a rameshbabu

Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, a chess prodigy, is making waves globally. This young Indian talent, whose name means 'delight of wisdom,' has consistently defeated top players, including Magnus Carlsen. He's not just a wonderkid anymore but a powerhouse, leading India's chess revolution with remarkable calm and modesty.

After captivating audiences for over 1,700 episodes, the beloved Malayalam serial Mounaragam bid farewell. Actor Naleef Gea, known for his role as Kiran, reflected on this bittersweet moment, offering heartfelt thanks to director Ramesh Babu for the transformative experience that shaped his career.

World Champion D Gukesh faces a crucial final-round clash against Magnus Carlsen at Norway Chess 2026. Currently last with eight points, Gukesh must defeat Carlsen in their classical game to move ahead of the Norwegian and avoid finishing at the bottom. Meanwhile, Wesley So, Praggnanandhaa, and Alireza Firouzja remain locked in a thrilling three-way battle for the tournament title.

Indian chess prodigy Pranesh Munirethinam faces uncertainty over his participation in the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Championships in Hong Kong due to a pending visa. Coach RB Ramesh has sought urgent help to expedite the process. Pranesh is part of the ChessGurukul team led by R Praggnanandhaa and Vaishali Rameshbabu.

Praggnanandhaa remains firmly in contention for the Norway Chess 2026 title heading into the final round. The Indian grandmaster trails leader Wesley So by just half a point, with Alireza Firouzja also in the mix. A classical victory in his final game could propel Praggnanandhaa to the top, though the outcome will also depend on results involving So and Firouzja.

R Praggnanandhaa boosted his Norway Chess title hopes with a third straight classical victory, defeating world champion D Gukesh in their Round 9 rematch. After weathering Gukesh’s early aggression in the Nimzo-Indian Sämisch, Pragg defended accurately. The win avenged his earlier loss to Gukesh and moved him within half a point of leader Wesley So heading into the final round.

Norway Chess 2026 begins on May 25 in Oslo, featuring stars like Magnus Carlsen, Gukesh Dommaraju, Praggnanandhaa and Wesley So. Indian viewers can watch the tournament live on Mirror Now, while online streaming will be available on Chess.com, the official Norway Chess website and YouTube. The tournament runs till June 5 and also features a strong women’s lineup led by Ju Wenjun and Humpy Koneru.

Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa has achieved a historic victory at Norway Chess, becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious tournament. He secured the title by defeating Vincent Keymer in a classical game, with a draw between Wesley So and Alireza Firouzja sealing his win. This triumph marks a significant moment for Indian chess.

At Norway Chess Round 8, R Praggnanandhaa defeated Magnus Carlsen for the second time in two weeks, outplaying the World No. 1 in a sharp French Defence to stay in title contention. Meanwhile, Gukesh suffered another classical setback against Alireza Firouzja after a preparation mix-up in the Ragozin Defence. In the women’s event, Divya Deshmukh lost to women's leader Bibisara Assaubayeva.

The 20-year-old from Chennai began the second half of the event from the bottom of the open-category standings, only to produce a remarkable comeback that included two classical victories over Carlsen, a win over the reigning world champion Dommaraju Gukesh and a final-round classical win over Germany No. 1 Vincent Keymer.

India's R Praggnanandhaa scripted a sensational repeat of history at the Norway Chess tournament in Oslo, stunning local hero and World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in a 62-move classical encounter. Meanwhile, debutante Divya Deshmukh continued her dream run in the women's section, defeating tournament leader Bibisara Assaubayeva to secure her third consecutive Armageddon victory.

Youngster Divya Deshmukh continued her fine start at Norway Chess by defeating country No. 1 Koneru Humpy in an Armageddon tiebreak after a tactical classical draw. It was a bleak day for India in the open section, however, as R Praggnanandhaa lost in classical to Alireza Firouzja, while D Gukesh fell to Wesley So in Armageddon.

Indian chess prodigy Vaishali Rameshbabu inspires young minds with her dedication and perseverance. Her historic FIDE Women's Candidates 2026 win highlights that hard work, learning from losses, and humility are key to achieving dreams and breaking barriers.

12-year-old Aarav Sarbalia is gaining recognition as a rising chess talent. Alongside his on-board progress, his structured social media content has attracted prominent followers, including Judit Polgar and D Gukesh's coach, Vishnu Prasanna. Supported by his family and guided by top coaching, Aarav is building momentum toward his long-term goal of achieving the Grandmaster (GM) title.

“I’m really happy for both Vaishali and Pragg. I’m trying to surprise Vaishali; I hope she doesn’t know that I’m coming,” Ramesh told TOI.

