chessbase india logo

Kaustuv Kundu becomes the latest International Master of India

12/09/2023 -

Kaustuv Kundu scored three IM-norms and crossed 2400 in a little over a month's time to become India's latest International Master. The youth from Kolkata earned his maiden IM-norm at 1st Maharashtra GM 2022. He has won tournaments all over the country in all three formats. In recent times, his tournament triumphs is only second to GM Laxman R R, covered on our website. The 23-year-old man from Kolkata started his journey to Spain with 2266 rating and one IM-norm. In July, he scored two IM-norms at 45th Barbera del Valles Open 2023 and 47th Sitges Open. Before Sitges, he crossed 2400 in the live ratings at 23rd Sant Marti 2023. He earned his fourth IM-norm for a good measure at 47th Badalona Open 2023. On September FIDE Rating list, Kaustuv has a rating of 2432, making India's latest IM. Photo: Shahid Ahmed

ChessBase 17 and Mega 2023 are here

ChessBase 17 is the all-new program that helps you to manage all your databases as an ambitious player. Mega Database 2023 comes with 9.75 million games with over 110,000 games annotated by masters. The cost of ChessBase 17 is Rs.4199/- and the cost of Mega Database 2023 is Rs.5999/- However, if you go for the combo the total amount comes to Rs.8999/- helping you save Rs. 1198.

ChessBase 17 + Mega 2023 Combo

Mitrabha Guha dominates Tata Steel Chess Festival 2023 Blitz Open

12/09/2023 -

GM Mitrabha Guha scored an unbeaten 7.5/8 to win Tata Steel Chess Festival 2023 All India Blitz Open. He finished a half point ahead of the competition. GM Diptayan Ghosh, Soham Bhattacharyya and Alekhya Mukhopadhyay scored 7/8 each. They were placed second, third and fourth respectively. Top three prizes were ₹15000 + trophy, ₹10000 and ₹5000 each respectively. This was Mitrabha's fourth tournament triumph of the year. This is the second time he won the Blitz Open event, part of Tata Steel Chess India Festival. Back in 2021, he won the event for the first time. This time, he became a clear champion, no tie-breaks were needed. It was the strongest event of the festival this year as 2 GMs, 4 IMs and 2 WIMs took part in it. Photos: Shahid Ahmed

GM 2034 - Will Meghalaya chess get its first GM in 10 years?

12/09/2023 -

For most of the people who follow chess closely, it is quite clear that India is becoming a super power in the sport. However, the country is so vast, that the growth of chess has not reached all the places in equal measure. One such state in the country which is lagging behind is Meghalaya. The state doesn't have a titled player. But as IM Sagar Shah visited the place, he saw all the perfect elements in place for chess to grow exponentially. In this article he tells us about his experience of visiting the Tura District in Meghalaya and why chess could become hugely popular in the state.  

Tata Steel Asian Junior 2023 R4: Liyanage Ranindu Dilshan goes on a king hunt

12/09/2023 -

Sri Lanka no.1 FM Liyanage Ranindu Dilshan defeated FM Abilmansur Abdilkhair (KAZ) to maintain his lead. IM Gilbert Elroy Tarigan (INA) also won his game against IM Hari Madhavan N B to stay at the top of Tata Steel Asian Junior 2023 Open. Both Liyanage and Gilbert are sharing the lead 3.5/4. They are closely followed by a dozen players at 3/4 each. In the Girls section, WIM Saina Salonika and Tejaswini G defeated Keerti Shree Reddy and WIM Zeinep Sultanbek (KAZ) respectively to join the leaders 3.5/4. Rindhiya V drew against WIM Mounika Akshaya to stay at the top. All four - Saina, Mounika, Tejaswini and Rindhiya are at 3.5/4 each. Round 5 in Open and Girls section starts today from 9:30 a.m. IST. Photos: Himank Ghosh

Alexander Grischuk wins Tata Steel India 2023 Blitz, Praggnanandhaa third

11/09/2023 -

R Praggnanandhaa started the final day of Tata Steel Chess India 2023 Blitz with a 2.5/3. In Round 13, he lost against Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) after blundering his knight. He bounced back with a draw against Pentala Harikrishna. Then the teenager lost the next two games against the eventual winner, Alexander Grischuk and Vidit Gujrathi. He finally managed to beat D Gukesh for the first time at Tata Steel Chess India 2023 in the penultimate round. He drew against his good friend, Arjun Erigaisi in the final round to finish third on tie-breaks. Abdusattorov also scored the same 11/18 to secure second place. For the first time since 2018, no Indian won the Open section. The 2019 edition is an exception as Rapid and Blitz events were combined as it was part of Grand Chess Tour. Photos: IA Vivek Sohani/Tata Steel Chess India

