News for 'chess'

Indian Grandmaster Iniyan Pa Storms To Victory At La Plagne Open Chess

Indian Grandmaster Iniyan Pa Storms To Victory At La Plagne Open Chess

Rediff.com11 Jul 2026

Indian Grandmaster Iniyan Pa has won the 6th La Plagne Open International Chess Tournament with an unbeaten performance.

Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi On India's Unmatched Chess Dominance

Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi On India's Unmatched Chess Dominance

Rediff.com21 Jun 2026

Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi, India's first female International Master and Women's Grandmaster, asserts that India is the strongest chess-playing nation globally and will only grow stronger. She highlights Chennai's pivotal role in this revolution, crediting pioneers like Manuel Aaron and Vishwanathan Anand, and expresses confidence in the next generation, including Gukesh and Vaishali. Vijayalakshmi also reflects on her own career, a near-miss men's GM title, and her plans for a comeback after a personal tragedy.

Chess Legend Viswanathan Anand Receives Prestigious SJFI Medal

Chess Legend Viswanathan Anand Receives Prestigious SJFI Medal

Rediff.com24 Jun 2026

Five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand was awarded the Sports Journalists' Federation of India (SJFI) medal, joining a distinguished list of Indian sports legends. Anand expressed pride in being a catalyst for chess growth in India.

Chess Legend Viswanathan Anand Receives Prestigious SJFI Medal

Chess Legend Viswanathan Anand Receives Prestigious SJFI Medal

Rediff.com24 Jun 2026

Five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand was awarded the Sports Journalists' Federation of India (SJFI) medal, joining a distinguished list of Indian sports legends. Anand expressed pride in being a catalyst for chess growth in India, receiving the honour from former India cricket captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth.

Gukesh And Praggnanandhaa To Compete In Grand Chess Tour's Zagreb Event

Gukesh And Praggnanandhaa To Compete In Grand Chess Tour's Zagreb Event

Rediff.com30 Jun 2026

World champion D Gukesh and Indian star R Praggnanandhaa are set to compete in the Zagreb Rapid and Blitz Tournament, part of the prestigious Grand Chess Tour. Despite Gukesh's sabbatical from classical chess, he joins a strong field including recent Norway Chess winner Praggnanandhaa, promising an exciting week of high-stakes chess.

Gupta Secures Top Spot At Pune Grandmaster Chess Event

Gupta Secures Top Spot At Pune Grandmaster Chess Event

Rediff.com3 Jul 2026

Indian Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta has taken the sole lead in the Pune International Grandmaster Round Robin Chess tournament after drawing his fourth-round match. He is followed by Advik Agarwal and Vaidyanathan Kannan, with Kannan losing his joint lead.

Abhijeet Gupta Leads Pune Grandmaster Chess Tournament Ahead Of Final Round

Abhijeet Gupta Leads Pune Grandmaster Chess Tournament Ahead Of Final Round

Rediff.com7 Jul 2026

Top-seed Indian Abhijeet Gupta secured a crucial victory in the eighth round of the Pune International Grandmaster Round Robin Chess Tournament, maintaining his lead. Fellow Indian International Masters Aswath S and Kushagra Mohan also won, positioning themselves strongly for the title in the final round, with Aswath eyeing a Grandmaster title and Kushagra a Grandmaster norm.

Grand Chess Tour: Praggnaandhaa ends rapid section as joint-leader

Grand Chess Tour: Praggnaandhaa ends rapid section as joint-leader

Rediff.com4 Jul 2026

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa won three matches in a row on the final day to tie for the first place with Firouzja Alireza of France on 12 points as the rapid section of the Croatian leg of the Grand Chess Tour ended in Zagreb, Croatia on Friday.

Magnus Carlsen Returns, Divya Deshmukh Set For Global Chess League Debut

Magnus Carlsen Returns, Divya Deshmukh Set For Global Chess League Debut

Rediff.com27 Jun 2026

The fourth season of the Global Chess League will feature Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen's return and Indian FIDE Women's World Cup champion Divya Deshmukh's debut.

