Shreya Hipparagi, the 12-year-old talent, gets the November fund of ChessBase India YouTube membership

04/02/2022 -

12-year-old Shreya Hipparagi is one of the brightest young talents of the country. She has won several medals at the state, national and international level. Hailing from a small village of Sankh on the border of Maharashtra and Karnataka, Shreya can go on to become a top chess player for the country. However, due to financial reasons, she is unable to pursue her chess career with vigour. That's the reason why we have decided to award the November 2021 YouTube membership fund of Rs.60,625 to Shreya for her chess improvement. Read the article and know more about this talented youngster.

Vidit and Harikrishna will be in action at FIDE Berlin GP 2022 starting today

04/02/2022 -

Vidit Gujrathi and Pentala Harikrishna will start their road to Candidates 2022 today at the Berlin GP. Vidit is in Pool C along with Aronian, Dubov and Keymer. Harikrishna will compete in Pool D with So, Leinier and Shirov. The Pool stage will be a double Round-Robin event of six games. The winner of each pool will advance to the Semi-finals which will also be a battle of two Classical games. World no.3 Ding Liren and FIDE World Cup 2013 runner-up Dmitry Andreikin will miss this event. The chances of Ding Liren qualifying to the Candidates 2022 seems to be almost slim to none. Round 1 of Pool stage starts today at 7:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE

Dushyant Sharma creates history by becoming the first International Master from Punjab

03/02/2022 -

18-year-old Dushyant Sharma is the answer to a long-awaited question. He became the first International Master from Punjab on 1st February 2022. He defeated IM Artem Sadovsky (RUS) to cross the 2400 barrier in the live ratings to earn the coveted title. He had already earned all three of his IM-norms by October 2021. The land of five rivers has witnessed Arvinder Preet Singh become the world champion at World Amateur Under-2300 in 2018 and Ashwani Tiwari became the first FM in 2006. This coveted IM-title has finally made a breakthrough in Punjab chess. Dushyant's journey towards GM-title continues as he is now 4.5/5 at IM Mix Hotel Putnik 20 in Novi Sad, Serbia. We hope this inspires a lot of players in Punjab to take up chess and do well. Photo: Rupali Mullick

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov's words of ultimate praise for Magnus Carlsen

02/02/2022 -

When your opponent praises you publicly for a game that you have played and beaten him, this is the highest praise that a chess player can receive. Magnus Carlsen received words of great warmth and congratulations from Shakhriyar Mamedyarov after the World Champion managed to beat him in the 9th round of the Tata Steel Masters 2022. What was so special about the game? In this article, IM Sagar Shah analyzes the game carefully and tells you why a world class GM like Mamedyarov was so impressed. Take a look at the encounter and let us know your thoughts about the game!

The Calm Warrior - Arjun Erigaisi on his Tata Steel Challengers 2022 triumph

02/02/2022 -

18-year-old Arjun Erigaisi became the youngest Indian ever to win Tata Steel Chess Challengers 2022. Harikrishna was the first Indian to win it in 2012 at the age of 26 years. Then Adhiban and Vidit won it in 2016 and 2018 respectively at the same age of 24 years each respectively. Arjun has a set new bar not only in terms of age but also won the event with the biggest margin ever since Challengers started in 2003. Harikrishna, Adhiban and Vidit won with a score of 9.0/13 each. It was bettered by Arjun 10.5/13 which was also his personal aim. IM Sagar Shah conducted a detailed over two-hour long with the boy wonder whose era started last year with Tata Steel Chess India 2021 Rapid triumph. Photo: ChessBase India

Chess Classics You Must Know Episode #28 - The Dragon without Fire

01/02/2022 -

IM Sagar Shah begins with a series where he shows you some of the most well-known games of chess that you should know - "The Classics" as they say! The format of the show is simple. Sagar begins with a game and explains it to you along with ten test questions. Your job is to answer those ten questions well. On episode no. 28, Sagar explains the classic between Anatoly Karpov and Viktor Korchnoi, a game played in the second round of Candidates 1974. Check out the article to know the questions and test your knowledge. Find out the answers and explanations mentioned by Sagar himself. Photo: ChessBase India

Vishy Anand to mentor team India for 19th Asian Games 2022 Hangzhou

31/01/2022 -

Twelve years later chess will make a return to the Asian Games. The 19th edition is slated to take place at Hangzhou, China starting from 10th September 2022. In the AICF Press Release, ten men and nine women players' names have been mentioned. The selection committee consisting of GM Abhijit Kunte, GM Dibyendu Barua and IM D K Sharma will decide the final list of five players in the month of April. There will be two events - Individual event will be played in Rapid format while team event will be played in Standard time control. Vishy Anand will be the mentor of the team and the first session starts on this Thursday. Photo: Amruta Mokal and Asian Games fb

Arjun Erigaisi becomes the fourth Indian to win Tata Steel Chess Challengers

31/01/2022 -

Arjun Erigaisi became the fourth Indian to win Tata Steel Chess Challengers. Harikrishna won in 2012, Adhiban 2016 and Vidit 2018. All three of them won with the exact same score 9.0/13. The 18-year-old scored 10.5/13 which was his aim. He also finished the event two points ahead of the field, which is the biggest margin in Challengers ever since its inception in 2003. The Warangal boy has earned himself a place in the Masters section of 85th Tata Steel Chess which is slated to take place from 13th to 29th January 2023. Magnus Carlsen has now eight triumphs at the Wijk aan Zee. Vishy Anand has won this prestigious event five times, Levon Aronian is at four. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2022

