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Nandhidhaa clinches Indian Oil 51st National Women 2025, wins the event for the second year in-a-row

18/12/2025 -

WGM Nandhidhaa P V (TN) defeated WIM Srishti Pandey (MAH) to win Indian Oil 51st National Women's Chess Championship 2025. It was a battle fitting for a finale. After, WGM Mary Ann Gomes (PSPB) drew her game against WGM Varshini (TN), it was clear that Nandhidhaa needed a win to become the champion without the need of tie-breaks whereas a draw would have left things up in the air. Nandhidhaa won a grueling battle which was heading towards a draw until her opponent blundered in the final moments of the game under pressure. Thus, Nandhidhaa won the National Women's title for the second consecutive year and secured her place in the next FIDE Women's World Cup. Mary Ann secured second place. The newly crowned National Sub-Junior Girls champion, WFM Arshiya Das (TRI) defeated WFM Shubhi Gupta (UP) to finish third. A draw in the final round would have given Srishti a third or fourth place finish. However, the loss pushed her to sixth place. Shubhi and Nivedita V C (TN) scored a WIM-norm each in a rare feat for National Women Championship. Photos: Shahid Ahmed

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2nd Khelo Chess India Blitz and Rapid Rating Open to take place on 10th and 11th January 2026

18/12/2025 -

FIDE Rated Chess Tournaments will be organized once again in the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal. ChessBase India and Khelo Chess India Club invite you to participate in the 2nd Khelo Chess India FIDE Rated Blitz and Rapid tournament, which will be held on 10th and 11th January. During this time, you will get to play ten Blitz and nine Rapid games. With top-notch arrangements, you can strive to improve your FIDE rating if you are already rated, or earn your first FIDE rating if you don't have one yet. In addition, you will have the chance to win a prize from a total prize fund of ₹150000. An under-10 or 12-year-old player will have the opportunity to win a chess scholarship worth ₹50000. Find out how you can participate in this tournament. Read this article, and we hope to see you in Bhopal. Graphic: FI Niklesh Jain

How to handle pressure and stay confident during crucial chess games

18/12/2025 -

Handling pressure is something every chess player can recognize, from beginners to top professionals. In this article, Saloni Sapale, a Woman International Master and Sports Psychology Consultant, explores why crucial rounds feel so intense and how the mind reacts when the stakes rise. She draws on recent moments from the Chess World Cup to show how quickly pressure affects decisions. Most importantly, she offers simple and practical ways to understand pressure rather than fear it. Her goal is to help players feel prepared, confident, and ready when the moment truly counts. Read the article to learn how you can handle pressure and play with confidence. Images used are AI-generated.

Tech Mahindra GCL 2025 Day 4: PBG Alaskan Knights suffer a landslide defeat against upGrad Mumba Masters

18/12/2025 -

Triveni Continental Kings and upGrad Mumba Masters bounced back well in Round 4 of Tech Mahindra Global Chess League 2025. The day started with Fyers American Gambits suffering a loss against Alpine SG Pipers by 4-10. Leon Luke Mendonca (ASGP) scored a crucial victory over the reigning World Rapid champion, Volodar Murzin (FAG). PBG Alaskan Knights' tough run continues. They suffered one of the biggest defeats of GCL as they lost 2-18 against one of the leaders, upGrad Mumba Masters. The two-time reigning World Rapid Women champion, GM Humpy Koneru scored her first win of the event in a wild battle against GM Kateryna Lagno. Triveni Continental Kings defeated Ganges Grandmasters by 11-6. Vidit Gujrathi suffered a loss against FIDE World Cup 2025 winner, Javokhir Sindarov after missing simple two move tactics and mate in two. Round 5 starts today at 5 p.m. IST with upGrad Mumba Masters vs Triveni Continental Kings. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy

Apoorv Kamble from Bangalore becomes India’s latest International Master

17/12/2025 -

Bangalore’s young talent Apoorv Kamble has officially become India’s latest International Master. He earned all three of his IM norms in 2025 and crossed 2400 along the way, completing one of the fastest rises of the year. He earned his first IM norm at the Teplice Open in June, second norm in the Tamil Nadu IM Closed tournament and the third and last norm at the 34th IM Norm round robin in Chennai. Apoorv gained over 22 Elo points in the last event and finished second overall. It feels even more impressive when you realize he gained about 600 Elo points in under three years. And now, his journey is moving to the next stage. Read the article to know how he did it. Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Aronyak Ghosh dominates Pravabati Devi Memorial Cup Rapid Rating Open 2025

