Tanmay Srinath has become just the fourth Indian to earn the Senior International Master (SIM) title in correspondence chess — and only the second active player from the country to hold it, alongside none other than GM Krishnan Sasikiran. What makes his achievement even more special is that he skipped the IM title altogether, jumping straight from Correspondence Chess Master (CCM) to SIM — a rare feat at the highest level of correspondence play. Tanmay is also a familiar name to ChessBase India readers, having contributed a range of thoughtful and well-researched articles over the years. In this piece, he takes us behind the scenes of his journey — the games, the turning points, and the lessons that shaped his path. Photo: Tanmay Srinath

Chess improvement is both easy and hard. Easy because of the availability of the information, hard because we don't know what to do with it! How much blitz should I play ? How do I create my opening repertoire? Do I use engines if I am a lower rated player? With contrasting answers from everyone around it can get difficult to understand what to do. However, with coach B S Shivananda's guidance on these subjects, you are sure to improve! In the concluding part of this series, the Indian Fischer puts on the trainer's hat and lists out logical and beneficial advice for each and every chess improver out there! Tanmay Srinath brings forth a succinent interview.

During the Covid Lockdown, one Indian Grandmaster was quite busy preparing a lot of material for the general chess audience. He is none other than SP Sethuraman, one of the best players India has produced in the last decade. Sethu, known for his opening preparation, has investigated two of the most critical Sicilian systems in his book for Thinkers Publishing, while also authoring a course on 1.e4 e5 for Chessable. With a top player like Sethu doing such great work, it was no surprise that a deep tete-a-tete was long overdue. In the following interview Sethuraman talks about various topics, ranging from why online chess should not be taken too seriously to secrets of opening preparation and why yoga is beneficial for chess players.

There will always be questions that befuddle a deep thinker. Why can't humans beat chess engines? Is it possible to play creative and original chess and hope to win in a highly theoretical era? Does having the highest rating mean a player is the greatest of all time? IM BS Shivananda shares his opinion on this and more! Shivananda, a highly original player, teaches us how to demystify the battle between beauty and objectivity by establishing balance, while also giving his thoughts on why creative players like Shirov and Morozevich faded away from the very top of chess despite dazzling millions with masterpieces, why Magnus Carlsen is still not the greatest of all time and how enhanced risk taking might revitalize Anand's quest for another World Championship. An engaging interview by Tanmay Srinath.

In this day and age, it is not so important to get an opening advantage - it is more important to get a playable position that you understand better than your opponent. With the Sveshnikov all the rage at the top, and the Open Sicilian no longer guaranteeing White his birthright opening advantage, top players have moved on to exploring lesser known but sound systems, and one such opening is the Rossolimo. Almost all the top players play this opening with both colours, its chief advocate being the American No.1 Fabiano Caruana. Jan Werle recently authored a DVD on the subject, and Tanmay Srinath takes a closer look at the Dutch GM's debut offering for ChessBase, along with a brief interview with the author about these DVDs.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought forth a lot of change in the world. The advent of modern technology has ensured that people are more productive than ever before, and streaming has become more and more mainstream. With numerous chess players entering a new phase of their life, a young chess star decided it was time for a change of pace. GM Karthik Venkataraman, former National Junior Champion, has launched his own company Chess Cult in collaboration with his friend Hariharan S Pillai, to make a difference to chess players across the globe. Karthik has come with some very innovative content on ChessCult's YouTube channel, right from reintroducing the masters of the past, to the Secret to Success series, where he features stalwarts of Indian chess like GM Sasikiran and GM Murali Karthikeyan. Tanmay Srinath takes you through his experience navigating the ChessCult!

BS Shivananda, respected and feared as a creative attacking player, has many facets to his personality. Strong player, coach, astute thinker,...the list goes on. After a motivational and heartwarming interview where he details his life in chess and outside it, we bring forth an illuminating 3-part series with Shivananda, this time about his views on chess. In Part 1, the Indian Fischer speaks about certain structural changes needed to make the chess world a better place, starting with measures to curb cheating in chess and going on to diverse topics like abolishing the K-40 rule, removing the FIDE Arena Titles, restructuring the World Championship, the importance of additional Random Chess events and much more.

The COVid Pandemic has come as a blessing in disguise to the chess community! At the comfort of our homes we are suddenly bestowed with enlightening content from the best players and trainers across the globe. GM Vishnu Prasanna is one of those people whose inspired decision making is helping us all! Ganguly's trainer and Gukesh's coach has started his own YouTube channel, producing content that hasn't been covered deeply before! From How Chess Behaves to My Chess Mind to Discussions on Calculation, Vishnu is ensuring that improving chess players are getting their dose of elixir! Tanmay Srinath takes you through his experience navigating the brilliant ideas of India's 33rd GM.

We have a winner! One of the Greatest Chess players of all time further cements his legacy by winning the Legends of Chess tournament without breaking a sweat! Magnus Carlsen, the man behind the evolution of chess in the last decade, adds yet another tournament to his bulging list of victories by vanquishing Nepomniachtchi with a round to spare. While Round 1 saw a close fight between the two finalists, Carlsen found another gear in Round 2, demolishing Nepo in a London System in game 1 before adding insult to injury with another scintillating win in game 2. A puzzled Nepo tried all he could in game 3, but the Magnus Force stayed strong and drew from a position of strength to win the match and the tournament with a game to spare. Tanmay Srinath brings forth a detailed report.

The Magnus Force makes winning look easy! Magnus Carlsen has been unstoppable, winning match after match, and today he continued his sparkling run, beating Ian Nepomniachtchi in the first of 3 rounds in the Legends of Chess Final. Carlsen got off to a good start, winning Game 1 with the Black pieces, after Nepo's opening experiment did not go according to plan. However, the ever resourceful Nepo struck back with a brilliant victory in game 3, in what many call one of the games of the tournament, outplaying the World Champion before finishing with a flourish and thus taking the match to the blitz tiebreakers. However, Carlsen would not be denied, winning both blitz games to win Round 1 of the finals. Nepo now has a mountain to climb if he is to throw a spanner in the works of the Carlsen juggernaut. A comprehensive report by Tanmay Srinath.

A tale of grit and rigour will be decided in a match between the two best speed players in the world! After losing the 2nd match by the slimmest of margins, Ian Nepomniachtchi won his 3rd Round Match against Anish Giri 3.5-2.5 to set up a dream final with Magnus Carlsen. It wasn't a smooth ride for Nepo, whose speed of play often resulted in painful mistakes, but his resourcefulness more than compensated for this drawback, as he saved 4 bad positions in the first 4 Rapid games. Anish Giri kept getting brilliant positions out of the opening from both colours, but his usually superb technique was missing from action, as Nepo remarkably saved lost positions, which he followed up by playing beautifully to win the second Blitz game and go through to the finals. Tanmay Srinath brings forth an exhaustive report.

Magnus Carlsen has truly become the benchmark of consistency! A favourite in all the tournaments he participates, he now advances to the Finals of the Legends of Chess tournament, easily defeating the Russian Legend Peter Svidler 2.5-0.5 in both the matches! Svidler needed a win in the 2nd round to force a decider, but his inconsistency worked against him, as Carlsen won the first two games and easily drew the last one with White to win the round and the match. In the other semifinal, Anish Giri was a point down twice, but fought back like a lion to win the decisive Armageddon, keeping his chances of meeting Magnus in the final alive. While Magnus awaits both Giri and Nepo have everything to win and lose as the 2nd semi final will be decided on the final day! A comprehensive report by Tanmay Srinath.