P Shyam Nikhil triumphs Pandit Shiv Kumar Khamparia Memorial Blitz Rating Open 2022

30/01/2022 -

IM P Shyam Nikhil scored an unbeaten 8.0/9 to win Pandit Shri Shiv Kumar Khamparia Memorial Blitz Rating Open 2022. IM Ratnakaran K made 7.5/9. He was placed second. Six players finished at 7.0/9 - GM Visakh N R, IM Himal Gusain, Abhishek Das, IM Akshat Khamparia, IM Nitin S and Amardeep Bartakke. They were placed third to eighth according to tie-breaks. The tournament had a total prize fund of ₹101000 with the first prize being ₹15000, ₹10000 for second and ₹7000 for third. Top three prizes had a trophy each. The tournament was organized in memory Late Pandit Shiv Kumar Khamparia (12/02/1911 - 01/12/2001) who was IM Akshat Khamparia's grandfather. Photo: Vivek Vishwakarma

Magnus Carlsen and Arjun Erigaisi clinch Tata Steel Chess 2022 with a round to spare

30/01/2022 -

The tournament favorites - Magnus Carlsen and Arjun Erigaisi lived up to all expectations as they won the 84th Tata Steel Chess 2022 Masters and Challengers convincingly with a round to spare. While the tournament ended for Magnus, Arjun still has one more game to go. The 18-year-old's meteoric rise started last summer, the juggernaut continued at Tata Steel Chess India 2021 Rapid and Blitz. As he mentioned in the post-match interview, Tata Steel tournaments have always been good for him. He now has almost one year to level up further and get ready to face Magnus and the world's best next year. Round 13 starts today at 4:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit/Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2022

Chessbase India launches India's Got Chess Talent

29/01/2022 -

Chess improvement is always a tough process. You fall in love with the game, and you enjoy it tremendously, but then you hit a plateau. You are not able to improve. No matter how hard you try and how focused you are. At such points, it is natural to get frustrated. However, with the "India's Got Chess Talent" we want to find such talented players who are trying their best to improve at chess, but are unable to do so. We want to guide them by having a look at their games, so that they get a push in the right direction. The games will be reviewed by either IM Sagar Shah or competent trainers. We hope that we can help you in the right direction with improvement in your chess journey! Photo: ChessBase India

Tata Steel 2022 R11: Vidit Gujrathi holds Magnus to a draw in a thrilling rook endgame

29/01/2022 -

Vidit Gujrathi continues his unbeaten streak against Magnus Carlsen in Classical chess as he drew their third encounter in the same format in Round 11 of 84th Tata Steel Chess. The India no.2 did not want to make a quick draw like many other games have happened in the event. He wanted to prolong the game which almost cost him in the end. The world champion was unable to spot the win, thus the game ended in a draw. Dubov had to leave the tournament as an official announcement was made about him testing positive for COVID-19. It means Magnus has only one more game to play against Caruana who defeated Praggnanandhaa. Both Arjun Erigaisi and Surya Sekhar Ganguly drew their respective games. Round 12 starts today at 6:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2022

IM Shinya Kojima wins Japan Open 2021

28/01/2022 -

In a normal year at least three FIDE rated, classical time control tournaments are held in Japan, two simultaneously in May, and one in November. This year, with the coronavirus playing havoc, the events in May were cancelled, while the Gion Open in Kyoto went ahead as scheduled. Finally, come November, and relatively quieter situation with regard to the virus, we saw the successful completion of the FIDE rated Japan Open 2021. The National Chess Society of Japan (NCS Japan) successfully conducted the FIDE Rated OTB classical tournament - Japan Open – as planned, in November 2021. Photo: Mayur Gondhalekar

Tata Steel 2022 R10: Praggnanandhaa bests Vidit in over 6.5 hour-long grueling battle on India's 73rd Republic Day

27/01/2022 -

Praggnanandhaa showed his class to the world once again as he beat Vidit Gujrathi in Round 10 of 84th Tata Steel Chess 2022 Masters. Despite suffering three consecutive losses against the likes of Carlsen, Mamedyarov and Karjakin, Pragg reminded his toughness as he bested the India no.2. Magnus drew with Karjakin quickly to maintain his sole lead, 7.0/10. Giri continues his chase, 6.5/10. Rapport scored his first-ever Classical victory against Caruana to move to shared third place with Mamedyarov 6.0/10. Arjun Erigaisi drew with Polina Shuvalova, and Surya Sekhar Ganguly defeated Jiner Zhu. Arjun is still two points ahead of the competition, 8.5/10. Today is a rest day. Round 11 starts tomorrow, Friday 28th January at 6:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2022

Harikrishnan A Ra and Muthaiah Al win National Club Chess Championships 2021 in Maldives

26/01/2022 -

IM Harikrishnan A Ra and IM Muthaiah Al were the only two Indians to take part in National Club Chess Championship 2021 held in the Maldives. Both of them played for the same team Club Chess Mates and also scored the same 8.0/8 each. The winner scored 18.0/18 to secure first place, and they won MVR 25000 (approx. ₹121000). Runner-up Castle Chess Club and Academy scored 15.0/18 and won MVR 10000. Stone Wall secured third position, and they received MVR 5000. All prize winners received a medal each. A total of nine teams and 45 players took part in this nine round tournament. Photo: Maldives Chess Association

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