While about 8,000 people are in the long list of invitees, the select list features 506 A-listers, including prominent politicians, leading industrialists, top film stars, sportspersons, diplomats, judges and high priests.
Viswanathan Anand trumped former World champion Garry Kasparov in the much-awaited contest of the Croatia Grand Chess Tour in Zagreb on Saturday.
Gukesh aims to keep improving after becoming India No 1 without sponsorship support
Young Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh finished fifth while his illustrious compatriot Viswanathan Anand could only manage a tied seventh place in the third leg of the 2023 SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz chess tournament.
The 44th edition of the prestigious event will witness a record 188 teams in the Open section and 162 in the women's side.
With the top spot assured in the pool with a round to go, India was held to a 3-3 draw by a fighting Slovenia.
On his part, Chauhan sought to emphasise how the AICF was the first federation to come out in support of Anand's candidature as the deputy president.
Anand got off to a good start and won the first game of the best-of-four contest. The next two games were drawn before Leko levelled by winning the fourth.
The Global Chess League has hit a significant milestone on its fifth day. With half of the matches already in the books, the competition now embarks on the crucial second phase of the round-robin tournament.
Viswanathan Anand on Saturday described 17-year-old Grandmaster D Gukesh overtaking him as the highest-rated Indian player in FIDE rankings as a "historic" achievement.
India was held to a 3-3 draw by lower-ranked Mongolia in the sixth round as favourites China grabbed the top spot in Pool A in the FIDE Online Chess Olympiad on Saturday.
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa advanced to the Chess World Cup final after outclassing Fabiano Caruana in the semi-finals in Baku.
Former World champion Viswanathan Anand scored an impressive fifth-round win over Anton Korobov of Ukraine to rise to second position in the rapid competition of the Croatia Grand Chess Tour tournament, in Zagreb, on Thursday.
Russian Nepomniachtchi inflicts sixth defeat on Indian
From a life built on challenges and studded with victories, India's beloved chess champion, Vishwanathan Anand plucks out a few important lessons.
The tournament is part of the Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour. The winner of this event will qualify for the $US300,000 Grand Final scheduled from August 9 to 20.
'Compared to three or four years back, I have cut down on my time as an active chess player. I have long aspired to come into the chess administration and this opportunity as the deputy president will be a huge learning curve for me'.
Anand decided not to participate this time but he will be guiding the Indian team at the showpiece event to be held from July 28 to August 10.
In the blitz event played prior to the Classical, Anand had shocked world champion Carlsen in round seven on the way to a fourth-place finish.
Going into the match against the Chinese after ending his six-match losing streak, Anand surrendered the first game in just 22 moves late on Tuesday.
The Chennai-based Anand, who is making his maiden appearance at the Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour, settled for a 82-move draw in the opening game of the best-of-four contest.
The Chennai-based Anand is making his maiden appearance on the Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour.
The second game of the Chess World Cup final between Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and Magnus Carlsen ended in a draw after 30 moves.
Playing white, Ganges Grandmasters defeated Balan Alaskan Knights 11-6 in a battle between the two leaders on the scoreboard.
Kamath defeated Anand in a COVID-19 relief charity match. However, reports claimed Kamath manipulated the game to register a win. The AICF secretary termed it as a "bad" move by Kamath and said it shouldn't have happened.
All India Chess Federation (AICF) president Sanjay Kapoor said the federation is also working on organising an Indian Chess League.
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa went down to World No 1 Magnus Carlsen in the FIDE Chess World Cup final, in Baku, on Thursday.
Legendary Indian chess player Viswanathan Anand has joined hands with WestBridge Capital to launch an academy, through which the five-time world champion will train youngsters.
"So... no more chances of going there!" Carlsen replied when he was informed of the result.
India's chess great Viswanathan Anand celebrated International Chess Day on Saturday, with a friendly chess game against his son Akhil.
India were handed hosting rights in April when FIDE decided to shift the event outside the original host country, Russia.
Viswanathan Anand was to return to Chennai on Monday after competing in the Bundesliga Chess League but had to stay back near Frankfurt given the travel restrictions, his wife Aruna said. Anand, who is set to don the commentator's hat for the FIDE Candidates tournament that begins in Yekaterinburg, Russia to spot the challenger to world champion Magnus Carlsen, will handle the role from his present location.
A title match requires months of preparation and pulling out of other events, putting together a team of seconds, etc. Carlsen just says he lacks the motivation to do this again.
The 50-year-old ended in ninth position ahead of GM Peter Leko who finished last.
India's chess maestro Viswanathan Anand along with Koneru Humpy, Dronavalli Harika, Nihal Sarin and Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa will be offering simultaneous exhibitions on Chess.com to support COVID-19 relief in India on Thursday.
Playing as a wildcard in the tournament, the Indian ace had on Thursday defeated Radoslaw Wojtaszek of Poland in the first round, before getting the better of American Wesley So and Anton Korobov (Ukraine).
Chess wizard Viswanathan Anand's mother Sushila Viswanathan passed away in her sleep in Chennai.
Viswanathan Anand drew his sixth round contest against Anish Giri of the Netherlands in the Classical section to slip to second place in the Norway Chess tournament in Stavanger.
Praggnanandhaa said just talking to the Indian chess wizard (Anand) boosts his confidence.
Viswanathan Anand was in Germany to play in the Bundesliga chess and before he could return, the travel restrictions came calling in wake of the pandemic.
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