chessbase india logo

World Junior R9-10: Pranav eyes the Gold

07/03/2025 -

GM Pranav Venkatesh defeated compatriot IM Aswath S in the ninth round of World Junior 2025 Open. Aswath was coming into the round with maximum momentum, six wins in-a-row, however, he was also facing the best version of Pranav. It did not make things easy for the IM. He faltered early in the game and could not recover from it. In the penultimate round, Pranav drew with the two-time Asian Junior champion, GM Aleksey Grebnev. Pranav is the sole leader 8.5/10, heading into the final round. FM Matic Lavrencic (SLO) is the only player at 8/10. They will face each other to determine who clinches the Gold. Pranav needs either a win or a draw to become the World Junior champion. Round 11 starts today at 1 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST.

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

Young talents shine at the Children’s Champions League 2nd edition in Hyderabad

07/03/2025 -

The Children’s Champions League 2nd Edition took place on 23rd February 2025 in Hyderabad. 190 young players, including 33 FIDE-rated talents, competed across five age groups. The tournament had an exciting prize pool of Rs. 50,000 and was organized by Srikanth Malladi. The event was a huge success, showing Telangana’s bright future in chess. Read the article for the full report. Photos: Srikanth Malladi 

Aravindh Chithambaram on the verge of winning Prague Masters 2025

07/03/2025 -

Aravindh Chithambaram drew with David Navara (CZE) in the penultimate round of 7th Prague International Chess Festival 2025 Masters. He maintains his sole lead 5.5/7. Aravindh had a small opportunity to gain the upper hand. However, he missed it. R Praggnanandhaa also drew his game against Liem Quang Le (VIE). It moved Praggnanandhaa to 5/7. Wei Yi (CHN) defeated Thai Dai Van Nguyen (CZE) to move to 4.5/7. Aravindh winning against Ediz Gurel (TUR) will make him a clear champion. However, a draw means, Praggnanandhaa can catch up and force tie-breaks if he manages to beat Anish Giri (NED). However, there is a mathematical possibility of a three-way tie if Aravindh loses, Praggnanandhaa draws and Wei beats Liem in the final round. Round 9 for Masters, Challengers, Futures, and Karel Janeček Open starts today at 11 a.m. local time, 3:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed

Milan Petras is the winner of Solving Competition at Prague International Chess Festival 2025

06/03/2025 -

Prague International Chess Festival is truly a chess festival in every way one can fathom. There are not only tournaments in Masters, Challengers, Futures, Open, Rapid and Blitz conventional events but also Basque, Fischer Random, Pair Blitz, Bughouse and Solving competition. There is something for every type of chess player and enthusiast. On Friday 28th February 2025, F Solving competition took place. Milan Petras won the event scoring 55 points. Dimitra Amiridou (GRE) secured second place scoring 50 points. Sahib Hasanzada (AZE) was placed third scoring 43 points. The special element about this event was all positions were curated by the legendary Grandmaster in Chess Composition - Yochanan Afek (ISR). Photos: Shahid Ahmed

Mumbai International Chess Tournament is Back – Bigger & Better!

06/03/2025 -

After a five-year pause, the Mumbai International Chess Tournament is back with the support of Aurionpro Solutions Limited. The event is set to take place from June 16-24, 2025, at the prestigious World Trade Centre, Mumbai. It will feature two major tournaments: the Aurionpro Mumbai International Grandmaster Chess Tournament (₹25 Lakhs) and the Aurionpro Mumbai Junior International Chess Tournament (₹15 Lakhs). This is going to be the richest junior chess event in the world! Check out the article for more details.  

Prague Masters R7: Aravindh astounds Anish with a majestic play, gains sole lead and now World no.14

06/03/2025 -

Aravindh Chithambaram scored a spectactular win over Anish Giri (NED) to gain sole lead 5/7 at 7th Prague International Chess Festival 2025 Masters. Aravindh found some brilliant tactical shots to beat the super solid Dutch no.1. This win moved Aravindh to World no.14 and India no.4 in the live ratings. R Praggnanandhaa made his best attempt to score a win over Wei Yi (CHN). However, the Chinese defended correctly and did not budge. Liem Quang Le (VIE) blundered an exchange which cost him the game against Sam Shankland (USA). Ediz Gurel (TUR) scored his first win of the tournament against Thai Dai Van Nguyen (CZE). In the Challengers section, previous round leaders, GM Jonas Buhl Bjerre (DEN) and GM Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB) scored a win each over IM Divya Deshmukh and GM Ivan Salgado Lopez (ESP) to stay ahead 5.5/7. The eighth round for Masters, Challengers, Futures, and Karel Janeček Open starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 7:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed

World Champion Gukesh D Honored with ₹1 Crore at Velammal Nexus

05/03/2025 -

On February 28, 2025, the Velammal Nexus School in Chennai organized a felicitation program for the youngest World Chess Champion, D Gukesh. Gukesh is a student of this school! Last time, after he won the Candidates Tournament, the school gifted him a Mercedes-Benz. This time, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Indian chess, Velammal Nexus Correspondent Shri M.V.M. Velmohan and Deputy Correspondent Mr. Shriram Velmohan awarded him a ₹1 crore cash prize. Read all about the grand felicitation ceremony of the World Champion in this article. Photos: Abhyudaya Ram 

A Celebration of Family, Friends, and Colleagues at the Indonesia Chess Museum

05/03/2025 -

There are few chess museums in various countries - Iceland, Netherlands, Russia, Switzerland, Turkiye and now in Indonesia. Museum Catur Indonesia (Indonesia Chess Museum) was soft launched on 26th February 2025. Who are the people who made it happen? Peter Long, who was present at this event, shares everything about it with information and attractive photos. It is located together with Cafe Tutur at the Headquarters of the Utut Adianto Chess School (SCUA) in Bekasi, Indonesia, a FIDE Tier 1 Academy also founded by Eka Putra Wirya. Photos: FM FT IA Peter Long