In the running for the title, there are three contenders: India’s Vaishali Rameshbabu, Kazakhstan's Bibisara Assaubayeva, and China’s Zhu Jiner. Vaishali and Bibisara currently lead with 7.5/13 points, followed by Jiner on 7/13. The math is simple yet somewhat disquieting. If Vaishali and Bibisara both win their final games, they head into a tie-break on Thursday.

Former Chinese world women’s champion Tan Zhongyi did compatriot Zhu Jiner a huge favour by playing passively and holding Vaishali Rameshbabu to a draw in the women’s Candidates in Paphos, Cyprus, on Tuesday.Tan held Vaishali in just 34 moves by repetition.

India is set to witness a historic chess moment as young prodigies Dommaraju Gukesh and Vaishali Rameshbabu vie for World Championship titles. Gukesh is the reigning champion, while Vaishali faces the formidable Ju Wenjun. FIDE is now seeking bids for host cities, with a potential for both matches to be held concurrently, creating an unprecedented dual championship event.

India's Vaishali Rameshbabu suffered a significant setback in the FIDE Candidates, losing to China's Zhu Jiner and relinquishing her sole lead. The Women's section is now wide open with both players tied at the top. Meanwhile, Javokhir Sindarov is on the cusp of becoming the challenger in the Open section, needing just a draw in his next match.

R Vaishali created history by winning the 2026 Women’s Candidates, earning the right to challenge China’s reigning champion Ju Wenjun for the Women’s World Chess Championship crown. She beat Kateryna Lagno in the final round after Divya Deshmukh held Bibisara Assaubayeva to a draw. Vaishali now faces reigning champion Ju Wenjun and is guaranteed €28,000 plus additional bonuses.

Playing with the black pieces in Round 11 on Saturday, she claimed a jaw-dropping win over the former World Championship challenger Aleksandra Goryachkina.

Vaishali Rameshbabu has become the women's world championship challenger after a dramatic win in Cyprus. Five-time world champion Vishy Anand praised her excellent preparation and resilience, calling it a proud moment for Indian chess. Vaishali attributed her comeback to focusing on game quality after earlier shaky performances.

Vaishali Rameshbabu’s journey to the Women’s Candidates title wasn’t easy. After a poor run in Chennai shattered her confidence, she even considered skipping the Grand Swiss. A crucial two-hour call with Karthikeyan Murali changed her mind. A mental reset helped her win the event, regain form, and now she prepares to face world champion Ju Wenjun.

R Vaishali secured a remarkable victory at the Candidates, overcoming Kateryna Lagno to earn a spot in the World Championship match. Her triumph, achieved as the lowest-rated player in the field, signifies her emergence from her brother Praggnanandhaa's shadow, fulfilling her ambition to forge her own legacy in chess.

India's Vaishali Rameshbabu leads the FIDE Candidates 2026 women's section after a draw in the 10th round, showcasing impressive form. However, compatriots Divya Deshmukh and R Praggnanandhaa faced setbacks. Divya's endgame collapse likely ended her championship hopes, while Praggnanandhaa's tactical misstep against Sindarov cost him dearly, impacting India's overall challenge.

Youngest World Cup winner Javokhir Sindarov is on the cusp of Candidates glory, needing just a draw to secure the title after an effortless draw with Hikaru Nakamura. He maintains an unbeaten run and leads by two points, setting up a potential Generation Z clash with D Gukesh.

Playing white pieces while chasing a result, players often get greedy and make more adventurous, attacking moves on the board, weakening their defence in the process. Vaishali had white pieces. She was up against Russia's Kateryna Lagno, a mother of four and quite brilliant at keeping a poker face on the table. Vaishali had to be brave to overcome the challenge posed by the veteran, and she did so with a clinical precision that belied the stakes.

Indian chess saw mixed fortunes at the FIDE Candidates 2026. Divya Deshmukh surged to the top of the Women's leaderboard with a stunning victory over Anna Muzychuk, while R Praggnanandhaa's World Championship hopes dimmed after a crucial loss. Vaishali Rameshbabu drew her match, setting up an exciting all-Indian clash in the next round.

Harika Dronavalli clarified viral handshake incident with Nodirbek Yakubboev, saying there was no disrespect. He had pre-informed her he cannot do handshakes due to religious beliefs, and her instinctive resignation gesture caused confusion. She urged social media not to blame him. Similar past incidents exist with Vaishali Rameshbabu. Harika stressed mutual respect and focus on chess, despite controversy overshadowing results.