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Fujairah Global R6: Tabatabaei becomes the new coleader of Pranav Venkatesh

30/08/2025 -

GM M Amin Tabatabaei (IRI) outplayed GM Sanan Sjugirov (HUN) in the sixth round of Fujairah Global 2025 Superstars. GM Brandon Jacobson (USA) drew against GM Pranav Venkatesh. Thus, Tabatabaei became the new coleader of Pranav. Both are at 4.5/6 each. They will inevitably clash against each other in Round 7. GM Jiner Zhu (CHN) continues her impressive run as she had a well contested draw against GM Andrew Hong (USA). World's youngest GM Abhimanyu Mishra played fantastic chess to beat the strong tactician, GM Raunak Sadhwani. GM Aditya Mittal drew against GM Ivan Cheparinov (BUL) to move to 3.5/6. The top seed, GM Nihal Sarin scored a welcome victory after three draws, against GM Alexander Motylev (ROU). Round 7 starts today at 5 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy

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

Karthik Venkataraman convincingly clinches Brasov GP 2025 with a 2753 performance, Pranesh M second

29/08/2025 -

GM Karthik Venkataraman scored an unbeaten 8/9 to win Brașov Grand Prix A (>2000) 2025. Karthik performed at 2753, finished a half point ahead of the rest. GM Pranesh M scored sole 7.5/9 to secure second place. The top seed of the tournament, GM Pouya Idani (IRI) and GM Titas Stremavicius (LTU) scored 7/9 each. They secured third and fourth place respectively according to tie-breaks. Karthik defeated the top seed and eventual second runner-up, Pouya in Round 4 and drew against the runner-up, Pranesh in Round 5. The total prize fund was €36000. The top three prizes were €5000, €3000 and €2000 along with a trophy each. This was Karthik's first rating tournament triumph of the year. Photo: Federatia Romana de Sah

Namig Guliyev wins 18th Plancoët Open 2025, Sanket Chakravarty second

29/08/2025 -

GM Namig Guliyev (AZE), IM Sanket Chakravarty and GM Jean-Marc Degraeve (FRA) scored 7/9 each at 18th Plancoët Open A (>1800) 2025. Namig won the tournament on tie-breaks, Sanket and Jean-Marc were placed second and third respectively. The top three remained undefeated. Sanket drew with both eventual champion, Namig and the second runner-up, Jean-Marc. The total prize fund of Open A was €7000. The first prize was €1500 + trophy. The seven-day nine round Rating Open tournament was organized by Emeraude Echecs at Salle Omnisport Joseph Samson de Plancoët in Plancoët, France from 27th July to 2nd August 2025. Photo: Émeraude Échecs - Club d'Échecs à Plancoët et Dinan

Fujairah Global R5: Pranav Venkatesh too sharp for Jose Eduardo Martinez

29/08/2025 -

GM Pranav Venkatesh defeated GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara (MEX) in the fifth round of Fujairah Global 2025 Superstars. Pranav played a sharp game against the Mexico no.1 to maintain his lead. GM Sanan Sjugirov (HUN) defeated GM Gleb Dudin (HUN) to also remain at the top with Pranav at 4/5 each. GM Raunak Sadhwani and GM Aditya Mittal got great winning chances against GM Andrew Hong (USA) and GM Nikolas Theodorou (GRE) respectively. GM Pranesh M held GM Nihal Sarin to a draw where the top seed managed to avert a disaster. Round 6 starts today at 5 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

How the Northeast's rising star Arshiya Das is making her remarkable chess climb

28/08/2025 -

One name that is shining brightly from Northeast India is Arshiya Das. This 14-year old girl has crossed the 2100 mark, secured her first WIM norm and is aiming to become the first Woman International Master from the entire region. Arshiya’s rise has been nothing short of remarkable. In this article, we explore the milestones, challenges, and support that have shaped her into one of India’s most promising young talents. Read on to see what keeps young talents like her moving forward against all odds. Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Fujairah Global R3-4: Pranav Venkatesh and Jiner Zhu in the leaders' pack

