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19-year-old Divya Deshmukh stuns Koneru Humpy in the all-Indian final of the Women's World Cup in Batumi, becoming the youngest champion and India’s 88th Grandmaster.

Divya Deshmukh Wins FIDE Women's World Cup, Becomes Grandmaster

Divya Deshmukh Achieves Grandmaster Status at World Cup

19-year-old Divya Deshmukh stuns Koneru Humpy in the all-Indian final of the Women's World Cup in Batumi, becoming the youngest champion and India&rsquo;s 88th Grandmaster.

Teenaged Indian chess player Divya Deshmukh became the youngest to win the Women's World Cup in Batumi (Georgia) on Monday as she outwitted the seasoned Koneru Humpy in the tie-breaker of an all-Indian final which left the youngster emotionally overwhelmed.
The victory not just earned the 19-year-old the prestigious title, but also made her a Grandmaster, something which looked improbable when she started the tournament.
The victory for the Nagpur player came after the two classical games played on Saturday and Sunday ended in draws.
After the drawn games, it was the first set of tiebreakers that proved decisive as Humpy lost the battle of nerves. Except the World Cup and the Women's World Championship, Humpy has won everything under the sun but, and as fate would have it the World Cup title eluded her again.
Deshmukh showed steely resolve on Monday, and the bonus for the determination was the Grandmaster title -- reserved for the champion of this event.
Deshmukh is now the fourth Indian woman player to achieve the GM feat after Humpy, Dronavalli Harika and R Vaishali.
Humpy, 38, became a Grandmaster in 2002 and Divya was born in 2005.
For the record, Deshmukh became the 88th Grandmaster of the country and if she continues to remain resolute in her endeavour, she has the ability to achieve great success.
Deshmukh was a bundle of energy as she kept piling pressure on Humpy in the opening tiebreaker, tiring out her illustrious opponent and then going for the kill in the return tiebreaker.
Out of a Petroff defense, Deshmukh got an isolated Queen pawn middle game and sacrificed a pawn to give Humpy better prospects in the opening tiebreaker. However, Humpy returned the favour with her clock ticking away, and soon enough she was staring at a position where she had a rook, bishop and a pawn against Deshmukh's Queen.
The position, however, remained close to being equal and Humpy drew quite easily in the end.
In the return game, Humpy employed the Catalan opening. Deshmukh was well prepared as she equalised without much ado. Humpy had sacrificed a pawn early but the ensuing queen-and-rook endgame was just a draw.
It was on the 40th move that Humpy lost her cool and tried to invade the opposition through a pawn sacrifice. Deshmukh could have done better but the rook-and-pawns endgame she reached was still a draw.
This was Deshmukh's day as Humpy again ran a bit short of time and blundered in the endgame again, leading to a theoretically win position for the younger Indian.
The fortunes in this game fluctuated between a draw and a win for Divya for a long time, till the Nagpur girl prevailed.
An emotional Deshmukh couldn't hold back her tears following the victory against an opponent twice her age.
"I need time to process it (win). I think it was fate, me getting the Grandmaster title this way because before this (tournament) I didn't even have one (GM) norm, and now I am the Grandmaster," said Divya.
Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand, who was keenly following the game, hailed the teenager's win and called it a "great celebration of Indian chess".
"Congratulations to @Divyadeshmukh05 on winning the World Cup. Becoming GM and a spot in the candidates. Amazing battle of nerves. @humpy_koneru played a very good event and showed a commendable fighting spirit. The great champion she is! It was a great celebration of Indian chess, particularly Women's chess," wrote Anand on 'X'.&nbsp;

India will host the 2025 Chess World Cup from October 30. The event features 206 players in a knockout format, including top players like Magnus Carlsen. This prestigious tournament will also serve as a qualifying event for the 2026 Candidates Tournament.

India Set to Host 2025 FIDE Chess World Cup in October

The Chess World Cup will take place in India from October 30 to November 27. Participants include top players like Magnus Carlsen. This knockout format tournament serves as a qualifier for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, attracting global interest. 

India to Host 2025 Chess World Cup

India will host the 2025 Chess World Cup from October 30 to November 27. 206 players will compete in a knockout format to qualify for the 2026 Candidates Tournament.
&nbsp;

New Delhi, Jul 21 (PTI) - India is set to host this year's Chess World Cup from October 30 to November 27, with the specific host city to be announced later, the worldwide governing body for chess, FIDE, declared on Monday.
This prestigious tournament will feature 206 players who will not only vie for the esteemed title but also compete for qualification spots in the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament. The last time India hosted this event was in 2002 in Hyderabad, where Viswanathan Anand took home the victory.
Players will face off in a knockout format where each losing competitor is eliminated from further contention.
"Over the years, the event has experimented with various formats, but since 2021, it has adopted a single-elimination format. Each matchup lasts three days, consisting of two classical games on the first two days and, if needed, tie-breaks on the third day," clarified FIDE.
During the initial round, the top 50 players automatically proceed to the next stage, while those seeded between 51 and 206 will compete in matchups based on the principle of the top half being paired against the reversed lower half.
"The top three finishers in the 2025 World Cup will secure direct spots in the 2026 Candidates Tournament, which ultimately selects the challenger for the World Chess Championship," FIDE added.
The 2023 World Cup runner-up, R Praggnanandhaa, reigning world champion D Gukesh, and Arjun Erigaisi, currently ranked world number five, are among the luminaries scheduled to compete. World number one Magnus Carlsen is also set to participate in this biennial event, having previously clinched the title in 2023.
India has recently become a hotbed for major chess events, having hosted the 2022 Chess Olympiad, Tata Steel Chess India, the 2024 World Junior U20 Championships, and the 5th leg of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix in April this year.
"We are thrilled to bring the FIDE World Cup 2025 to India, a nation with an entrenched love and enthusiasm for chess. Indian chess enthusiasts are always passionately engaged, and we anticipate substantial interest in the event both in-person and online," expressed FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky in a press release.
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R Praggnanandhaa defeated Magnus Carlsen at the USD 750,000 Freestyle Grand Slam Tour in Las Vegas, advancing to the quarterfinals.

Praggnanandhaa Defeats Carlsen in Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Quarterfinals

In a landmark victory, R Praggnanandhaa defeated Magnus Carlsen at the USD 750,000 Freestyle Grand Slam Tour.

Praggnanandhaa Triumphs Over Carlsen in Chess

Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa defeated Magnus Carlsen, advancing to the quarterfinals of the USD 750,000 Freestyle Grand Slam Tour.

Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa took down world number one Magnus Carlsen en route the top-bracket quarterfinals along with Arjun Erigaisi at the USD 750,000 Freestyle Grand Slam Tour in Las Vegas.
Praggnanandhaa continued the recent trend of Indian players outsmarting Carlsen and sent the Norwegian's campaign haywire on Wednesday. Carlsen has in recent weeks also been beaten by reigning world champion D Gukesh, who is not competing here.
The 19-year-old Praggnanandhaa was in his elements as he effectively deployed his pieces right from the word go and even though Carlsen got some chances, Praggnanandhaa crashed through with some imaginative manoeuvres.
The loss against Praggnanandhaa had such a cascading effect on Carlsen that he lost another game against Wesley So in the next round and was shockingly eliminated from the top bracket by Levon Aronian of United States 2-0 in the final tiebreaker for the fourth spot that ensued.
The 16-player event was divided into two groups of eight each and the top four from each pool advanced to the quarterfinals after playing once with each of the other participant.
The rules have been framed in such a way that those who do not make the top bracket in the first set of qualifiers can no longer win the event and Carlsen can at best finish third if he wins the remaining matches.
Erigaisi was the other Indian from the second group who made it to the quarterfinals. It was a fine come-from-behind performance by Erigaisi, who faced some initial struggles.
Praggnanandhaa tied for the first spot on 4.5 points out of a possible seven in his group with Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sandarov, along with Aronian, finishing on four points.
Carlsen ended fifth ahead of Vincent Keymer of Germany, Wesley So and lone woman participant Bibisara Assaubayeva of Kazakhstan.
In the second group christened black, Hikaru Nakamura topped the standings with an astonishing 6/7 with his American country-man Hans Niemann finishing second on 4.5 points.
Erigaisi finished tied third on four points with another local star Fabiano Caruana.
Another American trio of Leinier Dominguez Perez, Sevian Samuel and Robson Ray finished 5-7 in the second group with Indian Vidit Gujrathi ending on the last spot.
In the Quarterfinals now, Praggnannadhaa will meet Fabiano Caruana of United States while Erigaisi will have to tackle Abdusattorov.
Results qualifiers group white: 1-3: R Praggnanandhaa (Ind); Abdusattorov Nodirbek (Uzb) Javokhir Sandarov (Uzb) 4.5 each; 4-5: Levon Aronian (Usa) Magnus Carlsen (Nor) 4 each; 6-7: Vincent Keymer (Ger), Wesley So (Usa) 3 each; 8. Bibisara Assaubuyeva (Kaz, 0.5).
Group black: 1. Hikaru Nakamura (Usa, 6); 2. Hans Moke Niemann (Usa, 4.5); 3-4. Arjun Erigaisi (Ind), Fabiano Caruana (Usa) 4 each; 5. Leinier Dominguez Perez (Usa, 3) 6-7: Sevian Samual (Usa), Robron Ray (Usa) 2.5 each; 8. Vidit Gujrathi (Ind, 1.5).
Pairings quarterfinals: Praggnanandhaa vs Caruana; Abdusattorov vs Arjun; Aronian vs Nakamura; Niemann vs Sindarov.
Lower bracket: Carlsen vs Gujrathi; Robson vs Keymer; Dominguez vs Assaubayeva; Samuel vs Wesley.&nbsp;

Indian players Divya Deshmukh and Koneru Humpy advance to the last-16 in the FIDE Women's World Cup. D Harika, Vantika Agrawal, and R. Vaishali await tiebreak games.

Divya Deshmukh and Koneru Humpy Advance in FIDE Women's World Cup

Showcasing resilience, Divya Deshmukh and Koneru Humpy progress to the last-16 of the FIDE Women's World Cup. Indian players D Harika, Vantika Agrawal, and R. Vaishali face crucial tiebreakers, seeking further advancement.

Divya & Humpy Advance in FIDE Women's World Cup

Divya Deshmukh and Koneru Humpy reach the last-16 of the FIDE Women's World Cup, showcasing resilience. Indian players D Harika, Vantika Agrawal, and R. Vaishali prepare for tiebreakers. The tournament offers a prize pool of USD 691,250.

Batumi (Georgia), Jul 14 (PTI) &mdash; In a significant display of skill at the FIDE Women's World Cup, Woman Grandmaster Divya Deshmukh and the trailblazing Koneru Humpy from India have secured their places in the last-16, each demonstrating unique resilience.
Divya, having entered the match with a one-point lead, managed to secure the required draw against Serbia's Teodora Injac. Meanwhile, Koneru Humpy showed remarkable tenacity to outplay Poland's Kulon Klaudia and join her compatriot in the next round.
India's hopes continue to hang in the balance as three other competitors &mdash; D Harika, Vantika Agrawal, and R. Vaishali &mdash; await their fate in the upcoming tiebreakers. Grandmaster Harika's persistent efforts kept her in contention after consecutive draws against Greece's Tsolakidou Stavroula. Vantika, who initially celebrated a victory over Russia's Kateryna Lagno, found herself needing a tiebreaker after dropping the return game.
As Vantika, Harika, and Vaishali brace for the tiebreak games, there's still potential to advance into the round of 16. A lucrative prize pool of USD 691,250 awaits, with USD 50,000 earmarked for the winner. Furthermore, the top three finishers will qualify for the next Candidates Tournament, gearing up to challenge Ju Wenjun, the reigning women's world champion.
Complete Round 2 results: Antoaneta Stefanova (Bul) was defeated by Lei Tingjie (Chn) 0-2; Zhu Jiner (Chn) emerged victorious over Aleksandra Maltsveskaya (Pol) 2-0; Irina Bulmaga (Rou) was bested by Tan Zhongyi (Chn) 0.5-2.5; Koneru Humpy (Ind) succeeded against Kulon Klaudia (Pol) 1.5-0.5. Anna Muzychuk (Ukr) drew with Yixing Song (Chn) 1-1, leading to a tiebreak; Vantika Agrawal tied with Kateryna Lagno (Fid) 1-1, proceeding to a tiebreak; Nana Dzagnidze (Geo) tied with Valentina Gunina (Fid) 1-1, moving to a tiebreak; Bella Khotenashvili (Geo) fell to Mariya Muzychuk (Ukr) 0-2; D. Harika (Ind) drew with Tsolakidou Stavroula (Gre); Carissa Yip (USA) drew with R Vaishali (Ind) 1-1, heading to a tiebreak; Polina Shuvalova (Fid) was defeated by Lela Javakhashvili (Geo) 0.5-1.5; Teodora Injac (Srb) lost to Divya Deshmukh (Ind) 0.5-1.5; Kaliakhmet Elnaz (Kaz) was outdone by Umida Polonova (Uzb) 0.5-1.5-0.5; Meri Arabidze (Geo) drew with Alexandra Kosteniuk (Sui) 1-1, approaching a tiebreak; Osmak Yuliia (Ukr) overcame Lu Miaoyi (Chn) 1.5-0.5; Kamalidenova Meruert (Kaz) triumphed over Anna Shukhman (FID) 1.5-0.5.
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Teen chess prodigy Praggnanandhaa shines this season with major wins, boosting his confidence and aiming for the prestigious Candidates Tournament.

Stellar Season of Chess Prodigy Praggnanandhaa

R. Praggnanandhaa's remarkable chess season sees him win major titles with newfound confidence, eyeing a spot in the prestigious Candidates Tournament.

Praggnanandhaa's strong season with key victories has boosted his confidence, making him a top contender for the Candidates Tournament.

