From Mumbai to Cyprus - 20 hours of travel to reach FIDE Candidates 2026

The road to the FIDE Candidates is long, not just for the players, but also for those bringing the action to the chess lovers worldwide. Sagar and Amruta recently completed a grueling 20-hour journey from Mumbai to the island of Cyprus to cover the prestigious event. In this article Sagar chronicles this journey.

IM Hari Madhavan reigns supreme at Little England Blitz Tournament 2026

International master NB Hari Madhavan N B of Tamil Nadu won the Little England 1st FIDE-rated blitz tournament, organized by Ananthi Chess Academy, Madurai, and Vijayam Chess Academy, Hosur, at Adhiyaman College of Engineering, Hosur. Of the nine rounds, he conceded only one draw to GM Laxman RR in the seventh round and won all the remaining rounds. Hari Madhavan was unbeaten throughout the event. Eighth-seeded Mihir Shah of Gujarat, Arnav Gupta of Delhi, G Gokul of Tamil Nadu, and Sai Abhinav Kuchibhotla scored eight points each to tie for second to fifth places. Mihir sealed the second place due to a better tiebreak. Photos: Ananthi Chess Academy

The new Opening Encyclopaedia 2026 - available now!

Be well prepared with the new Opening Encyclopaedia 2026! Whether you want to build up a reliable and powerful opening repertoire or find new opening ideas for your existing repertoire, the Opening Encyclopaedia covers the entire opening theory on one product and is the ideal start for your opening training. Many new articles enrich the current theory with new or revisited ideas. The Encyclopaedia can help you learn openings quickly and give you a head start on your next opponent. Each article contains explanations and annotated games illustrating typical plans to deepen your understanding.

Khelo Chess India Classical: Mukesh, Divyanshu, Devansh Among 12 Players in Joint Lead

After the first three rounds of the 2nd Khelo Chess India Classical FIDE Tournament being held in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, a total of 12 players are jointly leading the standings with three wins each. With one round being played each day, players are getting ample time for preparation, analysis, and rest, which is clearly reflected in several high-quality games on the board. The second round was inaugurated by Colombia’s number one chess player, Woman International Master Angela Franco, while the third round was inaugurated by current Under-12 Asian Champion, FIDE Master Madhavendra Pratap Sharma. After three rounds, the top six seeded players have all managed to register straight wins, but some upsets are expected from the fourth round onward.

Photo : Angela Franco , Niklesh Jain

Candidates tournament 2026: Who has the upper hand?

With the Candidates Tournament just around the corner, the excitement is starting to build. Eight of the world’s best are set to battle it out in one of chess’s most demanding events. But who is actually in the best form right now? In this article, A Ganesan takes a closer look at how each contender has performed against elite 2700+ opposition over the past year. The numbers reveal some clear trends, surprising insights, and a few hidden dangers. And while the stats point towards a few favourites, the candidates have a way of defying expectations. Read the full article for the complete breakdown. Photo: FIDE

Abhimanyu Puranik becomes National Blitz Champion 2026

GM Abhimanyu Puranik of Maharashtra scored 9/11 points to become the 2026 National Blitz Champion. After 11 rounds of fast-paced chess, Abhimanyu Puranik and Sayantan Das (PSPB) scored 9/11 points, and Abhimanyu clinched the title according to tiebreak scores while Sayantan settled for second place. 8 players scored 8.5/11 points to secure 3rd to 10th positions. Hari Madhavan NB of Tamil Nadu, secured third place in both Blitz and Rapid Championships. Check the article, including an interview with Abhimanyu. Photos: Omkar/ Sarala Birla University

IM Rahul Sangma wins Chess for Everyone Classical Fide Rating 2026

IM Rahul Sangma scored an unbeaten 7/8 points to win the Chess for Everyone Classical Fide Rating tournament 2026 by Premier Chess Academy. Five players scored 7/8 points. Rahul Sangma secured 1st place according to tiebreaks, while GM Saptarshi Roy Chowdhury, IM Subhayan Kundu, GM Petr Kiriakov, and IM Vasil Trickov secured 2nd to 5th places respectively. This 4-day FIDE classical event took place at Premier Chess Academy, Trivandrum, Kerala, from 20th to 23rd March. It was a social cause event with free entry fees and no cash prizes. Main prize winners and category prize winners received trophies for their brilliant performance. Photos: Ravindra Potawad / PCA

Maitreyi Mondal receives B B Mote Scholarship worth Rs. 50,000

India has no shortage of chess talent, but opportunities don’t always reach everyone equally. The HelpChess Foundation has been working to bridge this gap, supporting players with timely financial aid when it matters most. Over the past year, the initiative has raised over Rs. 1.6 crore, impacting several promising careers. Taking this mission forward, Suraj Khot and Ankita Potnis have introduced the B B Mote Scholarship worth Rs. 50,000. It has been awarded to 13-year-old WCM Maitreyi Mondal from West Bengal. Read the article to know more about the scholarship.

