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Prague Masters R7: Aravindh astounds Anish with a majestic play, gains sole lead and now World no.14

06/03/2025 -

Aravindh Chithambaram scored a spectactular win over Anish Giri (NED) to gain sole lead 5/7 at 7th Prague International Chess Festival 2025 Masters. Aravindh found some brilliant tactical shots to beat the super solid Dutch no.1. This win moved Aravindh to World no.14 and India no.4 in the live ratings. R Praggnanandhaa made his best attempt to score a win over Wei Yi (CHN). However, the Chinese defended correctly and did not budge. Liem Quang Le (VIE) blundered an exchange which cost him the game against Sam Shankland (USA). Ediz Gurel (TUR) scored his first win of the tournament against Thai Dai Van Nguyen (CZE). In the Challengers section, previous round leaders, GM Jonas Buhl Bjerre (DEN) and GM Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB) scored a win each over IM Divya Deshmukh and GM Ivan Salgado Lopez (ESP) to stay ahead 5.5/7. The eighth round for Masters, Challengers, Futures, and Karel Janeček Open starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 7:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed

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

World Champion Gukesh D Honored with ₹1 Crore at Velammal Nexus

05/03/2025 -

On February 28, 2025, the Velammal Nexus School in Chennai organized a felicitation program for the youngest World Chess Champion, D Gukesh. Gukesh is a student of this school! Last time, after he won the Candidates Tournament, the school gifted him a Mercedes-Benz. This time, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Indian chess, Velammal Nexus Correspondent Shri M.V.M. Velmohan and Deputy Correspondent Mr. Shriram Velmohan awarded him a ₹1 crore cash prize. Read all about the grand felicitation ceremony of the World Champion in this article. Photos: Abhyudaya Ram 

A Celebration of Family, Friends, and Colleagues at the Indonesia Chess Museum

05/03/2025 -

There are few chess museums in various countries - Iceland, Netherlands, Russia, Switzerland, Turkiye and now in Indonesia. Museum Catur Indonesia (Indonesia Chess Museum) was soft launched on 26th February 2025. Who are the people who made it happen? Peter Long, who was present at this event, shares everything about it with information and attractive photos. It is located together with Cafe Tutur at the Headquarters of the Utut Adianto Chess School (SCUA) in Bekasi, Indonesia, a FIDE Tier 1 Academy also founded by Eka Putra Wirya. Photos: FM FT IA Peter Long

World Junior R7-8: Pranav maintains his sole lead, Aswath makes a strong comeback

05/03/2025 -

GM Pranav Venkatesh defeated GM Yahli Sokolovsky (ISR) in Round 7 to increase his sole lead by a full point at World Junior 2025 Open. In the following round, Pranav drew with the top seed, GM Daniel Dardha (BEL). He is now at 7/8. IM Aswath S made a fantastic comeback after a 0.5/2 start. Then he won the next six games in-a-row, scoring a double hat-trick. He defeated GM Hamed Wafa (EGY) and FM Benik Agasarov (ARM) in the seventh and eighth round respectively to reduce the gap with Pranav. Aswath is the sole player at 6.5/7, a half point behind the sole leader. Pranav and Aswath will inevitably clash in Round 8 which starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 7:30 p.m. IST.

13-year-old Vivaan Shah wins Rudar tournament and secures first IM norm

05/03/2025 -

13-year-old Vivaan Shah from Surat recently scored his first IM norm at the Rudar tournament in Serbia. Not only this, but he also won the event ahead of three IMs and three GMs. He has seen a meteoric rise in his Elo by gaining 133 points in just three months! This former U-10 national champion is not afraid of any challenge. He takes on strong opponents with a fearless and dynamic playing style! In an interview with Sagar Shah, Vivaan talked about his recent tournament victory, his games, and even solved a chess study. Check out the full article. Photo: CFSL

Prague Masters 2025 R6: Praggnanandhaa douses fire after Shankland sets the board ablaze

04/03/2025 -

All five games in the Masters section of the 7th Prague International Chess Festival 2025 ended in draws. Sam Shankland (USA) made an interesting knight sacrifice to break R Praggnanandhaa's kingside wide open. Praggnanandhaa found some precise defense to hold a draw. Shankland, who is having a tough tournament, gave his all to score his second win of the event. Aravindh Chithambaram had a relatively quiet draw against Liem Quang Le (VIE). Both Aravindh and Praggnanandhaa continue to lead 4/6, staying a full point ahead of the pursuers - Liem, Vincent Keymer (GER), Anish Giri (NED) and Wei Yi (CHN). The seventh round for Masters, Challengers, Futures, and Karel Janeček Open starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 7:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed

Pranesh M dominates 8th Cappelle la Grande Rapid Open 2025, Karthik Venkataraman second

04/03/2025 -

GM Pranesh M scored an unbeaten 8/9 to win 8th Cappelle la Grande Rapid Open 2025. He finished a half point ahead of the rest. GM Karthik Venkataraman scored sole 7.5/9 to secure second place. Eleven players scored 7/9 each. GM Anthony Wirig (FRA) secured third place out of them. GM Raja Rithvik R and IM Arghyadip Das also scored 7/9 each. They werep placed at fifth and ninth place respectively. The total prize fund was €5000. First prize was €1000. The one-day nine round Rapid Rating Open tournament was organized by L'Echiquier Cappellois at Palais des Arts et des Loisirs in Cappelle la Grande, France on 22nd February 2025. Photo: L'Echiquier Cappellois

