Category: Chess

In a significant step towards making sport more accessible and aspirational, the Tech Mahindra Foundation has launched a nationwide Chess League for children with speech and hearing impairment. Designed to create a grassroots-to-global pathway, the initiative offers young players not just competitive exposure, but also a rare opportunity to attend the Global Chess League (GCL)…

The Global Chess League (GCL) 2025 has sent a strong message: India is no longer just a rising power in world chess; it is now the center of chess in the world. GCL 2025 has changed the way people play, watch, and celebrate chess by bringing together the biggest stars in the world, cutting-edge broadcast…

When Arjun Erigaisi defeated Viswanathan Anand in the finals of the Jerusalem Masters 2025, he did far more than lift a trophy. He signalled a generational shift in Indian chess, showcased elite psychological resilience, and proved that he now belongs among the world’s most dangerous all-format players. This was not a routine tournament win it…

The Global Chess League (GCL) 2025, returning for its highly anticipated third season, arrives in Mumbai as one of the most ambitious and technologically advanced sporting projects in the world. Structured as a joint venture between FIDE and Tech Mahindra, the league has grown rapidly since its inception, but Season 3 represents its most complete…

The FIDE Candidates 2026 is set to ignite the global chess landscape with a rare blend of youth, ambition, and elite experience. Scheduled from March 28 to April 16, 2026, at the picturesque Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort in Pegeia, Cyprus, the tournament will determine the next challenger to reigning World Champion D. Gukesh….

The 2025 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships, scheduled for December 25–31 in Doha, Qatar, stand poised to deliver one of the most competitive and unpredictable editions in the history of speed chess. With more than 360 elite players entered across four divisions, and a staggering €1,000,000 prize fund, the stage is set for a…

India’s final hope at the FIDE World Cup 2025 came to a heartbreaking end in Panaji on Wednesday as Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi bowed out in the quarterfinals after losing the second rapid tiebreak to China’s Wei Yi. In a campaign defined by grit, accuracy, and nerves of steel, Arjun fought until the final moments but…

India’s fast-rising chess star Pranav Anand, just 19 years old, delivered one of the strongest performances of his young career by winning the President’s Cup of the Republic of Tajikistan (Group A) with an impressive 7.0/9. The Bengaluru grandmaster remained unbeaten through all nine rounds, scoring five wins and four draws, and finishing clear first…

Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi will have to fight it out in the rapid tiebreaks after being held to a second consecutive draw by China’s Wei Yi in their quarterfinal clash at the FIDE World Cup 2025. Despite creating real winning chances with the white pieces, Arjun could not convert his superior position, leaving the classical…

Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi continued his remarkable run at the FIDE World Cup 2025 in Goa, holding Chinese star Wei Yi to a comfortable draw in the first classical quarterfinal game after knocking out two-time World Cup champion Levon Aronian in the previous round. The 2773-rated Indian, currently the country’s brightest hope in elite classical chess,…

Standing alone as India’s last survivor in the 2025 FIDE World Cup, Arjun Erigaisi enters the quarterfinals in Goa not just as a contender but as the tournament’s highest remaining seed and its most compelling story. In a World Cup defined by collapsing brackets, shocking exits, and an unprecedented exodus of elite players, the 22-year-old…

India’s campaign at the FIDE World Cup 2025 has narrowed to a single torchbearer after GM P. Harikrishna exited in a tense Round 5 tiebreak against GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara on Sunday. With Harikrishna bowing out, the nation’s hopes now rest solely on second seed GM Arjun Erigaisi, who continues his impressive march into…

The FIDE World Cup in Goa witnessed one of its most electrifying moments of the tournament as India’s top-ranked Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi secured a sensational 1.5–0.5 victory over American legend and two-time World Cup champion Levon Aronian, storming into the quarterfinals for the second consecutive edition. The atmosphere inside the packed playing hall turned electric…

The FIDE World Cup 2025 in Goa has unfolded with a drama few anticipated. Upsets have torn through the draw, heavyweight contenders have been knocked out early, and the Indian contingent once a record 24 strong has been reduced to just two survivors. As the tournament enters the Round of 16, Arjun Erigaisi and Pentala…

India’s last two survivors at the FIDE World Cup 2025 GM Arjun Erigaisi and GM P Harikrishna produced composed, calculated performances as both settled for draws in the opening game of Round 5 on Friday. With the field narrowing rapidly and Candidates spots on the line, the Indian duo ensured they remain firmly in contention…

As the FIDE World Cup 2025 enters its decisive phase in Goa, India’s massive 24-player contingent has been reduced to just two survivors, Arjun Erigaisi and Pentala Harikrishna. What began as the country’s strongest-ever lineup in a World Cup has turned into a campaign of attrition, upsets and abrupt exits leaving India’s aspirations for Candidates…

