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 winner – GM Divya Deshmukh will return in the Challengers section. Last year’s tough battle prepared her well for the World Cup. GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly will make his debut in the Challengers section. GM Vaibhav Suri is the top seed in the Open section, the legend – GM Sasikiran Krishnan will be the fourth seed.

World Champion, D Gukesh and Czech Volleyball legend, Ondřej Perušič made the inaugural first move | Photo: Prague Chess Festival

Portraits of the winner of the first seven editions | Photo: Prague Chess Festival

The winner of the 7th Prague Masters – Aravindh Chithambaram’s portrait got unveiled in presence of Petr Boleslav, Tournament Director and Ladislav Vlna, the artist who makes the winners’ portraits each year | Photo: Prague Chess Festival

Masters participants

World no.4 – Vincent Keymer (GER), World Champion and World no.9 – D Gukesh, World no.12 – Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB), World no.21 – Hans Niemann (USA), World no.28 – Parham Maghsoodloo (IRI), World no.30 – Jorden van Foreest (NED), World no.32 and the defending champion – Aravindh Chithambaram, World no.36 and last year’s Challengers section winner – Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB), World no.52 and two-time Spain champion – David Anton Guijarro (ESP) and Czech legend – David Navara (CZE).

Masters participants with their Future counterparts | Photo: Prague Chess Festival

Challengers

GM Benjamin Gledura (HUN), GM Jonas Buhl Bjerre (DEN), GM Daniil Yuffa (ESP), GM Jiner Zhu (CHN), GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly, IM Vaclav Finek (CZE), GM Thomas Beerdsen (NED), GM Divya Deshmukh, IM Jachym Nemek (CZE) and IM Stepan Hrbek (CZE).

The Challengers participants with guests | Photo: Prague Chess Festival

Schedule

	Masters	Challengers	Futures	Open	Rating tournaments	Side tournaments
TUE 24 Feb 2026	19:00 (Opening)	19:00 (Opening)	19:00 (Opening)
WED 25 Feb 2026	15:00 (Round 1)	15:00 (Round 1)	15:00 (Round 1)
THU 26 Feb 2026	15:00 (Round 2)	15:00 (Round 2)	15:00 (Round 2)	15:00 (Round 1)	15:00 (Round 1)
FRI 27 Feb 2026	15:00 (Round 3)	15:00 (Round 3)	15:00 (Round 3)	15:00 (Round 2)	15:00 (Round 2)	F) Solving competition (9:00)
SAT 28 Feb 2026	15:00 (Round 4)	15:00 (Round 4)	15:00 (Round 4)	15:00 (Round 3)	15:00 (Round 3)	G1) Sachy.biz Open rapid tournament G2) Sachy.biz Open rapid tournament (9:00)
SUN 1 Mar 2026	15:00 (Round 5)	15:00 (Round 5)	15:00 (Round 5)	15:00 (Round 4)	15:00 (Round 4)	H) Open blitz tournament (9:00)
MON 2 Mar 2026	Rest day	Rest day	Rest day	15:00 (Round 5)	15:00 (Round 5)	I) Open tournament Basque chess (9:00)
TUE 3 Mar 2026	15:00 (Round 6)	15:00 (Round 6)	15:00 (Round 6)	15:00 (Round 6)	15:00 (Round 6)	J) Open Fischer random chess (9:00)
WED 4 Mar 2026	15:00 (Round 7)	15:00 (Round 7)	15:00 (Round 7)	15:00 (Round 7)	15:00 (Round 7)	K) Open pair blitz tournament (9:00)
THU 5 Mar 2026	15:00 (Round 8)	15:00 (Round 8)	15:00 (Round 8)	15:00 (Round 8)	15:00 (Round 8)	L) Open tournament Bughouse (9:00)
FRI 6 Mar 2026	11:00 (Round 9) 18:00 (Closing C)	11:00 (Round 9) 18:00 (Closing C)	11:00 (Round 9) 18:00 (Closing C)	11:00 (Round 9) 18:00 (Closing C)	11:00 (Round 9) 18:00 (Closing C)