Magnus Invitational SF Day 2: World Champions Carlsen and So get eliminated

20/03/2021 -

FIDE Candidates will resume next month, however we are going to get a sneak peek at the Finals as Giri and Nepomniachtchi eliminated World Champions So and Carlsen from Meltwater Champions Chess Tour Magnus Carlsen Invitational. Carlsen's unlucky 30 curse continues as he is still yet to win a tournament since he turned 30 last November. Will the Candidates leave it all out to get a psychological edge before next month's Candidates or will they hold back punches? Finals start tonight from 9:30 p.m. IST with live commentary by IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal on ChessBase India youtube channel. Photo: FIDE

Teenager Beverly Mendonca writes a book that combines girl power with chess

19/03/2021 -

17-year-old Beverly Mendonca has written her first book. The protagonist is wheelchair bound Christine, who is just 10 years old. Using the power of chess, Beverly sends across a powerful message of girl child empowerment through this book. It's entitled #The Queen Checkmates". This book has been launched on ChessBase India and now you can buy it from the shop for just Rs.170. What's more, you do not have to pay for shipping across India and along with Beverly's book you also get "Let's Go Green Together" book written by her mother Anita Estibeiro. 

Magnus Invitational SF Day 1: World Champions in peril

19/03/2021 -

If you checked the odds of both world champions and previous event's finalists losing the first set of Semi-Finals in Meltwater Champions Chess Tour Magnus Carlsen Invitational, you would have seen it's slim. Of course you cannot take anything away from Nepomniachtchi or Giri as they both can beat anyone in the world on any given day which is exactly what happened. Nepomniachtchi remained undefeated while Giri came back strong after losing the first game. Will Nepomniachtchi and Giri continue their momentum today? Semi-Finals continue tonight from 9:30 p.m. IST with live commentary by IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal on ChessBase India youtube channel. Photo: Tata Steel Chess

Indian players will return to the board at Bangladesh Premier Chess League

18/03/2021 -

8 GMs and 6 IMs will end their over a yearlong drought of playing over-the-board chess tournaments as they start their campaign tomorrow for their respective teams in SAIF POWERTEC Premier Division Chess League at Bangladesh's capital Dhaka city. It will be a round robin team championship between eleven teams. The winner will receive Tk 125000, runner-up will earn Tk 75000 and second runner-up will get Tk 50000. There are board prizes also for each boards. The tournament is organized Bangladesh Chess Federation. Photo: Bangladesh Chess Federation

Master Class with Veselin Topalov

18/03/2021 -

Chess can be learned from anywhere, any time and from anyone. When the former world champion and Chess Oscar winner can be your teacher, you do not want to pass that opportunity. The Bulgarian legend will be doing a webinar with World Chess on Sunday 21st of March 2021 at 9:30 p.m. IST. The topic of the session is "Taking Risks in Chess". You will be able to ask questions to Topalov and also get your doubts answered. Check out the article to find out how you can learn from one of the greats in the world. Photo: Grand Chess Tour

Magnus Invitational QF Day 2: Carlsen, So, Giri and Nepomniachtchi dominate

18/03/2021 -

Both Carlsen and So are in tremendous form as they once again needed only three games to beat their respective opponents and advance to the Semi-Finals of Meltwater Champions Chess Tour Magnus Carlsen Invitational. Carlsen will face Nepomniachtchi and So will be up against Giri in the Semi-Finals. Nepomniachtchi was also dominant against Nakamura as he also needed only three games to advance while Giri also delivered a solid performance against Vachier-Lagrave. Semi-Finals continue tonight from 9:30 p.m. IST with live commentary by IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal on ChessBase India youtube channel. Photo: chess24 live stream

Last call to register for this Sunday's Yugam 2021 International Online Blitz Open

17/03/2021 -

Dr. N Mahalingam Chess Academy for the first time organizes an international online blitz open tournament with a total prize fund of ₹100000, part of South India's largest Techno-Cultural fest Yugam 2021. It will take place on Sunday 21st of March at 7 p.m. IST in ChessBase India webroom on Playchess. Entry is FREE for GMs, IMs, WGMs and WIMs. For everyone else Entry fee is ₹200 for Indians and 3 Euro for foreigners. The tournament can be played via windows software and desktop or laptop browser only. Registration is CLOSED. Last date Saturday 20th March 7 p.m. IST. Photo: Yugam 2021

Magnus Invitational QF Day 1: Advantage Carlsen and So

17/03/2021 -

Carlsen seems to be back to his true form as he won the first set 2.5-0.5 against Aronian in the Quarter-Finals of Meltwater Champions Chess Tour Magnus Carlsen Invitational. The world champion was winning the third game too but he did not push too hard as a draw was enough for him to win the first set. So is the only other player who had a dominant showing Firouzja. Although the younger talent had a good opportunity to win the third game but he made a draw and lost the set. Quarter-Finals continue tonight from 9:30 p.m. IST with live commentary by IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal on ChessBase India youtube channel. Photo: chess24 live stream

