The HelpChess Fundraiser during FIDE Candidates tournament 2026

HelpChess is the charitable foundation of ChessBase India that stands firmly behind Indian chess players who need financial support. Over the past seven years, the foundation has helped talents with training, laptops, and opportunities that have pushed many players towards IM and GM titles. In 2024-25, we raised Rs. 1.6 crore to help players move forward in their chess journey. During the FIDE Candidates 2026, we once again raised funds to support promising talents. The total amount raised was Rs. 2,97,296.72. Check out the article to know more. You will also find a list of all contributors and their donations since the start of the event.

FIDE Candidates 2026 R1: Praggnanandhaa starts with a win over Anish Giri

The FIDE Candidates 2026 started in style, with 3 decisive results in 4 games in the Open section. R Praggnanandhaa won a beautiful game against Anish Giri to start the campaign on a high note. It was a nearly perfect game where Pragg outplayed Anish. Hikaru Nakamura suffered a loss against Countryman Fabiano Caruana in a long marathon game. Javokhir Sindarov won his game against Andrey Esipenko with the white pieces. Matthias Bluebaum drew his game against Wei Yi. In the Women's section, it was a peaceful day as all 4 games ended in a draw. Round 2 will start today at 15:30 Local Time/18:00 IST. Photos: Michal Walusza / FIDE

Grand Prix events at Phoenix ChessBase India Chess Club!

Phoenix ChessBase India Chess Club in Mumbai now hosts a year-long Grand Prix series, where the regular 4th Saturday monthly blitz tournaments, now award GP points to the top 10 finishers. After 11 cycles, the top 12 compete in a March 2026 Grand Prix Finale featuring higher cash rewards and a grand prize for the winner. The player with the highest total points is crowned Player of 2025-26, celebrating their consistency and strength in the club’s most competitive season yet. We are already six months into the Grand Prix events and have a leaderboard coming up! Read more about this and how you can be a part of it in this article. Photos: ChessBase India

The Battle to Reach the World Championship Begins Today: Candidates 2026 Officially Inaugurated

Meeting various selection criteria, eight men and eight women players from around the world will begin their campaign in the FIDE Candidates 2026 this evening, putting forth their full effort to start with a win. This time, the FIDE Candidates Tournament is being organized in Cyprus, a beautiful island nation situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. The grand opening of Candidates 2026 took place on Saturday evening at the Cap St George's Hotel & Resort, Cyprus. Round 1 will start today at 15:30 Local Time/18:00 IST. Photo Credit: Michal Walusza / Fide, Sagar Shah / ChessBase India

Slow Growth in Chess: The Truth Most People Don’t Want to Hear

Goals give direction to a chess player's journey. They fuel motivation and push players to sit at the board even on the toughest days. The dream of improving, of reaching new milestones, is what keeps the game alive and deeply personal. But when ambition runs ahead of reality, it can also lead to frustration, burnout, and self-doubt. That’s where perspective matters the most. In this thought-provoking piece, Nikhil Dixit breaks down the gap between aspiration and reality with honesty and clarity.

Aansh Nandan Nerurkar dominates at Crown Square Academy Rapid Rating 2026

Aansh Nandan Nerurkar scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 points to win the 1st International Rapid Chess Tournament organised by Crown Square Chess Academy. Kartavya Anadkat and IM Srijit Paul scored 8/9 points to finish in 2nd and 3rd place according to tiebreaks. This 2-day Fide Rapid Rating event was organised at Sama Indoor Sports Complex, Vadodara, Gujarat, on 21st and 22nd March by Crown Square Chess Academy. The total prize fund was ₹4,00,000, and the top 3 prizes were ₹41,000, ₹31,000, and ₹21,000, respectively. Photos: Maulik Rawal/Crown Square Chess Academy

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