28/08/2025 -

GM Pranav Venkatesh drew both of his games in Round 3 and 4 to stay at the top in Fujairah Global 2025 Superstars. Pranav first drew against GM Aydin Suleymanli (AZE) in 16 moves. Then he had a well contested draw against GM Sanan Sjugirov (HUN) where the majority of the endgame featured all four bishops. The sole female participant in the Superstars, GM Jiner Zhu (CHN) is also at an unbeaten 3/4. GM Raunak Sadhwani and GM Aditya Mittal are at 2.5/4 each. Raunak drew against GM Ivan Zemlyanskii and then defeated, GM Leon Luke Mendonca. Aditya on the other hand first defeated the two-time Asian Junior champion, GM Aleksey Grebnev and then split the point with GM Abhimanyu Mishra. Round 5 starts today at 5 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

Wesley So wins Sinquefield Cup 2025 via Playoffs, Praggnanandhaa second

28/08/2025 -

Wesley So (USA) won Grand Chess Tour Sinquefield Cup 2025 after nine years by winning the Playoffs. R Praggnanandhaa drew his ninth round game against Levon Aronian (USA). Fabiano Caruana (USA) also shared the point versus the reigning World Champion, D Gukesh. Wesley So (USA) defeated Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) to finish with the same score as Praggnanandhaa and Caruana 5.5/9 each. They had to battle each other in 5'+2" Playoffs. Praggnanandhaa won the first game against Caruana. So defeated Praggnanandhaa in the second game. He drew the third game of the Playoffs against Caruana, thus he became champion scoring 1.5/2 in the Blitz tie-break games. Praggnanandhaa finished second as he scored 1/2, Caruana third as he only managed to score 0.5/2. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA), Caruana, Aronian and Praggnanandhaa will battle in Sao Paolo, Brazil at the GCT Finals from 27th September to 3rd October 2025. Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

Dinmukhammed Makhanbetali wins 49th Sitges Open B 2025, Marium Fatima second and Parth Moghe third

27/08/2025 -

Dinmukhammed Makhanbetali (KAZ) and Marium Fatima scored 7.5/9 each at 49th Vila de Sitges Open Group B (1650-1950) 2025. The 11-year-old Dinmukhammed won the tournament and Marium was placed second according to tie-breaks. Parth Moghe edged past four more players on tie-breaks to secure third place. The total prize fund of the tournament was €8000. The top three prizes in Group B were €450 + trophy, €300 and €200 each. Karthik Kumbhar and Advaith Asokumar scored 6.5/9 each to claim fifth and sixth place respectively. Vijay Chauhan scored 6/9 to be placed tenth. In Group A, IM Subhayan Kundu scored 7/9 to finish fourth. WIM Angela Franco Valencia (COL) was the top female finisher. She scored 6/9 to finish tenth overall, win Best Female prize and also secure her maiden WGM-norm. Photos: FI Niklesh Jain

Praggnanandhaa or Caruana - Who will win Sinquefield Cup?

27/08/2025 -

R Praggnanandhaa drew against Wesley So (USA) to maintain his lead, heading into the last round of Grand Chess Tour Sinquefield Cup 2025. Fabiano Caruana (USA) also shared the point with Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA). Thus, both Caruana and Praggnanandhaa are at 5/8 each. The World Champion, D Gukesh played a hard-fought draw against the two-time FIDE World Cup winner, Levon Aronian (USA). Aronian and So are at 4.5/8 each. The top four finishers of the GCT standings will have to the Finals of the season slated to take place in Brazil later this year. Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) scored his first of the event against Alireza Firouzja (FRA). Round 9 starts today at 12 p.m. local time, 10:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

Fujairah Global R2: Pranav Venkatesh wins two in-a-row

27/08/2025 -

GM Pranav Venkatesh defeated GM Eduardo Bonelli Iturrizaga (ESP) in the second round of Fujairah Global 2025 Superstars. Eduardo went wrong in the double rook and minor piece endgame, Pranav seized his advantage without any difficulty. GM Pranav Anand outplayed the reigning Asian Individual champion, GM Bardiya Daneshvar (IRI). GM S L Narayanan, GM Aditya Mittal and GM Pranesh M drew against their higher rated opponents - GM Raunak Sadhwani, GM Daniel Dardha (BEL) and GM Leon Luke Mendonca. The top seed, GM Nihal Sarin bounced back with a win over GM Ido Gorshtein (ISR). GM Bharath Subramaniyam H played a solid draw versus the legend and former World Rapid champion, GM Vasyl Ivanchuk (UKR). Today is the sole double round of the tournament. Round 3 starts today at 10 a.m. local time, 11:30 a.m. IST. Photo: IA Vivek Sohani

