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New: Robert Ris: The menacing Colle & Zukertort System for the Club Player!

24/11/2025 -

The Colle and Zukertort Systems offer White a simple yet powerful setup with d4–Nf3–e3–Bd3, aiming for rapid development and a strong kingside attack. The Colle-Koltanowski focuses on c3 and e4, while the Zukertort System employs b3 and a fianchettoed bishop for added strategic depth. Easy to learn and highly effective for club players, this course teaches key sacrifices, maneuvers, and attacking ideas through classical and modern grandmaster games. Grab this Fritztrainer and increase your arsenal of theoretical knowledge of the Colle and Zukertort Systems. You can now stream videos and study from ChessBase books. Photo: ChessBase

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CHESSBASE '26 + MEGA DATABASE '26

The industry standard new combo is here to help you uplift your Chess!

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Wei Yi and Javokhir Sindarov will square off in the Finals of FIDE World Cup 2025

23/11/2025 -

Wei Yi (CHN) will face Javokhir Sindarov (UZB) in the Finals of FIDE World Cup 2025. The first game was a well-contested draw between Wei and Andrey Esipenko. However, in the second game, Esipenko hung his rook in a similar way he dropped his bishop against D Gukesh in the previous World Cup Quarterfinals. This time Esipenko had an advantageous position where he dropped his rook and the World Cup. Sindarov started the day with a nice technical win in the double rook endgame against Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB). He was winning in the second game. However, he played cautiously and drew as it was enough for him to advance to the Final and secure his place in the FIDE Candidates 2026. Wei and Sindarov will focus only on Finals from tomorrow. Yakubboev and Esipenko will have to battle for third place as well as place in the coveted Candidates. Finals Game 1 starts tomorrow at 3 p.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed

Chaitanya Awadh clear first at 1st G H Raisoni Memorial Chhindwara Rapid Rating Open 2025

23/11/2025 -

Chaitanya Awadh scored 8/9 to win 1st G H Raisoni Memorial Chhindwara Rapid Rating Open 2025. He finished a half point ahead of the rest. Six players - Ayush Jugele, Sudhir Kumar Sinha, Shubham Lakudkar, Maras Sahejveer Singh, Vaibhav Nema and Saksham Wadhwa scored 7.5/9 each. They secured second to seventh place respectively. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹200000. The top three prizes were ₹31000, ₹25000 and ₹20000 each respectively. The one-day nine round Rapid Rating Open tournament was organized by G H Raisoni Sports and Cultural Foundation, and Kalpana Prakash Welfare Foundation at G H Raisoni University in Saikheda, Madhya Pradesh on 9th July 2025. This is Chaitanya's third overall, second rating tournament triumph of the year. Photos: Bhushan Shriwas

The Vibrants convincingly clinches Japan Team Chess Championship 2025

23/11/2025 -

Japan Chess Federation hosted the 2025 edition of the annual Japan Teams Chess Championship, typically held in the pleasant weather of Autumn. When the Japan Open is held earlier in the year, the Teams event happens to be the last major event of the calendar year. This event holds a special memory, as the 2023 edition was my very first event as an arbiter. The experience led to bigger and better things, eventually leading to me becoming a FIDE Arbiter earlier this year. I may eventually want to play in this event, as well as arbitrate in future events. This year was the time to take a break and write about the event. Photo: Japan Chess Federation

FIDE World Cup 2025 SF2: Tie-breaks to determine the Finalists

22/11/2025 -

FIDE World Cup 2025 finalists will be determined based on tie-breaks. The second Classical game of both Semifinals ended in draws. The All-Uzbek clash between Javokhir Sindarov and Nodirbek Yakubboev ended in less than 90 minutes. It was a calm battle. The other game between Andrey Esipenko and Wei Yi (CHN) seemed like a potential battle, but it all fizzled out into a draw. The game ended when the players decided to repeat moves in a queen and minor piece endgames. This battle lasted a little less than three and a half hours. Semifinals / Round 7 tie-break games start tomorrow at 3 p.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed

Commonwealth 2025: Daniel Howard Fernandez clinches Gold, Arjun Adireddy Silver and Lalit Rohit Bronze

