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In the intense battle for the Candidates Tournament, India's D Gukesh suffered a heartbreaking loss to Alireza Firouzja in Round 7, knocking him out of the shared lead. The result propelled Ian Nepomniachtchi, who drew his game with Hikaru Nakamura, back into sole possession of first place.Gukesh, playing with White, faced an unbalanced position created by Firouzja's London System. Despite Firouzja's struggles in the tournament, he found inspiration in an online blitz session on the morning of the game. With time running out, Firouzja executed a brilliant Nd7! move, forcing Gukesh into a time scramble.Under immense pressure, Gukesh made a crucial mistake with Kh7, allowing Firouzja to deliver checkmate with 37…Rf3. The blitz session may have provided Firouzja with the spark he needed to pursue a mating attack, while Gukesh's first defeat in seven rounds dealt a significant blow to his title hopes.Meanwhile, R Praggnanandhaa continued his impressive run with an ambitious French Defense against world No. 2 Fabiano Caruana. Despite Caruana's previous successes against the French Defense, Praggnanandhaa's deep knowledge of the line forced a draw in 41 moves.Praggnanandhaa expressed satisfaction with his tournament performance, highlighting the quality of his games and his ability to recall lines at the board. He credited his support system for helping him overcome tough moments.As the players enter a rest day before the final seven rounds, the standings remain tight. Nepomniachtchi leads with 4.5 points, followed by Caruana and Praggnanandhaa with 4 points each. Gukesh is tied with Nakamura and Abasov at 3.5 points.

R Praggnanandhaa, India's rising chess star, concluded the Prague Masters chess tournament with a draw against David Navara of the Czech Republic. Despite his valiant effort, Praggnanandhaa settled for a draw in the final round, but he can take solace in his strong performance, which has positioned him as the top-rated Indian heading into the upcoming Candidates Tournament in Toronto.The Candidates Tournament, a prestigious event that determines the challenger for the World Championship match, was initially met with visa issues for some participants. However, thanks to the tireless efforts of FIDE and various channels, the tournament is now set to proceed as planned.In the final round of the Prague Masters, five draws occurred among the top 10 players, leaving the standings largely unchanged. Nodirbek Abdusattarov of Uzbekistan emerged victorious, having secured 6/8 points in the previous rounds and adding another half-point in the final round.Praggnanandhaa finished the tournament with a respectable score of five points, alongside Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran and Ngyen Thai Dai Van of the Czech Republic. Gukesh, Richard Rapport of Romania, and David Navara shared fifth place with 4.5 points each, while Mateusz Bartel and Vincent Keymer finished with 3.5 points. Vidit Gujrathi placed last with three points.Among the three Indian participants in the Candidates Tournament, Praggnanandhaa has shown the most impressive form. However, with the dates for the World Championship challenger match now set, it remains to be seen who will emerge victorious under the pressure of the high-stakes event.

The Prague Masters Chess tournament in Prague has reached its halfway point, with four rounds remaining. Grandmasters R Praggnanandhaa and D Gukesh, currently tied for fourth place, face crucial matches in the upcoming round.Praggnanandhaa, known as "Pragg," will face tournament leader Nodirbek Abdusattarov, while Gukesh will play against Mateuesz Bartel of Poland, who is currently in last place. A win for both Indians would significantly boost their chances of finishing on the podium.Abdusattarov, the world number five, has maintained his lead with four points out of a possible five. However, it remains to be seen if he can sustain his momentum in the remaining rounds.Parham Maghsoodloo, who entered the tournament with impressive results, has been playing cautiously since winning the first two rounds. He needs to improve his performance to remain in contention for the top prize.Richard Rapport, known for his unconventional style, stands third with three points. The Hungarian-turned-Romanian will be looking for opportunities to capitalize on his strengths.Vidit Gujrathi, the other Indian in the tournament, has had a mixed start. After four consecutive draws, he lost to Praggnanandhaa, costing him valuable points. However, Gujrathi is known for his ability to perform well in the latter stages of tournaments.Meanwhile, Arjun Erigaisi has surpassed Viswanathan Anand to become the top-ranked Indian player for the second time in three days. Erigaisi is leading the Shenzen Masters in China and has also entered the top ten in the world live rankings for the first time.

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa emerged victorious in the fifth round of the Prague Masters, defeating compatriot Vidit Gujrathi in a thrilling encounter. However, D Gukesh suffered a disappointing loss to Czech Republic's David Navara, despite holding a strong position.Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Abdusattarov continued his impressive run, crushing Mateusz Bartel of Poland to become the sole leader with four points. Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran trails closely with 3.5 points, while Richard Rapport of Romania sits in third with three points.Praggnanandhaa, known for his aggressive style, kept pushing for an advantage against Gujrathi, who initially held his own. However, Gujrathi's misstep allowed Praggnanandhaa to launch a devastating attack, securing the win in 52 moves.Gukesh, on the other hand, had a comfortable position with an extra pawn in the endgame. However, Navara managed to turn the tables, exploiting Gukesh's errors and converting his advantage into a victory.Abdusattarov displayed his dominance against Bartel, opting for the Sicilian Dragon opening and quickly gaining the upper hand. The Polish Grandmaster struggled to find a response, and Abdusattarov sealed the win in just 28 moves.In the Challengers section, Grandmaster R Vaishali suffered a setback against Erwin L'Ami of Holland, while Arjun Erigaisi impressed in the Shenzen Masters by defeating Anish Giri of Holland.With four rounds remaining in the Prague Masters, Abdusattarov holds a commanding lead. Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh, and Navara share fourth place with 2.5 points each, while Gujrathi and Keymer trail with two points.