Chess News - Page 20

Praggnanandhaa won the title against an elite 10-player Masters field in Tashkent that comprised heavy-hitters like Ian Nepomniachtchi and Arjun Erigaisi, besides the Uzbek quartet of Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Javokhir Sindarov, Nodirbek Yakubboev and Shamsiddin Vokhidov. (File)

Praggnanandhaa interview: ‘We’ve got that respect now (from Hikaru, Caruana)… they don’t take massive risks as earlier against us now’Subscriber Only

July 2, 2025 21:40 IST

In a freewheeling interview with The Indian Express, Praggnanandhaa talks about “feeling dead” during the recent UzChess Cup, earning the respect of older generation like Magnus Carlsen, and why winning Wijk aan Zee was crucial for his season.

FIDE says way Vladimir Kramnik presents his points (on cheating in chess) brings a lot of harm to the community

June 29, 2025 18:25 IST

FIDE too has told Kramnik that "he must recognise that it is not just his opinion or questions – it is a very clear narrative, and coming from the former World Champion it could be ruinous for the careers and a very well-being of certain players."

The Bird's Opening, named after 19th-century English master Henry Bird, appeals to players who want to engage in rich strategic engagements outside of standard e4 or d4.

Firepower from the flanks: Why 1.f4, the Bird’s Opening, deserves your attentionSubscriber Only

June 29, 2025 17:19 IST

The Bird's Opening is commonly ignored in mainstream opening theory, although it provides White with a creative and unconventional way forward.

Former World Chess Champion Vladimir Kramnik in action. (Maria Emelianova via FIDE)

‘I’ll take LEGAL ACTION against EVERY Slanderer’: Kramnik escalates chess feud after Aronian’s emotional appeal

June 29, 2025 15:53 IST

The former world champion framed his actions as self-defence, citing decades of enduring "dirty PR attacks and slander" and made clear he no longer intends to show restraint.

L-R: Armenian-American GM Levon Aronian and 14th World Chess Champion, Russia's Vladimir Kramnik. (Rafal Oleksiewicz via FIDE and Michal Walusza via FIDE)

‘We can’t keep suing each other’: Aronian urges Kramnik to drop feuds, pens emotional plea in open letter to his ‘chess parent’

June 29, 2025 14:17 IST

Levon Aronian writes a heartfelt open letter to his chess parent Vladimir Kramnik, urging unity in the chess community amid rising tensions over online chess integrity and legal disputes.

R Praggnanandhaa with Magnus Carlsen during FIDE World Cup 2023. (FIDE/STEV BONHAGE)

Carlsen welcomes Praggnanandhaa to Team Liquid; Nakamura hails Indian prodigy as ‘rare gem of chess world’

June 29, 2025 09:16 IST

Praggnanandhaa becomes the fourth Indian to sign up with an esports franchise with chess making its debut at the Esports World Cup.

Praggnanandhaa to join Magnus Carlsen’s Team Liquid ahead of chess’ Esports World Cup debut

June 28, 2025 23:17 IST

Praggnanandhaa thus becomes the fourth Indian chess player to sign up with an esports franchise — after Arjun Erigaisi, Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram — with chess making its debut at the Esports World Cup

India's P Raggnanandhaa is having one of his best years in 2025. (Maria Emelianova via Chess.com)

Four tiebreaks, three titles: Story of Praggnanandhaa’s barnstorming 2025

June 29, 2025 02:43 IST

R Praggnanandhaa fought his way out of tense tiebreaks with two home favourites, Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov, to claim the title at the 2nd UzChess Cup tournament in Tashkent.

RB Ramesh explains what led to Praggnanandhaa’s success in 2025: Playing ‘risky’ chess, more variety of openings and moreSubscriber Only

July 1, 2025 08:55 IST

The UzChess Cup also helped Praggnanandhaa leap ahead of his compatriots like Arjun, Gukesh and Aravindh in one of the most heavily-contested battles in the sport at the moment: the race to be India’s top-ranked player, a position which comes with other perks, like invitations to elite tournaments.

The All India Chess Federation (AICF) launched the Top National Players Stipend Scheme (TNPSS), under which they gave stipends ranging from ₹60,000 to ₹1,50,000.

Indian chess federation hands out stipends worth Rs 42 lakh to promising young players

June 25, 2025 23:32 IST

A total of 42 top-ranked players, based on their last year performances at national level, are the first beneficiaries of this scheme, representing the pinnacle of talent across the U7, U9, U11, U13, U15, U17, and U19 age categories.

Aarit Kapil, the nine-year-old from Mayur Vihar, who drew with Magnus Carlsen in the Early Titled Tuesday event. (Special Arrangement)

Meet Aarit Kapil, 9-year-old from Delhi’s Mayur Vihar, who nearly beat Magnus Carlsen in an online blitz gameSubscriber Only

June 26, 2025 09:34 IST

Aarit, who began playing chess just four years ago when he was aged five, held a winning position against the five-time world champion before settling for a draw due to time trouble.

Chess war escalates: Vladimir Kramnik drags chess.com and David Navara to court over ‘slander’ claim

June 29, 2025 18:44 IST

The defamation lawsuit from Vladimir Kramnik comes as a result of a long-standing feud between Kramnik and the rest of the stakeholders.

