We're now six rounds into the main tournaments. In the Masters, Praggnanadhaa has caught up to the leader, Aravindh. In the Challengers tournament, Yakubboev and Bjerre lead with a full-point advantage.
On the rest day after the fifth round, players had the chance to recharge by relaxing or enjoying a guided tour of Prague.

 A walk through Prague

In the evening, there was a panel discussion, moderated by Čestmír Strakatý, where participants could reflect on chess and geopolitics with a lineup of notable guests. Players in the Futures tournament had the opportunity to engage in a simultaneous exhibition with WGM Dana Reizniece.
Let's take a look at some of the most interesting moments from the past three rounds.

Masters

Wei Yi 1-0 Navara

After a rough start to the tournament, Wei Yi decided to take a risk by choosing the provocative line with Bg5 in the Italian Game. This led to a sharp, modern-style position wherein black weakened his kingside with the g7-g5 advance, but in return, he trapped white's bishop on g3 and gained activity. In the ensuing tactical battle, David Navara overexposed his king, which Wei Yi masterfully exploited by timely opening the center.

Shankland 0-1 Wei Yi 

In the following round, Wei Yi also excelled in the opening phase when Shankland's attempt to surprise him by transitioning to the Catalan failed. In the ensuing complications, Wei Yi responded brilliantly with counterattacks in the center vith c5 and e5.

14.Qa4 was the decisive error. The correct move, 14...Nb3, puts the rook on a1 under attack, and the queen on a4 can quickly become trapped. Shankland tried to gain compensation with 15.Nxe5; however, Wei Yi thought for over 30 minutes and found the best move in the position, 15...Be6! Thanks to this decision, he soon secured victory, and the game was voted the best of the fifth round.

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 Wei Y

Keymer 0-1 Praggnanandhaa

The French Defense has been very popular over the past year, and Praggnanandhaa showed us why with the black pieces. Despite originating in a complex position after the opening where Keymer had a comfortable advantage, Pragg navigated the complications more effectively. Just before time control, white's position became difficult to defend. Keymer failed to find the most precise moves and lost a crucial pawn on e5, along with the game. As a result, Praggnanadhaa caught up with the tournament leader, Aravindh!

 

Challengers

The Challengers tournament has been notábly more combative in the last three rounds, with eight games ending decisively! Yakubboev and Bjerre improved their chances of advancing to next year's Masters tournament by each securing one win and two draws.

Yakubboev 1-0 Němec

In a long game played almost flawlessly, both players were able to create opportunities. In the end, though, it was Jáchym Němec who possibly risked too much by choosing to wait in place for several moves, while Yakubboev continued to improve his position.

 
In a sharp position with limited time on the clock, Yakubboev managed to navigate the complications better. In the final position, not even the presence of two queens could save black.

Bjerre 1-0 Maurizzi

Just as Wei Yi found his form in rounds four and five, Maurizzi did as well, defeating Fiňek and Divya Desmukh. An important match awaited him in the sixth round against Bjerre. In the opening, he attempted to equalize with the solid "Berlin Wall." However, Bjerre was well-prepared and gradually applied pressure, converting the game into an endgame with a knight against a bishop and an extra pawn. You can replay how he capitalized on his material advantage by replaying the game below.

 

 

 

Jonas Buhl Bjerre

 

 

Author: Richard Mládek
All photos: Petr Zewlakk Vrabec