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Kumar Gaurav triumphs at South Point School Guwahati Rating Open 2023

07/01/2024 -

Kumar Gaurav scored an unbeaten 8/9 to win South Point School Guwahati Rating Open 2023. He finished a half point ahead of the competition. Four players - Arpan Das, Y Dhanabir Singh, Soram Rahul Singh and Oinam Ningthem scored 7.5/9 each. They were placed second to fifth respectively. Only Kumar and Dhanabir remained undefeated among top ten. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹500000. The top three prizes were ₹50000, ₹30000 and ₹25000 along with a trophy each. Kumar drew against both runner-up - Arpan and Dhanabir. This was Kumar's fourth overall, third individual tournament triumph in 2023. All photos are by Assam Chess Club unless stated otherwise.

ChessBase 18 and Mega 2025 are here

ChessBase 18 is an all-new program that helps you manage all your databases as an ambitious player. Mega Database 2025 has 11 million games with over 113,000 games annotated by masters. The cost of ChessBase 18 is Rs.4499/- and the cost of Mega Database 2025 is Rs.6499/- However, if you go for the combo the total amount comes to Rs.8999 (instead of 10,998/-) helping you save Rs. 1999/-.

ChessBase 18 + Mega 2025 Combo

Harshit Raja wins Winter Chess Classic 2023

07/01/2024 -

Harshit Raja won Winter Chess Classic 2023 for his team A. His teammates were - IM Josiah Stearman (USA), GM Lazaro Bruzon Batista (USA), GM Mikhail Antipov, GM Grigoriy Oparin (USA) and GM Benjamin Gledura (HUN). Harshit scored 20.5 points and earned US$ 4000, $2500 as team prize and $1500 individual. Oparin, Antipov and Bruzon also earned the same as Harshit. The Mizzou University student gained 57.4 Elo rating points in the Rapid segment. Earlier in December, Harshit secured third place at 107th Edward Lasker Memorial 2023, organized by Marshall Chess Club. Photos: US Chess Champs

Ethan Vaz becomes the eighth International Master from Goa

06/01/2024 -

12-year-old Ethan Vaz became India's first International Master of 2024 on 3rd January. He drew against GM Valeriy Neverov (UKR) in the ninth and final round of Vezerkepzo GM Christmas 2023 in Budapest, to earn his final IM-norm. The talented kid from Goa also became the eighth IM from his state. Anurag Mhamal, Rohan Ahuja, Bhakti Kulkarni, Leon Luke Mendonca, Ameya Audi, Nitish Belurkar and Ritviz Parab are the first seven. Ethan earned his first IM-norm in August 2023 at 29th Abu Dhabi Masters in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Exactly three months later, he secured his second IM-norm at Vezerkepzo November GM in Budapest, Hungary. The final norm was scored in a little over a month later. The boy's quest for GM title continues as he started Vezerkepzo New Year GM 2024 with a victory over GM Baadur Jobava (GEO).

Kishan Gangolli conquers his eighth AICFB National Championship

06/01/2024 -

The top seed and defending champion - Kishan Gangolli (KAR) scored an unbeaten 7.5/9 to win 17th AICFB National Premier Championship for the Visually Challenged 2023-24. This is his eighth AICFB National title. Subhendu Kumar Patra (ODI) scored 7/9 to secure second place. Ashvin K Makwana (GUJ) was placed third with a score of 6.5/9. Kishan drew against both runner-up - Subhendu and Ashvin. The top three prizes were ₹35000, ₹25000 and ₹15000 along with a trophy each. This championship is the top most selection tournament for the Visually Challenged players in India. The top twelve finishers are selected to represent India in the upcoming Purple International Chess Festival for Visually Challenged 2024 slated to take place in Goa. Photos are from press release unless specified otherwise.

