Surya Sekhar Ganguly continued his dominant form at the National Chess Championship, winning his seventh consecutive game to extend his lead to one point with four rounds remaining. The Kolkata-based player defeated Sayantan Das in a Ruy Lopez opening, showcasing his tactical prowess. Other notable results included a draw between Deep Sengupta and Aronyak Ghosh, and a decisive win for S.P. Sethuraman over C.R.G. Krishna.
Indian Grandmasters D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa secured draws in the second round of the Sinquefield Cup, the final event of the Grand Chess Tour. Gukesh, a World Championship challenger, battled to a draw against Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi, while Praggnanandhaa drew against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France.
The fourth round of the National Chess Championship brought with it plenty of excitement, including upsets of top seeds, as Surya Shekhar Ganguly continues his strong performance with his fourth consecutive victory.
The 61st National Chess Championship saw a strong showing by female players, with Shubhi Gupta and Kiran Manisha Mohanty facing off against top contenders Surya Shekhar Ganguly and S.P. Sethuraman. Despite their valiant efforts, both women lost their matches. Young talent Siddhant Gawai drew with Abhijeet Gupta, marking a significant achievement for the 17-year-old.
The second round of the 61st National Chess Championship saw a continuation of the dominant performances from the top seeds. Surya Shekhar Ganguly, Abhijeet Gupta, S.P. Sethuraman, and Diptayan Ghosh all secured victories, showcasing their strength and experience.
Alireza Firouzja of France showcased a dominant performance to win the Saint Louis Rapid and Blitz tournament, while Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa finished last despite improving in the blitz section. Firouzja’s victory puts him atop the Grand Chess Tour ranking, while Praggnanandhaa faces an uphill battle to secure a podium finish in the upcoming Sinquefield Cup.
The opening round of the 61st National Chess Championship saw all 19 participating Grandmasters secure victories, including top seed Surya Shekhar Ganguly, second seed Abhijeet Gupta, and defending champion S.P. Sethuraman. The tournament, held at the RPS International School, showcased impressive displays of chess strategy and tactics.
Despite heavy rains and flooded streets, the 61st National Chess Championship is set to begin in the northern Indian city, attracting over 340 players including former champions and Grandmasters. The tournament features a substantial prize fund and offers opportunities for untitled players to earn GM or IM norms.
Alireza Firouzja extended his lead in the Saint Louis Rapid and Blitz chess tournament after a dominant performance in the first day of the blitz section. The French grandmaster now sits on 17.5 points, 1.5 points ahead of Wesley So, who had a stellar blitz performance with seven wins out of nine. Meanwhile, R. Praggnanandhaa remained in last place despite a couple of wins, including victories against Ian Nepomniachtchi and Hikaru Nakamura.
Indian chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa had a disappointing start to the Saint Louis Rapid and Blitz tournament, failing to capitalize on winning positions in two games. Despite demonstrating superiority in some games, he ended the first day at the bottom of the standings. With six rounds of rapid and 18 rounds of blitz remaining, Praggnanandhaa has a challenging road ahead for a comeback.