World Junior R7-8: Pranav maintains his sole lead, Aswath makes a strong comeback

05/03/2025 -

GM Pranav Venkatesh defeated GM Yahli Sokolovsky (ISR) in Round 7 to increase his sole lead by a full point at World Junior 2025 Open. In the following round, Pranav drew with the top seed, GM Daniel Dardha (BEL). He is now at 7/8. IM Aswath S made a fantastic comeback after a 0.5/2 start. Then he won the next six games in-a-row, scoring a double hat-trick. He defeated GM Hamed Wafa (EGY) and FM Benik Agasarov (ARM) in the seventh and eighth round respectively to reduce the gap with Pranav. Aswath is the sole player at 6.5/7, a half point behind the sole leader. Pranav and Aswath will inevitably clash in Round 8 which starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 7:30 p.m. IST.

13-year-old Vivaan Shah wins Rudar tournament and secures first IM norm

05/03/2025 -

13-year-old Vivaan Shah from Surat recently scored his first IM norm at the Rudar tournament in Serbia. Not only this, but he also won the event ahead of three IMs and three GMs. He has seen a meteoric rise in his Elo by gaining 133 points in just three months! This former U-10 national champion is not afraid of any challenge. He takes on strong opponents with a fearless and dynamic playing style! In an interview with Sagar Shah, Vivaan talked about his recent tournament victory, his games, and even solved a chess study. Check out the full article. Photo: CFSL

Prague Masters 2025 R6: Praggnanandhaa douses fire after Shankland sets the board ablaze

04/03/2025 -

All five games in the Masters section of the 7th Prague International Chess Festival 2025 ended in draws. Sam Shankland (USA) made an interesting knight sacrifice to break R Praggnanandhaa's kingside wide open. Praggnanandhaa found some precise defense to hold a draw. Shankland, who is having a tough tournament, gave his all to score his second win of the event. Aravindh Chithambaram had a relatively quiet draw against Liem Quang Le (VIE). Both Aravindh and Praggnanandhaa continue to lead 4/6, staying a full point ahead of the pursuers - Liem, Vincent Keymer (GER), Anish Giri (NED) and Wei Yi (CHN). The seventh round for Masters, Challengers, Futures, and Karel Janeček Open starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 7:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed

Pranesh M dominates 8th Cappelle la Grande Rapid Open 2025, Karthik Venkataraman second

04/03/2025 -

GM Pranesh M scored an unbeaten 8/9 to win 8th Cappelle la Grande Rapid Open 2025. He finished a half point ahead of the rest. GM Karthik Venkataraman scored sole 7.5/9 to secure second place. Eleven players scored 7/9 each. GM Anthony Wirig (FRA) secured third place out of them. GM Raja Rithvik R and IM Arghyadip Das also scored 7/9 each. They werep placed at fifth and ninth place respectively. The total prize fund was €5000. First prize was €1000. The one-day nine round Rapid Rating Open tournament was organized by L'Echiquier Cappellois at Palais des Arts et des Loisirs in Cappelle la Grande, France on 22nd February 2025. Photo: L'Echiquier Cappellois

Karel Janeček Open R5: Raja Rithvik R in a six-pack lead

04/03/2025 -

GM Raja Rithvik R defeated IM Jan Vykouk (CZE) to join the lead at Karel Janeček Open part of 7th Prague International Chess Festival 2025. In an already difficult endgame, Vykouk blundered. It cost him a knight and eventually the game. Five more players are also in the lead. They are - GM Evgenios Ioannidis (GRE), GM Thomas Beerdsen (NED), GM Jergus Pechac (SVK), IM Yuanhe Zhao (CHN), IM Iulian Sofronie (ROU). Currently, WGM Maili-Jade Ouellet (CAN) is the top scorer among female participants. The sixth round for Masters, Challengers, Futures and  Open starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 7:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed

World Junior R5-6: Pranav Venkatesh gains sole lead

03/03/2025 -

GM Pranav Venkatesh defeated GM Emin Ohanyan (ARM) in Round 6 to emerge sole leader 5.5/6. In the previous round, he drew with his coleader - Yihan Meng (CHN). Three players are trailing Pranav by a half point. IM Aswath S is the only Indian at 4.5/6, in a pack of 17 players. Among the Girls, WFM Kesaria Mgeladze (GEO), WFM Mariya Yakimova, WIM Ayan Allahverdiyeva (AZE) and WIM Umida Omonova (UZB) are sharing the lead 5/6 each. Five players are in pursuit at 4.5/6 each. WGM Rakshitta Ravi is one of them. Round 7 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 7:30 p.m. IST.

Prague Masters 2025 R5: Praggnanandhaa and Aravindh draw their game, both remain coleaders

02/03/2025 -

R Praggnanandhaa drew with Aravindh Chithambaram in Round 5 of the 7th Prague International Chess Festival 2025 Masters. Both of them maintain their lead 3.5/5. It was a well contested battle where neither player gave an inch to their opponent. Wei Yi (CHN) registered his second consecutive win of the event. His victory was the solitary one of the round against Sam Shankland (USA). Vincent Keymer (GER) missed a good opportunity against Liem Quang Le (VIE). Keymer, Anish Giri (NED), Liem and Wei are at a full point behind the leaders at a 50% score 2.5/5. A total of 17 players are trailing the leaders in Karel Janeček Open at 3.5/5 each. Among them, there are two Indians - GM Raja Rithvik R and IM Arghyadip Das. The sixth round for Masters, Challengers and Futures, and Round 4 Open starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 7:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed

Contact Us