indian grandmaster

indian grandmaster Aravindh Chithambaram became the first Indian to qualify for the Chess event at Esports World Cup 2026 after winning the Road to EWC qualifier at DreamHack Atlanta. The 26-year-old defeated Alexey Sarana in a dramatic Armageddon decider to secure qualification, USD 15,000 prize money, and a place in the main event scheduled from August 11-15.

Aravindh Chithambaram recently became the first Indian to qualify for the 2026 Esports Chess World Cup after winning at DreamHack Atlanta. Raised by his mother and grandparents after losing his father at age three, Aravindh discovered chess through his grandfather. With strong family support and guidance from coach RB Ramesh, he steadily rose through the ranks to become a national champion and elite player.

Alireza Firouzja stunned the chess world by playing his Round 5 classical game against Javokhir Sindarov from a hotel room bed at the Superbet Chess Classic Romania 2026 after suffering an ankle injury. The extraordinary setup quickly went viral. Earlier, R Praggnanandhaa defeated Sindarov in a significant round-two encounter in Bucharest.

India enjoyed a decent opening day at Norway Chess as 20-year-old debutante Divya Deshmukh held World Champion Ju Wenjun to a classical draw before defeating her in the Armageddon tiebreak. Joining her in the winner's circle were D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa, who also won their respective Armageddon matches, while Magnus Carlsen suffered a shock defeat.

As Norway Chess moves to Oslo for its 2026 edition, all eyes are on the Indian contingent. From World Champion D Gukesh seeking urgent form before his title defence to Koneru Humpy making a highly anticipated return to the board, we break down the biggest storylines dominating the 12-day double round-robin tournament.

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.

Ian Nepomniachtchi criticised reigning world champion D Gukesh for inconsistent performances, saying nearly every top GM currently has a strong chance against him. Nepomniachtchi also backed Javokhir Sindarov as favourite for their 2026 World Championship clash, citing his strong form and higher rating. Gukesh, meanwhile, has taken a break from classical chess to prepare for his title defence.

Fans are buzzing with theories about 'Dhurandhar 3' following the OTT release of 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge'. Easter eggs like a passport with a new identity and a 'Sep 2026' hint suggest a sequel. Co-producer Jyoti Deshpande hinted the franchise isn't over, with a surprise by late 2026.

World champion D Gukesh showed rare emotion after defeating future title challenger Javokhir Sindarov at the Grand Chess Tour in Poland. Playing with the black pieces, Gukesh outplayed the Uzbek grandmaster in 52 moves and celebrated with a fist pump after the win. The victory was seen as a strong statement ahead of their World Championship clash later this year.

Abhijeet Gupta has alleged that his Rs 5.5 lakh winner’s prize from the Odisha GM Open, held in January 2026 with a Rs 45 lakh prize pool, remains unpaid. The Arjuna Awardee criticised organisers and the All India Chess Federation for a lack of accountability, saying repeated emails went unanswered. Gupta urged authorities to protect the “dignity and trust” of Indian chess players.

S8UL signed 19-year-old Grandmaster Pranesh M for the Esports World Cup 2026, alongside Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram. Pranesh recently gained attention after helping R Vaishali stay calm during her historic FIDE Women’s Candidates triumph. Chess returns to EWC this August with a $1.5 million prize pool.

Javokhir Sindarov defeated D Gukesh in their first-ever blitz clash at the Grand Chess Tour in Warsaw, avenging his earlier rapid loss to the World Champion. Gukesh’s rare fist-pump celebration after that previous win had gone viral. With one win each, their growing rivalry now heads into a decisive final reverse-blitz showdown before this year’s World Championship clash.

India’s chess boom is inspiring young talents, but families face huge financial and logistical struggles behind the scenes. Parents spend lakhs on foreign tournaments, visas, travel, and coaching, often without sponsorship or federation support. Many also deal with poor tournament systems in India and scams abroad. Despite rising success stories like Vaishali and Gukesh, chess parents say survival in the sport remains extremely difficult.

Aronyak Ghosh achieved his long-awaited Grandmaster title after a remarkable performance at the 23rd BCC Open 2026 in Bangkok. The 22-year-old's journey, marked by his father's dedication and the family's financial sacrifices, culminated in securing his third GM norm. This achievement signifies the success of years of commitment to the game, with chess now being Aronyak's primary focus.

Magnus Carlsen won the Chess.com Open, while Denis Lazavik beat Nihal Sarin, leaving no Indian qualified yet for the Esports World Cup 2026, as of yet. Extra qualification spots don’t pass down, increasing pressure on Sarin. He remains India’s one of the besthopes, with chances through circuit rankings and qualifiers in the evolving esports chess format.

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.

In this exclusive interview, Vincent Keymer reflected on his rise from winning the Grenke Open at 13 to claiming the Grenke Freestyle 2026 title in Karlsruhe. Germany’s No. 1 spoke about freestyle chess relying more on intuition, handling the “intimidation factor” of Magnus Carlsen, and balancing school with chess while growing up in a family of musicians. Keymer also praised coach Péter Lékó and discussed the challenges young chess players face in Germany compared to countries like India.

Tamil Nadu's chess prowess shines as R Vaishali eyes the Women's World Championship after her Candidates victory. Young A S Sharvaanica's U12 rapid title further highlights the state's growing talent. While these successes inspire, experts note the need for greater support and sponsorship to elevate women's chess participation and achieve global dominance.

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.

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.

Uzbek grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov delivered a dominant, unbeaten performance to win the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus with a round to spare, finishing on 9.5 points. The 20-year-old’s victory sets up a World Championship clash against India’s D Gukesh, creating the youngest-ever title matchup in chess history.

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.

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.

Modern life's constant digital stimulation and stress disrupt sleep for many, with nearly half of Indians reporting insufficient rest. Pranic Healing offers holistic solutions like self-healing techniques and Twin Hearts Meditation to calm the nervous system and balance energy fields. These practices, along with saltwater baths, aim to improve sleep quality by reducing stress and mental clutter.

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.

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.

In a nation where only four women have ever earned the GM title, 35-year-old Harika remains one of its most enduring pillars. As her compatriots prepare for the traditional grind of World Championship cycles, Harika has qualified for the inaugural FIDE Women’s Freestyle Chess World Championship, which is set to take place next year.