Teenage Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa, who has won three major titles this year after a lean last season, on Sunday attributed the change in fortune to increased confidence and ambition as he aims to seal a Candidates berth at the earliest.
Praggnanandhaa always had it in him to beat the best but the one thing lacking was consistency, which he finally attained at the beginning of the year when he defeated world champion D Gukesh on way to clinching the Tata Steel Masters.
Two more Classical titles followed in the form of Superbet Classic in Bucharest and the UzChess Cup Masters recently.
"I wasn't able to win as many games as I would have liked to (last year), but yeah, I'm much more confident now and much more ambitious than earlier. And, hopefully, I'll make it to the Candidates," the 19-year-old GM said in an interview to PTI.
Asked if this is the coming-of-age of the teenage GM, and Praggnanandhaa shrugged it off, saying he has been trying hard to make an impact.
"I'm not sure how to answer that. But, I mean, I try to give my best in every tournament, and this year has been going my way so far," said Praggnanandhaa.
The youngster seems to have figured out the pathway to making it to the Candidates and is confident of reserving his place in the prestigious event.
"Yes, there are different (several) spots, of course. I am currently leading (the race for a Candidates spot) but there is still a lot of fight till December. But I think, I mean, I will also be playing the Grand Swiss and the World Cup. So, if I can make it in one of those, that will be better because I don't have to wait till December," he added.
Having overtaken world champion Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi to become the highest-ranked Indian at No.4 in FIDE ratings, Praggnanandhaa remains humble about his achievement.
"I think, I'm maybe one point ahead of Gukesh or something. I don't think it makes a huge difference.
"For me, personally, it's about winning tournaments, which is more special. And I try to take one tournament at a time. And when I do well, I'm just happy about it. So that's all that matters for me.
"But, I think, overall, we (Indians) are doing well. Gukesh winning the World Championship, his performance last year, he won gold in the Olympiad, he won the Candidates... and Arjun crossing 2800 in an exceptional last year. We are also inspiring each other." Master of tie-breaks? ============== Two of the titles Praggnanandhaa has won this year have been in tie-breaks, where he has been in joint lead with two other GMs. Asked if he has become a master of tie-break wins, and he said, it "comes down to luck and a bit of calmness." "I do think tie-breaks require some luck. Because there were moments where I needed them. But I think being calm also helps in such situations where you are playing for high stakes in such a short time.
"I do feel the tension. It's not like I don't feel it. But I'm able to play much more calmer than my opponents." And what keeps him so calm in pressure situations? "I don't think there is a mantra. I would say it's about philosophies and what's important for you. For me, it's just about giving my best at that moment. And that's what I try to do... take one game at a time." Carlsen will remain king ================= Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand said recently that Magnus Carlsen "wanted to draw a line in the sand" to show he is still the best in the face of growing competition from the young Indian brigade.
With a nine-year-old player coming close to beating him in an online game, that inevitability seems very close.
"I think Magnus is still the best player in the world. And I don't think there is any question about it. Whenever he plays a tournament, he is the favourite. He has been proving that he is still the best by winning every tournament.
"For me, personally, I take a lot of inspiration from him, the way he plays.
"For example, he won 9 out of 9 (games) in Grand Slam Freestyle Tournament, which I don't think anyone can do except Magnus. So, yeah, it's just brilliant." Carlsen's big bang ============= Nothing could be more dramatic in modern chess than Carlsen banging his fist on the table after losing to Gukesh in a game at the elite Norway Chess tournament recently. The incident quickly went viral on social media across time zones.
Asked if the reaction was good in terms of popularising the game or should FIDE draw a line somewhere, Praggnanandhaa said he too would have done it sometime but it got blown up because Carlsen is a "strong guy".
"Yes, it was an instinctive reaction. I think it does happen to players. I've done it sometimes, but rarely.
"I mean, it's (me hitting the table) not as powerful as Magnus because he's a strong guy, but Gukesh has done it and many others. It's just an instinctive reaction because you're so focused that it just comes out.
"But, I mean, is it a good thing? Maybe not. I don't think so because I guess it's not good. (Having said that), I think so many people got to know that something like this happened and it became such a big thing on the internet.
"And, I think it's good for the game in a way because a lot of people got to know that there was such a tournament going on and that such a dramatic game happened.
"So, I think there are some good things and bad things, but I think overall, chess is growing. That's what matters."

Nakamura ends Gukesh's winning streak in Norway Chess; Erigaisi defeats Caruana. Koneru Humpy leads the women's section.

Nakamura Halts the Streak of Gukesh in Norway Chess

Hikaru Nakamura stops Gukesh's winning streak in Norway Chess. Erigaisi defeats Caruana, and Koneru Humpy leads the women's section.

Nakamura halts Gukesh's streak at Norway Chess, with Erigaisi defeating Caruana. Gukesh ties for third with Nakamura. Koneru Humpy leads in the women's section after triumphing over Khadem.

American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura broke world champion D Gukesh's run of classical wins by comprehensively beating the Indian to earn three full points even as Arjun Erigaisi roared back to contention with victory over Fabiano Caruana in Norway Chess here.
India's Erigaisi trapped his opponent Caruana in a time scramble in the eighth round of the prestigious tournament on Tuesday.
World No. 2 and former Norway Chess champion Nakamura pressed home the early advantage he got with the white pieces to dominate his 19-year-old opponent and score a "very smooth" victory and take revenge for his Round 3 loss to the Indian.
Gukesh, who had regained his mojo after a disappointing start to the tournament when he beat world No.1 Magnus Carlsen and Erigaisi in Round 6 and 7 respectively, was cornered by Nakamura, who didn't give his opponent an inch during the course of the nearly four-hour-long contest.
With two more rounds to go, Gukesh was tied for third place with Nakamura on 11.5 points, while American GM Caruana, despite the loss to Erigaisi, was in the lead with 12.5 points.
Carlsen, who lost to China's Wei Yi in the Armageddon tie-break, was second with 12 points, while Erigaisi was fifth with 10.5 points.
"It was a very smooth game, I'm very happy with it. It looks very good," said Nakamura after the win.
The 37-year-old Nakamura, winner of the 2023 edition of Norway Chess in which Gukesh finished third, said that the reigning world champion was uncomfortable with the pawn structure, which probably resulted in him coming under time pressure and giving an easy win to the American.
"I'm not sure what happened, whether Gukesh just didn't know this bishop g6 move, or what exactly it was, but it was very clear to me that, based on the long think, he didn't like the pawn structure at all," said Nakamura, who at 15 years of age had become the youngest American GM.
Nakamura added that his loss to Gukesh in Round 3 was more on account of him "slackening" a bit.
"Just when I had equalised, I completely relaxed. I just fell asleep for like one to two moves, and immediately, I was in a lot of trouble, and I couldn't recover," he added.
Gukesh played horribly: Nakamura ======================== Nakamura expressed surprise over Gukesh's play in the tournament so far, saying he was lucky to have survived Carlsen and Erigaisi in Round 6 and 7 respectively.
"It's a very strange term, because his result is very good, but if we're being objective about chess, I think he's played horribly. He should have lost to Magnus&hellip; he was completely lost against Arjun (Erigaisi).
"Other than the first game against me, and maybe the game against Wei Yi, at some point, he was losing; even Fabiano (Caruana), he (Gukesh) was also losing in that game," said Nakamura.
"So, it's very, very hard to judge what his play is, but when I look at his game, one of the big things that he has, that I would say Arjun and R. Praggnanandhaa don't have, is he's mentally very strong.
"He's a lot less emotional than the other two players, and that has served him very well, especially in this tournament, so it's a mixed bag." Nakamura added, "I think his defensive skills are very good, like in this game, I thought there were probably three or four moments when I was winning, and then I had to still find more moves to convert, so he's definitely showing very strong defensive skills." 'India is the next Soviet Union of chess' =========================== Nakamura gave a strong indication that this could be his last appearance in Norway Chess, and that he had probably played his final classical game against Carlsen. He also averred that "the future of chess is in India." "India is basically the new Soviet Union as far as chess goes. You have Gukesh, you have Arjun, you have Praggnanandhaa, I think Aravindh (Chithambaram) just broke into the top-10, if I'm not mistaken.
"If I look forward to the next 5-10 years, Indians are going to dominate chess, there's no doubt about it," he said.
Humpy regains sole lead ================ Two-time world rapid champion, India's Koneru Humpy wrested back the lead with two rounds to go, beating Spanish International Master Sara Khadem in the day's only classical win.
Humpy, on 13.5 points, was one point ahead of reigning world champion China's Ju Wenjun.
Ju's six-match winning streak was broken by R. Vaishali -- who is fifth on 9.5 points -- in the Armageddon tie-break.
Results (Round 8): (Open) Arjun Erigaisi (Ind &ndash; 10.5 points) bt Fabiano Caruana (USA &ndash; 12.5); Hikaru Nakamura (USA &ndash; 11.5) bt D Gukesh (Ind &ndash; 11.5); Wei Yi (Chn &ndash; 8) bt Magnus Carlsen (Nor &ndash; 12) in Armageddon tie-break.
(Women) Sara Khadem (Esp &ndash; 6) lost to Koneru Humpy (Ind &ndash; 13.5); R. Vaishali (Ind &ndash; 9.5) bt Ju Wenjun (Chn &ndash; 12.5) in Armageddon tie-break; Anna Muzychuk (Ukr &ndash; 12.5) bt Lei Tingjie (Chn &ndash; 10) in Armageddon tie-break.

