Indian Grandmaster Aravindh Chithambaram pulled off a stunning victory against German chess star Vincent Keymer at the Prague Chess Masters 2025 on Thursday. Chithambaram’s victory, the only decisive result in the second round, put him in joint lead alongside American GM Sam Shankland. Meanwhile, Indian player R Praggnanandhaa played out a draw with Turkey’s Ediz Gruel, and Divya Deshmukh secured a win in the Challengers section after her loss in Round 1.

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• Aravindh Chithambaram defeated Vincent Keymer at Prague Chess Masters 2025.
• This was the only decisive result in the second round; all other matches ended in draws.
• Chithambaram was in a winning position by move 14 after a Queen’s Gambit Accepted opening.
• His stunning move 14…Be7! created a crucial advantage, leading to his eventual victory.
• Praggnanandhaa played a draw with Ediz Gruel after a highly accurate French Defense, Tarrasch Variation.
• American GM Sam Shankland is also in the lead after drawing with Czech GM Thai Dai Van Nguyen.
• In the Challengers section, Divya Deshmukh secured a win against Richard Stalmach.
• Divya Deshmukh had lost in Round 1 but bounced back with a victory in Round 2.
• Aravindh will face Chinese GM Wei Yi in Round 3, while Praggnanandhaa faces Thai Dai Van Nguyen.
• In the Prague Chess Masters standings, Aravindh and Shankland share the lead with 1.5 points.