FIDE Rated Over-The-Board Classical chess event IPS Academy Cup is here

16/03/2021 -

If you are itching to travel and play over-the-board chess again (or for the first time in your life), here's some good news! IPS Academy in Indore, Madhya Pradesh is organizing the 1st IPS Academy Cup from the 7th to the 11th of April 2021. The tournament is organized within the premises of the academy and the organizers are also providing accommodation and food within the institute to all the players! In these troubled times of Covid-19 pandemic, how are the organizers going to provide the best condition to the players? We speak with the organizing secretary of the tournament IM Akshat Khamparia. Know more about the event.

Magnus Invitational Day 3: Carlsen tops the Prelims

16/03/2021 -

Anish Giri brought his momentum to a halt as he started the third day of Meltwater Champions Chess Tour Prelims with a draw against Nakamura. He lost the next game against Nepomniachtchi. Thus he finished the prelims with 10.0/15. Carlsen beat Pichot to start his day and drew the remaining four games to top the table with 10.5/15. Carlsen will face Aronian, Nepomniachtchi against Nakamura, So vs Firouzja and Giri vs Vachier-Lagrave are the matches for Quarter-Finals. Catch the Quarter-Finals tonight on ChessBase India youtube channel from 9:30 p.m. IST with live commentary by IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal. Photo: chess24 live stream

Magnus Invitational Day 2: Giri maintains his sole lead

15/03/2021 -

Anish Giri once again had a fantastic day at Meltwater Champions Chess Tour Magnus Carlsen invitational. He started the day with two consecutive victories, making it a five-game winning streak before finishing the day with 8.0/10. Carlsen was held to a draw by Grandelius in the first round of the day. He finished the day with a draw against Radjabov at 7.5/10. But the game of the day was played by So against Aronian which was a magnificent win. Catch Day 3 action tonight on ChessBase India youtube channel from 9:30 p.m. IST. with live commentary by IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal. Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit / Tata Steel Chess 2021

Bludgeoning and Bromancing - Giri on the go!

14/03/2021 -

"I have to ask you this, of the five games you played today, which one was your favourite?" asks Sagar Shah, the question obviously directed to Anish Giri, the man of the hour who has just had an unbelievable day beating three world-class players in a row including the World Champion himself. "...But I have bromance with only one person Sagar," clarifies Anish. "I am not going to desert Magnus so easily!" — that is exactly how the conversation with the Dutch no.1 began when he visited the ChessBase India live stream fresh from a rampageous start at the Magnus Carlsen Invitational. How did Anish manage to stun the mighty Magnus, and along with him both Wesley So and Alan Pichot? We find out in this short analytical report.

Magnus Invitational Day 1: Giri beats Carlsen

14/03/2021 -

Meltwater Champions Chess Tour Magnus Carlsen invitational witnessed Giri beating Carlsen in Round 4 and finish Day 1 with a sole lead of 4.0/5. Both Aronian and Carlsen finished the first day with 3.5/4. They are followed by five players at 3.0/5. Dubov made a brilliant stalemate combination at the center of the board as he saved the game from a completely lost position against Mamedyarov. Catch Day 2 action tonight on ChessBase India youtube channel from 9:30 p.m. IST. with live commentary by IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal. Photo: chess24 Live stream

'Check' - A Telugu movie centers around Chess

13/03/2021 -

The influx of the sports based movies in the Indian movie industry is definitely a reason to rejoice for all sports lovers. However there is a serious dearth in movies based on chess. Sure chess has often been used in a metaphor or some sub-plot but so far it hasn't been the major focal point of live action movie where an actual chess player portrayed a character. Award winning Telugu director Chandra Sekhar Yeleti took a leap of faith and made a movie titled 'Check' where chess is the focal point. Have you watched it yet? Photo: Official Trailer/Bhavya Creations

GM Iniyan will start as the top Indian in 1st FIDE World University Online Individual Blitz

12/03/2021 -

A total of 1002 players from 73 nations will be taking part in 1st FIDE World University Online Championships in Individual Blitz event on 13th and 14th March 2021. The sole Indian GM taking part in this event will be Iniyan P representing Bharathiar University. He is also the lone participant representing his university. Four IMs and two WIMs from India will be taking part in this event. Ten rounds will be played each day with a time control of 3 mins + 2 seconds increment. 272 players are in reserve for this event. Top four universities will advance to the FIDE World University Team Online Blitz Cup. Photo: Niklesh Jain