D Gukesh's victory over Arjun Erigaisi in Norway Chess Round 7 marks a pivotal moment, pushing him to second place overall. Meanwhile, Ju Wenjun leads the women's standings.

D Gukesh Wins Over Arjun Erigaisi in Norway Chess

Reigning champion D Gukesh defeats Arjun Erigaisi in Norway Chess Round 7, rising to second overall. This notable win follows his triumph over Magnus Carlsen, with Ju Wenjun leading the women's group.

Gukesh wins against Erigaisi in Norway Chess Round 7, his first victory over him in classical play, placing him second overall behind Caruana. Ju Wenjun leads the women's section.

Reigning world champion D Gukesh continued to turn adversity into opportunity as he wriggled out of a virtually intractable position to beat compatriot Arjun Erigaisi for the first time ever in a classical game and jump to sole second position after round 7 of the Norway Chess.
As has been the trend in Gukesh's campaign in this elite six-payer double round-robin tournament, the teenager, playing with white, showed nerves of steel to secure his second consecutive win, without going through the rigmarole of an Armageddon tie-break, to take sweet revenge for his loss to Erigaisi earlier in Round 2.
The win, which came after a nerve-wracking victory against defending champion and world No.1 Magnus Carlsen, saw Gukesh, 19, overtake the 34-year-old Norwegian on the points table with 11.5 points.
This was also Gukesh's first win in three attempts against Erigaisi, who had beaten the world champion at the Tata Steel Chess tournament in Wijk Aan Zee to spoil his title-winning chances, and then again in Round 2 here.
With three more rounds to go, pole sitter American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana, who defeated Wei Yi of China, is on 12.5 points.
Carlsen is third with 11 points following his Armageddon win against another American Grandmaster and world No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura, who is fourth with 8.5 points.
Erigaisi dropped to fifth position with 7.5 points following the loss, while Wei Yi is placed sixth with 6.5 points.
For the first three-and-a-half hours of the game, Gukesh was on the defensive but finally managed to up his game to earn a win, tying down his opponent in time trouble. Erigaisi faltered that wee bit, which gave Gukesh an opening that he exploited and forced his opponent to resign after some intense play.
"Probably I was just losing it at some point. I was just slowly getting outplayed. From the opening nothing went my way but once I got to this position I just had to keep making moves which doesn't lose on the spot and in the time scrambles things happen," Gukesh told the broadcaster after the match.
Analysing the game, Gukesh's Polish coach Grzegorz Gajewski said, though it was not the best game played by the reigning world champion but he was happy that he had pulled it off.
"Probably not his best game ever, at least not the first half of the game, but definitely a very good second half of the game, so happy with that." On whether the win on Monday was because of a change of mindset following Gukesh's come-from-behind victory against Carlsen on Sunday, Gajewski said, "When you're in such trouble (as in Sunday&rsquo;s game) and you keep fighting and you get rewarded for it, you have even more faith that it makes sense to keep fighting.
"So, on the very next day (against Erigaisi), when you're again in trouble, you definitely know what to do, you just keep fighting," opined Gukesh&rsquo;s coach.
He added that Gukesh was aiming for playing the perfect games, where the margin of error was bare minimum, which was finally contributing to his success here.
"He's demanding the very highest level of accuracy and precision from you (opponent), and if you're not up to it, you might mess up the position even if you're number one in the world,&rdquo; said the Pole.
On whether the win against Erigaisi was bigger than the victory over Carlsen, given that Gukesh had never beaten his Indian counterpart ever in Classical chess before the win on Monday, the coach said, "Yes, definitely, Erigaisi is a very difficult opponent to beat, but I would not compare the two games.
&ldquo;You really have to achieve a lot to be compared with Magnus in any regard. (For Monday&rsquo;s game) Gukesh was just focused. It was nice, definitely very nice yesterday (to beat Carlsen), but today is a new challenge and after that there is another challenge.
"Gukesh was just making moves; he was completely in the zone from the first move to the last move&hellip; He has extraordinary calculation abilities, which combined with his fighting spirit help him defend so many positions,&rdquo; added the Pole.
The Carlsen vs Nakamura game was interesting as the two players agreed to a draw after just 21 moves, with both having about an hour-and-a-half each left on the clock. In the Armageddon, Carlsen defeated the world No.2 to log in 1.5 points.
In the women's section, Ukrainian GM Anna Muzychuk got the better of two-time world rapid champion Koneru Humpy in Armageddon tie-break, while GM R. Vaishali fell apart in time trouble against China&rsquo;s Lei Tingjie.
Ju Wenjun is leading the table with 11.5 points, followed by Muzychuk (11 points) in second and Humpy in third with 10.5 points.
Results (Round 7) =========== Open: D Gukesh (Ind &ndash; 11.5 points) bt Arjun Erigaisi (Ind &ndash; 7.5); Fabiano Caruana (USA &ndash; 12.5) bt Wei Yi (Chn &ndash; 6.5); Magnus Carlsen (Nor &ndash; 11) bt Hikaru Nakamura (USA &ndash; 8.5) in Armageddon tie-break.
Women: Lei Tingjie (Chn &ndash; 9) bt R Vaishali (Ind &ndash; 8); Ju Wenjun (Chn &ndash; 11.5 points) bt Sara Khadem (Esp - 6); Koneru Humpy (Ind - 10.5) lost to Anna Muzychuk (Ukr &ndash; 11) in Armageddon tie-break.

The 2024 Chennai Grand Masters expands its lineup and offers a ₹1 crore prize pool, promoting inclusivity by featuring female competitors in the Challengers category.

Chennai Grand Masters 2024: Chess at Its Best

The Chennai Grand Masters 2024 features an expanded lineup and ₹1 crore prize pool, marking a significant milestone with female competitors in the Challengers category for the first time.

Chennai Grand Masters offers a ₹1 crore prize pool

The 2024 Chennai Grand Masters will host an expanded roster and largest-ever ₹1 crore prize pool, welcoming female competitors in the Challengers category.

