GUKESH DOMARAJU VS ARVINDH | GUKESH IN TROUBLE! ARVINDH 'S C3 PAWN DECIDES THE GAME

 

Prague International Chess Festival 2026 - Round 6

Gukesh D (2754) vs Aravindh Chithambaram (2700)

Result: 0-1

This was a very fighting and tactical Sicilian battle. Let's break it down phase by phase in simple language.

Opening Phase (Moves 1-13)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6

Sicilian Defense with a kingside fianchetto setup by Black.

3.c3 d5

Alapin-type structure. Black immediately strikes in the center.

4.Bb5+ Bd7 5.Bxd7+ Qxd7

White exchanges bishop early. Position becomes slightly unusual.

6.e5 Nc6 7.d4 f6!

Very aggressive idea by Aravindh. He attacks the e5 pawn immediately.

8.0-0 fxe5 9.dxe5 Bg7 10.Re1 еб

Black develops smoothly and keeps central tension.

11.c4 Nge7 12.Nc3 dxc4

Black grabs the pawn and opens the center.

13.Qxd7+ Kxd7

Queens are traded. We enter an endgame very early but it's sharp and tactical.

After move 13, Black already has comfortable play. The king on d7 is active.

Middlegame Tactics (Moves 14-22)

14.Rd1+ Kc8 15.Ne4 b6 16.Nd6+ Kc7 17.Ng5

Gukesh starts active knight play. Very creative!

17...Bxe5!

Strong move. Black eliminates central pawn and opens lines.

18.Ndf7 Bd4!

Excellent counter. Black doesn't panic.

19.Nxe6+ Kd7 20.Nxd4 cxd4

Very sharp sequence. Material becomes unbalanced.

21.Nxh8 Rxh8

White wins the exchange temporarily, but:

White knight is trapped on h8

Black has strong pawn center

White structure is damaged

Position is dynamically equal but easier for Black.

Critical Turning Point (Moves 22-30)

22.b3 c3!

Excellent passed pawn. Very strong.

23.Be3 Nf5 24.Rac1 Keб

Black centralizes king - very important in endgames.

25.Bxd4 Nfxd4 26.Re1+ Kd5

King becomes extremely active.

27.Rxc3 a5 28.h4 a4!

Aravindh plays very confidently on queenside.

29.Rd1 axb3 30.Rxb3 Rb8

Black fully controls queenside.

At this point Black has:

Better structure

More active king

Dangerous passed pawns

White is under pressure.

Endgame Technique (Moves 31-40)

31.h5 b5 32.hxg6 hxg6

White tries counterplay on kingside.

33.Rg3 Kc4 34.Rc1+ Kb4 35.Rb1+ Ka4

36.Rb2 Ne5 37.f4 Nc4 38.Rf2 Re8

Black improves pieces patiently.

39.Kh2 Ne2 40.Rgf3 Ne3

Knights dominate the board.

White's rooks are passive.

Black knights are monsters.

Final Tactical Finish (Moves 41-48)

41.Rxe2 Ng4+!

Powerful tactic.

42.Kg3 Rxe2 43.Kxg4 Rxg2+

Black wins material cleanly.

44.Kh4 b4 45.Re3 Rxa2

Passed pawns start rolling.

46.Rg3 Rf2 47.Rg4 Rf1

Black activates rook perfectly.

48.Kg5 Ka3 0-1

White resigns. Position is completely winning for Black..

Key Reasons Aravindh Won

Early central counterplay with...f6

Calm defense against knight attack

Strong passed pawn on c3

Excellent king activity

Superior knight positioning in endgame

Precise tactical finish