India, Feb. 28 -- World Champion D Gukesh played out another draw with Nodirbek Yakubboev of Uzbekistan, while defending champion Aravindh Chithambaram pulled a rabbit out of the hat to beat Hans Moke Niemann of the United States in the second round of the Masters section of the Prague International Chess Festival here.

Following a draw with Niemann, Gukesh's second white game also did not yield much, as Yakubboev seemed well-armed in the Queen's gambit declined. After a couple of trades, the position looked level, and Yakubboev uncorked a rook sacrifice to force a repetition of position. Aravindh continued with his newfound preference for the Philidor Defence, while Niemann seized the early initiative with the white pieces.

The America...