Prague Chess Festival 2025: Aravindh’s Tactical Brilliance Stuns Anish Giri
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The Prague International Chess Festival 2025, Round 7, witnessed an absolute masterclass in tactical play** as Aravindh Chithambaram defeated Anish Giri in a thrilling encounter. With a series of stunning tactical shots, Aravindh dismantled Giri’s position, scoring one of the best wins of the tournament.
Opening: Queen’s Gambit Exchange – A Slow Build-Up
Giri, playing White, opted for the Queen’s Gambit Exchange Variation, a line that often leads to long-term positional battles. Aravindh responded confidently, setting up a solid structure:
- 8. Nh4!? – An unusual sideline, trying to unbalance the position.
- 11... Ne4!? – Aravindh sacrifices a pawn, signaling his aggressive intent.
- 15... a5 – A deep prophylactic move, restricting White’s queenside expansion.
Middlegame: Giri Overpresses & Aravindh Strikes
The game transitioned into a double-edged middlegame, where both sides maneuvered their pieces carefully. But as soon as Giri overcommitted with **19. g4?!**, Aravindh took full control.
- 21... Bxe5! – A beautiful piece exchange that sets the stage for an attack.
- 23... Qh4! – Aravindh’s queen enters the attack with deadly intentions.
- 24... Ng5!! – A stunning knight sacrifice, opening White’s king completely.
Endgame: Aravindh’s Tactical Knockout
Once the attack started rolling, there was no stopping it. Aravindh continued with relentless pressure, forcing a decisive breakthrough.
- 25... d4!! – Another brilliant tactical shot, ripping open White’s defenses.
- 29... f4! – Black’s kingside pawns march forward, sealing White’s fate.
- 36... Qe4+! – The final winning blow, forcing White’s king into a hopeless position.
Key Takeaways from Aravindh’s Victory
- Patience Pays Off: Aravindh waited for Giri to overextend before counterattacking.
- Tactical Awareness: Every move in the final sequence was precise and calculated.
- Brilliant Attack: The **knight sacrifice (24... Ng5!!)** was a game-changing moment.
- Flawless Execution: The game finished with perfect coordination between Black’s pieces.
Play through the Game
This game serves as a lesson in patience, tactical precision, and capitalizing on small mistakes. Aravindh Chithambaram’s powerful play against Anish Giri was a true tactical masterpiece. For another exciting game featuring brilliant positional play, check out Magnus Carlsen vs. Hikaru Nakamura – Chessable Masters 2025 .