The third edition of the Chennai Grand Masters chess tournament will have a expanded field of 20 players and its biggest-ever prize pool of Rs one crore.
Scheduled to be held from August 6 to 15, the event will now feature 10 players in each category, up from eight in previous editions, the organisers stated in a press release.
Organised by MGD1 and supported by the Tamil Nadu Government and the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, the tournament has been rebranded as the Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters following a title sponsorship deal with Singapore-based fintech firm Quantbox Research.
The 2024 edition of the Chennai Grand Masters broke new ground, with the Masters boasting an average rating of 2729 and the Challengers featuring female competitors for the first time.
Aravindh Chithambaram emerged as the Masters champion last year, finishing ahead of compatriots Arjun Erigaisi and Vidit Gujrathi. Pranav V clinched the Challengers title to earn a spot in this year's Masters.

R Praggnanandhaa claimed the Tata Steel Masters 2025 title after defeating World Champion D Gukesh in a dramatic tiebreaker.

Praggnanandhaa defeats D Gukesh in thrilling tiebreaker to win Tata Steel Masters 2025

R Praggnanandhaa claimed the Tata Steel Masters 2025 title after defeating World Champion D Gukesh in a dramatic tiebreaker.

Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa emerged victorious in the Tata Steel Masters 2025, triumphing over World Champion D Gukesh in a dramatic tiebreaker in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands, on February 2.&nbsp;
With this win, Praggnanandhaa became the first Indian since Viswanathan Anand in 2006 to secure the title. Both players finished the 14-player round-robin tournament with 8.5 points after 13 classical rounds, setting the stage for an exciting tiebreaker.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Pragg wins the tiebreak and is our new Tata Steel Masters Champ!! 🏆🔥 <a href="https://t.co/o8FtpcB9fD">pic.twitter.com/o8FtpcB9fD</a>
&mdash; Tata Steel Chess Tournament (@tatasteelchess) <a href="https://twitter.com/tatasteelchess/status/1886123776967868625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
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In the final round, Gukesh suffered his first defeat as World Champion, losing to Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi in 31 moves.&nbsp;
Praggnanandhaa, too, was defeated by Grandmaster Vincent Keymer in an intense marathon game, but both players remained tied on points, forcing the tiebreaker.
The tiebreaker consisted of two blitz games, and Gukesh took the initial lead by winning the first game with white pieces. He only needed a draw in the second game to win the title. However, Praggnanandhaa made a remarkable recovery, winning both blitz games to secure the championship.
The situation echoed the 2013 Candidates Tournament, where both Magnus Carlsen and Vladimir Kramnik lost their final games but Carlsen won the title on tiebreaks, ultimately becoming the World Champion.
Despite his loss, Praggnanandhaa proceeded to the tiebreaker against Gukesh. Meanwhile, Uzbek Grandmaster Nodirbek Abdusattorov was held to a draw by P. Harikrishna, ensuring both Indian players finished at the top.
The tiebreaker was a thrilling contest of rapid-fire chess, with both players playing two blitz games, each lasting three minutes with a two-second increment. The games reached Sudden Death, and in a tense final sequence, Gukesh blundered, allowing Praggnanandhaa to seal the win.
In the Tata Steel Challengers 2025, Vietnam&rsquo;s Thai Dai Van Nguyen claimed the title. Meanwhile, Praggnanandhaa&rsquo;s sister, GM R Vaishali, finished ninth, and Divya Deshmukh secured 12th place in the 14-player event.

Handshake controversy at the Tata Steel Chess: Uzbek GM Yakubboev declines handshake with Indian GM Vaishali due to religious beliefs, prompting cultural sensitivity discussions.

Uzbek GM Yakubboev apologises for not shaking hands with India's Vaishali at Tata Steel Chess Tournament

At the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, GM Yakubboev declined a handshake with GM Vaishali, citing faith reasons. This incident prompted discussions on cultural sensitivity, highlighting the need for mutual respect in sports.

Uzbek Grandmaster Nodirbek Yakubboev declined a handshake with Indian Grandmaster R Vaishali, citing religious beliefs, sparking controversy. He expressed admiration for Vaishali, apologized, and used a Namaste gesture to avoid further misunderstandings.

A moment of controversy unfolded at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament when Uzbek Grandmaster (GM) Nodirbek Yakubboev declined to shake hands with Indian GM R Vaishali before their fourth-round match. The incident, captured in a viral video shared by ChessBase India, showed Vaishali extending her hand, only for Yakubboev to sit down without responding, leaving the Indian player visibly awkward.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A renowned Uzbek chess Grandmaster, Nodirbek, refused to shake hands with India's Women's Grandmaster Vaishali. Does religion influence sports? However, he was seen shaking hands with other female players earlier. <a href="https://t.co/fGR61wvwUP">pic.twitter.com/fGR61wvwUP</a>
&mdash; Ayushh (@ayushh_it_is) <a href="https://twitter.com/ayushh_it_is/status/1883725189206487283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
Yakubboev, 23, later apologised in a lengthy post on X, explaining his actions were due to his religious beliefs. "With all due respect to women and Indian chess players, I want to inform everyone that I do not touch other women for religious reasons," wrote Yakubboev, who is a practising Muslim.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Dear chess friends, I want to explain the situation that happened in the game with Vaishali. With all due respect to women and Indian chess players, I want to inform everyone that I do not touch other women for religious reasons.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/chess?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#chess</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fide?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#fide</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/islam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#islam</a><a href="https://twitter.com/ChessbaseIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChessbaseIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Uzchesss?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Uzchesss</a>
&mdash; Nodirbek Yakubboev (@NodirbekYakubb1) <a href="https://twitter.com/NodirbekYakubb1/status/1883623565314101651?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2025&nbsp;</a></blockquote>
He also expressed admiration for Vaishali and her brother, Indian chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa. "I respect Vaishali and her brother as the strongest chess players in India. If I have offended her with my behaviour, I apologise," he added.
The controversy gained further attention after Vaishali did not offer her hand following her victory over Yakubboev in the match. Vaishali now stands on four points after eight rounds in the Challengers' section, while Yakubboev has three points.
To avoid future misunderstandings, Yakubboev informed Romanian player Irina Bulmaga about his religious beliefs before their eighth-round game, which reportedly prevented any awkwardness. "The arbiters suggested I at least perform a Namaste as a gesture of respect," Yakubboev shared.
The incident has sparked conversations about cultural and religious sensitivities in competitive sports, highlighting the importance of communication and mutual respect among players. Yakubboev remains committed to the tournament, alongside fellow Uzbek player Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who is competing in the Open section. &nbsp;

Gautam Adani praises 18-year-old chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju for his world championship victory, marking a new era in India's chess revolution.

Youngest world chess champion D Gukesh meets Gautam Adani

Gukesh was among four athletes who the government decided to award the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award -- the country's highest sporting honour.

