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Playing the Olympiad in 36th week of pregnancy - Harika Dronavalli

10/01/2023 -

Harika Dronavalli is an absolute inspiration to women all across India and the world. She played a high pressure tournament like the Olympiad in her 9th month of pregnancy. She was 36 weeks pregnant. It's amazing how she managed to keep her cool, not lose a single of the 7 games she played and win a bronze medal for the country. How did she do it? In this detailed video she talks about the highs and lows, the detailed preparation needed, the family support, the support from the near ones as well as the trainers, team mates and federation. It was not at all an easy feat! There are women who are unable to sustain the mental and physical pain at this advanced level of pregnancy, and here was Harika, crushing it at the chess board! How did she do it? Read her story below. Thumbnail: Abhyudaya Ram.

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

16-year-old Pranesh M becomes India's 79th Grandmaster

10/01/2023 -

IM Pranesh M became India's 79th Grandmaster on 5th January 2023. He defeated GM Frode Olav Olsen Urkedal (NOR) in the final round to cross 2500 in the live ratings. The win also earned him the first place at Rilton Cup 2022-23. The teenager scored his first GM-norm at 18th Delhi GM Open 2020. Then Covid-19 pandemic delayed his chances to score the next two norms. He scored his second GM-norm at 8th Sunway Sitges Open 2021 and the final norm was earned at Asian Continental 2022. He scored all his norms in strong Open events and delivered stellar performances. The teenager became the first GM from Karaikudi and 28th from his state Tamil Nadu. He has won a huge amount of accolades throughout his nascent career, including a Gold and Bronze at the last Commonwealth Chess Championships 2022. Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Chesspa's journey to Indore!

10/01/2023 -

Those of you who follow ChessBase India regularly, have definitely heard of "Chesspa in Chess Adventure Park." This is a passion project of Amruta Mokal, the COO of ChessBase India. She teamed up with Ketaki Kulkarni and Sagar Shah and together they created a book that is a very unique offering for young kids to learn the game of chess in a fun and interactive way. I took a few copies of the book while travelling to Indore for covering the MPL 35th National Under-9 Championships, intending to promote the book and spread awareness about this project! I'll try to write about my experience with the book itself below, and what people had to say. Photo: Himank Ghosh

Aman Balana wins Winter Cup Below 1600 Rating Lakecity Tournament 2022

10/01/2023 -

16-year-old Aman Balana and 13-year-old Lakshmi Charan Naidu G scored an unbeaten 8/9 each. Rajasthan's very own Aman won Winter Cup Below 1600 Rating Lakecity Tournament 2022 due to better tie-breaks. Lakshmi (AP) was second overall. However, he won the first prize in Rating category 1200-1399. Their penultimate round encounter against each other ended in a draw. Five players scored 7.5/9 each. Out of them, Raj Prakhar (HAR) secured the third place overall. Raj and Manan Goyal (HAR) were awarded second and third prize in the Open category. Total prize fund of the tournament was ₹1500000. The top three prizes were ₹111000, ₹71000 and ₹41000 along with a trophy each. A total of 173 prizes and three prizes above ₹100000 were up for grabs. The tournament was organized in memory of Advocate Late Prem Chand Mogra. Photo: IA Vikas Sahu/Chess in Lakecity

Madhavendra and Pratitee become the National Under-9 Champions 2022

09/01/2023 -

An exciting final round of the MPL 35th National Under-9 Championships 2022 decided the winners. The U-9 National Champions of 2022 are Pratitee Bordoloi and Madhavendra Pratap Sharma! While this was Pratitee's first big success, Madhavendra actually continued his golden run - first winning 3 Gold medals in the Asian Youth Chess Championships 2022, and now becoming the National Under-9 Champion. A grandiose Prize Distribution ceremony took place to conclude the event and hand the participants their prizes. The total prize fund of the tournament was Rs. 5,00,000! Both the champions received Rs. 50,000 each, along with a huge trophy, medal and certificates. All of the participants received participation certificates and medals! Thumbnail: Himank Ghosh

Mayank Chakraborty wins 20th North East India Chess Championship 2022

09/01/2023 -

Both CM Mayank Chakraborty and Rahul Gurung scored an unbeaten 8/9 each. However, Mayank won 20th North East India Chess Championship 2022 due to better tie-breaks, Rohit was adjudged second. Tamang Thendup scored sole 7.5/9 to finish third. He also remained undefeated. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹300000. The top three prizes were ₹50000, ₹30000 and ₹20000 along with a trophy each. Mayank finished the year with a dozen tournament triumphs in his bag, five of them were rated events, including 32nd National Under-17 Open. He is currently the Assam triple crown champion (Classical, Rapid and Blitz). Photo: FA Ravi Kant Tiwari

New: ChessBase Magazine #211

09/01/2023 -

Bundesliga season 22/23: Stars up close - Eljanov, Van Wely, McShane, Jones, Kasimdzhanov, Cheparinov, Meier and many others comment on games from the first rounds - "Special" on Mikhail Tal: exclusive collection of 21 commented games + contributions on strategy and endgame - "The Scotch Gambit": Daniel King presents another gambit idea: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5. 0-0 (video) - "How to deal with opening surprises": Jan Markos continues his training series for tournament players (video + collection of exercises) - "Jumping across the centre line":over 50 tactics exercises + three selected combinations in video format with Oliver Reeh - Endgame good, all good: Karsten Mueller's new video series "Fundamental Endgame Knowledge" (Part 1: Rook vs. Pawn) – King’s Gambit: Take it easy! Sergey Grigoriants promotes 1. e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Ne7!? - Gambit time in the French Advance Variation: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.Bd3 cxd4 7.0-0!? and much more.