Khelo Chess India Classical Begins, One Game Will Be Played Each Day

The Khelo Chess India initiative, which began in January 2023, is steadily moving towards a milestone of 100 tournaments. Currently, our second Classical FIDE Rating Tournament is underway at the Khelo Chess India Club, located at Sage International School in Bhopal. A unique feature of this event is that, following the standards of top-level international tournaments, only one round is being played each day. This allows players adequate time to prepare, rest, and analyze their games. A total of 120 players are participating in the competition. The tournament was inaugurated on the first day by Madhya Pradesh’s number one player, International Master Anuj Shrivatri, along with Sage International Group Director Dr. P. S. Rajput. In the matches played on the opening day, most of the top-seeded players secured victories. Read the full report. Photos: Ayush Jain

Railways Sports Promotion Board wins 45th National Team Open 2026

Railways Sports Promotion Board A scored an unbeaten 16/18 points to win the 45th National Team Chess Championship 2026. This is the 3rd title in a row at the National Team Championship for the Railways Sports Promotion Board. Airport Authority of India scored 15/18 points to secure 2nd place and lost their only game against RSPB A. Railways Sports Promotion Board B scored 14/18 points to finish in 3rd place. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹5,00,000. The top three prizes were ₹1,25,000, ₹1,00,000, and ₹75,000 each. The championship was smoothly organized at Agrasen Dham, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, by Chhattisgarh State Chess Association from 16th to 22nd March 2026. Photos: Ayush Jain/ChessBase India

Chess for Everyone R6: Subhayan Kundu takes sole lead with perfect 6/6

After six rounds at the Chess for Everyone tournament in Kerala, the battle at the top has intensified with the standings beginning to take clearer shape. Subhayan Kundu has emerged as the sole leader with 6/6. Subhayan won his matches against Tamang Sudip and Mahadev J S. He is unbeaten in the tournament so far. In the 7th round, he is facing Kiriakov Petr with White pieces. With just two rounds to go, every game is proving crucial as players fight for the top honours. Check out the full report. Photos: Ravindra Potawad

IM Shashikant Kutwal Dominates Super Heroes Cup 2026

The Super Heroes Cup 2026 will be remembered not only for its inspiring participants but also for the sheer quality of chess produced across all rounds. In a knockout format where every game could end a campaign, IM Shashikant Kutwal delivered a performance of remarkable control, precision, and maturity to lift the title. Unlike many knockout events dominated by chaos, this tournament showcased a fascinating blend of fearless attacking play and classical positional understanding by the top differently abled players of India. Here is a detailed round-by-round report, featuring key positions and annotated highlights. Photos : Vivek Sohani

Kiriakov Petr in joint lead at Chess for Everyone Kerela 2026

The Chess for Everyone tournament is currently happening in Kerala and Kiriakov Petr tops the standings with a perfect 4/4, with seven other players also on the same score, including Saptarshi Roy, Kundu Subhayan, Anup Deshmukh, J S Mahadev and S D Janaki. In the fifth round, Kiriakov Petr will face Dissanayake R K T with White pieces. This FIDE-rated classical tournament is organised by Kerala's Premier Chess Academy from 20th March to 23rd March. The time control of the tournament is 90 minutes + 30-second increment from move 1, with a total of 8 rounds. Check out the article for the report. Photos: Ravindra Potawad

How strong is Gukesh at 19?

Gukesh has achieved what many of the greatest players could only dream of at his age: becoming a World Champion! Naturally, this leads to an intriguing question that many chess fans wonder about. How does Gukesh at 19 compare with the legends of the game when they were the same age? In this article, A Ganesan takes a historical journey through the early careers of some iconic champions. By examining their achievements, setbacks and growth at 19, the article places Gukesh’s remarkable rise into a broader historical perspective. Read on to see where the young world champion stands among the giants of chess history. Photo: Abhyudaya Ram

11-year-old Charvi inspires at the MMA Women's Day Programme

At a special International Women’s Day event, 500+ professionals came together to celebrate inspiring journeys. Among the speakers was 11-year-old chess talent Charvi Anilkumar, making it a truly special moment. She is one of India’s brightest young talents who has won multiple world and Asian titles. She became the second youngest girl in the world to cross 2300 Elo mark. She is also a recipient of the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar. Her presence at such a platform reflects the growing recognition of Indian chess. Read the article to dive into Charvi’s inspiring interaction.