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Sahib Singh receives Rs. 54,000 through the Sri V.S. Phani Sarma Scholarship

16/07/2025 -

The HelpChess Foundation has been working to support talented chess players across India through various scholarships. One such initiative is the Sri V.S. Phani Sarma Scholarship worth Rs. 54,000, which is launched in memory of a passionate chess lover, Phani Sarma. This scholarship has been awarded to 16-year-old Sahib Singh, who recently earned the International Master title. This article shares the story behind the scholarship and how it will help Sahib move closer to his dream of becoming a Grandmaster. Read on to know more.

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

Md. Imran convincingly clinches Koneru Purnachandra Rao Gold Cup and Rolling Shield Rating Open 2025

16/07/2025 -

The top seed of the tournament, IM Md. Imran scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 to win Koneru Purnachandra Rao Gold Cup and Rolling Shield Rating Open 2025. He finished a half point ahead of the rest. Three players - Raghav Srivathsav V, Abhishek T M and Karan J P scored 8/9 each. They secured second to fourth place respectively according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund was ₹805000. The top three prizes were ₹75000, ₹50000 and ₹25000 along with a trophy each. The five-day nine round rating tournament was organized by Hyderabad District Chess Association at LB Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad, Telangana from 26th to 30th June 2025. This is Imran's fourth rating tournament triumph of the year. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy

Praggnanandhaa, Arjun and Vidit set to face Carlsen and co. at Freestyle Grand Slam Tour Las Vegas

16/07/2025 -

Freestyle Grand Slam Tour Stage 4 starts today in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. This will be the first time the event expands to 16 players and also a woman - GM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ), former two-time World Blitz Women's champion make her debut. World's top five ranked players - Magnus Carlsen (NOR), Hikaru Nakamura (USA), Fabiano Caruana (USA), R Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi will be competing at this event. The players have been divided into an eight-player group of White and Black. Top four players from each group will advance to the Upper Bracket Quarterfinals, while the bottom four finishers of each group will move to the Bottom Bracket Quarterfinals. Round 1 starts today at 11 a.m. local time, 10:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy

Biel GMT R1: Fedoseev and Aravindh unyielding at the top

16/07/2025 -

GM Vladimir Fedoseev (SLO) and GM Aravindh Chithambaram played another exciting draw in the first round of 58th Biel Chess Festival GMT Masters Qualifiers event. Unlike their Rapid encounter, neither side had any real chance to push for a win. The remaining two Masters games also ended in draws. In the Challengers section, all three games ended decisively. GM Nikolas Theodorou (GRE), GM Aram Hakobyan (ARM) and GM David Navara (CZE) scored a win each against GM Rinat Jumabayev (KAZ), GM Qun Ma (CHN) and GM Daniel Dardha (BEL) respectively. Theodorou maintains his sole lead 12/14. Round 2 starts today at 2 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Biel Chess Festival

Sharan Rao perfect at DAV-Go Checkmate Rapid Rating Open 2025

15/07/2025 -

IM Sharan Rao scored a perfect 6/6 to win DAV-Go Checkmate Rapid Rating Open 2025, part of International Chess Prix. Four players - IM Ricardo De Guzman (PHI), IM Zhaoqi Liu (CHN), WIM Isha Sharma and Jing Xi Jonathan Lee (SGP) scored 5/6 each. They secured second to fifth place respectively according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund was SG$ 7500. The top two prizes were $300 and $112 along with a trophy each. The one-day six round rating tournament was organized by Go Checkmate Pte Ltd at DAV Hindi School in Singapore on 28th June 2025. This is Sharan's second tournament triumph of the year. The International Chess Prix took place from 23rd to 28th June. Photo: Tan Rui / Go Checkmate Pte Ltd.

