In a remarkable display of skill and composure, Indian Grandmaster Aravindh Chithambaram emerged victorious at the 2025 Prague Chess Festival Masters, securing the title with a final-round draw against GM Ediz Gurel. This triumph marks his second consecutive super-tournament victory, following his win at the 2024 Chennai Grand Masters. At just 25 years old, Aravindh, often described as a "late bloomer," has now claimed both elite events he has participated in, achieving a career-high live rating of 2743 in the process.
The final round held significant drama, as GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu had a chance to disrupt Aravindh's path to victory. A win for Praggnanandhaa would have forced a playoff, but he fell short against GM Anish Giri, who secured his second straight win. Giri finished tied for second to fourth place alongside Praggnanandhaa and GM Wei Yi. Meanwhile, all other games in the round concluded in draws, solidifying Aravindh's position at the top.
Aravindh's victory is not only a personal milestone but also a testament to the ongoing dominance of Indian chess, a phenomenon Women's World Rapid Champion Koneru Humpy has dubbed the "golden era." This era gained significant momentum in 2024 and shows no signs of slowing down. Earlier in 2025, Praggnanandhaa claimed the Tata Steel Chess title, while GM Arjun Erigaisi made waves online by winning Freestyle Friday twice in a row. Adding to the accolades, GM Pranav Venkatesh recently secured the 2025 FIDE World Junior Championship U20 title. Aravindh's latest triumph further cements India's reputation as a powerhouse in the chess world, with a growing roster of elite players making their mark on the global stage.