Karel Janeček Open R5: Raja Rithvik R in a six-pack lead

04/03/2025 -

GM Raja Rithvik R defeated IM Jan Vykouk (CZE) to join the lead at Karel Janeček Open part of 7th Prague International Chess Festival 2025. In an already difficult endgame, Vykouk blundered. It cost him a knight and eventually the game. Five more players are also in the lead. They are - GM Evgenios Ioannidis (GRE), GM Thomas Beerdsen (NED), GM Jergus Pechac (SVK), IM Yuanhe Zhao (CHN), IM Iulian Sofronie (ROU). Currently, WGM Maili-Jade Ouellet (CAN) is the top scorer among female participants. The sixth round for Masters, Challengers, Futures and  Open starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 7:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed

World Junior R5-6: Pranav Venkatesh gains sole lead

03/03/2025 -

GM Pranav Venkatesh defeated GM Emin Ohanyan (ARM) in Round 6 to emerge sole leader 5.5/6. In the previous round, he drew with his coleader - Yihan Meng (CHN). Three players are trailing Pranav by a half point. IM Aswath S is the only Indian at 4.5/6, in a pack of 17 players. Among the Girls, WFM Kesaria Mgeladze (GEO), WFM Mariya Yakimova, WIM Ayan Allahverdiyeva (AZE) and WIM Umida Omonova (UZB) are sharing the lead 5/6 each. Five players are in pursuit at 4.5/6 each. WGM Rakshitta Ravi is one of them. Round 7 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 7:30 p.m. IST.

Prague Masters 2025 R5: Praggnanandhaa and Aravindh draw their game, both remain coleaders

02/03/2025 -

R Praggnanandhaa drew with Aravindh Chithambaram in Round 5 of the 7th Prague International Chess Festival 2025 Masters. Both of them maintain their lead 3.5/5. It was a well contested battle where neither player gave an inch to their opponent. Wei Yi (CHN) registered his second consecutive win of the event. His victory was the solitary one of the round against Sam Shankland (USA). Vincent Keymer (GER) missed a good opportunity against Liem Quang Le (VIE). Keymer, Anish Giri (NED), Liem and Wei are at a full point behind the leaders at a 50% score 2.5/5. A total of 17 players are trailing the leaders in Karel Janeček Open at 3.5/5 each. Among them, there are two Indians - GM Raja Rithvik R and IM Arghyadip Das. The sixth round for Masters, Challengers and Futures, and Round 4 Open starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 7:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed

Aleksandra Goryachkina wins Monaco GP 2025, Humpy second

02/03/2025 -

GM Aleksandra Goryachkina drew with IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul (MGL) in the final round to win FIDE Monaco GP 2025. GM Koneru Humpy defeated IM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ). Goryachkina, Humpy and Batkhuyag, all three ended up having the same score 5.5/9 each. Goryachkina became champion due to better tie-break scores, Humpy secured second place and Batkhuyag third. Humpy's sole loss of the event was against the eventual champion, Goryachkina in the sixth round. The fourth leg of the GP will take place in Cyprus from 14th to 25th March 2025. Photo: FIDE / Niki Riga

March 2025 FIDE Rating list: World Champion D Gukesh becomes World no.3, Praggnanandhaa World no.8

02/03/2025 -

The 18th World Champion, D Gukesh has climbed up to World no.3 in the March 2025 FIDE Rating list. It is his career high ranking. R Praggnanandhaa's fantastic performance at the 87th Tata Steel Masters 2025 moved him up by six places to number eight from 14. Aravindh Chithambaram and Leon Luke Mendonca gained 1.5 Elo rating points each at Bundesliga and in Wijk aan Zee. Pentala Harikrishna gained 8.6 Elo rating points at the Wimbledon of chess to return to 2700+ club. Seven Indians are currently in top 30 which is the highest ever. Koneru Humpy increased her rating by 4.6 points at FIDE Monaco GP. Vaishali R added 8.1 at Tata Steel Challengers to regain India no.2 spot. Photo: ECCC

Prague Masters 2025 R4: Praggnanandhaa prevails Keymer, joins the lead with Aravindh

02/03/2025 -

Aravindh Chithambaram had a solid draw with Sam Shankland (USA) in the fourth round of the 7th Prague International Chess Festival 2025 Masters. He moved to 4/5. R Praggnanandhaa managed to get back in the game after a slightly shaky start in the opening. Vincent Keymer (GER) could not manage to capitalize on his chances and suffered his second defeat of the event. This win allowed Praggnanandhaa to join the lead with Aravindh. They both will face each other in the fifth round. IM Divya Deshmukh drew with GM Qun Ma (CHN) in the Challengers. GM Raja Rithvik R scored a hat-trick of wins by defeating FM Simon Rybka (SVK). The fifth round for Masters, Challengers and Futures, and Round 4 Open starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 7:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed

World Junior R3-4: Pranav and Sarayu in the lead

01/03/2025 -

GM Pranav Venkatesh and Yihan Meng (CHN) are the coleaders at FIDE World Junior Open 2025. Pranav defeated FM Raem Sherman (ISR) to score his fourth consecutive win. IM Gomez Manuel Campos (COL) lost to Yihan Meng (CHN) and the latter joined the lead with Pranav 4/4. In the Girls section, nine of them are at 3.5/4. WIM Sarayu Velpula is the sole Indian among them. WGM Rakshitta Ravi and WGM Savitha Shri B are at 2.5/4 each. Pranav inevitably clash with his coleader Yihan in the fifth round. Sarayu is up against WIM Yelyzaveta Hrebenshchykova (UKR). Round 5 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 7:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Official site

Indian Chess Masters and Indian Chess Masters for the Blind set to happen in Mumbai from 3rd-4th March

01/03/2025 -

After the online qualifiers were held in early January, the Indian Chess Masters and Indian Chess Masters for the Blind finals are set to take place on 3rd-4th march! This event will take place at the Sahara Star Hotel in Mumbai. There are 16 men and 16 women who have qualified to the finals - who will emerge as the Champion? In this article, you will get to know all the information about this event. 

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