Indian chess grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa missed out on becoming a joint leader at the Superbet Classic after drawing with compatriot D. Gukesh in the third round. The game, which saw Gukesh sacrifice a pawn early, eventually settled into a drawn endgame. All five games of the tournament ended in draws, with Gukesh and Fabiano Caruana remaining in the lead on two points.
Indian chess stars D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa continued their strong performances at the Superbet Chess Classic, securing draws against Ian Nepomniachtchi and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave respectively. Meanwhile, top seed Fabiano Caruana missed out on his second consecutive win, drawing with Wesley So after a blunder deprived him of a clear advantage.
The Global Chess League is set to return to London for its second edition, featuring top chess players competing in a unique team format. The 10-day event, scheduled from October 3-12, 2024, promises high-stakes play and strategic collaborations, attracting new audiences to the sport.
A three-way race is underway for hosting the upcoming FIDE World Chess Championship, with Chennai, Delhi, and Singapore vying for the honor. The All India Chess Federation (AICF) is set to finalize one venue from India after both cities met the necessary requirements. The AICF is leaning towards Delhi, having hosted the 2022 Chess Olympiad in Chennai previously.
Two-time former state chess champion Karun Duggal has served the All India Chess Federation (AICF) with a legal notice demanding Rs 1 crore in compensation for the removal of his Elo rating and a ban in 2010. Duggal claims the ban was due to his participation in a tournament organized by a rival federation, the Chess Association of India (CAI). He argues that the AICF’s actions were unjustified and cost him valuable playing time.
Magnus Carlsen emerged victorious at the 2024 Norway Open, claiming his sixth title after defeating Fabiano Caruana in a tiebreaker armageddon game. R Praggnanandhaa held out against Hikaru Nakamura in a tense classical format, but it wasn’t enough to elevate his position in the standings. Ju Wenjun made history in the Women’s competition, becoming the champion after defeating Lei Tingjie in a classical game.
Chinese Grandmaster Ding Liren, the reigning World Chess Champion, will defend his title against India’s rising star D Gukesh later this year. Gukesh’s surprise victory in the Candidates Chess tournament has generated excitement in India, a country witnessing a surge in interest in chess. The World Championship match may take place in Singapore or India, with both Delhi and Chennai expressing interest in hosting. Liren prefers Singapore, while Gukesh would have the home-field advantage in India. Liren acknowledges Gukesh’s rapid ascent and sees him as a formidable opponent. India has produced numerous young chess prodigies, including R Praggnanandhaa, Vidit Gujrathi, and R Vaishali.
Indian prodigy D Gukesh has earned the right to challenge Ding Liren for the World Championship title after winning the Candidates Tournament in Toronto. The 18-year-old Gukesh is the youngest champion in the tournament’s history. Liren, 31, became the champion in 2023 after defeating Ian Nepomniachtchi. With Delhi, Chennai, and Singapore in contention to host the match, Liren is expected to face stiff competition from Gukesh.
World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen defeated R Praggnanandhaa in the Armageddon tiebreaker of their eighth-round game at the Norway Chess tournament. The victory extended Carlsen’s lead in the tournament to a full point with two rounds remaining. Carlsen was unable to overcome Praggnanandhaa’s solid play in the classical game and could only manage a draw. However, in the Armageddon game, Carlsen’s experience and guile proved too much for his younger opponent. Elsewhere in the tournament, Hikaru Nakamura and Alireza Firouzja played out a thrilling draw in the classical game, with Firouzja ultimately winning the blitz showdown. World Champion Ding Liren suffered a setback, losing to Fabiano Caruana in the Armageddon game after squandering two winning positions. In the Women’s Norway Chess competition, world champion Wenjun Ju secured an impressive victory over Pia Cramling, solidifying her lead in the standings.
In the heart of Liat Towers, the four-storey Hermès flagship store has unveiled an enchanting chess game in its storefront window. Titled ‘Checkmate at the Faubourg’, this vibrant installation draws inspiration from the maison’s theme for 2024: The Spirit of the Faubourg. Acclaimed artist Matthieu Cossé has transformed iconic architectural elements of Hermès’s global flagship in Paris into whimsical chess pieces, bringing the Faubourg to life. The balusters of the building become pawns, while the rooftop artificer assumes the role of a bishop. Cossé’s artistic vision has resulted in a whimsical masterpiece that transports viewers into a realm of fantasy and creativity.
