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Vladimir Fedoseev wins 58th Biel Chess Festival GMT Masters, Aravindh Chithambaram second

25/07/2025 -

GM Aravindh Chithambaram drew his final round game against the reigning World Rapid champion, GM Volodar Murzin. GM Vladimir Fedoseev (SLO) won against GM Salem Saleh (UAE). Both Fedoseev and Aravindh scored same points 28.5/52. Fedoseev finished ahead of Aravindh in the Chess960 event, part of Grandmaster Triathlon. Thus, Fedoseev became 58th Biel Chess Festival GMT Masters 2025. Aravindh had to settle for second place. Salem finished third scoring 24.5/52. GM Nikolas Theodorou (GRE) had already won the GMT Challengers with a round to spare. He finished with 33.5/52. GM Aram Hakobyan (ARM) secured second place 28.5/52. GM Rinat Jumabayev (KAZ) was third 20/52. Photo: Biel Chess Festival

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2nd Dole Trophy Pasino Grand Aix R6: Pavel Eljanov misses a win, still in sole lead

25/07/2025 -

GM Pavel Eljanov (UKR) drew against GM Bryce Tiglon (USA) to maintain his sole lead 5.5/6 at 2nd Dole Trophy Pasino Grand Aix 2025 Masters. Eljanov was winning against Tiglon. However, in a position when it seemed almost everything is winning, he opted for a choice which turned the tables. The American missed his opportunity and thegame ended in a draw. The top seed of the tournament, GM Jorden van Foreest (NED) defeated GM Xiongjian Peng (CHN) convincingly to move to 5/6. Jorden and seven more players including France's very own, IM Marco Materia is at 5/6. Round 7 starts today at 2:30 p.m. local time, 6 p.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed

Koneru Humpy knocks out Tingjie Lei to qualify to her first FIDE Women's World Cup Final

24/07/2025 -

GM Koneru Humpy defeated GM Tingjie Lei (CHN) 5-3 to advance to the Finals of the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025. This is the first time she qualified to a Women's World Cup Final. After two draws in the 15'+10" Rapid games, Tingjie struck by winning the first 10'+10" Rapid. Humpy won the must-win second 10'+10" Rapid. She continued her momentum by winning the next two 5'+3" Blitz games to win the match and secure her place in the Final. With this win, she has secured that India will win the Women's World Cup. Now the question remains who will win it - Divya or Humpy. Tomorrow is the last rest day. Round 7/Final Game 1 starts on Saturday 26th July at 3 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Aravindh Chithambaram on the verge of winning 58th Biel Chess Festival GMT Masters

24/07/2025 -

GM Aravindh Chithambaram defeated GM Salem Saleh (UAE) to regain his sole lead 27/48 at 58th Biel Chess Festival GMT Masters 2025. Aravindh avenged his fifth round loss in the Qualifiers where he had a great position against the UAE no.1. A win in the final round against the reigning World Rapid champion, GM Volodar Murzin makes Aravindh a clear champion. A draw would mean, Aravindh would need the other game between GM Vladimir Fedoseev (SLO) and Salem to end in a draw too, because if Aravindh draws and Fedoseev or Salem win, then they will become champion as both finished higher than Aravindh in the 960 event which will be used to break the tie if the need arises. GMT Final Round 3 starts today at 2 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Biel Chess Festival

2nd Dole Trophy Pasino Grand Aix R5: Pavel Eljanov emerges sole leader as Baadur Jobava loses on time

24/07/2025 -

GM Pavel Eljanov (UKR) defeated his coleader GM Baadur Jobava (GEO) to move to 5/5 at 2nd Dole Trophy Pasino Grand Aix 2025 Masters. Jobava ran out of time after he missed an opportunity to gain the decisive advantage, positionally he was lost to when he had no time left. GM Bryce Tiglon (USA) and IM Marco Materia (FRA) are the only two players who are at 4.5/5 each. They are followed by 19 players at 4/5 including the top seed, GM Jorden van Foreest. GM Raja Rithvik R is the sole Indian at 4/5. Round 6 starts today at 2:30 p.m. local time, 6 p.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed

Divya Deshmukh becomes the first-ever Indian to advance to a FIDE Women's World Cup Final

23/07/2025 -

19-year-old IM Divya Deshmukh has etched her name in the history by becoming the first Indian woman to advance to the Finals of a FIDE Women's World Cup. The second Semifinal was absolutely worthy of its clash. It had everything, mistakes in a back and forth battle. Eventually, the 16th Women's World Champion, GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN) made the final error which cost her game. GM Koneru Humpy was also winning in the rook endgame, similar to her compatriot. However, she fumbled it and will have to play tie-breaks tomorrow against GM Tingjie Lei (CHN). The winner will face Divya in the Finals. Round 6/Semifinal Tie-break games start tomorrow at 3 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Biel MTO R8: Karthik Venkataraman executes a beautiful combination

23/07/2025 -

GM Karthikeyan Murali drew against GM Mustafa Yilmaz to maintain his lead 6.5/8 at 58th Biel Chess Festival Master Tournament (MTO). It allowed GM Karthik Venkataraman to catch up as he defeated GM Pranav Anand to emerge coleader with Karthikeyan. In the penultimate ninth round, Karthikeyan will inevitably clash against Karthik. Eight players including GM Pranesh M and GM Magesh Chandran Panchanathan are trailing by a half point at 6/8 each. GM Aravindh Chithambaram missed a great opportunity to push for a win agaginst GM Vladimir Fedoseev (SLO) and emerge sole leader himself. GM Salem Saleh (UAE) and Fedoseev maintain their lead 24.5/52. Aravindh is currently at third place. GMT Final Round 2 starts today at 2 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Biel Chess Festival

2nd Dole Trophy Pasino Grand Aix R4: Eljanov and Jobava win four in-a-row

23/07/2025 -

GM Pavel Eljanov (UKR) and GM Baadur Jobava (GEO) are the only two players with a perfect score 4/4 at 2nd Dole Trophy Pasino Grand Aix 2025 Masters. GM Leon Luke Mendonca went wrong when he made an incorrect queen sacrifice. The rest of the game became trudge for him and he could not recover. GM Aditya S Samant spotted a nice tactic after his opponent Jobava missed it. However, Aditya could not follow through correctly and it cost him the game. Ten players are trailing by a half point at 3.5/4 each. For the fourth consecutive round, a game ran for six hours. This time it was a draw between FM Apaar Saxena and GM Max Warmerdam (NED). Round 5 starts today at 2:30 p.m. local time, 6 p.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed

Women's World Cup SF1: Calm before storm?

22/07/2025 -

It is the Semifinals of FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 which means stakes are very high. A place in the Finals, coveted spot in the next Women's Candidates, medal and good cash prize, all are on the line. So, no one would want to make a mistake early in the match. Both matches, GM Tingjie Lei (CHN) and GM Koneru Humpy, and also IM Divya Deshmukh and GM Tingjie Lei (CHN) ended in quiet draws. We may get to know at least one finalist tomorrow, or wait one further day to find them both. Round 6/Semifinal Game 2 starts tomorrow at 3 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Levon Aronian wins Freestyle Grand Slam Tour Las Vegas, Magnus Carlsen third

22/07/2025 -

Garry Kasparov once famously said that the chess world is a better place when Levon Aronian is playing well. The universally loved, gentleman of the sport defeated Hans Niemann 0.5-1.5 in the Finals to win the match and tournament. Thus, Hans secured second place. There is a reason the maestro has won the FIDE World Cup twice and no one else has managed to repeat his feat. Magnus Carlsen also won his third place match with the same score against Hikaru Nakamura. Thus, Magnus finished third on the podium. If he decides to play the World Cup later this year and defend his crown, perhaps he can have a legitimate claim to tie Aronian's record, unless someone else makes a move towards the World Cup crown. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy

Grandmaster Lalit Babu MR and Madhesh Kumar S are the Champions of Aurionpro Mumbai International GM Open and Juniors Chess Tournament 2025