Indian chess enjoyed a mixed day at the FIDE World Cup 2025 as GM Arjun Erigaisi and GM P Harikrishna advanced to the Round of 16, while GM R Praggnanandhaa exited after a hard-fought tiebreak loss to GM Daniil Dubov on Thursday. Three Indians Arjun, Praggnanandhaa and Harikrishna entered the tiebreak stage after drawing both…

The fourth round of the FIDE World Cup 2025 produced another day of intense battles as India’s top three grandmasters Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, and P Harikrishna held their nerve to secure draws and force tiebreaks in Panaji on Wednesday. While Arjun and Praggnanandhaa both played solidly to share points against elite opposition, Harikrishna survived…

It was a tense day for Indian chess at the FIDE World Cup 2025 as all four remaining Indian players R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, P Harikrishna, and Karthik Venkataraman had to settle for draws in the opening games of Round 4. While Arjun, Harikrishna, and Karthik comfortably held their own with the black pieces, it…

The FIDE World Cup 2025 in Goa has entered its most volatile phase, and for India the stakes have risen sharply. The early and unexpected elimination of reigning World Champion and top seed D. Gukesh has transformed the landscape of the tournament. What was expected to be a campaign led by three top-10 stars now…

GM Karthik Venkataraman produced another assured performance to enter the fourth round of the FIDE World Cup 2025, defeating Romania’s GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac in the second rapid tiebreak game on Sunday. Playing with the black pieces, Karthik capitalised on a superior minor-piece endgame, forcing Deac’s king into the corner and converting cleanly in 43 moves….

A dramatic day at the FIDE World Cup 2025 saw World Champion Gukesh D exit the tournament, even as four Indians R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Pentala Harikrishna and World Junior Champion Pranav V secured their places in Round 4. With tension rising across the hall and several ties headed to breakers, India experienced both heartbreak…

Indian Grandmasters Arjun Erigaisi and P. Harikrishna produced commanding victories in the opening game of Round 3 at the FIDE World Cup 2025, while World Champion Gukesh D and R Praggnanandhaa played out composed draws with black pieces on Friday. The all-important World Cup, being held in Panaji, features 206 players from 82 countries competing…

India’s Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi drew upon his experience to end the spirited campaign of 12-year-old Argentine prodigy Faustino Oro, while GMs Pranav V and Pranesh M also advanced to the third round of the FIDE World Cup 2025 in Panaji on Thursday. After being stretched in the classical games by the young sensation, Vidit finally…

On a day that underlined the growing depth and maturity of Indian chess, Grandmaster Diptayan Ghosh produced one of the standout results of the FIDE World Cup 2025, defeating two–time Candidates winner Ian Nepomniachtchi with the black pieces to move into the third round. The 27-year-old Kolkata GM, playing in his first World Cup, showcased…

World Junior Champion V Pranav and India’s top-rated Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi scored important victories with the black pieces, while Vidit Gujrathi was forced to dig deep to hold a draw against 12-year-old Argentine prodigy Faustino Oro in the first game of Round 2 of the FIDE World Cup 2025 on Tuesday. The single-elimination event, held…

Indian chess continued its impressive showing at the FIDE World Cup 2025, with GM Narayanan S L, GM Diptayan Ghosh, and IM Aronyak Ghosh clinching their spots in the second round after a thrilling day of rapid tiebreak action in Panaji on Monday. Following six Indian players’ progression on Sunday, the trio’s victories took India’s…

It was a day of contrasting emotions for the Indian contingent at the FIDE World Cup 2025, as a blend of seasoned campaigners and emerging stars made strong strides in the opening round. Veteran GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly, along with GM Raunak Sadhwani, GM Karthik Venkataraman, and M Pranesh, secured their berths in the second…

India’s campaign at the FIDE World Cup 2025 began on a promising note as World Junior champion GM Pranav V, GM Pranesh M, and veteran GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly scored impressive opening-round victories, while Women’s World Cup winner GM Divya Deshmukh went down fighting against Greece’s GM Stamatis Kourkoulos-Arditis in her first game on Saturday….

