How India's recent International Master Akshay Borgaonkar conquered both chess and academics

A few months back, 16-year-old Akshay Borgaonkar from Pune became an International Master. He earned both his final IM norm and his maiden GM norm at the SixDays Budapest March GM-A Round Robin tournament, scoring an impressive 7/9. Soon after that, he also scored a phenomenal 98% in his Class 10 CBSE exams! Juggling international tournaments, chess training, and board exam preparation is no easy task. To do all of this, you need clarity and immense self-discipline. Akshay seems to have those in abundance! He balanced his chess and academics so beautifully. While many young athletes are forced to choose between their passion and academics, Akshay, with his right mindset and time management, has shown that it is possible to pursue both and excel. In this article, he shares exactly how he managed to do it. So, read on to learn from his journey in his own words!

World Rapid Teams R5-8: Hexamind hexes MGD1 to join the lead

Hexamind Chess Team ended Team MGD1's unbeaten streak in Round 2 of FIDE World Rapid Team Championship 2025. Freedom was the first team to halt MGD1's winning streak in Round 5 when the match ended in a 3-3 draw. Hexamind finished the day by beating two top teams - WR Chess and MGD1 in Round 7 and 8 respectively. Both Hexamind and MGD1 are currently at 13/18 each, closely followed by Freedom, Uzbekistan and, Germany and Friends at 12/18 each. Atharvaa P Tayade is indubitably the top performer of the event so far. He has won all eight games he has played so far. Four more rounds of Rapid will be played today. Round 9 starts today at 2 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Rafal Oleksiewicz

5th Cairns Cup R3: Carissa Yip swindles Nino Batsiashvili

IM Carissa Yip (USA) swindled GM Nino Batsiashvili (GEO) in Round 3 of 5th Cairns Cup 2025. The Georgian GM made an interesting knight sacrifice and could have won the game, if she spotted the correct continuation. A few mistakes allowed the American to turn things around and score the sole victory of the day. GMs Harika Dronavalli and Koneru Humpy played well contested draws against GM Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) and IM Alina Kashlinskaya (POL) respectively. IM Alice Lee (USA) drew against GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) to maintain her sole lead 2.5/3. Round 4 starts today at 12 p.m. local time, 10:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club

21st Delhi GM Open R8: Mihail Nikitenko joins Abhijeet Gupta in the lead

GM Abhijeet Gupta played a relatively calm draw against GM Manuel Petrosyan (ARM) to maintain his lead at 21st Delhi GM Open 2025. GM Mihail Nikitenko won against GM Luka Paichadze (GEO) to join the lead with Abhijeet. Both are at 7/8 each. IM Neelash Saha, IM Aronyak Ghosh and IM Sriram Adarsh Uppala drew against GM S L Narayanan, GM Vitaly Sivuk (SWE) and GM Manik Mikulas (SVK) respectively. GM Diptayan Ghosh got the better of GM Boris Savchenko in the queen and minor piece endgame. IM P Saravana Krishnan could not get out of the gate against GM Aditya S Samant. Viresh Sharnarthi continues his good form as he defeated IM Hari Madhavan N B. Round 9 starts today at 10 a.m. IST. Photos: Anmol Bhargav

Inside the mind of Chess.com CEO Erik Allebest

What does it take to build a massive global platform, just out of passion? In this candid interview, Sagar Shah delves deep with Erik Allebest, the man behind Chess.com. Erik shares his story, from bootstrapping an idea to leading a company of more than 700 people. As you read, you will discover a multifaceted individual: an inspiring entrepreneur, a powerful leader, a deeply emotional husband, an avid chess fan, and an all-around amazing person! It's a rare, closer look into the mind and journey of the force who built not only one, but three successful businesses. Read the article to know the full story.

World Rapid Teams R1-4: MGD1 makes a perfect start

MGD1 has made a perfect start by winning all four of their matches on the first day of FIDE World Rapid Team Championship 2025. Uzbekistan lost to MGD1 by a minimum margin 2.5-3.5. WR Chess, Freedom and Malcolm's Mates are at 7/8 each. Each of those three teams drew one match. Both Arjun Erigaisi and Pentala Harikrishna suffered a loss each. However, they are the top two players of the team and would certainly like to continue their momentum. Vishy Anand played two games for his team and he won both. Sarbartho Mani scored 3/4 including a walk over. Four more rounds of Rapid will be played today. Round 1 starts today at 2 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Abhyudaya Ram

5th Cairns Cup R2: Alice Lee wins two in-a-row

IM Alice Lee (USA) scored a huge win over the 15th Women's World Champion, GM Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) in Round 2 of 5th Cairns Cup 2025. The teenager needed only one opportunity and she seized it correctly. She is now the sole player who has won both of her games so far. GM Koneru Humpy and GM Harika Dronavalli drew against GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN) and GM Nino Batsiashvili (GEO) respectively. Both of them were well contested draws. The only other victory of the round was scored by GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) over GM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ). Round 3 starts today at 12 p.m. local time, 10:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club

21st Delhi GM Open R7: Abhijeet Gupta emerges sole leader

GM Abhijeet Gupta defeated GM Mamikon Gharibyan (ARM) to emerge sole leader at the conclusion of Round 7 at 21st Delhi GM Open 2025. Mamikon made a positional mistake in the middlegame and he did not get enough compensation for the lost pawn. It helped Abhijeet to win the game and take his score 6.5/7. The top seed, GM S L Narayanan made a 19-move draw against GM Boris Savchenko. IM Aronyak Ghosh, Viresh Sharnarthi and Advik Amit Agrawal defeated GM Duc Hoa Nguyen (VIE), GM Levan Pantsulaia (GEO) and GM Tornike Sanikidze (GEO). Narayanan, Aronyak and IM Neelash Saha are three Indians trailing the leader by a half point at 6/7 each among eight players. Round 8 starts today at 10 a.m. IST. Photos: Anmol Bhargav

