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Gukesh beats Magnus, and the world goes “What?”

02/06/2025 -

Gukesh took down the World No.1 Magnus Carlsen in classical chess at the 13th Norway Chess. The game was full of excitement, but it was the time trouble that changed the course of the result in just a few moves. It wasn’t the smoothest win. In fact, Gukesh himself said he was still shaking after the game. But a win is a win, and this one was special. His first classical victory over Magnus Carlsen! While Gukesh stayed composed as usual, the internet did the celebration for him. From top players to chess fans across the world, everyone had something to say. Here is how the world reacted to this epic moment. Photos: Michal Walusza

ChessBase 18 and Mega 2025 are here

ChessBase 18 is an all-new program that helps you manage all your databases as an ambitious player. Mega Database 2025 has 11 million games with over 113,000 games annotated by masters. The cost of ChessBase 18 is Rs.4499/- and the cost of Mega Database 2025 is Rs.6499/- However, if you go for the combo the total amount comes to Rs.8999 (instead of 10,998/-) helping you save Rs. 1999/-.

ChessBase 18 + Mega 2025 Combo

Sneha Halder superb at 7th SSC Classical and Blitz Rating Open 2025

02/06/2025 -

WFM Sneha Halder scored 9/10 to win 7th SSC Rating Open 2025. She finished a half point ahead of the rest. Senarathne A A H M B (SRI), CM Hansana G Haritha (SRI) and Geenuka Kavinu Gunaweera scored 8.5/10 each. They secured second to fourth place according to tie-breaks. In the Blitz Rating Open, Sneha scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 to become the champion. Dharmakeerthi G K Pasindu Nimsara (SRI), Jayaweera Y (SRI) and Hettiarachchi C U (SRI) scored 8/9. They secured second, third and fourth place respectively. The total prize fund was LKR 1.6 Million. The top three prizes in Classical were LKR 150000, 100000 and 75000 along with a trophy and medal each. The tournaments were organized by SSC International Chess Academy at Grand Rockland Hotel in Matara, Sri Lanka from 1st to 5th May 2025. This is Sneha's first and second second rating tournament triumph of the year. It is not every day that a girl wins an open tournament, let alone two. So this was an incredible feat by Sneha. Photo: Event by Navod De Silva

25th Dubai Open R6: Rohith Krishna joins Aleksey Grebnev in the lead

02/06/2025 -

GM Nihal Sarin drew with the sole leader GM Aleksey Grebnev in Round 6 of 25th Dubai Open 2025. Once again it was a solid draw and Nihal had no opportunity to score a full point. IM S Rohith Krishna continues his impressive run. He defeated GM Muradli Mahammad (AZE) to join the lead with Grebnev 5/6. GM Bharath Subramaniyam H defeated GM Avital Boruchovsky (ISR) to move to 4.5/6. Nihal, Bharath and three more players are trailing the leaders by a half point. The coleaders - Grebnev and Rohith will face each other in Round 7. It starts today at 5 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Dubai Chess & Culture Club

6th Stepan Avagyan Memorial R4: Aravindh beats Jonas, emerges sole leader

02/06/2025 -

Aravindh Chithambaram got the better Jonas Buhl Bjerre (DEN) in Round 4 of 6th Stepan Avagyan Memorial 2025. Jonas made a positional mistake in the middlegame. Aravindh took advantage of it. However, the Denmark no.1 managed to get back in the game, only to falter in the end and it cost him the game. In a battle of Olympiad Gold medalists, R Praggnanandhaa defeated Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB) for the first time in a Classical rated game. Yakubboev misplayed in a complex queen endgame. Aravindh has emerged sole leader 3/4. He is closely followed by Dmitrij Kollars (GER), Praggnanandhaa and Aram Hakobyan (ARM) at 2.5/4 each. Round 5 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Chess Academy of Armenia

Norway Chess Women R6: Vaishali beats Humpy in Armageddon after a one-move rook blunder