17/12/2025 -

IM Aronyak Ghosh scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 to win Pravabati Devi Memorial Cup Rapid Rating Open 2025. He finished a full point ahead of the rest. IM Utsab Chatterjee scored 7.5/9 to secure second place. Half a dozen players scored 7/9. Among them, Dr. IM Rajdeep Sarkar was placed third according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund was ₹300000. The top three prizes in Rapid rating were ₹40000, ₹20000 and ₹10000 along with a trophy each. WFM Sneha Halder and Soham Roy scored an unbeaten 6.5/7 each in the Blitz Open. Sneha became champion, Soham was adjudged second. Aronyak edged past three more players on tie-breaks to finish third. This is Aronyak's third overall, second rating tournament triumph of the year. Photo: Anjan / Aruar Udayachal Club

Six GM and IM-norm Tournaments in 20 days in Tamil Nadu Chess Festival

17/12/2025 -

Ananthi Chess Academy presents 5th Athens of the East GM Tournament 2025 will take place from 24th to 31st December 2025 in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Category A is for players rated above 2000, Category B - Below 2000 and Category D - Below 1800. The total prize fund is ₹4800000. ₹2000000 for Category A, ₹1200000 for Category B and D each, ₹400000 for Blitz Rating Open. Free accommodation, lunch and chess set for all players. Apart from the cash prizes, there are eight cars, three bikes, 100 cycles and 50 clocks will be up for grabs. 16th Chennai GM Open will take place from 2nd to 9th January 2026. It offers a total prize fund of ₹2000000. After that 41st to 44th Tamil Nadu IM-norm Round Robin tournaments, all four will take place simultaneously. Check the article for all details. Photo: Tournament circular

Tech Mahindra GCL 2025 Day 3: Vishy Anand schools D Gukesh

17/12/2025 -

Triveni Continental Kings and upGrad Mumba Masteres suffer their first losses of the season at Tech Mahindra Global Chess League 2025. They went down against Fyers American Gambits and Alpine SG Pipers respectively. The day started with a clash between two World Champions of India - Vishy Anand and D Gukesh. This was also the first time they faced each other in a rated game since Gukesh became World Champion last year. Vintage Anand played a great game to score his first win of the event while Gukesh suffered his second consecutive loss. Richard Rapport (FAG) played a beautiful game to beat Vidit Gujrathi (TCK). Leon Luke Mendonca (ASGP) scored a crucial victory over the reigning Asian Individual champion, Bardiya Daneshvar (uMM) to ensure Alpine SG Pipers register their first match victory of the event. Round 4 starts today at 5 p.m. IST with Fyers American Gambits vs Alpine SG Pipers. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy

Mayank Chakraborty triumphs at Shirvan Open 2025, Subhayan Kundu third

16/12/2025 -

IM Mayank Chakraborty, GM Vugar Rasulov (AZE), IM Subhayan Kundu and IM Khazar Babazada (AZE) scored an unbeaten 7/9 each at Shirvan Open A (>1900) 2025. Mayank won the tournament on tie-breaks. The remaining three - Vugar, Subhayan and Khazar secured second, third and fourth place respectively. The total prize fund of the tournament was 22650 AZN. The top three prizes were 5100, 3400 and 2000 AZN each. FM John Veny Akkarakaran was the only other Indian to make a top ten finish. He scored 6/9 to finish tenth. Mayank scored 7/9 in Blitz Open to finish fourth. This was Mayank's sixth overall, third rating tournament triumph of the year. Photo: Azerbaijan Chess Federation

Prasannaa S wins 2nd Singh's Gambit Rating Open 2025

16/12/2025 -

FM Prasannaa S, Vijay Shreeram P, Ajjesh J R and Sparsh Khandelwal scored an unbeaten 7.5/8 each at 2nd Singh's Gambit Rating Open 2025. Prasannaa won the tournament on tie-breaks. The remaining three were placed second to fourth respectively according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund was ₹800000. The top three prizes were ₹100000 + trophy, ₹75000 and ₹60000. The four-day eight-round rating tournament was organized by Guru Nanak College in association with Mount Chess Academy at Guru Nanak Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Chennai, Tamil Nadu from 27th to 30th November 2025. This was Prasannaa's fifth overall, third rating tournament triumph of the year. Photo: Guru Nanak College Chennai

