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FIDE Rating list April 2026: Divya Deshmukh breaks into world top 10

02/04/2026 -

The FIDE April 2026 rating list has shown some significant changes for Indian chess. The most prominent one is Divya Deshmukh’s historic entry into the Women’s Top 10. Arjun Erigaisi is back in the World Top 10. World Champion D Gukesh, however, slipped to World No. 15 after a dip in form. Nihal Sarin climbed to World No. 22, while Pranav V made a big jump to World No. 52 after a strong run of results. In the women’s section, Koneru Humpy remained unchanged, R Vaishali slipped one place to World No. 19, and Harika Dronavalli climbed to World No. 18. Read the article to know more. Photo: Abhyudaya Ram

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FIDE Candidates 2026 R4: Javokhir Sindarov in sole lead after winning against Caruana

02/04/2026 -

Javokhir Sindarov is in a red-hot form. After defeating Praggnanandhaa with the black pieces in round 3, Sindarov scored a dominating win over Fabiano Caruana in round 4 of the FIDE Candidates 2026. This win gave him the sole lead going into the rest day. In another decisive result, Anish Giri scored his first win at FIDE Candidates 2026 against Andrey Esipenko with black pieces. In the Women's section, Divya Deshmukh suffered a tough loss against Zhu Jiner, and Anna Muzychuk won her game against Kateryna Lagno with white pieces. Today is a rest day at Candidates, and Round 5 will start on 3rd April at 15:45 Local Time/18:15 IST. Photos: Michal Walusza, Yoav Nis/ FIDE

17th Dolomiti International : A Chance to Play Chess in the Heart of the Dolomites

01/04/2026 -

The scenic mountain town of Forni di Sopra in Italy is once again ready to welcome chess players from around the world as the 17th Dolomiti International Chess Tournament takes place from June 6 to June 13, 2026. Nestled in the heart of the Dolomites — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — this event continues to combine high-level chess with breathtaking natural beauty. Located in the upper valley of the Tagliamento River and surrounded by the protected landscapes of the Dolomiti Friulane Natural Park, Forni di Sopra offers a unique and peaceful atmosphere, making it one of the most picturesque venues in international chess. Let’s Check How You Can Take Part. , Photo : Niklesh Jain

Thank You DGT Khelo Chess India Blitz!! Angela Crowned Champion

01/04/2026 -

During the ongoing 2nd Khelo Chess India Classical FIDE Rating Tournament in Bhopal, a special event titled “Thank You DGT Blitz” was organized, where Colombia’s number one player and Woman International Master Angela Franco claimed the title. Scoring an impressive 7 points out of 8 rounds, Angela secured first place. Madhya Pradesh’s Vedant Bhardwaj and Nitin Ranghuvanshi scored 6.5 points each, finishing second and third respectively on tiebreaks. This event was specially organized to express gratitude to DGT, which has now become a partner in the Khelo Chess India initiative. Going forward, DGT chess clocks and boards will be used to help broadcast matches to a wider audience.

Invitation to play at Blue Chevaliers International Open 2026

01/04/2026 -

Blue Chevaliers, in partnership with Red Knight Chess Club, is organising the 5th Blue Chevaliers International Open 2026 from 7th to 13th September 2026. Entries are now open for the fifth edition of the Blue Chevaliers International Open, to be played on the beautiful tropical island of Phuket, Thailand. The tournament is presented by the Blue Chevaliers in partnership with Red Knight Chess Club, a leading chess activities and training service provider in Thailand. Players will compete for over $US 13,000 in prize money in a nine-round standard open tournament and a blitz event. The total prize fund has been increased by an impressive 25% this year, in line with the commitment by the Blue Chevaliers to improve their tournament every year.

A look inside GM Shyam Sundar's training camps

01/04/2026 -

Strong coaching can shape the way a chess player thinks and grows. But quality training often comes at a cost, making it hard for many to access. GM Shyam Sundar is working to change that through Chess Thulir, by making coaching more affordable. Over the years, he has worked with many of India’s strongest players, including World Junior Champion Pranav V and National Women's Champion Nandhidhaa P V. In this article, he shares insights from the training camps conducted in his academy in February. Read the article to learn more. Photos: Chess Thulir

FIDE Candidates 2026 R3: Caruana wins against Wei Yi, Sindarov beats Praggnanandhaa

01/04/2026 -

The 3rd round at the FIDE Candidates 2026 was filled with exciting chess and 4 decisive results. In the Open section, Fabiano Caruana won a miniature game against Wei Yi in just 19 moves to gain the joint lead with Javokhir Sindarov, who won his game against R Praggnanandhaa after sacrificing material in the opening itself. In the Women's section, Kateryna Lagno won a beautiful game against Tan Zhongyi, and Zhu Jiner missed her chances against Bibisara Assaubayeva, and the latter prevailed and won the game to get the joint lead. Round 4 will start on 1st April at 15:45 Local Time/18:15 IST. Photos: Michal Walusza, Yoav Nis/ FIDE

FIDE Candidates 2026 R2: Divya misses a chance against Vaishali, all games end in a draw

30/03/2026 -

It was a peaceful day at the FIDE Candidates 2026 as all 8 games ended in a draw. Divya Deshmukh was clearly better against Vaishali Rameshbabu, but she missed the winning idea, and the game ended in a draw. Zhu Jiner also missed her chance against Kateryna Lagno, and Lagno managed to draw her game. In the Open section, Javokhir Sindarov had a slightly better position against Matthias Bluebaum, but that game also ended in a draw. Overall, it was a solid day at FIDE Candidates 2026, and players are not taking any unnecessary risks this early on. Round 3 will start on 31st March at 15:45 Local Time/18:15 IST. Photos: Michal Walusza, Yoav Nis/ FIDE

The HelpChess Fundraiser during FIDE Candidates tournament 2026

30/03/2026 -

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

30/03/2026 -

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!

29/03/2026 -

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

29/03/2026 -

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

28/03/2026 -

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

28/03/2026 -

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

28/03/2026 -

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.

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