Prague Chess Festival 2026: Gukesh, Abdusattorov, Keymer in Spotlight

The Prague International Chess Festival is now well underway at the Don Giovanni Hotel, bringing together some of the world’s strongest players in Classical chess. World champion D Gukesh leads India’s contingent, aiming for his first big result of the year after mixed performances earlier in the season.

Gukesh is seeded second in the nine‑round Masters event, with a tough challenge ahead from top seed Vincent Keymer and Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov , both enjoying strong recent form. Keymer currently sits high among the global live ratings, while Abdusattorov enters fresh off a major victory. Gukesh, ranked among the world’s top 10 players, is India’s highest‑rated entrant and will be seeking consistency in Prague.

Defending champion Aravindh Chithambaram returns to the Masters field, looking to regain his 2700+ rating after a modest showing at the Tata Steel Masters. He will be eager to recapture the form that earned him victory here last year. Also in contention are Hans Niemann (USA) , known for resilient play, Parham Maghsoodloo (Iran) , and Jorden van Foreest (Netherlands) , who is regarded as a very steady performer. Completing the 10‑player Masters lineup are Nodirbek Yakubboev of Uzbekistan, David Anton Guijarro of Spain and Czech local favourite David Navara .

In addition to the Masters group, the festival features a Challengers tournament , highlighting opportunities for rising stars and established talents alike. India’s Surya Shekhar Ganguly and Women’s World Cup champion Divya Deshmukh are among the contenders here, joined by top seed Benjamin Gledura of Hungary and Denmark’s Jonas Buhl Bjerre . Notably, the Challengers section also includes Zhu Jiner , one of the world’s leading women players, underscoring the festival’s strong support for competitive chess across genders.

The broader festival schedule embraces a range of events for players of all ages and styles, including rapid and blitz competitions, various open tournaments offering rating norms, and formats such as Fischer Random and Basque Chess. These side events complement the classical tournaments and help make Prague one of Central Europe’s premier chess gatherings.

With the event running through March 6 , potential winners in the Masters include Gukesh if he regains his top form, Abdusattorov on the strength of recent victories, and Keymer, who is a constant threat in elite lineups. Defending champion Chithambaram could also emerge as a surprise contender, while the Challengers section is shaping up to be an exciting showcase of emerging and women’s chess talent