Indian Grandmaster Aravindh Chithambaram secured the Prague Chess Masters 2025 title, marking the biggest victory of his career. The 25-year-old outperformed elite players, including fellow Indian R Praggnanandhaa, finishing with six points from nine rounds. This win cements India’s growing dominance in the global chess arena.
Key Highlights
- In the final round, Aravindh held Turkey’s Gurel Ediz to a draw, using the Caro-Kann Defense.
- With this victory, he achieved a live rating of 2743, elevating him to World No. 14.
- This triumph enhances his chances of securing more invitations to top-tier global tournaments.
FIDE Circuit 2025 Standings: Indian Chess on the Rise
- Ding Liren continues to lead the FIDE Circuit 2025, but Indian players dominate the top five.
- R Praggnanandhaa ranks second with 36.06 points, boosted by an 11.06-point gain from his joint second-place finish in Prague Chess Masters 2025.
- Aravindh Chithambaram is the latest entrant to the top 10 and now ranks third with 24.34 points, following his title-winning performance in Prague.
Significance of FIDE Circuit 2025
- The winner of the FIDE Circuit 2025 earns a direct qualification for the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament.
- The FIDE Candidates is crucial as it determines the next challenger for the world chess title.
- The reigning World Chess Champion, D Gukesh, will defend his title in 2026 after defeating Ding Liren in the 2024 World Chess Championship.