Billionaire Gautam Adani called teenager Gukesh Dommaraju -- who became the youngest world chess champion by beating defending champion Ding Liren of China -- a testament of India's unstoppable youth.
The chess champion, along with his parents, met Adani in Ahmedabad.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
It was an absolute privilege to meet and hear the victory story of reigning World Chess Champion <a href="https://twitter.com/DGukesh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DGukesh</a>. Equally inspiring was meeting his incredible parents, Dr Rajinikanth and Dr Padmavathi, whose quiet sacrifices laid the foundation for his success. At just 18, Gukesh&rsquo;s&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/CL12qIfSHY">pic.twitter.com/CL12qIfSHY</a>
&mdash; Gautam Adani (@gautam_adani) <a href="https://twitter.com/gautam_adani/status/1874422639231475949?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
"It was an absolute privilege to meet and hear the victory story of reigning World Chess Champion @DGukesh," Adani, chairman of ports-to-energy Adani Group, said in a post on X.
Posting pictures with the teenager and his parents, Adani said, "Equally inspiring was meeting his incredible parents, Dr Rajinikanth and Dr Padmavathi, whose quiet sacrifices laid the foundation for his success."
"At just 18, Gukesh's poise and brilliance are a testament to India's unstoppable youth. Prodigies like him are inspiring a new generation, building an army of champions ready to dominate global chess for decades. This is the confident, resurgent and rising India. Jai Hind!" he said.
Gukesh became the 18th world champion after defeating Ding in a 14-game match in Singapore last month.
He is four years younger than Garry Kasparov, who had been the youngest world champion since 1985 when he beat Anatoly Karpov.
On Thursday, Gukesh was among four athletes who the government decided to award the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award -- the country's highest sporting honour.
Besides becoming the youngest-ever world champion, Gukesh had also helped the Indian team win a historic gold in the Chess Olympiad last year.
"The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India at a specially organised function at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 17th January, 2025 (Friday) at 1100 hours," the sports ministry said in a press release on Thursday.
After the Singapore match, Adani had called his victory "stunning".
"At just 18, @DGukesh has made history! What an achievement - the youngest-ever undisputed classical chess world champion, beating the great Ding Liren! This isn't just a victory - it is a defining moment for India's chess revolution, where an entire bold generation of champions dares to dream and inspires an entire nation to rise! Congratulations Gukesh!" he had said in a post on X on December 12.

Indian chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju, 18, claimed the World Chess Champion title, defeating Ding Liren. With this win, he becomes the youngest champion, garnering high praise from Magnus Carlsen, who has stepped back from competitive chess.

D Gukesh Wins Chess Championship

As the chess world celebrates Gukesh&rsquo;s achievement, Carlsen&rsquo;s absence from the championship arena serves as a reminder of the changing guard in the world of chess.

World number one Magnus Carlsen has lauded D Gukesh for making the most of his chances to be crowned the youngest ever world chess champion but has ruled out the possibility of a title showdown with him as desired by the Indian teen.
The 18-year-old defeated defending champion Ding Liren in the 14th and final round of the match on Thursday to become only the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to claim the coveted trophy.
"It's an incredible achievement (by Gukesh), first he was down in the FIDE circuit, won the tournament in Chennai on demand, then he had an amazing performance in the Candidates tournament," said Carlsen on a popular recap stream, analysing the match.
Carlsen said he was a bit surprised by how the match unfolded with most of the games ending in draw.
"This was something that was bit unexpected, a lot of us thought that Gukesh was a favourite to win the match but this was a game that never really took off, Gukesh was doing a great job of keeping the position alive and suddenly it was all over," Carlsen said.
"It's a really good thing for him, he has the title now for two years, winning this championship is extremely motivating so there is a very good chance that he is going to go for a great run of results now and probably become the number two player now and may be number one in the not so distant future," he noted.
In the post-event press conference, Gukesh stated that he would love to fight it out against Carlsen at some point. The Norwegian maverick decided not to defend his title in 2023 after winning the world championship in 2013.
"Winning World Chess Championship does not mean I am the best player, obviously that is Magnus Carlsen. I want to reach the level Magnus has achieved," Gukesh said.
"Obviously playing against Magnus in the world championship would be amazing, it would be the toughest challenge there is in chess. It is up to Magnus, but I would love to test myself against the best player in the world."
But Carlsen ruled that out.
"I am not part of this circus anymore," said Carlsen in a general reference to world title clashes.
Carlsen also praised Gukesh's team and said they did a good job.
"It is becoming progressively harder (to play mainstream openings) all main lines are analysed so they had to jump a bit," Carlsen said of the opening choices made by Gukesh.
"I have generally kept it fairly risk-free with the white pieces, I have tried not to let things go out of control," he added.
The world's best player for a decade now was critical of Liren's choices in the final game.
"There are lot of things that Ding could have done differently, Gukesh really made most of his chances," he said.
"It's a massive moment for India, it&rsquo;s a combination of work that is being done there. This is not over.
"There are many more success stories to come, it was really heartwarming to see what it means to Gukesh, it was a very beautiful moment," Carlsen summed it up.

Controversy erupts as the Russian Chess Federation alleges Ding Liren's intentional loss in the World Chess Championship, sparking debates over match-fixing. FIDE urged to investigate as chess community grapples with integrity issues.

Ding Liren Accused Of Losing World Championship To Gukesh ‘Deliberately’

Filatov claimed that Ding's critical mistake, which shifted the game in Gukesh's favor, sparked confusion among chess experts and enthusiasts.

Russian Chess Federation President Andrei Filatov has alleged that China's Ding Liren deliberately lost the World Chess Championship final to India's D Gukesh.
The accusation emerged after Ukrainian chess coach Peter Heine Nielsen shared a screenshot of a report from the Russian news agency TASS. In the report, Filatov urged FIDE, the global chess governing body, to investigate the final match played between Ding and Gukesh in Singapore.
Filatov claimed that Ding's critical mistake, which shifted the game in Gukesh's favor, sparked confusion among chess experts and enthusiasts.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The President of the Chess Federation of Russia🇷🇺, FIDE honorary member Andrei Filatov, accuses Ding Liren🇨🇳 of losing on purpose, and asks <a href="https://twitter.com/FIDE_chess?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FIDE_chess</a> to start an investigation:<a href="https://twitter.com/FIDE_chess?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FIDE_chess</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/tassagency_en?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tassagency_en</a> <a href="https://t.co/mPpSjwj2xK">https://t.co/mPpSjwj2xK</a> <a href="https://t.co/SANqHdhVEI">pic.twitter.com/SANqHdhVEI</a>
&mdash; Peter Heine Nielsen (@PHChess) <a href="https://twitter.com/PHChess/status/1867218602396717324?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
"The outcome of the final game caused confusion among professionals and fans alike," Filatov reportedly stated. "The actions of the Chinese player in the decisive phase appear highly suspicious and warrant a separate investigation by FIDE. Losing from such a favorable position would be challenging even for a first-class player. Ding Liren's defeat raises serious questions and seems intentional," he added.
The allegations have stirred controversy within the chess community, with many awaiting FIDE's response to the claims. ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/sports-news/gutsy-gukesh-realises-childhood-dream-becomes-youngest-world-chess-champion-1734058113487" target="_blank">Gutsy Gukesh realises childhood dream; becomes youngest world chess champion</a>

Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh on Thursday became the youngest world chess champion at 18 years after beating title-holder Ding Liren in the last game of a nerve-wracking showdown to herald a new era of dominance by the country's chess players.

D Gukesh Becomes Youngest World Chess Champion at 18

Indian chess players have been on a roll this year, winning the Olympiad gold in both the men's and women's events, for the first time among other achievements.

Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh on Thursday became the youngest world chess champion at 18 years after beating title-holder Ding Liren in the last game of a nerve-wracking showdown to herald a new era of dominance by the country's chess players.
Taking forward the incredible legacy of the great Viswanathan Anand, Gukesh became only the second Indian to clinch the coveted prize after the iconic player, who owned the crown five times in his career.
After settling into "semi-retirement", the 55-year-old Anand, incidentally, played a pivotal role in shaping Gukesh at his chess academy in Chennai.
Gukesh secured the requisite 7.5 points as against 6.5 of his Chinese rival after winning the 14th and last classical time control game of the match that seemed headed for a draw for most part. As winner, he will walk away with a whopping USD 1.3 million (approx Rs 11.03 crore) from the 2.5 million prize purse.
"I was dreaming this moment for the last 10 years. I am happy that I realised the dream (and made it) into reality," the soft-spoken Chennai-lad told reporters after the historic triumph here.
The triumph was expectedly hailed across India with Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailing it as "historic and exemplary".
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Historic and exemplary! Congratulations to Gukesh D on his remarkable accomplishment. This is the result of his unparalleled talent, hard work and unwavering determination. His triumph has not only etched his name in the annals of chess history but has also inspired millions&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/fOqqPZLQlr">https://t.co/fOqqPZLQlr</a> <a href="https://t.co/Xa1kPaiHdg">pic.twitter.com/Xa1kPaiHdg</a>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1867204810308506097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
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"This is the result of his unparalleled talent, hard work and unwavering determination," Modi posted on X.
The reticent teenager grinned widely and raised his arms in celebration after the victory, a stark contrast from the poker face he usually sports while playing. Once the feeling settled in, a tear or two also escaped his eyes, showing a rare moment of vulnerability.
"I got a bit emotional because I was not expecting to win," he added.
Even on Thursday, when the analysts had proclaimed that the match, in all likelihood, would go into a tie-breaker, Gukesh's face hardly gave anything away as he gained the upper-hand.
It was a momentary lapse of concentration by Liren in what seemed a drawn endgame and as it happened, the entire chess world was left in a state of shock.
The players were just left with a rook and a bishop and Gukesh had two pawns against one trying to make a foray without much success.
However, the ability to keep pushing for more gave Gukesh a distinct advantage over the Chinese and the latter simply collapsed to give the title to Gukesh.
Before Gukesh's feat on Thursday, the legendary Garry Kasparov of Russia was the youngest world champion when he won the title at the age of 22, dethroning Anatoly Karpov in 1985.
Gukesh had entered the match as the youngest ever challenger to the world crown after winning the Candidates tournament earlier this year.
"Every chess player wants to live this dream. I am living my dream," said Gukesh.
Gukesh, who won the 14th game against Liren after 58 moves in four hours, is the 18th world chess champion overall.
If Thursday's game was also drawn, winner was to be decided in shorter duration tie-breaks on Friday.
Gukesh had won the third and 11th rounds before Thursday's decisive game, while the 32-year-old Liren emerged victorious in the opening and 12th games.
All other games were drawn in the match.
"I came here suddenly and I lost the first game itself. Luckily while going back I had Vishy Sir (Anand) in the lift and he said 'I had only 11 games left you have 13'," Gukesh recalled, while shining a light on the contribution of his mentor.
Anand was citing his 2006 first match over Veselin Topalov that he had eventually won after losing the first game.
Interestingly, Anand had won that match in the last Classical (12th) game, with black pieces. Anand lost the title to Norwegian maverick Magnus Carlsen back in 2013.
It was on the 55th move that the dye was cast.
Liren, leaving his sense of danger, went for a rook trade and Gukesh pawed him almost instantly. He knew that it was his title to lose and it took just three more moves before the Chinese called it a day.
Indian chess players have been on a roll this year, winning the Olympiad gold in both the men's and women's events, for the first time among other achievements.

This historic win makes Gukesh not only the youngest-ever World Chess Champion but also the first teenager to achieve this milestone. He becomes the first Indian to hold the title since Viswanathan Anand’s reign ended in 2012.

India’s Gukesh D Scripts History as Youngest-Ever FIDE World Chess Champion

This historic win makes Gukesh not only the youngest-ever World Chess Champion but also the first teenager to achieve this milestone. He becomes the first Indian to hold the title since Viswanathan Anand&rsquo;s reign ended in 2012.

In a monumental moment for Indian chess, 18-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju etched his name in the history books by becoming the youngest World Chess Champion ever. Gukesh defeated defending champion Ding Liren of China in a nail-biting 14th and final game to clinch the coveted title. With the match tied at 6.5 points each, the decider seemed poised for a draw until a critical blunder by Ding handed Gukesh the victory.
This historic win makes Gukesh not only the youngest-ever World Chess Champion but also the first teenager to achieve this milestone. His triumph marks a significant moment for Indian chess, as he becomes the first Indian to hold the title since Viswanathan Anand&rsquo;s reign ended in 2012.
A Remarkable Journey
Gukesh&rsquo;s ascent to the pinnacle of chess has been nothing short of extraordinary. Earlier this year, he showcased his dominance by winning the 2024 Candidates Tournament, which secured his place in the World Championship. He further solidified his standing as a prodigy by leading India to gold at the Chess Olympiad, delivering standout performances throughout the tournament.
The World Chess Championship match against Ding Liren was a true test of skill, resilience, and strategy. The final game saw both players battling it out in a tense positional encounter. Gukesh displayed remarkable composure under pressure, capitalizing on Ding&rsquo;s late-game oversight to claim the crown.
The Youngest Ever
At just 18 years old, Gukesh has shattered the record for the youngest World Chess Champion, previously held by Russia&rsquo;s Garry Kasparov, who won the title at 22. Gukesh&rsquo;s achievement underscores his exceptional talent and heralds the arrival of a new era in global chess.
A Bright Future
With his historic achievement, Gukesh has positioned himself as a global icon in chess. His victory is expected to inspire a new generation of players in India and around the world. As the chess world celebrates the rise of this young champion, Gukesh&rsquo;s journey serves as a testament to hard work, dedication, and an indomitable spirit.
India now looks forward to Gukesh&rsquo;s reign as World Champion, with hopes of more milestones and inspiring performances in the years to come.

I got told by people how the audience was not even bothered with the game but instead focused on every single possible thing in the world: my clothes, hair, accent and every other irrelevant thing: Divya

Indian chess star Divya Deshmukh calls out rampant sexism in the sport

Indian chess star Divya Deshmukh called out rampant sexism in the sport and said that women should start getting equal respect.

I got told by people how the audience was not even bothered with the game but instead focused on every single possible thing in the world: my clothes, hair, accent and every other irrelevant thing: Divya

After concluding the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, where she finished 12th with a score of 4.5 out of 13, Indian chess star Divya Deshmukh has called out rampant sexism in the sport.
The 18-year-old took to social media and wrote, 'I have been wanting to address this for a while but was waiting for my tournament to be over. I got told and also myself noticed how women in chess are often just taken for granted by spectators. The most recent example of this on a personal level would be in this tournament, I played a few games which I felt were quite good and I was proud of them.'
'I got told by people how the audience was not even bothered with the game but instead focused on every single possible thing in the world: my clothes, hair, accent and every other irrelevant thing. I was quite upset to hear this and I think is the sad truth that people when women play chess they often overlook how good they actually are, the games they play and their strength. I was quite disappointed to see how everything was discussed about in my interviews (by the audience) except my games, very few people paid attention to it and it is quite a sad thing,' she added.
'I felt it was unfair in a way because if I go to any guy&rsquo;s interview there would be way less judgement on a personal level, actual compliments about the game and the player. I feel women are under appreciated and every irrelevant thing is focused on and hated on while guys would probably get away with the same things. I think women face this on a daily basis and I&rsquo;m barely 18. I have faced so much judgement including hatred over the years for things that don&rsquo;t even matter. I think women should start getting equal respect,' Divya concluded.