Maitreyi Mondal wins 16th KIIT Chess Festival Category B Below 1900 Rating 2025

Maitreyi Mondal and Debanjan Sinha scored an unbeaten 9/10 each at 16th KIIT International Chess Festival Category B Below 1900 Rating Tournament 2025. Maitreyi won the tournament due to better tie-break scores, Debanjan secured second place. Soumalya Mondal scored sole 8.5/10 to be placed third. Maitreyi drew her eighth round game against the eventual runner-up, Debanjan. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹1500000. The top three prizes were ₹100000, ₹75000 and ₹60000 along with a trophy each. The four-day ten round Below 1900 Rating tournament was organized by and at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology in Bhubaneswar, Odisha from 9th to 12th May 2025. This is Maitreyi's first individual rating tournament triumph of the year. It is not every day that a girl wins a rating open/restricted tournament, but that is changing rapidly.

Anand, Arjun, Nihal, Vidit, Harikrishna and co. set for FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team 2025 starting today

A dozen Indians are set to take part in the third edition of FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships 2025. The Rapid will take from 11th to 13th June. The Blitz event will be held on 14th and 15th June. A total of 12 Indians are slated to take part. They are - GM Vishy Anand, GM Arjun Erigaisi, GM Nihal Sarin, GM Vidit Gujrathi, GM Pentala Harikrishna, GM Pranav Venkatesh, GM Leon Luke Mendonca, GM Srinath Narayanan, IM Divya Deshmukh, Atharvaa P Tayade, Sarbartho Mani and Aryaman Ganguly. The total prize fund in Rapid is €310000 an increase of 24% from the previous edition, for Blitz €190000, an increase of 90%. The top three prizes in Rapid are €110000, 70000 and 50000 each, for Blitz €75000, €50000 and €30000 each respectively. Four rounds of Rapid will be played today. Round 1 starts today at 2 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. Graphic: FIDE

5th Cairns Cup R1: Humpy and Harika make a winning start

GM Koneru Humpy and GM Harika Dronavalli won their respective games in the first round of 5th Cairns Cup 2025. Humpy had an exciting game against GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO). The Georgian went wrong in a sharp position where she could have maintained the upper hand. Harika grinded a rook and minor piece endgame against IM Carissa Yip (USA). Ideally it should have ended in a draw. However, the American made an incorrect pawn sacrifice which turned things in Harika's favor. IM Alina Kashlinskaya (POL), GM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ) and IM Alice Lee (USA) are the remaining three victors of the round. Round 2 starts today at 12 p.m. local time, 10:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club

16th Dolomiti International : Martin Takes Sole Lead, Himal Close Behind

The 16th edition of the Dolomiti International Chess Tournament is currently underway in the picturesque alpine town of Forni di Sopra, Italy. Surrounded by the majestic Dolomite mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the event has attracted players from nine countries.

As the tournament crosses its halfway point, the competition is heating up on the board. Leading the pack is Bulgaria’s top seed Grandmaster Martin Petrov, who remains unbeaten with four wins and a draw. Close behind is India’s International Master Himal Gusain, showing impressive form with three wins and two draws. With his live rating inching closer to the coveted 2500 mark, Himal is steadily progressing toward one of the key requirements for the Grandmaster title.Read this report & Photos from this beautiful location by Niklesh Jain.

21st Delhi GM Open R5-6: S L Narayanan and Abhijeet Gupta in a six-pack lead

GM S L Narayanan and GM Abhijeet Gupta are the only two Indians in the lead at 21st Delhi GM Open 2025. Both of them won their fourth round game before facing each other in the following round. It ended in a draw. They are joined by GM Mamikon Gharibyan (ARM), GM Boris Savchenko, GM Manuel Petrosyan (ARM) and GM Luka Paichadze (GEO). A dozen players are trailing them by a half point at 5/6 each. Alekhya Mukhopadhyay and Bivor Adak are the two untitled players among them. Alekhya defeated IM Hari Madhavan N B and drew against GM Aditya S Samant in the final double round of the tournament. Round 7 starts today at 10 a.m. IST. Photos: Anmol Bhargav

GM Harshit Raja dominates with 13-3 score in thrilling simul!

The 69th Grandmaster of India, Harshit Raja gave an exciting simultaneous exhibition to 16 players on 18th May 2025. The simul happened at the Phoenix ChessBase India Chess Club right after The Big Chess Inter-School Tournament. Out of the 16 participants, 12 were the top two finishers of each category of the Inter-School tournament while the other four were specially chosen. From the very start, the simul was thrilling to watch. All players gave their best and some even managed to give him a tough fight. In the end, Harshit dominated with an impressive score of 13-3. Check out the article for more details.

Humpy and Harika set to face World's Top Women at 5th Cairns Cup

GM Koneru Humpy and GM Harika Dronavalli will face the world's top women at 5th Cairns Cup 2025 starting today. 16th Women's World Champion, GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN) is the defending champion. The remaining seven players are - GM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ), GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO), GM Mariya Muzychuk (UKR), GM Nino Batsiashvili (GEO), IM Alina Kashlinskaya (POL), IM Carissa Yip (USA) and IM Alice Lee (USA). The ten-player strong round-robin tournament has a total prize fund of US$ 250000, an increase of $50000, 25% of total prize fund. The top three prizes are $60000, $50000 and $40000 each. Round 1 starts today at 12 p.m. local time, 10:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club