Laxman R R wins Liberation Cup Rapid Rating Open 2023

05/01/2024 -

Five players - GM Laxman R R, IM Sharan Rao, Kartavya Anadkat, IM Nitish Belurkar and IM Sammed Shete scored 7.5/9 at Liberation Cup Rapid Rating Open 2023. Laxman won the tournament due to better tie-breaks. The remaining four were placed second to fifth respectively. Top four remained undefeated. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹200000. The top three prizes were ₹25000, ₹20000 and ₹15000 along with a trophy each. Laxman drew against both runner-up - Sharan and Kartavya. This was Laxman's sixth overall, third rating tournament triumph in 2023.

FIDE announces the first-ever World Cup for youngsters

05/01/2024 -

FIDE has announced the inaugural edition of World Cup for Youngsters. It will be held in three age group - Under-8, 10 and 12, in two categories - Open and Girls, each having 58 participants. The tournament will have two stages - seven round Swiss System consisting of two groups of 24 players each. Stage two will be played in Knockout format, similar to regular World Cup. The deadline for registration is 22nd April 2024. Apart from Cup, medal and diploma, there are Macbook Air 2022, iPhone 15 and iPad will be given away as prizes. For more details, check out the article and tournament regulations. Photo: Mark Livshitz

Anup Deshmukh wins Jaffna Open 2023, Sekhar Sahu second

05/01/2024 -

IM Anup Deshmukh and IM FST Sekhar Sahu scored 9/10 at Jaffna International Chess Championship 2023. The revered veteran, Anup remained undefeated and won the tournament due to better tie-break score. Sekhar secured second place. Four Sri Lankans - FM Alahakoon Isuru, IM Ranindu Dilshan Liyanage, Pesandu Rashmitha Liyanage and Jayathilaka R R C L scored 8.5/10 each. They were placed third to sixth respectively. The total prize fund of the tournament was LKR 2.4 Million. The top three prizes were LKR 200000, 150000 and 100000 along with a trophy and a medal each. Anup defeated Ranindu in the penultimate round. This was Anup's first rating tournament triumph since September 2018. Photos: Jaffna District Chess Association

Duc Hoa Nguyen triumphs at 3rd Athens of the East GM Open 2023, Srihari L R second and Nitin third

04/01/2024 -

GM Duc Hoa Nguyen (VIE) scored 8.5/10 to win Velammal Hospital presents 3rd Athens of the East GM Open 2023. He finished a half point ahead of the field. IM Srihari L R and IM Nitin S scored 8/10 each. They were placed second and third according to tie-breaks respectively. Srihari became the sole player to beat the eventual champion, Duc Hoa. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹4000000 + trophies + 100 bicycles and eight scooty, ₹2000000 for Category A. The top three prizes were ₹300000, ₹200000 and ₹150000 along with a trophy each. The winner's trophy Chairman MVM trophy was a lifelike human sized. Photos: IA R Anantharam

New FIDE Rating and Title Regulations come into effect

04/01/2024 -

Early in 2023, the Qualifications Commission (QC) initiated a review of the FIDE rating regulations, inviting federations, officials and the public to contribute their thoughts and suggestions. The review was prompted by feedback from professional players and FIDE officials, highlighting a rating deflation resulting from prior changes in the rating system. FIDE Title Regulations are effective from 1st January 2024. The FIDE Regulations will be effective from 1st March 2024. Check out the article for all details and links related to it. Photo: FIDE

Abhimanyu Puranik convincingly clinches 10th Chessable Sunway Sitges Open 2023

04/01/2024 -

GM Abhimanyu Puranik defeated GM Sethuraman S P in the final round to win X Chessable Sunway Sitges Open 2023. The win ensured Abhimanyu finishing a half point ahead of the field which means no Playoffs were necessary for him. The second to eighth position were determined by Playoffs. GM Aravindh Chithambaram scored 8/10 to be placed fourth. Sethuraman and GM Iniyan P scored 7.5/10 to secure sixth and seventh place according to tie-breaks. GM Raja Rithvik R scored 7.5/10 finish tenth. He ensured Indians get five places out of top ten. This tournament triumph and a second place finish at 4th Elllobregat Open 2023, put Abhimanyu among World Top 100. Thus, India currently has the highest number of players among World Top 100 - 11. Photo: Sunway Sitges International Chess Festival

