D Gukesh Falls to World No. 20 After Prague Chess Loss

Indian chess grandmaster D Gukesh has slipped to world No. 20 in the live chess rankings after losing to fellow Indian player Aravindh Chithambaram during the Prague International Chess Festival.

The defeat came in the sixth round of the tournament, where Gukesh resigned after a challenging game.

Tough tournament for the world champion

Gukesh, who became world chess champion in December 2024, has faced a difficult run at the event.

After six rounds in Prague, the 19-year-old grandmaster has lost three games and drawn three, placing him at the bottom of the standings. His performance has reportedly cost him 19 rating points.

Observers say that since winning the world title, Gukesh has been under increased pressure as competitors are highly motivated to face the reigning champion.

Late blunder proves costly

In the match against Aravindh Chithambaram, the turning point reportedly came during the final phase of the game.

Gukesh was running low on time and had only seconds to complete several moves before the time control. Despite having a material advantage with a rook and a pawn, the position became complicated due to Aravindh’s active pieces.

The decisive moment came on move 40, when Gukesh made a mistake that significantly weakened his position, leading to his resignation shortly afterward.

Aravindh explains key moment

Speaking after the game, Aravindh said the critical moment came earlier when Gukesh played f4 on move 37, which allowed his knight to enter strong central squares.

He also noted that time pressure played a major role in the outcome of the game. According to Aravindh, if Gukesh had more time on the clock, he might have found a defensive move that could have led to a draw.

Aravindh added that both players had been struggling in the tournament and described the match as challenging for both sides.

Competitive field in Prague event

The Prague International Chess Festival attracts several top players from around the world, making it a demanding competition even for leading grandmasters.

For Gukesh, the tournament represents a difficult phase following his historic world championship victory, while Aravindh’s win marked an important result in the event.