Tech Mahindra GCL 2025 Day 2: upGrad Mumba Masters and Triveni Continental Kings win two in-a-row

16/12/2025 -

upGrad Mumba Masters and Triveni Continental Kings are the only two teams to have won both of their matches at Tech Mahindra Global Chess League 2025. Fyers American Gambits suffered a close 7-9 loss against upGrad Mumba Masters. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (uMM) and Bardiya Daneshvar (uMM) scored the crucial wins for their team. Hikaru Nakamura's sole win could not save his team. Star studded, SG Alpine Pipers suffer their second consecutive loss of the event. This time against Ganges Grandmasters by 7-13. PBG Alaskan Knights suffered a massive defeat 3-15 against the reigning and defending two-time champions, Triveni Continental Kings. Round 3 starts today at 5 p.m. IST with Ganges Grandmasters vs PBG Alaskan Knights. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy

How chess replaced gambling in the coastal village of Neerodi

15/12/2025 -

There are many stories about chess changing individual lives. This one is about a small coastal village in Tamil Nadu, called Neerodi, where the game slowly changed everyday habits. For years, the village was known for gambling. When chess entered the scene, it brought a new way to spend time. The change slowly started becoming visible through IA Ephrame’s “Chess Replaces Gambling” project. With the dedication of Jain Marlet, chess reached more children and families across the village. Today, the change is visible in the choices people make there. Read the article to know about how this transformation took shape.

Chess Academy of Armenia invites you to 16th Andranik Margaryan Memorial Round-Robin 2026

15/12/2025 -

Chess Academy of Armenia invites you to 16th Andranik Margaryan Memorial GM and IM Round-Robin tournaments 2026. The tournaments will take place at Chess Academy of Armenia in Yerevan, Armenia from 9th to 16th January 2026. GM Round-Robin tournament has a prize fund of US$ 3700. The top three prizes are $1500, $1000 and $700. Apart from that there are Chessify bundle prizes worth $200, $100 and $100 in the GM-Round Robin, for IM Round-Robin, the top three prizes are Chessify bundles worth $150, $100 and $50. Those who are interested in participating in either of the norm tournaments, read the details and contact the organizer accordingly. Grandmasters will be provided accommodation with full board. Two GMs around 2500 Elo rating are needed. They will be given an honorarium. Graphic: Chess Academy of Armenia

Tech Mahindra GCL 2025 Day 1: Fiery Firouzja scorches Caruana

15/12/2025 -

The two-time reigning and defending champion, Triveni Continental Kings started the day with a 9-7 victory over Alpine SG Pipers in Round 1 of Tech Mahindra Global Chess League 2025. Alireza Firouzja (TCK) and Wei Yi (TCK) scored the wins for the team against Fabiano Caruana (ASGP) and Anish Giri (ASGP) respectively. The All-Indian clash between Vidit Gujrathi (TCK) and R Praggnanandhaa (ASGP) was a well-contested draw. Leon Luke Mendonca (ASGP) split the point with Marc` Andria Maurizzi (TCK). Ganges Grandmasters got drowned by upGrad Mumba Masters by 4-17, a loss by huge margin. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (uMM), Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (uMM), Harika Dronavalli (uMM) and Bardiya Daneshvar (uMM) scored the wins for their team. PBG Alaskan Knights lost to Fyers American Gambits by 5-8. Round 2 starts today at 5 p.m. IST starting with Fyers American Gambits vs upGrad Mumba Masters. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy

Sharan Rao perfect at 1st RCC Wednesday Evening Blitz Rating 2025

15/12/2025 -

IM Sharan Rao scored a perfect 15/15 to win 1st RCC Club Wednesday Evening Blitz Rating 2025. The reigning Karnataka State Rapid and Blitz 2025 champion, won the tournament with a round to spare and finished a whopping two points ahead of the rest. Vihaan Shetty scored 13/15 to secure second place. Sriansh Sinha finished third scoring 11.5/15. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹10000. The top three prizes were ₹3000, ₹2000 and ₹1000 along with a trophy each. Entry was free for RCC students and members. The one-day 15-Round Rating tournament was organized by and at Rao's Chess Corner  in Mangaluru, Karnataka on 26th November 2025. This is Sharan's ninth overall, sixth rating tournament triumph of the year. Three out of his nine tournament victories were in Blitz events including this one. Photo: Rao's Chess Corner

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