When the first pawn moves across the board at the FIDE World Cup 2025 in Goa, it will symbolize more than the start of a chess tournament. It will mark the culmination of a two-decade journey that has turned India from a one-man chess nation into the sport’s new epicenter of global power. For the…

The 2025 Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown is living up to its reputation as one of the most dynamic and unpredictable tournaments on the chess calendar. After two intense days of play in Saint Louis, GM Magnus Carlsen holds the lead with four wins and two losses across six decisive games. But with the event’s unique…

The calm intensity that defines D Gukesh was on full display in St. Louis, as the World Chess Champion took the early lead at the Clutch Chess Champions Showdown 2025, finishing Day 1 atop the table with 4/6 points. Against a lineup featuring the world’s elite Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, and Fabiano Caruana the 18-year-old…

The Clutch Chess Champion Showdown 2025 promises to redefine competitive rapid chess. Hosted at the Saint Louis Chess Club (SLCC) in Missouri from October 27–29, 2025, this $412,000 event brings together four of the biggest names in global chess World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, and Fabiano Caruana in what has been dubbed…

Indian chess is witnessing its golden age, and the European Chess Club Cup 2025 (ECC Cup) in Rhodes has just confirmed it. With World Champion D. Gukesh and Women’s World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh clinching individual gold medals for their respective clubs, India celebrated a symbolic “Double Gold” a defining moment in the country’s ascent…

When the FIDE World Cup 2025 opens on October 30 in Goa, it will not just mark another entry in the international chess calendar it will mark a transformative moment in both India’s sporting identity and the global chess power structure. For nearly a month, the Resort Rio in Arpora, Bardez, will become the epicenter…

In the vibrant city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, where history whispers through ancient domes, R. Vaishali Rameshbabu carved her own legacy on September 15, 2025. The Indian Grandmaster clinched the FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss title for the second year running, a feat no one man or woman has achieved in this tournament’s young but fierce history….

When the International Chess Federation (FIDE) confirmed that the FIDE World Cup 2025 will be hosted in Goa, India, from October 30 to November 27, it marked more than just another stop in the World Championship cycle. It signaled the dawn of a new chapter in global chess one where India is no longer a…

The 2025 Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters has delivered drama, upsets, and top-tier chess in equal measure. Over the last few days at the Hyatt Regency Chennai, Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin claimed a morale-boosting win over compatriot Arjun Erigaisi, while German prodigy Vincent Keymer has remained unbeaten and in sole possession of the Masters lead after…

The second round of the Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters 2025, being held at the Hyatt Regency, Chennai, brought a mix of decisive results and tense draws in the Masters section, with Germany’s Vincent Keymer emerging as the sole leader at the end of Day 2. Keymer’s powerful victory over India’s V Pranav set the tone,…

The third edition of the Quantbox Chennai Grandmasters 2025 got underway at the Hyatt Regency on Wednesday, with top seeds Arjun Erigaisi and Vincent Keymer setting the tone with commanding victories in the opening round of the Masters section. The prestigious classical-format tournament, now firmly established as India’s strongest, began with a mix of clinical…

India’s most prestigious classical chess tournament, the Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters (QCGM) 2025, is set to unfold in the country’s chess capital from August 7 to 15 at the Hyatt Regency, Chennai. Now in its third edition, the event has evolved into a permanent fixture on the international chess calendar, bringing together ten of the…

On July 28, 2025, Indian chess witnessed a moment that might be remembered for generations. At just 19 years old, Divya Deshmukh clinched the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup title in Batumi, Georgia, defeating the seasoned Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy in a tense tie-break finale. This victory not only crowned her as the youngest-ever champion…

A New Queen of Indian Chess and her name is Divya Deshmukh At just 19 years old, Divya Deshmukh has carved her name into the annals of chess history, winning the prestigious 2025 FIDE Women’s World Cup and becoming the youngest ever to do so.  More than just a title, this victory has crowned her…

In one of the most remarkable breakthroughs Indian chess has seen in recent years, 19-year-old IM Divya Deshmukh has stormed into the final of the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 in Batumi, Georgia an achievement that not only underlines her prodigious talent but also reshapes the landscape of Indian women’s chess. This is a moment…

The semifinals of the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Cup kicked off on Tuesday, July 22, with both Indian contenders Grandmaster Koneru Humpy and International Master Divya Deshmukh producing disciplined performances to hold their formidable Chinese opponents to draws in the first classical games. With two Indians and two Chinese forming the final four, the event…

Life comes a full circle for Indian chess fans as the world rapid and blitz goes back to NewYork. Indian chess fans will always remember the 1995 world championship match between Anand and Kasparov as an epoch making moment in Indian chess. After 18 games, with a final score of 10½ to 7½ Kasparov retained…

The stage is set for one of the most anticipated clashes in chess history as India’s 18-year-old sensation, D Gukesh, takes on China’s reigning world champion, Ding Liren, in the 2024 FIDE World Chess Championship. Hosted at Singapore’s iconic Resorts World Sentosa, this marks the first time in the 138- year history of the championship…