Visakh N R dominates 5th Città di San Leo International Open 2025, Aakanksha Hagawane second

15/07/2025 -

GM Visakh N R scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 to win 5th Città di San Leo International Open 2025. He finished a staggering 1.5 points ahead of the rest. Visakh's better half, WIM Aakanksha Hagawane scored 7/9 to secure second place. He won the tournament with a round to spare. GM Miroljub Lazic (SRB) and GM Stefan Djuric (SRB) scored 6.5/9 each. They secured third and fourth place respectively according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund was €3700. Top three prizes were €1000 + cup, €750 and €500 along with a medal each. The seven-day nine round tournament was organized by AD Circolo Scacchi Montefeltro at Palazzo Mediceo in San Leo, Italy from 16th to 22nd June 2025. This is Visakh's third overall, second individual tournament victory of the year. He had won this event three years ago. Photo: Leonardo Pruccoli

Women's World Cup 2025 Round 3 TB: Harika and Vaishali move to Pre Quarterfinals

15/07/2025 -

IM Vantika Agrawal's fantastic run at the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 came to an end. She missed all her chances to win her games and the match against the former three-time World Blitz Women's champion, GM Kateryna Lagno. GM R Vaishali survived two losses before winning the next two games consecutively against IM Carissa Yip (USA) to move to Round 4. GM Harika Dronavalli missed her chances in the first two 15'+10" Rapid tie-break games. However, she managed to seize her opportunity in the next two 10'+10" Rapid games to advance to the Pre Quarterfinal stage. Today is the first of two rest days. Round 4 Game 1 will start tomorrow Wednesday 16th July at 3 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Harikrishnan A Ra becomes the 87th Grandmaster of India

14/07/2025 -

IM Harikrishnan A Ra became the 87th Indian to achieve the Grandmaster title on Friday 11th July 2025 at 5th La Plagne Masters 2025. A draw against the reigning National Rapid 2025 champion, GM Iniyan Pa in the final round secured his final GM-norm. Harikrishnan earned his first GM-norm in July 2023 at 56th Biel Chess Festival Master Tournament (MTO) 2023. Nearly two years later, he scored his second GM-norm at Lince Andújar Open 2025 in Andújar, Spain. Before that, in June 2024, he got a published rating of 2502. The Grandmaster title has always been an inevitability for him. There was never a question of if, it was always when he will fulfill the GM title requirements. Check out the journey of the talented boy from Chennai.

Biel GMT: Fedoseev and Aravindh top the Rapid

14/07/2025 -

GM Vladimir Fedoseev (SLO) and GM Aravindh Chithambaram topped the 58th Biel Chess Festival GMT Masters Rapid 2025. They started the day by facing each other. Although the battle ended in a draw, it was an exciting one which could have gone either player's way. Both Fedoseev and Aravindh are at 7/10 each, closely followed by GM Radoslaw Wojtaszek (POL) and GM Volodar Murzin at 6/10 and 5/10 each. GM Nikolas Theodorou (GRE) topped the GMT Challengers with an unbeaten 8/10. Today is a rest day for both GMT events. GMT Masters and Challengers Round 1 starts tomorrow Tuesday 15th July at 2 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Master Tournament (MTO) Round 1 starts today at the same time. Photo: Biel Chess Festival

What helped Harikrishnan become India's 87th Grandmaster?

14/07/2025 -

Making the leap from International Master (IM) to Grandmaster (GM), especially after the age of 20, is a demanding journey. It requires not only immense effort, determination, and adaptability, but also several other important factors. This article explores those factors that shape the final stretch from IM to GM, with the recent success of GM Harikrishnan as an example. He secured his 2nd and 3rd GM norms back-to-back at the Lince Andújar open and the La Plagne Open. This will offer valuable insights into what it truly takes to cross that final hurdle. Photo: Shyam Sundar

