World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju faced a surprising defeat against Grand Master Jorden van Foreest in the 2026 Prague Chess Festival Masters. Van Foreest’s victory placed him in a four-way tie for first place alongside GMs Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Nodirbek Yakubboev, and David Navara. Despite this loss, Gukesh is still in contention as there are six rounds remaining in the tournament.
Van Foreest, after a tough loss in round two, managed to secure wins against top-seed GM Vincent Keymer and the world champion within just three rounds. Expressing his joy, Van Foreest mentioned that this win was not only his first against a world champion but also his first victory over Gukesh. He highlighted his strategic thinking during the match, emphasizing his confidence as the game progressed.
Following this win, Van Foreest regained the rating points he lost previously, while Gukesh dropped to world number 13. The remaining games in the tournament concluded in draws, with GM Aravindh Chithambaram and GM Parham Maghsoodloo finishing in a 30-move draw by repetition. The match between Navara and GM David Anton also ended swiftly in a draw.
GMs Abdusattorov and Yakubboev, both from Uzbekistan, showcased strong performances in their games. Keymer faced challenges leading to a poor pawn structure, while GM Hans Niemann had to defend against Yakubboev. The competitive nature of the games highlighted the intensity of the tournament.