02/06/2025 -

GM R Vaishali defeated GM Koneru Humpy in Armageddon after the latter blundered her rook in one move. GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) won her match against IM Sara Khadem (ESP). Anna drew her Armageddon with black pieces to win and rejoin the lead with Humpy. Both are now at 9.5/18 each. GM Wenjun Ju (CHN) defeated GM Tingjie Lei (CHN) in Armageddon. Tingjie misplayed in the rook endgame which should have ended in a draw with correct play. Wenjun is now at 8.5/18, followed by Vaishali at 8/18. The coleaders Humpy and Anna will clash with each other in Round 7. It starts today from 5 p.m. local time, 8:30 p.m. IST. Apart from youtube, there is also a live broadcast on Sony Liv. Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Norway Chess 2025 R6: Gukesh wins his first Classical game against Carlsen who gets livid after his loss

02/06/2025 -

The World Champion, D Gukesh has done what he always believed that he could do. He defeated the World no.1, Magnus Carlsen (NOR) for the first time in a Classical rated game. It certainly meant a lot to both players. The World no.1 did not want to lose to the World Champion, especially in his home soil. Gukesh wanted to beat Carlsen not to prove it to the world as he has already mentioned that he does not have to prove anything to anyone. He has already done it last year. The win is for himself, to show that he is becoming stronger and coming for Carlsen's final throne - the top spot at the mountain. This win was necessary for Gukesh to remind himself that he can beat Carlsen. Arguably the greatest of all time is no longer invincible to the World Champion. Round 7 starts today from 5 p.m. local time, 8:30 p.m. IST. Apart from youtube, there is also a live broadcast on Sony Liv. Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Quantbox Research announces scholarships of Rs.60 lakh (US$70,000) for budding talents of Indian chess

01/06/2025 -

Quantbox are the sponsors of Arjun Erigaisi. With their support Arjun has climbed up the world rankings and has also broken into 2800 Elo. Now Quantbox wants to extend their support to other players as well, this time by instituting the Quantbox research scholarship by contributing Rs.60 lakh (US$70,000) under their CSR initiative to HelpChess Foundation. This scholarship is meant as a support to the budding talents of the country. You can apply for it by filling the form given in this article.

25th Dubai Open R5: Grebnev grabs sole lead

01/06/2025 -

GM Muradli Mahammad (AZE) drew against GM Nihal Sarin in Round 5 of 25th Dubai Open 2025. It was a well contested draw and neither player had any real chances. GM Bharath Subramaniyam H lost to GM Aleksey Grebnev who emerged sole leader 4.5/5. IM S Rohith Krishna had a hard-fought draw against GM Ivan Zemlyanskii. Nihal and Rohith are the only two Indians among five pursuers at 4/5 each. The remaining three are - Muradli, GM Shant Sargsyan (ARM) and GM Sina Movahed (IRI). Nihal will face Grebnev in Round 6. It starts today at 5 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Dubai Chess & Culture Club

6th Stepan Avagyan Memorial R3: Aravindh outplays Xiangyu, crosses 2750 for the first time

01/06/2025 -

Aravindh Chithambaram outplayed Xiangyu Xu (CHN) in Round 3 of 6th Stepan Avagyan Memorial 2025. Aravindh played bravely and launched a devastating attack on the kingside by exposing his own king. His opponent had no answer to that. This win pushed Aravindh to 2750.8 in live ratings for the first time in his career. His rank is World no.11 in June FIDE rating list. R Praggnanandhaa signed a quick 18-move draw against Samuel Sevian (USA). Aram Hakobyan (ARM) and Dmitrij Kollars (GER) are the only two other victors of the round against Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB) and Benjamin Gledura (HUN) respectively. Round 4 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Chess Academy of Armenia

Norway Chess Women R5: Humpy emerges sole leader

01/06/2025 -

GM Koneru Humpy defeated GM Tingjie Lei (CHN) in Armageddon to gain sole lead at 2nd Norway Chess Women 2025. After a draw in the Classical battle, the Armageddon was not a smooth game for the victor. Humpy was lost at one point against Tingjie due to her incorrect passive queen retreat. Tingjie could not seize her opportunity, misplayed and blundered her knight in one move to lose the game. GM R Vaishali scored her first three-pointer of the event against IM Sara Khadem (ESP). GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) played two solid draws in both Classical and Armageddon against GM Wenjun Ju (CHN). However, the five-time Women's World Champion had the black pieces in Armageddon, hence she won the match. Round 6 starts today from 5 p.m. local time, 8:30 p.m. IST. Apart from youtube, there is also a live broadcast on Sony Liv. Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Norway Chess 2025 R5: Hikaru Nakamura fumbles in Armageddon against Arjun Erigaisi

