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 the 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

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

Avani Acharya Udupi wins SMCA Chess Masters Mumbai Rating Open 2025

Avani Acharya Udupi and Mayuresh Parkar scored 7/8 each at SMCA Chess Masters Rating Open 2025. Avani won the tournament due to better tie-break scores, Mayuresh secured second place. Seven players scored 6.5/8 each. Out of them, Reyaansh Venkat was placed third due to better tie-break scores. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹300000. The top three prizes were ₹30000, ₹20000 and ₹15000 along with a trophy each. The six-day eight round Rating Open tournament was organized by SMCA Chess School Mumbai at Russian Centre For Science and Culture in Mumbai, Maharashtra from 10th to 15th May 2025. This is Udupi's first rating tournament triumph of her career. It is not everyday that a girl wins a rating open tournament but that is changing rapidly. Photo: SMCA

21st Delhi GM Open R4: Eleven players at a perfect score

The top two seeds - GM S L Narayanan and GM Diptayan Ghosh won their fourth round game at 21st Delhi GM Open 2025. Narayanan capitalized on his opponent's mistake in the rook and same color bishop endgame. Diptayan had a relatively comfortable win. The National Under-11 Open 2024 champion, CM Madhvendra Pratap Sharma put up a very good fight against GM Deepan Chakkravarthy. Only in a complex position, the 11-year-old could not seize his advantage after his opponent made an error. Bivor Adak held the third seeded, GM Levan Pantsulaia (GEO) to a solid draw. A total of eleven players including two IMs - Dinesh Kumar Sharma and Harsh Suresh are at a perfect score 4/4. Round 5 starts today at 9:30 a.m. IST. Photos: Anmol Bhargav

Evan Antonio Telles and Shreyanshi Jain dominate 38th National Under-7 Open and Girls Championship 2025

Evan Antonio Telles (Goa) scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 to win 38th National Under-7 Open Championship 2025. He finished a full point ahead of the rest. Duvesh Milan P (PUD), Ansh Dadhich (MAH) and Vivaan Vardhan Sahu (KAR) scored 7.5/9 each to finish second, third and fourth respectively according to tie-breaks. In the Girls event, Shreyanshi Jain (RAJ) scored a perfect 9/9 to become the champion. She finished a staggering 1.5 points ahead of the rest. Anika K (TN) scored sole 7.5/9 to secure second place. Seven players scored 7/9. Among them, the top seed, Saiaastha Singh (WB) was placed third as she had the best tie-break score. The total prize fund combining Open and Girls section was ₹500000. The top three prizes in both Open and Girls sections were ₹50000, ₹36000 and ₹30000 along with a trophy each respectively. Photos: Swayangsu Satyakam

Arush Chitre wins 1st VNIT Rapid Rating Open 2025

Five players - CM Arush Chitre, IM Aakash Sharadchandra Dalvi, FM Vaibhav Jayant Raut, Siddhant Gawai and Dishank Sachin Baja scored 8/9 at 1st VNIT Rapid Rating Open 2025. Arush won the tournament due to better tie-break scores. The remaining four were placed second to fifth respectively according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹225000. The top three prizes were ₹45000, ₹31000 and ₹20000 along with a trophy each. The one-day nine round Rapid Rating Open tournament was organized by Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology Nagpur and Kalpana Prakash Welfare Foundation at VNIT Nagpur in Nagpur, Maharashtra on 12th May 2025. This is Arush's first rating tournament triumph of the year. Photo: Bhushan Shriwas

Arjun Erigaisi is World no.3 again in June 2025 FIDE Rating List

Arjun Erigaisi has returned to World no.3 in FIDE Rating List June 2025. Although, his games from Norway Chess did not get counted as they concluded in June, still other players movements helped him to regain his no.3 place first time in a published FIDE Rating list since October 2024. R Praggnanandhaa gained 8.6 Elo rating points by winning Superbet Chess Classic 2025. He maintained his World no.7 rank. Seven Indians are still in top 30. GM Nihal Sarin gained 3.4 Elo rating points by winning Silver at Asian Individual Men 2025. GM R Vaishali increased her rating by 6 points to move to World no.14 among Women. IM Vantika Agrawal added 10.9 Elo rating points combining at Asian Individual Women 2025. Four Indian Women are still among Top 20. Photo: Norway Chess/Michal Walusza