Vaishali and coach RB Ramesh carrying Pranesh M on his back (Photo by Michal Walusza and Chennai Grand Masters) New Delhi: The Chennai Masters is an elite-level annual closed tournament held every year in what is widely considered the chess capital of India. It is divided into two parts: Masters Tournament and Challenge Tournament, where … Read more
Vincent Keymer and Javokhir Sindarov (photo by Freestyle Chess and Niki Riga) New Delhi: There is a new apex predator in the world of chess and his name is Javokil Zindarov.The 20-year-old Uzbek grandmaster (GM) used stunning tactical aggression to win the 2026 FIDE Candidates Championship on Tuesday, ensuring his right to challenge India’s D … Read more
Javokhir Sindarov vs. Anish Giri (Photo: Niki Riga/FIDE) NEW DELHI: Javokhir Sindarov produced a flawless performance to win the 2026 FIDE Candidates Championship on Tuesday, sealing the crown with a one-round stoppage and setting up a blockbuster world championship clash with D Gukesh later this year.The Uzbek grandmaster remained undefeated at the event at Cape … Read more
India’s Vaishali Rameshbabu plays against China’s Tan Zhongyi (photo by Yoav Nis) New Delhi: If you were to poll the global chess community to choose the likely winner of the 2026 FIDE Candidates, the answer would be nearly unanimous: Javokhir Sindarov. The Uzbekistan star’s ruthless efficiency, evidenced by a staggering 6/7 score, shows that his … Read more
Nodirbek Yakubboev gives the ‘Namaste’ gesture to India’s Harika Dronavali (Photo: ChessBase India) NEW DELHI: A lighthearted and heartwarming moment at the Glencoe Freestyle Open went viral when grandmaster (general manager) Harika Dronavali reached out to resign, but Uzbek general manager Nodirbek Yakubboev responded with a polite “Namaste”. It was a memorable and respectful exchange … Read more
Divya Deshmukh vs Julkinl (Photo: Michal Walusza) New Delhi: The fourth wheel has always been considered a psychological hurdle. Wednesday was the final push before the first scheduled rest day at the Cape St. George Hotel and Resort in Cyprus as the 2026 Candidates Tournament opens up a new level of competition. However, the Indian … Read more
Nihal Sarin and Anish Giri (Photos by Michal Walusza, Lennart Ootes and FIDE) New Delhi: When the 2026 Chess Candidates Tournament comes to Cyprus, the name Anish Giri remains synonymous with a strange and frustrating memory from the past. 14 draws in 14 games. A legendary performance in the 2016 Candidates’ Tournament earned the current … Read more
A visual representation of Pravin Thipsay’s experience (AI-generated photos) New Delhi: Cyprus, an island nation in the eastern Mediterranean, will host the open and women’s divisions of the 2026 Candidates Championship starting on March 28 and will be home to some of the best classical chess competitions over the next two weeks. As the only … Read more
Anna Muzychuk (Image credit: X) New Delhi: Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk has replaced Koneru Humpy in the upcoming Candidates Championship in Cyprus after the Indian grandmaster withdrew citing security concerns due to the host country’s proximity to the ongoing West Asian conflict. The event, which is due to start in Paphos on Saturday, will decide the … Read more
D Gukesh and Vladimir Kramnik (Image: Agency) World chess champion Gukesh strongly opposes cheating accusations circulating in the chess community, especially those by former world champion Vladimir Kramnik. Ahead of the Prague Chess Festival, the 19-year-old made it clear that while he was completely opposed to cheating, he did not agree with accusations being made … Read more