01/06/2025 -

Arjun Erigaisi defeated Hikaru Nakamura (USA) in Armageddon at 13th Norway Chess 2025. Nakamura was winning for the better part of the game. However, in a winning position, instead of finding the correct continuation, he blundered terribly and lost the game. Wei Yi (CHN) and D Gukesh drew their Classical game which could have gone either player's way. Wei won the must-win Armageddon with white pieces to win the match. Magnus Carlsen (NOR) won his first Armageddon of the event against Fabiano Caruana (USA) after their Classical game ended in a draw. With this win, Carlsen extended his sole lead by 1.5 points, 9.5/15. Round 6 starts today from 5 p.m. local time, 8:30 p.m. IST. Apart from youtube, there is also a live broadcast on Sony Liv. Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

Titas Club clear first at Great Wall Ceramic Premier Division League 2025

31/05/2025 -

Titas Club scored 16/18 to win Great Wall Ceramic Premier Division Chess League 2025. The defending champion Bangladesh Police finished last, scoring only 1 point. Manha's Castle and Leonine Chess Club scored 14/18 each. They were placed second and third respectively according to tie-breaks. The winning team suffered sole loss against the eventual runner-up, Manha's Castle in the seventh round. FM Vedant Panesar was the sole Indian in the winning team. He contributed 7.5/9. IM Aaditya Dhingra and FM Sahib Singh scored 8/9 and 6/9 each respectively for the runner-up team. Aaditya remained undefeated. IM Aaryan Varshney and IM Kaustuv Kundu scored 8.5/9 and 7/9 each respectively for the second runner-up team. Aaryan also remained unbeaten and gained 29.6 Elo rating points. Photos: Bangladesh Chess Federation

New: Master Class Vol.18: Max Euwe

31/05/2025 -

Max Euwe became the fifth World Chess Champion after beating Alexander Alekhine in the 1935 World Championship match. A maths teacher by profession, Euwe remained an amateur throughout his life, but was still the best chess player in the Netherlands, and one of the world's best players. Euwe holds the record for the most Dutch national championships, with twelve. After winning the World Championship, Euwe was also the world's best player for a while. He lost the title again in 1937 in the rematch against Alexander Alekhine. In addition to his career as a player, he was very successful as the author of numerous textbooks. In addition to four decades of chess history with all the great players of the time, this video course also teaches many instructive games of the world's best players, not least the famous ‘Pearl of Zandvoort’. Photo: ChessBase

Bharat Kumar Reddy Poluri dominates 1st Aspiring Minds Rapid Rating Open 2025

31/05/2025 -

Bharat Kumar Reddy Poluri scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 to win 1st Aspiring Minds Rapid Rating Open 2025. He finished a half point ahead of the rest. Six players - Vignesh Advaith Vemula, CM Chidvilash Sai Surapaneni, FM Ajay Mushini, IM Ravi Teja S, Rohith N and Dhruva Thota scored 8/9 each. They secured second to seventh place respectively according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹300000. The top three prizes were ₹50000, ₹30000 and ₹15000 along with a trophy each. The two-day nine round Rapid  Rating Open tournament was organized by Aspiring Minds Chess Academy at Meridian Global School in Hyderabad, Telangana on 3rd and 4th May 2025. This is Bharat's third overall, first rating tournament triumph of the year. Photo: Aspiring Minds Chess Academy

25th Dubai Open R4: Nihal, Bharath and Rohith in the lead

31/05/2025 -

GM Nihal Sarin defeated GM Yair Parkhov (ISR) to join the lead at 25th Dubai Open 2025. The top seed, Nihal beautifully transferred his queen from kingside to queenside. His opponent made a desperate rook sacrifice which did not yield anything. IM S Rohith Krishna won against GM Iniyan Pa to move to the top 3.5/4. IM Ilamparthi A R's momentary blind spot cost him dearly against GM Bharath Subramaniyam H. Nihal, Bharath, Rohith, GM Mahammad Muradli (AZE) and GM Aleksey Grebnev are in the lead 3.5/4. IM Md. Imran, FM Sahib Singh and IM Kushagra Mohan defeated GM Pranav Anand, GM Siddharth Jagadeesh (SGP) and GM Momchil Petkov (BUL) respectively. Round 5 starts today at 5 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Dubai Chess & Culture Club

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