Levy Rozman is known as Gotham Chess to his 6.45 million YouTube subscribers. (PHOTO: Levy Rozman's X)

Why chess needs every influencer and the casual fans they bring to the sportSubscriber Only

June 25, 2025 09:23 IST

Chess, more than any other sport in the world right now, finds itself in an endless loop of controversy driving public attention towards itself.

Atharvaa Tayade and his teammates celebrate their win at the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championship.

India’s victorious rapid chess team spring a surprise, Atharvaa Tayade, a ‘recreational’ player from IIM-CalcuttaSubscriber Only

June 25, 2025 09:56 IST

Atharvaa Tayade, 24, is an MBA student from IIM-Calcutta; Tayade was unbeaten until the final round at the FIDE World Rapid Team Championship in London

American GM Hans Niemann. (Photo: Lennart Ootes)

It will be Hans Niemann vs Magnus Carlsen in Las Vegas Freestyle event after US GM qualifies via play-in tournament

June 21, 2025 13:39 IST

Niemann had also qualified to play at the Paris leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, but had pulled out at the last minute for “personal reasons”.

Magnus Carlsen with his wife Ella in Singapore last year. (PHOTO: Facebook/Magnus Carlsen)

‘My wife is way more attracted to me now’: Magnus Carlsen after breaking 2900 rating threshold in freestyle chess

June 21, 2025 20:21 IST

Praggnanandhaa is India's top player in the new rating list on 4th spot with 2773 points. He's ahead of compatriots like Arjun Erigaisi (8th spot, 2758 points), Vidit Gujarathi (18th, 2713 points), Aravindh Chithambaram (22nd, 2707) and classical world champion Gukesh (26th spot, 2701).

Chess infrastructure gets major push to elevate competitive set-up through esports ecosystem

June 19, 2025 17:46 IST

The partnership brings together three organisations involved in esports production, online chess platforms, and grassroots community engagement.

Magnus Carlsen smashes his fist on the table after losing to world chess champion Gukesh at Norway Chess. (PHOTO: Norway Chess via Michal Walusza)

‘So dumb… made me feel washed and useless’: Magnus Carlsen on defeat to Gukesh at Norway Chess

June 20, 2025 00:06 IST

Asked if he was the bad boy of chess, Carlsen said: "I don't aspire to be a bad boy. Sometimes, I think I'm in a position, compared to some of my peers, where I can afford not to take shit.”

Fabiano Caruana explains why Magnus Carlsen wanted to dominate Gukesh at Norway Chess

June 18, 2025 21:39 IST

“Magnus definitely wanted to win (against Gukesh) to prove a point: the point being that not only is he (Gukesh) not nearly as strong as Magnus but also that he's not as strong as other players," Caruana explained on his podcast.

Fabiano Caruana takes on world champion Gukesh Dommaraju at the Norway Chess tournament. (PHOTO: Norway Chess via Roza Czarnota)

Fabiano Caruana: Indian youngsters very strong, but I don’t find them scary yet, whatsoever

June 17, 2025 22:08 IST

Caruana, who finds himself on 4th spot in the FIDE June ratings between Arjun Erigaisi and Gukesh, then explained why the world of chess was unlikely to see a changing of guard in the near future.

A TV replays Magnus Carlsen smashing his fist on the table after losing to world chess champion Gukesh at Norway Chess. (PHOTO: Norway Chess via Michal Walusza)

Can Norway Chess’ unique time-control tweaks spice up classical chess endgames?Subscriber Only

June 17, 2025 08:27 IST

Faced with encroachment from Freestyle and faster formats like rapid and blitz, classical looked like petering towards disinterest. But the longest format is gamely fighting to hold its own - with even Magnus Carlsen not quite done with the format

Harikrishna smashes his fist on a table during the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships in London. (Screengrab via FIDE YouTube)

WATCH: Pentala Harikrishna mimics Magnus Carlsen’s famous fist-smash moment

June 16, 2025 20:16 IST

World no 1 Magnus Carlsen had smashed a balled up fist on the table after losing to world champion Gukesh in the Norway Chess tournament.

WR Chess Team after winning the FIDE World Blitz Team Championship 2025 in London. (PHOTO: Rafal Oleksiewicz/FIDE)

FIDE World Blitz Team Championship controversy: WR Chess arrive late for quarters, lose match, given replay after protest

June 16, 2025 18:56 IST

A video shows Nakamura and Nepomniachtchi running into the playing hall for their games. Firouzja arrived for his game 15 seconds late for a 3-minute game, , which seemed like a luxury compared to what happened to teammates like Nakamura and Nepo.

Chess 101 series by Woman FIDE Master Shivika Rohilla: There are few openings in chess more wonderfully odd than 1.b4, which is called as the Orangutan, or Sokolsky Opening. (Photo courtesy Lichess)

Opening with instinct: The wild logic of playing 1.b4, also called the Orangutan OpeningSubscriber Only

June 16, 2025 16:29 IST

From zoo-side inspiration to grandmaster execution, the Orangutan Opening walks a curious line. Part myth, part method, it’s a tribute to chess’s rich imagination. And a reminder that every move has a story — even 1.b4.

A scene from the recent Norway Chess Open tournament at the IMI Forum in Stavanger which saw many Indian kids in action. (PHOTO: Norway Chess/Roza Czarnota)

India’s chess prodigies chase norms, rating points and dreams, one budget trip to Europe at a timeSubscriber Only

June 17, 2025 05:18 IST

Here's why so many young Indian chess players -- even those rated around 1600 but are serious about the sport -- are flocking to Europe multiple times in a year