22/07/2025 -

With a highly exciting finish, Grandmaster Lalit Babu MR and Madhesh Kumar S are the Champions of the Aurionpro International Grandmaster Chess Tournament and Aurionpro International Juniors Chess Tournament respectively. Both Madhesh and Lalit scored critical wins in the final round to become the Champion! Lalit took home a beautiful trophy and Rs. 4,00,000, while Madhesh won Rs. 2,00,000 and an equally impressive trophy! Check out all that happened in the final round and all the information of the closing ceremony in this report. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy, Himank Ghosh

Biel MTO R7: Karthikeyan Murali and Pranav Anand emerge coleaders

22/07/2025 -

GM Karthikeyan Murali and GM Pranav Anand have emerged coleaders 6/7 at 58th Biel Chess Festival Master Tournament (MTO). Karthikeyan and Pranav defeated GM Sasikiran Krishnan and IM Christian Gloeckler (GER) respectively to stay in the lead. They are pursued by four players - GM Mustafa Yilmaz (TUR), GM Karthik Venkataraman, IM Dau Khuong Duy (VIE) and GM Pranesh M at 5.5/7 each. In the GMT Masters, GM Salem Saleh (UAE) and GM Vladimir Fedoseev (SLO) moved to the top with 23/48 each. Fedoseev topped the Blitz event with 7.5/10, after starting the event with a loss against GM Aravindh Chithambaram. Aravindh scored 6/10 in Blitz, same as Salem. Aravindh's overall score is 21.5/48. He is in the final four of the GMT Masters with Salem, Fedoseev and GM Volodar Murzin. GMT Final Round 1 starts today at 2 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Biel Chess Festival

2nd Dole Trophy Pasino Grand Aix R3: Leon Luke Mendonca and Aditya Samant score a hat-trick

22/07/2025 -

Five players - GM Pavel Eljanov (UKR), GM Baadur Jobava (GEO), IM Patryk Cieslak (POL), GM Aditya S Samant and GM Leon Luke Mendonca are at perfect 3/3. Eljanov scored a comfortable win over GM Ivan Schitco (MDA). Jobava made a short work of IM Edvin Trost. Patryk outplayed GM G N Gopal. Aditya defeated WIM Sila Caglar (TUR). Leon had a bumpy win against IM Tobias Koelle (GER). Leon let his advantage slip by only for his opponent to return the upper hand. Eventually, it was Tobias who made the final mistake and lost the game. It will be Eljanov vs Leon and Jobava vs Aditya in the fourth round. It starts today at 2:30 p.m. local time, 6 p.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed

Aakash Sharadchandra Dalvi dominates Great Minds Chess Academy Rapid Rating Open 2025

21/07/2025 -

IM Aakash Sharadchandra Dalvi scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 to win Great Minds Chess Academy Rapid Rating Open 2025. He finished a half point ahead of the rest. IM Md. Imran, IM Srihari L and B Vignesh scored 8/9 each. They secured second, third and fourth place respectively. Imran also remained undefeated. Their final round battle against each other ended in a draw. The total prize fund was ₹400000. The top three prizes were ₹40000, ₹30000 and ₹25000 along with a trophy each. The one-day nine round Rapid rating tournament was  organized by Great Minds Chess Academy at Rahul Convention Hall in Mysore, Karnataka on 22nd June 2025. This is Aakash's third overall, first rating tournament triumph of the year. Photo: Great Minds Chess Academy

Women's World Cup QF TB: Divya Deshmukh eliminates Harika Dronavalli to advance to the Semifinals

21/07/2025 -

IM Divya Deshmukh defeated GM Harika Dronavalli twice in tie-breaks to win her Quarterfinals match and advance to the Semifinals of FIDE Women's World Cup 2025. After, GM Koneru Humpy, Divya becomes the Indian woman to qualify in a FIDE Women's World Cup tournament. Divya seized her opportunity when Harika erred in the endgame of the first 15'+10" tie-break. In the second game, Harika missed a couple of winning chances in the end. It cost her dearly and the match. Thus, the legend, Harika's journey at this event comes to an end. Divya will face the 16th Women's World Champion, GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN) in the Semifinals. Round 6/Semifinal Game 1 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

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