The 22nd Delhi International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament, scheduled for January 2027, will feature a record-breaking prize pool of Rs 1.32 crore, making it the open tournament with the highest prize money globally. The event will have three categories, attracting FIDE-rated players, Grandmasters, and amateurs alike, with over 3,000 participants expected. This tournament has historically been crucial for developing Indian chess talent, including stars like D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa, and aims to establish New Delhi as a global chess hub.
The All India Chess Federation (AICF) has disbursed Rs 42.3 lakh in quarterly stipends to 42 promising young chess players across India. This first-of-its-kind initiative aims to alleviate financial burdens, support coaching and travel, and nurture future champions, aligning with a vision to strengthen grassroots chess development.
As India's remarkable chess revolution gathers momentum, teenagers Rishabh Kumar and Adhiraj Mitra are ensuring that the country's future on the 64 squares remains brighter than ever.
From supporting young talents financially to earning global recognition, Indian chess is making its presence felt like never before.
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.
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.
Tamil Nadu has been been churning out top-tier chess for decades at an unrivaled rate. Out of the 85 Grand Masters in India, 31 are from the southern state.
The All India Chess Federation did not utilise Rs 3.12 crore out of the central government's allocation of Rs 5.2 crore during FY25.
Top seed Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta secured a decisive victory against Aleksej Alexandrov in the sixth round of the Pune International Grandmaster Round Robin Chess Tournament, maintaining his sole lead. Indian International Masters Aswath S and Kushagra Mohan are in second and third positions, respectively, with three rounds remaining.
Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta and USA's Vaidyanathan Kannan have emerged as joint leaders in the Pune International Grandmaster Round Robin Chess Tournament after securing their second consecutive wins. Kannan, a 13-year-old, defeated GM Aleksey Fedorov, while Gupta overcame Ashwath S. India's Kushagra Mohan also caused an upset by beating GM Aleksey Alexandrov.
The opening round of the Rs 35 lakh 360 One Masters Chess tournament saw several upsets, with higher-rated players, including second and third seeds, suffering defeats. While top seed GM Iniyan Pa secured a win, many Grandmasters faced unexpected challenges from lower-rated opponents and rising stars.
The opening round of the Rs 35 lakh 360 One Masters Chess tournament saw several upsets, with higher-rated players, including second and third seeds, suffering defeats. While top seed GM Iniyan Pa secured a win, many Grandmasters faced unexpected challenges from lower-rated opponents and rising stars.
Former world blitz and rapid champion Anna Muzychuk discusses the upcoming World Chess Championships, highlighting the importance of psychological momentum and pressure handling for Indian players D Gukesh and R Vaishali.
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.
Indian-origin chess prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan, 11, has become England's top-rated female player, surpassing established champions and breaking into the world's top 100.
Delhi's Aarit Kapil, a 10-year-old chess player, has become the youngest Indian to achieve an International Master norm after a strong performance at a tournament in Spain.
'It will bring the next wave of awareness and pursuit of excellence from people who want to take chess as a game or a competitive sport or even as a career.'
Nagalakshmi, mother of Indian Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, shares insights into her son's success following his Norway Chess 2026 triumph, emphasising hard work and enjoying the process. She also discusses the siblings' journey into chess, their mutual support, and the significant influence of Viswanathan Anand.
D Gukesh's prolonged form slump might be a talking point in the chess world right now but his World Championship challenger Javokhir Sindarov sees no obvious weakness in the Indian's game.
At just 11 years old, Bodhana Sivanandan has become Great Britain's No 1 Women's Chess player dethroning four-time British Women's Champion Lan Yao.
India has a bright future in chess as we have many players in top 10 rankings: Humpy
An online chess platform has partnered with a sports promotion foundation to launch the Indian Chess League and strengthen the sport's ecosystem in the country with a slew of initiatives, including identifying and nurturing the underprivileged young talents.
Humpy excited about young Indian chess brigade, says 'can be worthy successor to Anand'
Who were the mothers who shaped Mahatma Gandhi, Sachin Tendulkar, Narendra Modi and other well-known Indians?
The International Mind Sports Association (IMSA) has invited bids from India and other countries to host the next edition of the World Mind Games, scheduled for later this year or early 2027, capitalising on the growing popularity of chess and other mind sports in India.
A Karnataka-based activist's threat to file a 'child labour' complaint against the Rajasthan Royals for fielding 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the IPL has ignited a debate on nurturing young talent versus perceived exploitation, drawing widespread disbelief and criticism.
An analysis of the disparities in India's sporting culture, highlighting the challenges faced by non-cricket athletes and the systemic changes needed for India to become a true sporting superpower.
British chess prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan has etched her name in the record books, becoming the youngest female player ever to defeat a grandmaster.
Indian Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi was held to a draw by 12-year-old Argentine sensation Oro Faustino in the first game of the second round of the FIDE World Cup in Panjim on Tuesday.
Former women's World champion Susan Polgar believes Indian chess is riding a wave of success and predicted a bright future for the sport in the country.
India's R Vaishali wins the FIDE Women's Candidates 2026 in Cyprus, earning the right to challenge world champion Ju Wenjun and drawing praise for her historic achievement.
Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan leads the Candidates chess tournament after defeating Fabiano Caruana, while R Praggnanandhaa drew his game against Matthias Bluebaum. In the women's event, Anna Muzychuk joined Bibisara Assaubayeva in the lead.
'It is not just D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Gujrathi.' 'There are another 20 players just behind them. Nobody imagined this was possible 5 years ago.'
The image of a smiling D Gukesh standing with outstretched hands will forever be embossed in the memory of a nation of billions.
Divya Deshmukh not only became the first Indian woman to win the FIDE Women's World Cup, she also instantly secured the prestigious Grandmaster title.
World Junior champion Pranav Venkatesh scored a crushing victory over Grandmaster Alan Pichot of Spain to win the Fujairah Global Superstars chess tournament.
Vantika Agrawal humbled former World champion Anna Ushenina in the second round of FIDE Women's World Chess Cup in Batumi, Georgia, on Wednesday.
Abundantly talented but more significantly, incredibly cool in crunch situations, that's how India's 88th Grandmaster and World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh was described by her formative coach Srinath Narayanan, who feels the 19-year-old chess wizard's composure is comparable only to cricket great Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Anand's post affectionately dubbed Gukesh as the 'boy who would be king'
Nine-year-old Delhi boy Aarit Kapil has become the youngest Indian to beat a chess Grandmaster.
