PRAGUE: World champion D Gukesh’s struggles continued for a fifth straight day as the Indian squandered a winning position to lose to longtime rival Nodirbek Abdusattorov at the Prague International Chess Festival.
Just a month after a costly blunder against Abdusattorov at the Tata Steel Masters, Gukesh endured an even more painful defeat in the fifth round in Prague. Playing black, he unveiled a fresh strategy, unsettling White’s king early and building sustained pressure through the middlegame. Engines indicated he was closing in on his first victory in the Masters section.
But time trouble proved decisive. Gukesh faltered near the end of the first time control and, although Abdusattorov briefly returned the favour, another mistake by the Indian allowed the Uzbek to push his passed pawn to promotion and seal victory.
Dutch grandmaster Jorden van Foreest continued his strong run, defeating American Hans Moke Niemann to register his fourth win in five games and climb to 11th in the live world rankings.
All games in the 10-player round-robin ended decisively. Defending champion Aravindh Chithambaram suffered his third defeat, losing to Spain’s David Anton Guijarro. Czech David Navara beat Nodirbek Yakubboev, while Iran’s Parham Maghsoodloo overcame Germany’s Vincent Keymer.
Van Foreest leads on four points, with Abdusattorov and Navara half a point behind.
