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.
The ceremonial torch for the Chess Olympiad 2026 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, was handed over by FIDE Interim President Viswanathan Anand and AICF president Nitin Narang to Uzbek player Javokhir Sindarov. This event marks the official countdown to the prestigious team competition, continuing a tradition started by FIDE in 2022 to build excitement for the global chess event.
Bengaluru is set to host a FIDE-rated Rapid Chess tournament featuring up to 1000 players, serving as a prelude to Season 4 of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League (GCL). The tournament offers a Rs 4 lakh prize purse and a chance for participants to experience the build-up to the GCL, which will feature top chess stars like Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand.
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.
Indian chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh, an Arjuna Award recipient, is set to make her debut in the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League Season 4 with defending champions Alpine Pipers. She will join a star-studded team including Magnus Carlsen, Anish Giri, and Vidit Gujrathi, expressing excitement for the rapid chess format and playing in front of a home crowd.
Pakistan boycotted its Chess Olympiad opening round match against Israel in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to express solidarity with Palestine, resulting in a 4-0 walkover for Israel.
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.
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.
Defending champions India experienced significant organisational issues upon arrival in Samarkand for the Chess Olympiad, with players facing a five-hour delay in hotel room allotment. This caused frustration among players and coaches, though organisers assured the situation was being resolved.
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has announced it will reimburse teams, including India, that faced accommodation issues and had to pay for their own rooms at the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
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.
Chess legend Magnus Carlsen expresses his enjoyment in the game's evolution and new formats but acknowledges his time at the top is "limited." He advises organisers not to tailor the future of chess solely to his preferences, despite his continued participation in events like the Global Chess League. Grandmaster Levon Aronian also weighs in on the sport's growing online popularity and the need for continued innovation to attract wider audiences.
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.
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.
Chess legend Magnus Carlsen discusses his early struggles with the game, his competitive nature leading to a viral moment, and how fatherhood has impacted his professional life.
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.
Goan Grandmaster Leon Luke Mendonca won his second straight Global Chess League title as Ganges Grandmasters defeated defending champions Alpine SG Pipers.
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.
Indian Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu made history by winning his maiden Grand Chess Tour Finals title in St.Louis, becoming the first Indian to achieve this feat. He staged a remarkable comeback against Fabiano Caruana, securing the title with a 15-13 score after winning rapid games and holding his ground in blitz.
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.
If winning the National Championship does not help a player make the national team, what exactly is the value of becoming India's national champion?
Ganges Grandmasters have secured a spot in the Global Chess League finals despite a loss to PBG Alaskan Knights. Defending champions Alpine APL Pipers, however, suffered a defeat against Triveni Continental Knights, leaving their final berth dependent on the outcome of the last league match. Key moments included Ian Nepomniachtchi's draw against Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen's first loss in the competition to Alireza Firouzja.
The 'CHESS+' initiative, Championing Excellence in Sport Skills, has been launched to establish a structured chess curriculum in schools across India. This program, a collaboration between the All India Chess Federation and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, aims to enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students, starting with a pilot in 30 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas.
Alpine APL Pipers secured the top position in the Global Chess League after defeating PBG Alaskan Knights. However, Ganges Grandmasters and FYERS American Gambits are close contenders. Ganges Grandmasters also had a strong win against the Pipers, while CheQ Mumba Masters kept their final hopes alive with a decisive victory over Triveni Continental Kings, featuring wins from top players like Magnus Carlsen and Levon Aronian.
Defending champions Alpine APL Pipers, led by World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and Indian Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi, defeated FYERS American Gambits 9-7 in a critical Global Chess League match. Carlsen ended Javokhir Sindarov's winning streak, while Gujrathi secured a marathon victory, propelling Pipers closer to a final berth.
'...his victory in securing the champion's title is a fitting recognition of his extraordinary talent and unwavering perseverance.'
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy congratulated Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa for becoming the first Indian to win the Grand Chess Tour title. Praggnanandhaa achieved this historic victory by defeating Fabiano Caruana in the grand finale in St Louis, USA, inspiring many across the nation.
India's 19-year-old Grandmaster Pranesh M clinched the Group A title at the prestigious Kanizsa Open 2026, defeating Germany's Vadim Petrovskiy in the final round.
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has secured his spot in the finals of the Grand Chess Tour's last leg, defeating Germany's Vincent Keymer 19-9. He is set to compete against defending champion Fabiano Caruana of the USA for the title.
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has taken a commanding 9-3 lead over Germany's Vincent Keymer, putting him just six points away from qualifying for the finals of the prestigious US$450,000 Grand Chess Tour concluding event.
FYERS American Gambits defeated Triveni Continental Kings to retain their top position in the Global Chess League standings, ahead of Alpine APL Pipers. Other matches saw Ganges Grandmasters secure a dominant win over Continental Kings, while Mumba Masters suffered two defeats, including a loss to PBG Alaskan Knights. The Gambits, Pipers, and Grandmasters have all won four matches, with Gambits having played one more round.
The second round of the Asian Junior Open and Girls Classical Chess Championships in Mumbai saw significant upsets, with Guru Prakash defeating Asian Junior Rapid champion FM Vivaan Vishal Shah. Several other higher-rated players were also challenged or defeated, while top seeds maintained their winning streaks.
World Cup-winning Spanish footballer Gerard Pique has become a strategic shareholder in the Global Chess League franchise American Gambits. Pique, known for his illustrious football career, expressed his long-standing fascination with chess and his ambition to elevate the sport's global appeal. The fourth edition of the Global Chess League, featuring top grandmasters, is scheduled for September 3-13.
India's Madhavendra Pratap Sharma and Kazakhstan's Akhilbay Imangali are leading the rapid event of the Asian Junior Chess Championship in Mumbai, both with a perfect score of 4 points after four rounds. While the open section sees clear leaders, the girls' rapid championship is a much closer contest with six players sharing the lead, all unbeaten. With three rounds remaining, the competition for titles and podium finishes remains intense in both categories.
The Global Chess League's halfway stage saw significant upsets and dramatic finishes, with Triveni Continental Kings defeating table-toppers Alpine APL Pipers. Ganges Grandmasters secured a crucial win against PBG Alaskan Knights due to a last-second time violation, while CheQ Mumba Masters maintained their strong performance. These results have intensified the competition for the top two positions.
In the Global Chess League, Ganges Grandmasters ended FYER American Gambits' winning streak with a 9-7 victory, moving to second place. Defending champions Alpine APL Pipers secured their second consecutive win, defeating Ganges Grandmasters 11-6. Key players like Polina Shuvalova, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Vidit Gujrathi, and Koneru Humpy delivered crucial performances, while Magnus Carlsen showcased his endgame prowess with a draw against Nepomniachtchi. PBG Alaskan Knights also registered a comfortable win against CheQ Mumba Masters.
The Global Chess League commenced with defending champions Alpine APL Pipers securing a 10-8 victory over Mumba Masters, spearheaded by Magnus Carlsen.
Indian chess Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa, who turned 21, has already amassed a remarkable list of achievements, including becoming a Grandmaster at 12, reaching a career-high world ranking of No. 4, and recently winning the Grand Chess Tour St Louis Rapid and Blitz title.
India's Vivaan Vishal and Turkmenistan's Shohradova Lala won the Open and Girls sections, respectively, at the Asian Junior Rapid Chess Championship in Mumbai. Vivaan secured his title with a strong finish, while Shohradova claimed victory after a tie-break against India's Pratitee Bordoloi. The event now moves to the Classical Championship.
