Prague Masters: Gukesh suffers shock defeat to van Foreest, Aravindh draws with Maghsoodloo

Gukesh faces unexpected defeat to van Foreest at the Prague Masters, while Aravindh settles for a draw against Maghsoodloo.

World Champion D Gukesh suffered a shock defeat to Jorden van Foreest of Holland, while Aravindh Chithambaram played out a draw with Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran in the third round of the Masters section of Prague International chess festival in Prague.

Still looking for his first victory in the tournament, Gukesh never really found his footing against van Foreest, who, playing white, employed the Ruy Lopez and seized the initiative early with the bishop pair in the Tartakower variation.

The Indian soon came under heavy pressure and had to part with a pawn. The technicalities remained but Foreest could possibly do no-wrong in this round.

The trade of Queens led to a pawn-less rook and minor piece endgame for Gukesh wherein the Dutchman cleaned up the king side and his pawns did the remaining. The game lasted 48 moves.

Foreest regained the joint lead and is the only player in the event with all three decisive games.

With two points in his kitty, Foreest shares the lead with Uzbek duo of Nodirbek Yakubboev and Nodirbek Abdusattorov along with local favourite David Navara.