Women's World Cup 2025 Round 3.2: Divya and Humpy advance to Round 4

14/07/2025 -

IM Divya Deshmukh and GM Koneru Humpy have advanced to Round 4 of FIDE Women's World Cup 2025. Divya drew with the reigning European Individual Women's champion, IM Teodora Injac (SRB) as it was enough for her to secure her place in the final 16. Divya will face her toughest challenge of the event so far in the form of GM Jiner Zhu (CHN). Humpy on the other hand defeated IM Klaudia Kulon (POL) convincingly to move to Round of 16. IM Vantika Agrawal suffered a loss against GM Kateryna Lagno. GM Harika Dronavalli drew her game against IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE). GM R Vaishali and IM Carissa Yip (USA), missed their chances against each other and their game ended in a draw. Vantika, Harika and Vaishali will play tie-breaks today starting at 3 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Alexey Sarana clear first at Aktobe Open 2025 Masters, Aryan Chopra second

13/07/2025 -

GM Alexey Sarana (SRB) scored an unbeaten 7/9 to win Aktobe Open Masters - Vladimir Dvorkovich Memorial 2025. Alexey performed at 2726 and finished a half point ahead of the rest. Five players - GM Aryan Chopra, GM Zhamsaran Tsydypov, GM Iniyan Pa, GM Murtas Kazhgaleyev (KAZ) and GM Hao Wang (CHN) scored 6.5/9 each. They secured second to sixth place respectively. 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 in Aktobe, Kazakhstan from 22nd to 30th June 2025. Photo: Kazakhstan Chess Federation

Mustafa Yilmaz perfect at Biel Swiss Rapid Fischer Random Championship 2025, Karthikeyan Murali third

13/07/2025 -

GM Mustafa Yilmaz (TUR) scored a perfect 7/7 to win 58th Biel Chess Festival Swiss Rapid Chess960 Championship. He finished a full point ahead of the rest. IM Banh Gia Huy (VIE) scored sole 6/7 to secure second place. GM Karthikeyan Murali and Junchen He (CHN) scored 5.5/7. Karthikeyan was placed third due to better tie-break scores. The total prize fund was CHF 500. The top three prizes were CHF 250, 150 and 100. GM Radoslaw Wojtaszek (POL) won the Accentus Chess 960 GMT Masters, GM Rinat Jumabayev (KAZ) won the Challengers. Both scored 4.5/7 each. Rapid tournament for GMT Masters, Challengers and Open starts today at 2 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Biel Chess Festival

Women's World Cup 2025 Round 3.1: Vantika Agrawal upsets Kateryna Lagno

13/07/2025 -

IM Vantika Agrawal is on a huge roll at FIDE Women's World Cup 2025. She defeated GM Kateryna Lagno in Round 3 Game 1. The former World Rapid and three-time World Blitz Women's champion erred in a difficult position. It cost her material and Vantika scored the victory convincingly. IM Divya Deshmukh won against the reigning European Women's champion, IM Teodora Injac (SRB). One tiny inaccuracy in the endgame is all it took for Divya to bag the advantage and point. GM Harika Dronavalli missed a few great chances to win against IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE). GM Koneru Humpy was lost for the better part of the game against IM Klaudia Kulon (POL). Somehow she managed to survive and salvage a draw. GM R Vaishali made a quick 13-move draw against IM Carissa Yip (USA). Round 3 Game 2 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

New: Adrian Mikhalchishin: Master your Technique Vol. 2 - Winning strategies you must know

12/07/2025 -

Master Your Technique Vol. 2 by Adrian Mikhalchishin takes you deeper into the technical foundations of practical chess, focusing on converting advantages and mastering key endgame and middlegame imbalances. Through structured lessons and model games, you'll learn crucial skills like precise endgame technique, double attacks, attacking on open files, and the principle of two weaknesses. This course is ideal for ambitious players who want to turn good positions into wins with confidence and clarity. Apart from downloading files and installing on your computer, you can also stream videos and study from ChessBase books on any device - computer, smartphone, tablets etc. The app runs on both Windows and Mac OSX. For Windows device, Windows 10 or higher is required. Photo: ChessBase

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