Nitin S wins 33rd RCC STS Classical Rating 2026

IM Nitin S scored an unbeaten 8/9 points to win the 33rd RCC STS International FIDE Rated Classical Chess Cup 2026. Nitin S and Sham R both scored 8/9 points to finish in 1st and 2nd place according to tiebreak scores. Sarvana Krishnan P, Murali Krishnan BT, Nishant TR, and Anilkumar OT scored 7.5/9 points to finish in 3rd to 6th places, respectively. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹5,00,001, and the top 3 prizes were ₹70,000, ₹50,000, and ₹35,000. The tournament was organized by Rao’s Chess Corner at St. Theresas School, Bethany Institution, Bendur in Mangalore, Karnataka, from 27th March to 1st April 2026. Photos: Rao's Chess Corner

R Vaishali secures the World Championship Spot

It's been almost 5 days since the FIDE Candidates 2026 was over, and we have two challengers for the World Championship Title. Vaishali Rameshbabu won her last game against Kateryna Lagno to win the Women's Candidates. Javokhir Sindarov was unstoppable from the start and won the Candidates with a round to spare, remaining unbeaten throughout the event. Vaishali will play the World Championship match against Ju Wenjun, and Javokhir Sindarov will take on D Gukesh for the title. Check out the prize distribution ceremony photos in this article. Photos: Michal Walusza, Niki Riga/ FIDE

Storytime with Viswanathan Anand and Aruna Anand

What if one story could change a child’s life? Across India, many children are still waiting to discover the joy of reading. The Turning Pages Foundation is working to change that through its India Reads Aloud initiative. They collaborate with famous personalities to capture a child’s imagination through storytelling. In a recent episode, Viswanathan Anand and Aruna Anand joined this initiative by narrating a story for young listeners. Read on to discover how this idea is creating a lasting impact. Photos: Turning Pages Foundation

The Real Battle Begins: Gukesh vs Sindarov -Who Has the Edge?

Right now, if there is one player dominating the global chess conversation, it is Uzbekistan’s 20-year-old Javokhir Sindarov. After winning the FIDE Candidates in brilliant style, he earned the right to fight for the world title against reigning World Champion Gukesh. In this article, we explore how he claimed the Candidates title and assess his upcoming World Championship clash with Gukesh. Photo: Maria Emelianova & Michal Walusza / FIDE

10 unknown photos of R. Vaishali

The whole world knows that Vaishali Rameshbabu won the FIDE Candidates 2026, and now she is going to play the World Championship match against reigning Women's World Chess Champion Ju Wenjun. The stories of the candidates and Vaishali's journey are all over the internet. But what if we bring you 10 unseen special photos of Vaishali's Career? Check out this short article with her photos and the backstory behind each one of them.

Javokhir Sindarov on preparing to face D Gukesh for the World title

The chess world is witnessing a generational shift. We are seeing new names emerge as contenders for the World title. After winning the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026, Uzbek star Javokhir Sindarov has emerged as the new challenger for the World Championship. In a recent interview after his victory, Sindarov reflected on his journey, key moments, and preparation. He also shared his thoughts on facing World Champion Gukesh in what promises to be a historic clash. Read the article to know more. Photo: Michal Walusza

Javokhir Sindarov's secret weapon - his coach IM Roman Vidonyak

Javokhir Sindarov had an incredible performance at the FIDE Candidates 2026. He won the tournament by a margin of 1.5 points over the field. While a lot of people have contributed towards Javokhir's success - one man takes the lion's share. His name IM Roman Vidonyak and he is the coach of Sindarov. The journey of Roman and Javokhir began in January 2025 and in the last 1 year and 4 months, they have managed to achieve something truly special. What are Roman's methods of training? We tried to understand from the man himself.

Vincent Keymer wins Grenke Freestyle 2026, Harika qualifies for FIDE Freestyle World Championship

Vincent Keymer drew his last game against Maxime Vachier Lagrave to win Grenke Freestyle 2026. Both players were co-leading the event going into the last round, and Vincent had a better tie-break score, which helped him win the title and spot in the Freestyle World Championship 2027. He scored 7.5/9 points, starting with an insane 6 wins in a row and drawing against Magnus Carlsen, Alexey Sarana, and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the last 3 rounds. In the women’s standings, Harika Dronavalli, Alua Nurman, and Dinara Wagner secured 3 spots for the upcoming Freestyle World Championship 2027. It was a great event for Indian players as Aryan drew his last game against Carlsen to finish in the top 10 with Leon Mendonca. Photos: Abhyudaya Ram/Prajwal Bhat

The untold journey of R. Vaishali through the eyes of coach R.B. Ramesh

In the world of Indian chess, few stories are as cinematic as the rise of R. Vaishali. While the world watches her exploits, the man who has spent a decade molding her talent, GM R.B. Ramesh, provides an intimate look at the sacrifice, ethics, and the psychological sides of India’s newest Women’s World Championship Challenger, Vaishali R. Read the article to know more about not just the professional but also the personal side of this amazing champion.