FIDE World Cup 2025 heads to Goa

27/08/2025 -

Goa has been named as the host for the FIDE World Cup 2025 which will take place from 30th October to 27th November. World Cup is a knockout event where not only World's best players but the respective country's best players can also face a World-Class player, something that may not happen in other events except Olympiad. A total of 206 players will take part. Out of them, 20 Indians have already qualified via various path. They are - D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Aravindh Chithambaram, Vishy Anand, Nihal Sarin, Iniyan Pa, Raja Rithvik R, Narayanan S L, Pranesh M, Harshavardhan G B, Karthikeyan Murali, Karthik Venkataraman, Surya Sekhar Ganguly, Neelash Saha, Diptayan Ghosh, Aronyak Ghosh, Himal Gusain, Lalit Rohith and Vidit Gujrathi. Photos: FIDE

Samuel Stephen Noble S superb at 31st Abu Dhabi Chess Festival Open B 2025

26/08/2025 -

Samuel Stephen Noble S scored an unbeaten 8/9 to win 31st Abu Dhabi Chess Festival Rating Open B (≤1999) 2025. He finished a half point ahead of the rest. Seven players scored 7.5/9 each. Out of them, Tigran Agh. Petrosyan (ARM) and Agshin Alizada (AZE) secured second and third place respectively according to tie-breaks. Samuel drew against the eventual second runner-up, Agshin in the seventh round. Total combined prize fund for Open A and B was US$ 20300. The top three prizes were $2000, $1500 and $1000 along with a trophy each. This is Samuel's fourth overall, second rating tournament triumph of the year. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy

Fujairah Global R1: Pranav Venkatesh checkmates Nihal Sarin

26/08/2025 -

The reigning World Junior champion, GM Pranav Venkatesh made a strong start at the inauguration Fujairah Global 2025 Superstars. He defeated the top seed, Asian Individual 2025 Silver medalist, GM Nihal Sarin. Nihal got himself into an inferior position, lacked space and trapped his own bishop. GM S L Narayanan, GM Pranav Anand and GM Pranesh M held GM Sam Shankland (USA), GM Salem Saleh (UAE) and GM Jose Educardo Marinez Alcantara (MEX) to a draw each respectively. The Superstars event witnesses the participation of 44 GMs with an average rating of 2606. The total prize fund of all events is US$ 125000, $80000 in the Superstars (>2600), $30000 in Masters (2200-2599) and $15000 in Open (<2200). Top three prizes are - US$ 23000, $13000 and $9000 each. Round 2 starts today at 5 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

Sinquefield Cup: Praggnanandhaa wins his first Classical game against Firouzja, catches up with Caruana

26/08/2025 -

R Praggnanandhaa defeated Alireza Firouzja (FRA) for the first time in a Classical rated game in Round 7 of Grand Chess Tour Sinquefield Cup 2025. This win moved Praggnanandhaa to the top as he joined the lead with Fabiano Caruana (USA). Caruana drew his game against Levon Aronian (USA). Both Caruana and Praggnanandhaa are at the top with 4.5/7 each. Aronian and Wesley So (USA) are close behind at 4/7 each. So defeated the World Champion, D Gukesh. Jan-Krzysztof Duda (POL) handed Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) his fourth loss of the event. Praggnanandhaa's last two opponents at this event are - So and Aronian. Round 8 starts today at 12 p.m. local time, 10:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

Aleksey Grebnev wins Oskemen Open 2025 Masters, Sethuraman third

25/08/2025 -

GM Aleksey Grebnev and GM Richard Rapport (HUN) scored an unbeaten 7/9 each at Oskemen Open Masters 2025. Grebnev won the tournament due to better tie-break score, Rapport was placed second. GM Sethuraman S P and GM Dmitry Bocharov scored 6.5/9 each. They secured third and fourth place respectively. Sethuraman also remained undefeated. The total prize fund was US$ 100000, $78000 in Masters. The top three prizes were $18000, $14000 and $10000 along with a trophy each. The nine-day nine round rating tournament was organized by Kazakhstan Chess Federation at D Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University in Oskemen, Kazakhstan from 21st to 29th July 2025. Photo: Dastan Kapayev

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