Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin discusses fellow world champion D Gukesh's recent performance slump, attributing it to a lack of confidence rather than a decline in skill. Sarin expresses hope that the upcoming Chess Olympiad will help Gukesh regain his form. He also shares his views on the increasing role of AI in chess, the evolution towards faster formats, and potential improvements in the chess ecosystem.
Chess will be featured for the third consecutive year at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh next year, with two-time champion Magnus Carlsen expected to defend his title. India also showed a strong presence in EWC 2026 with four Grandmasters, two of whom reached the quarterfinals.
A private hospital owner in Delhi's Nihal Vihar has reported receiving death threats and an extortion demand of Rs 20 crore from a caller claiming affiliation with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The complainant, Shakeel Saifi, received the demand via social media on November 3, with the caller giving a 24-hour ultimatum. Delhi Police have registered an FIR and are investigating the matter.
Indian Grandmasters Arjun Erigaisi and Nihal Sarin concluded their campaign at the Esports World Cup Chess tournament in the quarterfinals, securing top-eight finishes. Erigaisi was eliminated by Hikaru Nakamura in an Armageddon tiebreak, while Sarin lost to defending champion Magnus Carlsen. Their performance marks India's strongest showing in the event, with both players earning USD 75,000 each from the substantial prize pool.
A Delhi man sought police intervention on Karwa Chauth after his wife allegedly refused to break her fast by looking at him, following an argument. Police from Nihal Vihar resolved the domestic dispute amicably, and the wife subsequently performed the traditional rituals.
Nihal Cheema, Aadya Kaushal, and Aahana Shrivastava delivered stellar performances at the third leg of the US Kids Golf New Delhi Tour in Gurugram. Nihal won the Boys 9 category with a bogey-free 66, Aadya claimed the Girls 11-12 title with a 69, and Aahana secured the Girls 9-10 section with a 71, showcasing promising talent in junior golf.
World champion D Gukesh is set to face Nihal Sarin in a highly anticipated first-round match at the Chennai Grand Masters 2026 chess tournament. The event features eight Grandmasters, including four Indians, competing for a prize purse of Rs 75,00,000 and crucial FIDE Circuit points in a double-round robin format.
A 32-year-old woman, Ruby, was allegedly stabbed to death by her husband, Vikas, in their rented house in northwest Delhi's Nihal Vihar following a family dispute. The accused fled the scene, and police have registered a murder case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, with investigations underway to apprehend him.
A 44-year-old labourer, Pyare Lal, was allegedly beaten to death with sticks in Gurugram's Nihal Colony on Thursday morning after an argument. Police found his body, sent it for post-mortem, and identified two suspects, including a minor, through CCTV footage. Raids are ongoing to apprehend them, and the motive remains unclear.
Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin, representing esports and gaming content outfit S8UL, has qualified for the chess event of the upcoming Esports World Cup in Paris.
A 35-year-old driver, Sandeep, died on Tuesday after being stabbed multiple times following an alleged dispute over asking for "extra choley" from a street vendor in Nihal Vihar, outer Delhi. The vendor, Chintu Gupta, has been arrested, and murder charges have been invoked after Sandeep's death. Sandeep's father alleges more people were involved and seeks justice, while police continue their investigation.
Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin has qualified for the chess event of the upcoming Esports World Cup (EWC) in Paris through the Champions Chess Tour (CCT) leaderboard, joining teammate Aravindh Chithambaram as the second Indian player to qualify.
Security personnel in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, seized 1,275 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup suspected of being smuggled into Nepal. A 23-year-old man was arrested after his car was intercepted during a joint operation by the SSB and UP Police. The consignment lacked proper documentation, and an investigation is underway to trace the supply chain and identify the smuggling network.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated Odisha FC 3-2 in a high-scoring Indian Super League match in Kolkata on Thursday. Dejan Drazic scored twice and Lee Erwin netted the winner in the 88th minute, propelling MBSG to the top of the league table.
The Indian men's chess team secured a dominant 3.5-0.5 victory over Uzbekistan-2, placing them in sole second position at the 46th Chess Olympiad. The Indian women's team drew 2-2 with leaders China, maintaining their third-place standing. Both teams are well-positioned for medals as the tournament approaches its final stages.
The Indian men's chess team defeated Italy 3-1, with Nihal Sarin and D Gukesh securing key wins. The women's team also achieved a dominant 3.5-0.5 victory against Greece, maintaining their strong position in the 46th Chess Olympiad.
Indian chess teams, both open and women's, secured victories in the second round of the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, maintaining their top positions with four match points. While the open team faced some challenges, including draws for D Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa, Nihal Sarin's win was crucial. The women's team achieved a more dominant performance with wins from Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal, and B Savitha Shri.
The Indian men's chess team, led by D Gukesh, Nihal Sarin, and Vidit Gujrathi, secured a 3-1 victory over Thailand in their opening match at the 46th World Chess Olympiad, despite Arjun Erigaisi's unexpected loss.
The reigning champions Indian men's chess team suffered a significant 1.5-2.5 defeat against Uzbekistan in the sixth round of the 46th Chess Olympiad, losing their lead. While key players like Praggnanandhaa, Erigaisi, and Gukesh drew their matches, Nihal Sarin's loss to Nodirbek Yakubboev proved decisive. This setback leaves the Indian men needing a strong comeback, while the Indian women's team showed promise against the USA.