Global Chess League Season 4 Set For Bengaluru Showdown

Global Chess League Season 4 Set For Bengaluru Showdown

Rediff.com12 Jun 2026

The Global Chess League (GCL) announced that its fourth season will take place in Bengaluru starting September 3. The league, a joint initiative of Tech Mahindra and FIDE, features a unique team-based format with mixed-gender lineups and rapid-fire matches, aiming to transform chess into a global spectator sport.

15-Year-Old Delhi Teen Stuns World No 1 Magnus Carlsen

15-Year-Old Delhi Teen Stuns World No 1 Magnus Carlsen

Rediff.com6 days ago

Fifteen-year-old Delhi chess prodigy Vandan Alankar Sawai stuns World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in an online blitz tournament.

Top Seeds Face Early Challenges At Asian Junior Classical Chess

Top Seeds Face Early Challenges At Asian Junior Classical Chess

Rediff.com6 days ago

The Asian Junior Classical Championship in Mumbai saw top seed Mayank Chakraborty win his opening match, while other leading contenders Vignesh Advaith Vemula and Akhilbay Imangali were held to draws. The girls' section witnessed several upsets, with lower-rated players securing draws or victories against higher-rated opponents. The tournament features a strong field of 85 players from nine federations, including International Masters and FIDE Masters.

Top Seeds Face Early Challenges At Asian Junior Classical Chess

Top Seeds Face Early Challenges At Asian Junior Classical Chess

Rediff.com6 days ago

The Asian Junior Classical Championship in Mumbai saw top seed Mayank Chakraborty win his opening match, while other leading contenders Vignesh Advaith Vemula and Akhilbay Imangali were held to draws. The girls' section witnessed several upsets, with lower-rated players securing draws or victories against higher-rated opponents. The tournament features a strong field of 85 players from nine federations, including International Masters and FIDE Masters.

Nihal Sarin has a strong message for struggling Gukesh

Nihal Sarin has a strong message for struggling Gukesh

Rediff.com17 Aug 2026

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.

Indian Grandmaster Pranesh M Claims Kanizsa Open Crown

Indian Grandmaster Pranesh M Claims Kanizsa Open Crown

Rediff.com3 days ago

Indian Grandmaster Pranesh M secured a significant victory at the Kanizsa Open in Hungary, defeating Germany's Vadim Petrovskiy in the final round. The 19-year-old, currently ranked 44th globally, finished with seven points, earning congratulations from the Indian Embassy for his performance on the international chess stage.

Praggnanandhaa lets Keymer escape in grand finale opener

Praggnanandhaa lets Keymer escape in grand finale opener

Rediff.com3 days ago

Praggnanandhaa squandered a winning advantage against Vincent Keymer in the Grand Chess Tour opener, allowing the resilient German to survive and secure a hard-fought draw.

Vidit Reveals what Gukesh must fix before title defence

Vidit Reveals what Gukesh must fix before title defence

Rediff.com6 days ago

Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi discusses D Gukesh's mental strength challenge for his World Championship defence against Javokhir Sindarov, highlighting Gukesh's recent inconsistent form. Vidit also assesses India's strong prospects for the upcoming Chess Olympiad, praising the form of players like Praggnanandhaa, Erigaisi, and Sarin, while cautioning against overconfidence. He also reflects on his Arjuna Award and the need for better organisation in chess formats.

Shreyansh Somaiya Dominates Mumbai Chess Masters

Shreyansh Somaiya Dominates Mumbai Chess Masters

Rediff.com27 May 2026

Shreyansh Somaiya, the top seed, continued his winning streak at the Mumbai FIDE Rated All India Chess Masters, defeating Nikhil Joshi. Other notable victories and draws marked the event.

Praggnanandhaa holds Gukesh; joint second after opening day of Grand Chess Tour Croatia

Praggnanandhaa holds Gukesh; joint second after opening day of Grand Chess Tour Croatia

Rediff.com2 Jul 2026

Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa began his campaign in the Zagreb leg of the Grand Chess Tour with a victory over top seed Vincent Keymer of Germany before drawing his next two games.