How the world reacted to Praggnanandhaa’s silver medal finish at World Cup 2023

11/09/2023 -

The world of chess recently witnessed something that had not been seen for many years. The 18-year-old chess sensation, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, recently became the first Indian after Vishy Anand to reach the finals of the FIDE World Cup. It was a historic day for India, as one day after Chandrayaan’s landing on the moon, Pragg was already writing history with his chess moves. He faced world no. 1. Magnus Carlsen in the finals and lost to him, claiming a silver medal in the end. Many would say that it was a sad ending to a rather beautiful fairy tale, but it wasn’t. Not only did Pragg write history, but he also made a place for himself in the hearts of millions of Indians. Read the full article to get a glimpse of how the world reacted to Pragg’s victory.

Tata Steel Asian Junior 2023 R2-3: Mounika and Rindhiya score a hat-trick

11/09/2023 -

WIM Mounika Akshaya and Rindhiya V have emerged coleaders after Round 3 of Tata Steel Asian Junior Girls 2023. Mounika defeated Dakshita Kumawat and WFM Wadifa Ahmed (BAN) in the second and third round respectively. Rindhiya got the better of Swara Lakshmi S Nair and Sachi Jain. Tejaswini G held the second seeded WIM Saina Salonika to a draw. Saina had a difficult rook and double bishop endgame. However, her opponent decided to share the point. In the Open section, not a single player is at 3/3. A dozen players are at 2.5/3. Second seeded IM Srihari L R conceded two draws against FM Mohamed Anees M and FM Zia Tahsin Tajwar (BAN). Round 4 in Open and Girls section starts today from 9:30 a.m. IST. Photos: Himank Ghosh

Subhayan Kundu wins 5th Sant Adrià Open 2023, Franco Valencia Angela second

10/09/2023 -

Subhayan Kundu scored 7.5/9 to win 5th Sant Adria Open 2023. He finished a half point ahead of the competition. Our very own ChessBase India Head, FI Niklesh Jain's better half, WIM Franco Valencia Angela (COL) scored 7/9 to secure second place. David Jose Caballero Marrugo (COL) and Luca G Tessiore (USA) scored 6.5/9 each. They secured third and fourth place according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund of the tournament was €3000. Top three prizes were €700, €400 and €300 along with a trophy each respectively. This was Subhayan's third rating tournament triumph of the year. Earlier in this year, he won a Rapid and Blitz rating tournament in Bangladesh. Photos: Miguel Fernandez-Diaz Mascort

Adarsh Tripathi clinches Olomouc Chess Summer 2023 B2 Sportclub A64 Cup

10/09/2023 -

Adarsh Tripathi scored an unbeaten 6.5/9 to win Olomouc Chess Summer 2023 B2 Sportclub A64 Cup IM tournament. He finished a full point ahead of the field. Three players - FM Jakub Kusa (CZE), FM Jachym Nemec (CZE) and FM Michal Koziorowicz (POL) scored 5.5/9. They were placed second to fourth respectively. FM Sehyun Kwon (KOR) scored 7/9 to win Olomouc Chess Summer 2023 B1 AVE Chess Cup IM tournament. He finished a half point ahead of the rest. IM Sebastian Plischi (GER, 2319) scored sole 6.5/9 to secure second place. FM R Ashwath scored 6/9 to be placed third. The top three prizes in each event was CZK 3000 + trophy, 2000 and 1000 each respectively. Photos: Kamil Mikeš and Jakub Fuksík

Tata Steel Asian Junior 2023 R1: Swara Lakshmi too sharp for Mrudul

09/09/2023 -

The seeded players including India's top two - IM Srihari L R and IM S Rohith Krishna started with a win at Tata Steel Asian Junior 2023 Open. There were no upsets in the Open section. However, in the Girls section, the scene was quite different. The newly crowned Asian Junior 2023 Girls Rapid Gold medalist, WIM Nazerke Nurgali (KAZ) was held to a draw by Pragnya H G. Swara Lakshmi S Nair played some sharp chess to beat the Asian Junior 2023 Girls Rapid Bronze medalist, WIM Mrudul Dehankar. Keerti Shree Reddy capitalized when her opponent WIM Zeinep Sultanbek (KAZ) blundered a mate in three. Round 2 in Open and Girls section starts tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. IST. Photos: Himank Ghosh