India's title defence at the Chess Olympiad suffered a setback after a loss to hosts Uzbekistan, leaving them two points behind the leaders.
The Indian men's chess team, seeded second, is set to face sixth-seeded Holland in the fifth round of the 46th Chess Olympiad after a mixed start. While players like D Gukesh and Nihal Sareen have performed well, top board players R Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi are looking to find their form. The Indian women's team, with a perfect score, will play Poland, with B Savitha Shri being a standout performer.
Police in Delhi have apprehended a 21-year-old youth and a juvenile in connection with the murder of 30-year-old history-sheeter Md Mohnish. The murder, which occurred on October 11, was allegedly motivated by multiple personal grudges, including revenge for a friend's killing and past altercations. Two other assailants remain at large, and weapons were recovered during the arrests.
Delhi Police have dismantled an inter-state truck theft and dismantling racket, arresting three individuals including the alleged mastermind. The operation led to the recovery of dismantled parts of a stolen truck from a Punjab godown. The investigation involved technical surveillance, CCTV footage, and digital payment tracking, revealing the accused's involvement in multiple truck thefts across Delhi.
Punjab FC secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Odisha FC in their Indian Super League campaign opener. Messi Bouli scored a stoppage-time winner after both teams were level at 1-1 at half-time, giving Punjab FC an early lead and then the decisive goal.
Indian Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Arjun Erigaisi have successfully navigated the lower bracket of the Esports World Cup chess tournament in Paris, securing their spots in the quarter-finals. The duo will now compete in the knockout stage, aiming for the US$1.5 million prize pool.
Indian chess teams, both Open and Women's, face a significant challenge to defend their Chess Olympiad titles in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, after crucial losses and a historical 'winner's curse' where no Open section champion has successfully defended their title in the last five editions.
India's men's and women's chess teams are set to defend their respective Chess Olympiad titles, with strong lineups featuring world champion D Gukesh and in-form R Praggnanandhaa for the men, and Koneru Humpy leading the top-seeded women's squad.
Led by R Praggnanandhaa on the top board and World champion D Gukesh on the fourth, the Indian men scored an emphatic 3-1 victory over Holland but the Indian eves were shocked by Poland in the fifth round of the 46th chess Olympiad in Samarkand.
The Indian men's team continued its fine performance, defeating Spain 3-1, with World champion D Gukesh showing the way with a very clean victory over former world championship challenger Alexei Shirov.
The Indian men's and women's chess teams delivered strong performances at the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, with the men's team defeating Spain 3-1 and the women's team securing an identical 3-1 victory over Mongolia. World champion D Gukesh led the men's success with a clean win against Alexei Shirov, while Arjun Erigaisi also contributed significantly. In the women's section, B Savitha Shri and Divya Deshmukh were instrumental in their team's win.
Hissi Besra, a promising young golfer, secured the US Kids India (North) title in the Girls 11-12 section with an outstanding round of 5-under 67. The tournament also saw strong performances from other junior golfers like Nihal Cheema, Rayirth Jain, and Drona Singh Dhull, showcasing emerging talent in Indian junior golf.
The Indian men's and women's chess teams delivered strong performances in the seventh round of the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand. The men's team defeated England, with R Praggnanandhaa and D Gukesh securing crucial wins. The women's team dominated Germany with a 3.5-0.5 victory, highlighted by wins from Koneru Humpy, Divya Deshmukh, and Savitha Shri.
Young Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin emerged champion at the Tata Steel Chess India tournament on Friday, clinching the Rapid title just a day after the passing of his maternal grandfather, who had introduced him to the sport.
The Indian chess team, including defending champions, faced significant delays and were left without hotel rooms for over five hours upon arrival in Samarkand for the 46th Chess Olympiad, prompting captains to voice their frustration on social media.
Goan Grandmaster Leon Luke Mendonca won his second straight Global Chess League title as Ganges Grandmasters defeated defending champions Alpine SG Pipers.
The Indian men's chess team, led by world champion D Gukesh, secured a 2.5-1.5 victory over Germany, while the women's team dominated Uzbekistan 3-1 in the ninth round of the 46th Chess Olympiad. Both teams remain in contention for a podium finish, with Gukesh's comeback win being a highlight.
'The groom is not a privilege, he is a responsibility. The bride is not a responsibility, she is a privilege. Yeh Prem Mol Liya revolves around this thought.'
The Indian men's chess team secured a silver medal on a tie-break after drawing with Hungary, while the women's team clinched a bronze medal by drawing with Georgia at the 46th Chess Olympiad.
Defending champions India faced significant organisational issues upon arrival in Samarkand for the Chess Olympiad, experiencing a five-hour delay in hotel room allotment. Players and coaches, including Grandmasters Srinath Narayanan and Vidit Gujrathi, expressed frustration over the poor arrangements for the prestigious FIDE tournament.
Ganges Grandmasters, led by Ian Nepomniachtchi, defeated defending champions Alpine APL Pipers to win their first Global Chess League title. Nepomniachtchi's crucial win against Magnus Carlsen in the final, coupled with Stavroula Tsolakidou's performance, sealed the victory. FYERS American Gambits secured third place in the tournament.