22/11/2025 -

GM Daniel Howard Fernandez (ENG) drew against FM Arjun Adireddy to clinch Gold at Commonwealth Chess Championships 2025 Open. He scored 7.5/9 and finished a half point ahead of the rest. Arjun secured a Silver medal scoring 7/9. A'qil A'lauddin Bin Abd Aziz (MAS) lost to GM Lalit Rohit and the latter got Bronze with the same score 7/9. WGM Srija Seshadri, WGM Mary Ann Gomes and IM Nisha Mohota won Gold, Silver and Bronze in the Women's category scoring 5.5/9 each. India won a total of 35 medals (13 Gold, 10 Silver and 12 Bronze) combining both Classical and Blitz events. GM Mitrabha Guha won Gold in Blitz with an unbeaten 8/9. GM Deep Sengupta earned a Silver 7.5/9. GM P Shyaam Nikhil edged past four other players to win Bronze on tie-breaks scoring 7/9. Photo: FIDE

Santosh Hariharan triumphs at 2nd Star Chess Foundation Rating Open 2025

22/11/2025 -

Santosh Hariharan, Prasanna Karthick M, Rupak M and Sree Veeramani M scored 7.5/9 each at 2nd Star Chess Foundation Rating Open 2025. Santosh won the tournament on tie-breaks. The remaining three were placed second to fourth respectively. The top three finishers remained undefeated. Santosh drew against both eventual runners-up. The total prize fund was ₹600001. The top three prizes were ₹40000, ₹30000 and ₹25000 along with a trophy each. The five-day nine round Rating Open tournament was organized by P Ismail, Star Chess Foundation at M A M School of Engineering in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu from 5th to 9th November 2025. This is Santosh's first tournament triumph of his career. Photo: IA R Anantharam

Harikrishnan A Ra wins 3rd Cidade de Lagos Open 2025

22/11/2025 -

GM Harikrishnan A Ra and GM Vignir Vatnar Stefansson (ISL) scored 7.5/9 each at 3rd Cidade de Lagos Open 2025. Harikrishnan remained undefeated and won the tournament on tie-breaks, Vignir was placed second. IM Pieter Hopman (NED) scored sole 7/9 to secure third place. Harikrishnan drew against the eventual runner-up, Vignir in the penultimate round and defeated the second runner-up, Pieter in the sixth round. The total prize fund was €4100. The top three prizes were €1100, €700 and €500 along with a trophy each. The eight-day nine round Rating Open tournament was organized by Associação Filatélica e Numismática Gil Eanes at Messe Militar de Lagos in Lagos, Portugal from 1st to 8th November 2025. This is Harikrishnan's fourth overall, first rating tournament triumph of the year. Photo: Crasievitch Chess School

FIDE World Cup 2025 SF1: Two contrasting draws

21/11/2025 -

Both games of the first Semifinal of FIDE World Cup 2025 ended in draws in under 3 hours and 20 minutes. They were contrasting draws. On one hand, the battle between Nodirbek Yakubboev and Javokhir Sindarov, the All-Uzbek clash was a relatively calm draw. It was definitely a surreal moment for them, as they battled against each other for nearly a decade, both against each other and side-by-side. This is the highest stage they are playing against in terms of individual tournaments, as they have already won Gold at 44th Olympiad. Wei Yi (CHN) and Andrey Esipenko had a relatively much sharper game. Wei found incredible defense to salvage a draw via perpetual check. World's best commentator, GM Peter Leko (HUN) visited the media room after the games, to explain the intricacies of the Wei's defense. Round 7 Game 2 starts tomorrow at 3 p.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed

Isha Sharma becomes Karnataka's first and India's 27th Woman Grandmaster

21/11/2025 -

Isha Sharma became India's 27th Woman Grandmaster at IM RR SahArt in Subotica, Serbia on 14th November 2025. She scored her final norm at that event last week. The first WIM of Karnataka, also became the state's first WGM. She earned her first IM and WGM-norm at Slovakia Open Piestany in July 2022. A little over a year later, she scored her second WGM-norm at 4th S M le Roi Mohammed VI Crown 2023 in Casablanca, Morocco. Two years and almost three months later, she earned her final WGM-norm. Her better half is IM Sharan Rao with whom she got married a few months ago. Thus, Karnataka's strongest chess couple got stronger. Her journey towards the next title - IM, continues. Photo: Shahid Ahmed