Ashwath dominates Summer Prague Open 2023 Blitz

09/09/2023 -

FM R Ashwath scored an unbeaten 10/11 to win Summer Prague Open 2023 D Blitz. He finished a full point ahead of the field. FM Jakub Vojta (CZE), FM Shazil Shehzad (NOR) and Johanes Von Mettenheim (GER) scored 9/11 each. They were placed second to fourth respectively according to tie-breaks. Ashwath drew against Vojta in Round 8 and defeated Shazil in the previous round. Only Ashwath remained undefeated among the top ten. The top three prizes were CZK 1500, 1000 and 500 respectively. Earlier this year, Ashwath won his first Blitz Open tournament of the year in Graz, Austria. There also he won in a dominating fashion. Photos: Official site

Mayank Chakraborty clinches Gold at Tata Steel Asian Junior Open Rapid 2023, Silver for Jyothsna and Mrudul Bronze among Girls

09/09/2023 -

CM Mayank Chakraborty scored 7/9 to clinch Gold at Tata Steel Asian Junior Open Rapid 2023. Despite losing his seventh round game against IM Srihari L R, he immediately bounced back by winning against IM Avinash Ramesh. In the final round, he was up against the sole leader Srihari L 6.5/8. Mayank was in a must-win situation if he wanted to win the Gold. That is exactly what he did by winning the final round game on demand to win the Gold medal. Srihari L secured Silver 6.5/9 and IM S Rohith Krishna Bronze 6.5/9. In the Girls section, WIM Nazerke Nurgali (KAZ) scored 7.5/9 to win the Gold. WIM Mrudul Dehankar defeated WFM Jyothsna L to win the Bronze 7/9, Jyothsna secured Silver 7/9. Jyothsna is also the only player to beat the eventual Gold medal winner, Nazerke. Classical Round 1 in Open and Girls section starts today from 9 a.m. IST. Photos: Himank Ghosh

Tata Steel India 2023 Blitz R1-9: Praggnanandhaaa gains sole lead, Vidit in pursuit

08/09/2023 -

R Praggnanandhaa made a blazing start at Tata Steel Chess India 2023 Blitz. He won the first five games claiming Teimour Radjabov (AZE), Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA), Vincent Keymer (GER), Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) and Pentala Harikrishna. The three-time World Blitz champion, Alexander Grischuk, halted the World no.8's winning streak by holding him to a draw. Then he lost the next two games against Vidit Gujrathi and D Gukesh. The FIDE World Cup 2023 Silver medalist, defeated his good friend Arjun Erigaisi to finish the day as the sole leader, 6.5/9. Vidit and Grischuk are trailing by a half point at 6/9 each. The last nine of rounds of Blitz will be played tomorrow, starting from 2 p.m. IST. Photos: IA Vivek Sohani/Tata Steel Chess India

FIDE World Women's Team 2023 R3-4: Indian women on the brink of elimination

08/09/2023 -

It was an extremely tough day for the Indian at FIDE World Women's Team Chess Championship 2023. In the third round, they lost to Ukraine and in the fourth against Georgia. Against Georgia, IM Vantika Agrawal's loss against 44th Olympiad Gold medalist, IM Nataliya Buksa cost them the match. In Round 4, GM Harika Dronavalli and IM Divya Deshmukh suffered losses against GM Bella Khotenashvili and GM Nino Batsiashvili respectively. In both rounds, Indian women did not manage to register a single game win, although Vantika and Padmini had their fare share of chances to win in Round 3 and 4 respectively. India will have to Egypt in Round 5 by the biggest margin and hope everything else works out in their favor. Round 5 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. Photos: FIDE/Michal Walusza

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave dominates Tata Steel India 2023 Rapid, Praggnanandhaa third

08/09/2023 -

The World Blitz 2021 champion, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) won Tata Steel Chess India 2023 Rapid with an unbeaten 7/9. It was his debut tournament in Kolkata, India where he won the event with one round to spare. He defeated Arjun Erigaisi and Pentala Harikrishna to clinch the first place. The last round result became immaterial. Thus, he made a quick six move draw against the eventual runner-up, Teimour Radjabov (AZE). R Praggnaanandhaa defeated Vidit Gujrathi, lost to D Gukesh and then won against his good friend, Arjun Erigaisi to finish third 5/9. Alexander Grischuk and Vidit also scored the same 5/9. Nine rounds of Blitz will be played today, starting from 3 p.m. IST. Photos: IA Vivek Sohani/Tata Steel Chess India