Koustav Chatterjee becomes India's 78th Grandmaster

08/01/2023 -

IM Koustav Chatterjee became India's 78th Grandmaster on the final day of 2022. The 19-year-old scored his first GM-norm at Sheikh Russel GM 2021. Then he delivered a stellar performance at MPL 58th National Senior 2022. However, it did not earn him any norm. He rates his performance their to be higher than the other three events where he secured his norms, mostly because it was such a strong field. He crossed 2500 in the August FIDE Rating list. The second GM-norm happened at Asian Continental 2022 in November. Over a month and a half later, he secured his final GM-norm to become Kolkata and West Bengal's 10th GM. Check out a detailed interview of Koustav and his mother Babita Chattopadhyay. Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Gukesh and Vaishali in Forbes India Showstoppers 2022-23 Top 50 list

08/01/2023 -

44th Chess Olympiad individual Gold and team Bronze medal winner, GM D Gukesh had a phenomenal year in 2022. The youngest GM of India won a series of tournaments in Spain while remaining undefeated. He became the youngest Indian GM to cross 2700 and break into World Top 100. The unforgettable start of 8/8 at the Olympiad on top board is surreal. He also won the Spanish Honor League for C A Solvay along with Harikrishna. Gukesh also achieved the feat of the youngest ever to beat Magnus Carlsen. IM Vaishali R also had a fantastic year. She won both individual and team Bronze at the Olympiad, made her presence felt at her FIDE Women's GP debut, scored her second GM-norm and finished the year with a historical victory at the first edition of Tata Steel Chess India 2022 Women Blitz. Photo: Forbes India

Ritviz Parab victorious at 5th Kudremukh Trophy Rapid Rating Open 2022

08/01/2023 -

FM Ritviz Parab scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 to win 5th Kudremukh Trophy Rapid Rating Open 2022. He finished a half point ahead of the competition. Manigandan S S, Dhanush Ram M and Lad Mandar Pradip scored 8/9 each. They were placed second to fourth according to tie-breaks. This is Ritviz's second Rapid Rating Open tournament victory of 2022. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹300000 and 175 prizes were up for grabs. The top three prizes were ₹30000, ₹20000 and ₹10000 along with a trophy each. The two-day nine round Rapid Rating tournament was organized by KIOCL Ltd. Mangalore on 10th and 11th December 2022. Photo: Murgesh S / KIOCL Ltd.

19-year-old Hari Madhavan N B becomes the latest International Master of India

07/01/2023 -

In December 2022, India got two GMs and four IMs. Aditya Mittal was first to become India's 77th GM. Then we got three more IMs - Jubin Jimmy, Sambit Panda and Shantanu Bhambure. Koustav Chatterjee became India's 78th GM on 31st December. On the very same day, 19-year-old Hari Madhavan N B scored his final IM-norm at 59th National Senior Chess Championship 2022. The teenager from Tamil Nadu became an International Master when he defeated GM Sandipan Chanda in the tenth round. He did not slow down after becoming an IM as he defeated GM Mitrabha Guha in the following game. Hari scored his first IM-norm in Serbia in November 2021, the second norm and 2400 was crossed at Madurai in July 2022. Photo: Shahid Ahmed

The Naniwa Open

07/01/2023 -

We often get to know about various chess tournament news of Japan from Mayur Gondhalekar. His good friend, Sheldon Donaldson writes a blog about the last tournament of 2022 he played in Osaka. The Canadian origin, is currently residing in Japan for over 14 years. He started playing chess a decade ago, although he is playing over-the-board chess only for a year. Check out his experience of playing at Nanina Chess Open 2022 held on 10th and 11th December. He also talks about his games with analysis, photos of the tournament and around the city of Osaka, shared by the man who is passionate about the sport. Photo: Sheldon Donaldson

Chess Houseboat 2023 Indian Package

06/01/2023 -

The Chess Houseboat event returns at 2023 in God's own country, Kerala! The second edition of the event has been scheduled to be held between 22nd to 28th Jan 2023, with a total cash prize fund of 2300 Euros with a first prize of 500 Euros, and a further 1700 Euros worth of material prizes and trophies. This time, there's a special Indian package for all the Indian participants! International Master Venkatachalam Saravanan writes about this exciting offer with all the details of this very special Chess Houseboat event.

Divya Deshmukh clinches MPL 48th National Women Chess Championship 2022 convincingly

06/01/2023 -

WGM Divya Deshmukh defeated IM Bhakti Kulkarni in the final round to become a clear champion at MPL 48th National Women Chess Championship 2022. This is her second consecutive National Women title where she remained undefeated and finished a full point ahead at 9.5/11. WGM Mary Ann Gomes won against WIM Rucha Pujari to finish second scoring 9/11. Top seed of the tournament, WGM Vantika Agrawal overcame IM Nisha Mohota to finish third with a sole 8.5/11. Since 2011, every single National Women's champion won the event at least twice in-a-row and Divya maintained that record. Photo: AICF

Pranesh M dominates Rilton Cup 2022-23, becomes India's 79th Grandmaster

06/01/2023 -

16-year-old IM Pranesh M scored 8/9, finished a full point ahead of the field to win Rilton Cup 2022-23. He took a no-draw approach. After losing his second round game, he won the next seven games to finish first, cross 2500 in the live ratings and become India's 79th Grandmaster. The teenager also became Tamil Nadu's 28th GM. Pranesh won a memento and SEK 22000 (approx. ₹170282). The last time an Indian won this event was in 2016-17 when Krishnan Sasikiran became champion. GM Raja Rithvik R is the only other Indian to make a top ten finish. He scored 6/9 to finish at eighth place. 15-year-old Manmay Chopra scored 7/9 to finish second in the Rilton Elo section (<2200). Photo: Lars OA Hedlund

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