PM Modi Hails Praggnanandhaa's Landmark Norway Chess Win

PM Modi Hails Praggnanandhaa's Landmark Norway Chess Win

Rediff.com6 Jun 2026

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has made history by becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious Norway Chess tournament, a feat that included defeating world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen twice. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated him on this significant achievement.

CM Vijay Honours Praggnanandhaa, Gets Checkmated In Friendly Chess Match

CM Vijay Honours Praggnanandhaa, Gets Checkmated In Friendly Chess Match

Rediff.com8 Jun 2026

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay honoured Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa with a Rs 50 lakh incentive after his historic Norway Chess title win. The Chief Minister also played a friendly game of chess with the 20-year-old Grandmaster, where he was checkmated by the young prodigy.

Abhijeet Gupta Maintains Lead, Aswath S Delivers Major Upset At Pune Chess Tournament

Abhijeet Gupta Maintains Lead, Aswath S Delivers Major Upset At Pune Chess Tournament

Rediff.com4 Jul 2026

Top seed Abhijeet Gupta has maintained his lead in the Pune International Grandmaster Round Robin chess tournament after securing his fourth win. International Master Aswath S caused a significant upset by defeating Belarus Grandmaster Fedorov Alexei, moving into second place. All five games in the fifth round produced decisive results.

'75-25': Nakamura makes shock call on Gukesh's title defence

'75-25': Nakamura makes shock call on Gukesh's title defence

Rediff.com13 Aug 2026

World champion D Gukesh is 'crumbling under the weight of expectations' and needs to 'shut out the noise' to regain his form ahead of his title defence, said American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura. Nakamura also revealed that the 2028 Chess Olympiad could potentially be his last tournament featuring 'true classical' chess.

Soham Kamotra Ends Iniyan Pa's Dominance At Global Chess League

Soham Kamotra Ends Iniyan Pa's Dominance At Global Chess League

Rediff.com16 Jun 2026

IM Soham Kamotra secured a crucial draw against GM Iniyan Pa, ending his winning run in the Global Chess League. While Iniyan maintains a narrow lead, other Indian players like Abhijit Gupta, Viresh Sharnarthi, and Madhvendra Pratap Sharma also delivered significant performances.

Can Gukesh Bounce Back At Norway Chess?

Can Gukesh Bounce Back At Norway Chess?

Rediff.com29 May 2026

D Gukesh aims to recover at Norway Chess after a difficult start, while R Praggnanandhaa enjoys a strong position. Gukesh's performance against Praggnanandhaa in round five will be crucial for his title aspirations.

Sinquefield Cup: Praggnanandhaa's latest draw keeps him in title hunt

Sinquefield Cup: Praggnanandhaa's latest draw keeps him in title hunt

Rediff.com17 Aug 2026

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa secured another draw against GM Levon Aronian of the United States in the sixth round of the Sinquefield Cup, keeping him in joint second place with 3.5 points.

Tamil Nadu CM Felicitates Praggnanandhaa For Historic Norway Chess Title Win

Tamil Nadu CM Felicitates Praggnanandhaa For Historic Norway Chess Title Win

Rediff.com8 Jun 2026

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay honoured Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa with a Rs 50 lakh cash incentive for winning the Norway Chess title, making him the first Indian to achieve this feat. The Chief Minister also played a game of chess with the young Grandmaster.

Can Gukesh Bounce Back At Norway Chess?

Can Gukesh Bounce Back At Norway Chess?

Rediff.com29 May 2026

D Gukesh aims to rebound at Norway Chess after a challenging start, while R Praggnanandhaa enjoys a strong position. Gukesh's performance against Praggnanandhaa in round five will be crucial in determining his title contention.

Norway Chess: Why beating Carlsen meant so much to Praggnanandhaa

Norway Chess: Why beating Carlsen meant so much to Praggnanandhaa

Rediff.com6 Jun 2026

R Praggnanandhaa described his Norway Chess triumph as the biggest achievement of his career, emphasising that defeating some of the world's strongest players - including the great Magnus Carlsen - made the title particularly memorable.