FIDE announces the list of players for the 2025 World Rapid and Blitz: A stellar lineup in Doha

21/11/2025 -

FIDE World Rapid and Blitz championship 2025 will take place from 26th to 31st December in Doha, Qatar. All five defending champion - Volodar Murzin, Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Humpy Koneru and Wenjun Ju will return to defend their crown. Total 41 Indians - 28 in Open and 13 in Women will be seen in action including Arjun Erigaisi, World Champion - D Gukesh, Nihal Sarin, R Praggnanandhaa, Raunak Sadhwani, Pentala Harikrishna, Pranav Venkatesh, Aravindh Chithambaram, Surya Sekhar Ganguly, S L Narayanan, Harika Dronavalli, Divya Deshmukh, R Vaishali, Vantika Agrawal, Padmini Rout, Savitha Shri B, Nandhidhaa P V, Priyanka Nutakki and others. Photo: FIDE

Paras Dilip Bhoir wins Federal Bank 6th Tarabai Shinde Rapid Rating Open 2025

20/11/2025 -

Seven players - Paras Dilip Bhoir, Jihan Tejas Shah, IM Aakash Sharadchandra Dalvi, IM Vikramaditya Kulkarni, Jeet Shah, Shreyansh Somaiya and IM Srijit Paul scored 8/9 each at Federal Bank presents 6th Tarabai Shinde Rapid Rating Open 2025. Paras won the tournament on tie-breaks. The remaining six were placed second to seventh according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund was ₹300000. The top three prizes were ₹20000, ₹15000 and ₹10000 along with a trophy each. The one-day nine round Rapid Rating Open tournament was organized by Nandakumar T Vijayamma at Grand Nalanda Hall, Chembur in Mumbai, Maharashtra on 2nd November 2025. This is Paras' fourth overall, third rating tournament triumph of the year. Photos: Akshat Prajapati

Aaryan Varshney dominates Rungta Cements Rating Open 2025

20/11/2025 -

Top seed IM Aaryan Varshney scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 to win Rungta Cements Rating Open 2025. He finished a full point ahead of the field. IM Subhayan Kundu and Lakshmi Charan Naidu G scored 7.5/9 each. They secured second and third place respectively according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund was ₹300000 + trophies. The top three prizes were ₹61000 + trophy, ₹41000 and ₹25000 each. The five-day nine round Rating Open tournament was organized by West Singhbhum District Chess Association at Khirwal Banquet Hall in Chaibasa, Jharkhand from 5th to 9th November 2025. This is Aaryan's 18th overall, seventh rating tournament triumph of the year. Photo: Basant Khandelwal / West Singhbhum District Chess Association

FIDE World Cup 2025 QF TB: Wei Yi knocks out Arjun Erigaisi to move to the Semifinals

19/11/2025 -

Arjun Erigaisi did not make the best start to the FIDE World Cup 2025 Quarterfinals. He arrived at a lost position out of the French Defence in the first 15'+10" Rapid game. However, somehow he managed wriggle out of trouble and salvage a draw. Wei Yi (CHN) won a complex double rook and double bishop endgame against Arjun in the second Rapid game to win the match and advance to the Semifinals for the first time in his career. Wei will face Andrey Esipenko who ended Sam Shankland's (USA) fantastic run. Javokhir Sindarov (UZB) got the better of Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara (MEX). He set up a historic All-Uzbek clash against his 44th Olympiad teammate, Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB). Tomorrow is the last rest day. Round 7 Game 1 starts on Friday 21st November at 3 p.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed

Raahul V S clinches 6th ASEAN Individual Open 2025 and becomes the 91st Grandmaster of India

19/11/2025 -

IM Raahul V S became the 91st Indian to achieve the Grandmaster title on Saturday 8th November 2025. Raahul became a GM by the virtue of direct title as he won 6th ASEAN Individual Open Governor Henry S Oaminal Cup 2025. He won the tournament with a round to spare as he scored 7/8 and was 1.5 points ahead of the rest. Thus, the last round loss against IM Quoc Hy Nguyen (VIE) did not affect the overall outcome. Previously, Raahul had only one GM-norm by winning the Asian Junior Open 2021. In the past six months, India has gotten six Grandmasters which is same as 2013, 2017 and 2019. One more GM would make it the highest ever Indian GMs in a calendar year.

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