Mumbai-based FIDE trainer and arbiter Praful Jhaveri has been appointed as the coach and team captain for the St Kitts and Nevis Chess Federation for the upcoming 46th Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan. His appointment followed a recommendation from IM Abhilash Kelkar.
The Indian Under-11 girls' chess team, featuring Varenya Lakshmi Vaka, Aligiri Amrutha Hemal, and Maya Siddharth Narula, secured a bronze medal at the ASEAN Chess Championship in Singapore, finishing with 14.5 points.
India is sending a strong contingent, including world champion D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, and R Vaishali, to the FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand from September 16 to 27.
'Being the defending champions certainly gives us confidence, but every Olympiad is a new event and starts from scratch.'
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.
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.
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.
From supporting young talents financially to earning global recognition, Indian chess is making its presence felt like never before.
Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin believes team chemistry will be vital for Fyers American Gambits' success in the upcoming Global Chess League. The tournament, featuring elite players and a unique team format, will also serve as preparation for the Chess Olympiad. Sarin highlights the challenge and excitement of integrating diverse playing styles into a cohesive unit.
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.
FIDE's decision to shortlist the All India Chess Federation for a prestigious FIDE Excellence Award has ignited a fierce debate within the Indian chess community.
'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.'
Former World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand has been appointed Interim President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) after incumbent Arkady Dvorkovich voluntarily stepped aside due to his inclusion in the European Union's sanctions list.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Indian men's and women's chess teams won silver medals at the Asian Games in Hangzhou on Saturday.
'We have to change our mindset to grow. We've got to think about our lacunas, our shortcomings and we have to work on that all the time. In three years' time we will not need any government funding.'
The Sports Ministry is set to commence the nomination process for the National Sports Awards next month, following a delayed announcement of the 2025 awards. The delay was due to a re-evaluation process aimed at preserving the integrity of the honours, which resulted in no Khel Ratna awardee for 2025 and fewer Arjuna awardees than recommended. The article also details the criteria for these prestigious awards and highlights some of the notable Arjuna awardees for 2025.
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.
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.
Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa faces a tough challenge at the Candidates Tournament, where he will compete against top players for the chance to challenge for the World Championship title.
The likes of Arjun Erigaisi on the top board will be assisted by P Harikrishna on the second board.
During the felicitation ceremony honoring the gold-medal winning teams, she heard Hanvika's voice calling out from the audience. Harika stepped off the stage, hugged her daughter, and carried her to the back of the hall.
R. Vaishali, the newly-crowned Candidates champion, exemplifies quiet intensity and strong values, nurtured by a supportive family, as she prepares for the World Championship showdown against Ju Wenjun.
Inspired by the iconic trophy lift of cricket captain Rohit Sharma during the 2024 T20I World Cup in June, the chess players replicated the gesture.
Grandmaster Krishnan Sasikiran has offered advice to World Champion D Gukesh ahead of his title defence against Javokhir Sindarov. Sasikiran highlights Gukesh's tendency for time trouble due to complex play and suggests improving technique, speed, and defensive accuracy. He also advises Gukesh to identify and exploit opponent weaknesses, while acknowledging Sindarov's strong preparation and reliance on memory and speed.
Hungary will officially host the 45th edition of the Olympiad for the first time, having hosted the second unofficial Chess Olympiad in 1926.
India hosts the event from a position of unprecedented strength with a string of titles under its belt.
Teen prodigy Divya Deshmukh stunned seasoned grandmaster Koneru Humpy in a tense tiebreak to win the 2025 FIDE Women's World Cup in Batumi, Georgia, rewriting Indian chess history at just 19.
Indian Grandmaster R Vaishali remains in contention at the Women's Candidates Chess tournament after drawing with Zhongyi Tan, while Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan won the open section. Key final round matchups are set to determine the final standings.
The FIDE World Cup for chess will be held between October 30 and November 27, 2025.
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.
The sight of the Tricolour fluttering in the stands sharpens the resolve of the players. It feels as though the flag has been stitched out of the hopes and heartbeat of Indian fans.
'I have no idea about such a medal. Never got one,' says Surya Shekhar Ganguly, the national chess champion between 2003 and 2008.
Harmanpreet Singh, Smriti Mandhana, Divya Deshmukh among five Indian stars nominated for BBC awards
The All India Chess Federation announced a whopping Rs 3.2 crore in rewards for the historic 45th Olympiad-winning Indian teams during a felicitation ceremony in New Delhi on Wednesday.