Gukesh Faces Elite Field At Norway Chess

Gukesh Faces Elite Field At Norway Chess

Rediff.com24 May 2026

World champion D Gukesh is set to compete in the prestigious Norway Chess tournament, facing a strong field including Magnus Carlsen and R Praggnanandhaa. The event, held in Oslo, features top players in both Open and Women's sections, with India having four representatives.

Praggnanandhaa scripts history, becomes first Indian to win Norway Chess title

Praggnanandhaa scripts history, becomes first Indian to win Norway Chess title

Rediff.com6 Jun 2026

Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has made history by becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious Norway Chess title.

Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Plays Chess With Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa, Gets Checkmated

Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Plays Chess With Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa, Gets Checkmated

Rediff.com8 Jun 2026

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay honoured Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa with a Rs 50 lakh cash incentive and played a friendly game of chess with him at the Secretariat, where the young prodigy checkmated the CM. Praggnanandhaa recently made history by becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious Norway Chess title.

AG.AL Dominates Esports World Cup 2026 To Claim Club Championship

AG.AL Dominates Esports World Cup 2026 To Claim Club Championship

Rediff.com2 days ago

AG.AL has been crowned the Esports World Cup 2026 Club Champion, winning a USD 7 million prize from a record-breaking USD 75 million total pool. Their victory was secured after a dramatic win in Trackmania, capping a seven-week competition.

Norway Chess: Praggnanandhaa Stuns Carlsen; Gukesh Loses To Firouzja

Norway Chess: Praggnanandhaa Stuns Carlsen; Gukesh Loses To Firouzja

Rediff.com28 May 2026

R Praggnanandhaa defeated Magnus Carlsen in the Norway Chess tournament, while D Gukesh faced another setback, losing to Alireza Firouzja.

Magnus Carlsen Grapples With Ageing And Chess Challenges

Magnus Carlsen Grapples With Ageing And Chess Challenges

Rediff.com31 May 2026

Magnus Carlsen reflects on the challenges of ageing and memory as he struggles at the Norway Chess tournament, revealing his reliance on coffee and longing for a distraction with the Champions League final.

Iniyan Pa Dominates Global Chess Festival, Claims Masters Crown

Iniyan Pa Dominates Global Chess Festival, Claims Masters Crown

Rediff.com19 Jun 2026

Indian Grandmaster Iniyan Pa has won the Masters category of the Global Chess Festival, dominating the tournament from start to finish. The 24-year-old national champion secured the title in his debut appearance, earning a prize purse of Rs 8 lakh. Nithin Babu and Madhvendra Pratap Sharma also triumphed in the Challenger and Junior Master categories, respectively, qualifying for next year's Masters event.

Why Gukesh Is Favoured To Retain World Chess Title

Why Gukesh Is Favoured To Retain World Chess Title

Rediff.com2 Jun 2026

Anemone Kulczak, the chief arbiter at Norway Chess, believes reigning world champion D Gukesh remains the clear favourite to defend his crown later this year.

Indian Contingent Struggles At Norway Chess Tournament

Indian Contingent Struggles At Norway Chess Tournament

Rediff.com1 Jun 2026

The Indian contingent at the Norway Chess tournament faced a difficult day as all four players, including world champion D Gukesh, suffered defeats in Round 6. Magnus Carlsen gained momentum, while Wesley So took the lead.

Janhavi Soneji Clinches Mumbai Chess Masters Title

Janhavi Soneji Clinches Mumbai Chess Masters Title

Rediff.com29 May 2026

Janhavi Soneji emerged as the winner of the Mumbai FIDE Rated All India Chess Masters' season four after a draw against AGM Rajveer Pinkesh Nahar.

No Khel Ratna for 2025; Tejaswin, Divya and Gayatri Gopichand among Arjuna awardees

No Khel Ratna for 2025; Tejaswin, Divya and Gayatri Gopichand among Arjuna awardees

Rediff.com18 Aug 2026

Seventeen Indian sportspersons, including World Cup winning chess player Divya Deshmukh, decathlete Tejaswin Shankar, and shuttler Gayatri Gopichand, have been named for the prestigious Arjuna Award for 2025.