New: ChessBase Magazine #217

03/01/2024 -

36 analyses from the Grand Swiss 2023: the champions Vaishali and Vidit comment on their best games as well as Abdusattorov, Deac, Erigaisi, Giri, L'Ami, Mendonca, Anna and Mariya Muzychuk, Praggnanandhaa, Saric and others - Strategy special by Mihail Marin: Richard Rapport between originality and classicism - Creeping poison: Patrick Zelbel sheds light on the current 1. e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 Bg4 4.d4!? in the Caro-Kann Two Knights Game - "Fundamental Endgame Knowledge" part #7: Karsten Mueller shows how to play pawn endgames with pawns on both wings – Surprise in the Scottish Four Knights Game: Rustam Kasimdzhanov analyses the increasingly popular 5...Nxe4!? (Video) and much more. Photo: ChessBase

11 Indians in World Top 100 - FIDE Rating list January 2024

02/01/2024 -

FIDE publishes its rating list at the beginning of each month. January 2024 FIDE Rating list witnesses the highest number of Indians in the World Top 100. Previously it was ten. The year 2024 starts with as many as eleven Indians in the World Top 100. GM Abhimanyu Puranik is the latest entrant among it, thanks to his spectacular performance at 10th Chessable Sunway Sitges Open 2023. GM S L Narayanan enters World Top 50 for the first time. Currently five Indians are in top 30, eight in top 50 and six Indians are above 2700. Narayanan and Nihal are very close to 2700. Nihal had already crossed 2700 in the live ratings last year. How many Indians will be in World Top 100 at the end of 2024? Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Five Indians in the Candidates 2024

02/01/2024 -

FIDE Candidates and Women's Candidates 2024 will have the highest number of participants. R Praggnanandhaa, Vidit Gujrathi and Vaishali R had already earned their place. D Gukesh and Koneru Humpy have also earned their spot via FIDE Circuit and Rating spot. Ian Nepomniachtchi, Fabiano Caruana, Nijat Abasov, Hikaru Nakamura and Alireza Firouzja are the remaining participants in the Open event. Tingjie Lei, Kateryna Lagno, Aleksandra Goryachkina, Nurgyul Salimova, Anna Muzychuk and Zhongyi Tan comprise the remaining participants in the Women's event. Who will emerge victorious this April 2024 in Toronto, Canada to become the next Challenger for the World Championship? Photo: Sagar Shah

Rituraj Tamuli triumphs at 1st Meghalaya GM Below 1600 Rating Tournament 2023

02/01/2024 -

Rituraj Tamuli scored an unbeaten 8/9 to win 1st Meghalaya GM Below 1600 Rating Tournament 2023. Rituraj finished a half point ahead of the rest. Prashant Kumar Singh, Vashishtha Ankesh and Bapu Debbarma scored 7.5/9 each. They were placed second, third and fourth respectively according to tie-breaks. Both Rituraj and Prashant remained unbeaten. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹3001000, ₹1001000 in Category B. The top three prizes were ₹100000, ₹75000 and ₹50000 along with a trophy each respectively. This was Rituraj's first rating tournament triumph of his career. Photos: Meghalaya Chess Association

Winter Solving: Solutions Reveal, Top Solvers, and More...

02/01/2024 -

The two tiers of the ChessBase India Winter Solving Championship concluded on December 11, 2023. The event was a resounding success, receiving over 70 entries from all over the world, not just India, and witnessing participation from diverse backgrounds and age groups. There were titled players and solvers as well as skilled amateurs. And there were students and teenagers as there were adult professionals. The level of competition was outstanding. With much difficulty, we have selected a list of best scorers from the many high-quality answers we received. We have planned a tiebreaker between these contestants next week. In this report, we give you the details of the same and, of course, reveal the solutions to the 12 problems we posed.

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