Indian chess Grandmaster Aravindh Chithambaram made a brilliant statement in the second round of the Prague Masters, claiming a hard-fought victory over Germany’s Vincent Keymer. In contrast, R Praggnanandhaa played his second consecutive draw, this time against Turkey’s Gurel Ediz.
Chithambaram, who had shown resilience in his first-round match, continued his momentum by overcoming Keymer in the day’s only decisive game. Having chosen the black pieces, Chithambaram displayed his aggressive style, breaking away from typical Queen’s Gambit stereotypes. With precise maneuvering and a deep understanding of his position, he gained a pawn and created opportunities for a forced queen trade. Keymer ultimately succumbed to Chithambaram’s relentless pressure, entering a losing rook and pawn endgame after 45 moves.
Praggnanandhaa, on the other hand, opted for the French Defense and managed to keep the game balanced, but was unable to capitalize on an equal position. His game with Ediz reached a rook endgame, where neither player could create chances, and they signed a draw on move 46.
The round saw other draws, with Wei Yi (China) splitting points with Anish Giri (Netherlands), while Sam Shankland (USA) and Nguyen Thai Dai Van (Czech Republic) also drew.
Chithambaram’s victory, coupled with his first-round performance, has put him in the lead alongside Shankland, with 1.5 points from two rounds.
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