Bodhana Sivanandan, from Harrow in north-west London, won the European Blitz Chess Championship in Zagreb, Croatia, over the weekend.

 8-year-old British Indian schoolgirl chess prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan named Europe's best

An 8-year-old British Indian schoolgirl has made chess history after being named the "super talented" best female player at a European championship.

8-year-old British Indian schoolgirl chess prodigy named Europe's best

Bodhana Sivanandan, from Harrow in north-west London, won the European Blitz Chess Championship in Zagreb, Croatia, over the weekend.

An 8-year-old British Indian schoolgirl has made chess history after being named the "super talented" best female player at a European championship.
Bodhana Sivanandan, from Harrow in north-west London, won the European Blitz Chess Championship in Zagreb, Croatia, over the weekend after a winning streak since she took up chess during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.
In the European championship, she went head-to-head with some of the best players in the world and defeated an international master to win her crown.
"8-year-old super talented Bodhana Sivanandan (ENG, 1944) made an astonishing result in the Blitz competition. She scored 8.5/13 points to win the first women prize and earn 211.2 blitz ELO points,&rdquo; said the European Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships, which concluded in Croatia on Sunday.
Praise for the chess prodigy has since been pouring in on social media, with leading professionals highlighting her &ldquo;unbelievable&rdquo; performance.
"I always try my best to win, sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn't," Bodhana told the BBC after her win.
Father Siva Sivanandan said his daughter was "trying her best and it has worked in favour of her".
"She likes chess and she likes travelling. We keep trying and keep going," he said.
A few months ago, Sivanandan was among a group of young chess enthusiasts invited by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to 10 Downing Street to mark the government&rsquo;s major new GBP 1 million investment package for the game. The package has since been in place to support children attending schools in disadvantaged areas across England to learn and play chess, improve visibility and availability of the game and fund elite playing.
"I was struggling to support my son with the required chess tournaments and coaching instrumental to his development at such a young and crucial age,&rdquo; said Jitendra Singh, father of another British Indian chess prodigy &ndash; nine-year-old Shreyas Royal.
"With this grant from the government we will be able to help more kids flourish at the game through the hard-working organisations of the English Chess Federation and chess in schools and communities. I believe that it is also a very beneficial hobby and would love to see more people getting into the game from this monumental announcement,&rdquo; he said.
As part of the package, the UK&rsquo;s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) says it will invest GBP 500,000 in the English Chess Federation (ECF) over two years in order to develop the next generation of world-class talent. Funds will support expert coaching, training camps and cutting-edge computer analysis for international events to assist current grandmasters and up-and-coming players.
&ldquo;We want to give more young people the opportunity to find the thing that they love and realise their potential. So this package is focused on getting more young people playing chess and supporting them to develop their talent,&rdquo; said UK Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re also equipping our elite chess players with expert coaching to help them dominate at the highest levels of the global game and restore England&rsquo;s reputation among the best in the world,&rdquo; she said.
Alongside the support committed to elite players, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) will provide GBP 250,000 to 85 local authorities across England to install 100 new chess tables in public parks and outdoor green spaces, to allow more people to play, connect, tackle loneliness, and develop problem solving skills.
In addition, the Sunak-led government has set out plans to encourage more primary school children, particularly girls, to learn to play the game. The UK Department for Education said it will award grants of up to GBP 2,000 to at least 100 schools in disadvantaged areas across England, subject to interest.&nbsp;

Historic milestone achieved by Vaishali Rameshbabu, who, at 22, became India's third female Grandmaster with a remarkable 2500 rating during the 2023 IV Llobregat Open. 

In a historic first, Vaishali, Praggnanandhaa become only sibling duo to be Grandmasters simultaneously

Historic milestone achieved by Vaishali Rameshbabu, who, at 22, became India's third female Grandmaster with a remarkable 2500 rating during the 2023 IV Llobregat Open. 

#VaishaliRameshbabu #FIDE 

The Rameshbabu siblings are now first pair of siblings in the history to achieve the title of Grandmaster.

Vaishali Rameshbabu achieved a historic milestone on Saturday, becoming India's third female Grandmaster by surpassing a remarkable 2500 rating during the 2023 IV Llobregat Open.
This accomplishment also cements the Rameshbabu siblings, with her younger brother Praggnanandhaa, as the first-ever Grandmaster pair of siblings in the history of chess.
While Praggnanandhaa's rapid ascent to become the second-youngest Grandmaster in 2018 captured much attention, Vaishali's own stellar achievements have now come to the forefront.
At 22 years old, she has emerged from the shadows, adding another layer to the family's chess legacy.
Vaishali's journey includes attaining the titles of Woman International Master at 15, Woman Grandmaster at 17, and International Master at 20.
Vaishali joins an exclusive club, being only the third female Indian Grandmaster, following in the footsteps of Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli. Her accomplishment marks India's first female Grandmaster in 12 years, after Dronavalli achieved the title in 2011.
The momentous occasion occurred during the 2023 IV Llobregat Open on December 2, where Vaishali's exceptional skills and determination shone brightly.&nbsp;

With the 2nd position, Praggnanandhaa also became only the 2nd Indian to secure a ticket to the Candidates tournament after Vishwanathan Anand.&nbsp;

Magnus Carlsen beats R Praggnanandhaa to win FIDE Chess World Cup

Magnus Carlsen beats R Praggnanandhaa in Chess WC final

With the 2nd position, Praggnanandhaa also became only the 2nd Indian to secure a ticket to the Candidates tournament after Vishwanathan Anand.&nbsp;

Chess World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen defeated Indian chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa at the FIDE World Cup final to win his first title in Baku.&nbsp; The Norwegian prevailed against the 18-year-old in a thrilling tiebreak as he added one more prestigious trophy to his collection.
Carlsen drew against Praggnanandhaa in the second 25+10 Rapid game and won the FIDE World Cup 2023. Since he won the first Rapid game, he defeated Praggnanandhaa 1.5-0.5 in the Rapid tiebreaks.
Pragg on the other hand who defeated world 2 Hikaru Nakamura and 3 Fabiano Caruana on his way to the final has also become the youngest to clinch the silver medal at the tournament.&nbsp;
Fabiano Caruana finished third after beating Nijat Abasov in the tiebreaks.&nbsp;
With the 2nd position, Praggnanandhaa also became only the 2nd Indian to secure a ticket to the Candidates tournament after Vishwanathan Anand.&nbsp;

He became the first Indian since Viswanathan Anand in 2002 to enter the last four of the tournament, after winning the marathon quarterfinal 5-4.

Chess World Cup: Teenager R Praggnanandhaa enters semi-finals

18-year-old R Praggnanandhaa entered the Chess World Cup semi-final to break a huge record by Viswanathan Anand which he set in 2002.

He became the first Indian since Viswanathan Anand in 2002 to enter the last four of the tournament, after winning the marathon quarterfinal 5-4.

18-year-old R Praggnanandhaa beat his friend and walking partner Arjun Erigaisi in sudden death to enter Chess World Cup semi-final in Baku, Azerbaijan on Thursday.
He became the first Indian since Viswanathan Anand in 2002 to enter the last four of the tournament, after winning the marathon quarterfinal 5-4.
'I don&rsquo;t think I am going to touch chess for the next day-and-a-half. It is exhausting physically and mentally,' Praggnanandhaa said.

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