Manika Kesavan clear first at 12th BBCF Below 1700 FIDE Rated 2026

Manika Kesavan scored an unbeaten 8/9 points to win the 12th BBCF Below 1700 International FIDE Rated Chess Tournament. Seven players, including Arun Lobo, Riddhish Khishore V, Santhosh T, Dhanvant Balachandran, Reshikeshava B, Murugan V, and Vasikaran G, scored 7.5/9 points to finish from 2nd to 8th place, respectively, according to the tiebreak scores. The total prize fund of this 3-day below-1700 FIDE-rated classical event was ₹6,00,000. The event was organized by the Brains Behind Chess Foundation at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai from 12th to 14th April 2026. Photos: Balaji S /Brains Behind Chess Foundation

How 200 families came together to raise Rs. 2.3 crore for 20 chess prodigies | Group e4

A dream costs nothing to have; but everything to chase! For so many young chess players in India, financial struggle has been the only thing standing between them and their dreams. In 2022, Viswanathan Anand and Satya Prabhakar decided to do something about it. They created Group e4 and till today, they have raised over Rs. 2.3 crore, supporting 20 young players. They contacted their friends and families, and that is how the funds started coming in. We spoke with Satya Prabhakar about the journey, the achievements, and the road ahead. Read the article to know Group e4's story.

Devansh Singh wins Khelo Chess India Classical FIDE Rating, Ahilan finished runner-up

The second edition of the Khelo Chess India FIDE Rating tournament, organized by ChessBase India, was successfully held in recent days at SAGE International School in Bhopal. Conducted from March 23 to March 31, the title was won by Devansh Singh, who scored 9 out of 9. Ahilan Roy from Chhattisgarh secured second place with 7.5 points, while Divyanshu Gupta finished third with 7 points and the best tiebreak score.

With the objective of promoting classical chess, this nine-day event was also broadcast live with the support of DGT. This was the 80th event of the Khelo Chess India initiative, and it is expected that this effort will complete 100 events this year. In this tournament, DGT, IVEI, and SAGE International School were our main partners.

Evan Telles receives Rs. 50,000 under the Gopal and Shilpa Ved Scholarship

8-year-old Evan Telles from Goa has won the Gopal and Shilpa Ved Scholarship. He is the youngest-rated player from Goa. He is also the first player from Goa to win Gold in a National Chess Championship. This scholarship, supported by donor Manan Ved for the second consecutive year, will help Evan access advanced coaching. His ultimate dream is to become one of the youngest Grandmasters in the country. Read the article to know more.

Romania Grand Prix 2026: Experience chess at its finest, in the heart of Europe!

Romania Grand Prix 2026 is a premier international chess circuit organized by the Romanian Chess Federation, bringing together elite players, world-class competition, and iconic destinations. The 5th edition features five open tournaments in five Romanian cities: Bucharest, Alba Iulia, Brasov, Arad, and Craiova. With participants from over 50 countries and a vibrant, competitive atmosphere, Romania Grand Prix stands as one of Europe’s most dynamic chess events. The Grand Prix Romania will take place with financial support from the Romanian Chess Federation and its partners, the Superbet Foundation and One United Properties.

FIDE Candidates 2026 R14: Vaishali creates history after defeating Lagno to win Women's Candidates 2026

Vaishali Rameshbabu defeated Kateryna Lagno in the final round of FIDE Women's Candidates 2026 to win the tournament. By winning the Candidates, Vaishali secured her spot in the World Championship match against the reigning Women's World Champion Ju Wenjun. Going into the final round, Vaishali had a score of 7.5/13 points, the same as Bibisara Assaubayeva. Divya Deshmukh drew against Bibisara in a wild game, and Vaishali scored a huge win over Kateryna Lagno and was crowned the Champion. Vaishali played some incredible Chess throughout the tournament. She scored 5 wins, had 7 draws, and conceded only 2 losses. Vaishali scored 8.5/14 points to secure the title. Photos: Michal Walusza, Niki Riga/ FIDE, Prajwal Bhat/ChessBase India