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Tag: Indian Chess Players

‘Most stressful day’: Praggnanandhaa jokes he’ll buy Arjun Erigaisi something after winning Tata Steel chess title ahead of Gukesh
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‘Most stressful day’: Praggnanandhaa jokes he’ll buy Arjun Erigaisi something after winning Tata Steel chess title ahead of Gukesh

Praggnanandhaa defeated world champion Gukesh in a tense tiebreak that went into sudden death to emerge as the champion of the Tata Steel chess tournament 2025. It was a moment he called the highlight and the most stressful day of his career. After defeating Gukesh in the tiebreak, Praggnanandhaa was asked by commentator Fiona Steil-Antoni if winning the Tata Steel title was the “highlight of his young career”. “Yeah, for sure. When I came here, I wanted to win the event. But the field was very strong. I didn’t really think about it much until yesterday. Can’t really express… I’m really happy,” said Praggnanandhaa. Story continues below this ad Praggnanandhaa, asked if this was the most intense day of chess in his career, compared Sunday’s action with the sudden death batt...
Tata Steel Chess: Gukesh beats Leon Luke Mendonca to secure lead with four rounds to go
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Tata Steel Chess: Gukesh beats Leon Luke Mendonca to secure lead with four rounds to go

With just four rounds remaining at the Tata Steel chess tournament, the reigning world champion Gukesh D has ensured that he is in pole position to win the event known as the Wimbledon of Chess. The 18-year-old Gukesh defeated his contemporary Leon Luke Mendonca in Round 9 at the season-starting chess event in the quaint Dutch town of Wijk aan Zee in a battle lasting just 43 moves. This is the first event Gukesh is competing in after becoming the youngest world champion in history of chess by defeating Ding Liren in Singapore last month. So far after nine games, Gukesh is yet to lose, winning four games and drawing the others. This is in sharp contrast to the fate of Arjun Erigaisi, who came into the event rated 2801, but has not won a single game at the event. Tuesday’s win ensures that...
In chess, away from eye-catching numbers lies world where GMs lose money playing, struggle to attract sponsors, and worry about making a living
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In chess, away from eye-catching numbers lies world where GMs lose money playing, struggle to attract sponsors, and worry about making a living

Editor’s Note: We present On The Moves, a new weekly column which will appear every Tuesday from Amit Kamath on chess where he will look at everything that happens on the battlefield of the 64 squares and away from it.Hikaru Nakamura couldn’t disguise his envy as he spoke about what he called the ‘Big 3’ of Indian chess — D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi. The reason for this envy was not the pace at which their careers had taken off. No, the World No.3 was envious about all three players finding sponsors early on in their careers, which he linked to the trio “staying hungry”. “When I came up in the USA, even once I had crossed the 2700 rating, I never had any kind of sponsorship that was on the level of what Arjun, Gukesh or Praggnanandhaa are getting right now. The goal for m...
Gukesh vs Praggnanandhaa ends in draw at Tata Steel Chess after some mind games
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Gukesh vs Praggnanandhaa ends in draw at Tata Steel Chess after some mind games

D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa played out a bloodless draw in round 8 at the Tata Steel chess tournament that ended in 33 moves on Sunday in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands. In what was a battle royale of two of India’s top grandmasters, there was very little to separate the duo with Pragg having white pieces. Both players had started the game as joint leaders in the standings in the masters section — a spot which they shared with Uzbek star Nodirbek Abdusattarov. All three players are still in joint lead after 8 rounds with Nodirbek holding off the event’s giant-killer Vladimir Fedoseev to a draw. The Gukesh vs Praggnanandhaa contest started with a bit of a mind game from Pragg, who waited almost one full minute before playing 1.e4, which is the most common opening move in the book. The first fi...
R Vaishali claims bronze at World Blitz Championship to cap stellar year for Indian women in chess
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R Vaishali claims bronze at World Blitz Championship to cap stellar year for Indian women in chess

R Vaishali ended 2024 in style, claiming a bronze medal at the World Blitz Championship after reaching the semi-finals at the year-end event at New York’s Wall Street. Ju Wenjun clinched the women’s blitz crown by defeating Lei Tingjie in the final. Vaishali had lost to Wenjun in the semis and finished behind the two Chinese women. In the men’s section, Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi agreed to share the title after both players won two games each in the final and three tie-break games were drawn. After the Swiss section of the World Blitz Championship (from where the eight quarter-finalists were selected), Vaishali had told the official YouTube handle of FIDE how she did not think she was a good blitz player. This despite the fact that she was a full point ahead of the pack at that ...