Latest news with #D.Gukesh
India Gazette
4 days ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
R Praggnanandhaa hails 'Chola Chess Initiative', speaks about sport's popularity
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], July 9 (ANI): Indian chess sensation R Praggnanandhaa on Wednesday lauded the Chola Chess initiative, highlighting its free-of-cost facilities and also pointed out the growing popularity of the game. The 19-year-old was speaking to ANI at the inauguration of the Chola Chess facility in Chennai, the initiative being a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative by Cholamandalam Investment and Finance in association with Chess Gurukul, and aims to identify young chess talent across India. Speaking to ANI, he said, 'I myself have attended a Chola Chess camp three months ago. There are regular camps every month, and we go to train with grandmasters. There are so many facilities here that you can play blitz. It is all free of cost. It is an ecosystem where you feel chess everywhere. It is a great initiative, and I am happy to be at the inauguration event. Thirty-six camps have happened, and many more to come.' He also said that chess is gaining popularity and 'young kids are getting inspired to play chess'. 'The key is to have fun with the game... I take every tournament as it comes, and for me right now, my focus will be on the next tournament, which is a freestyle competition,' he added. Notably, India has been doing really well at the international level in chess as of late. D. Gukesh, the reigning World Champion and recipient of the AwaMajor Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna rd, secured a third-place position in the Norway Chess tournament, which concluded early in June. One of his standout moments during the competition was a win over world number one Magnus Carlsen, which was his first classical game win over him. Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi also finished fifth. Also, Aravindh Chithambaram clinched first place in the Stepan Avagyan Memorial Chess Tournament, and R Praggnanandhaa secured second place in the same tournament. The tournament was held from May 28 to June 6. (ANI)
Time of India
6 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Pratitee keen to make a mark
Bengaluru: India has witnessed a significant rise in chess over the past few years. D. Gukesh and R. Praggnanandhaa have emerged as the top representatives of this trend, and the performance across various age categories is promising. Among those making their mark is Bengaluru's Pratitee Bordoloi, who is eager to follow in their footsteps. The 12-year-old recently won a gold medal in the U-12 category at the FIDE World Cup in Batumi, Georgia. She has an impressive collection of medals, including two international titles from last year, along with silver medals in her budding career. It's quite an achievement for someone who took up the sport four years ago. Interestingly, her mother, Pranti Dutta Bordoloi, introduced her to chess, believing that Pratitee's strong mathematical skills could translate well into the game. "My mother noticed that I was good at math calculations. That's when she suggested I try chess, since it also involves a lot of calculation. I'm glad that I did," said Pratitee, who returned to the city late Friday after her victory in Georgia. Currently coached by GM Pravin Thipsay, Pratitee started participating in state competitions in the U-9 category, where she found success. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Her accomplishments at the national level helped her family realise her potential. However, balancing chess and academics has not been easy for her. As fan of Magnus Carlsen, she often misses classes while traveling for competitions, but she makes sure to get class notes from her friends. While the seventh-grade student at Shishya BEML Public School is focused on her upcoming term examinations, which begin on July 18, her next major competition will be the World Cadet Championship in Kazakhstan this September. Pratitee trains for an average of four hours a day, increasing to eight hours as competitions approach. "After my exams, I will be able to concentrate on my training," said Pratitee, revealing her aspirations. "I would love to win the Women's World Championship in the future."
India.com
05-07-2025
- Sport
- India.com
D. Gukesh Clinches Rapid Title At Grand Chess Tour Zagreb 2025
The 19-year-old world champion D. Gukesh dominated the rapid section of the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz (Grand Chess Tour 2025) with an outstanding performance in Zagreb. Final Standings – Rapid Section D. Gukesh – 14.0 / 18 (6 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss) Jan‑Krzysztof Duda – 11.0 (only player to defeat Gukesh in round 1) Magnus Carlsen – 10.0, finishing third after slipping in later rounds Tournament Highlights A Rocky Start & Spectacular Recovery Gukesh stumbled in the opening round, losing to Duda. However, this proved to be the catalyst for his turnaround; he responded with five straight wins, dismantling elite opponents such as Firouzja, Caruana, Carlsen, Abdusattorov, and So. Crushing the Reign of Magnus, His win over Magnus Carlsen in Round 4 was a highlight, revered by commentators. Garry Kasparov remarked, 'Now we can question Magnus' domination… It was a big fight. And Magnus lost.' Carlsen had previously underestimated Gukesh but was outplayed in the tactical exchange. Calm and Tactical Precision in Finale In the final round, Gukesh delivered a textbook performance against Wesley So, converting a middlegame advantage into a decisive win in just 36 moves Mid-Tournament Resilience On Day 3, after two quiet draws (against Anish Giri and Ivan Saric), Gukesh regained momentum with a commanding victory over So, extending his lead to three points in the blitz phase Tournament Context & Outlook Format: 10-player rapid round-robin (25+10), followed by 18 blitz games (5+2). Prize Fund: Total $175,000 across rapid and blitz Tour Schedule: Zagreb is the third of five GCT events in 2025, capped by finals in São Paulo Blitz Section The blitz section of the Grand Chess Tour 2025 in Zagreb is scheduled for July 5 and 6. These rapid-fire rounds will determine the final standings, with the overall champion of the Zagreb leg crowned based on combined results from both the rapid and blitz formats. Zagreb represents the third stop on this year's Grand Chess Tour. Earlier legs took place in Poland and Romania, where India's R Praggnanandhaa secured a title win in Bucharest and finished third in Warsaw. Following Zagreb, the tour will shift to the United States in August for the next two events. It will then conclude in Brazil between September and October, with the final leg featuring a complete set of classical, rapid, and blitz games, offering a comprehensive test of each participant's versatility.
India Today
04-07-2025
- Sport
- India Today
World Champion D Gukesh wins rapid title at Grand Chess Tour 2025 Zagreb
Reigning World Champion D. Gukesh underlined his growing stature on the global stage, clinching the rapid title at the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz tournament - part of the 2025 Grand Chess Tour - in Zagreb, Croatia, on Friday. The 19-year-old showcased composure, tactical precision and blistering form to finish with 14 points from a possible 18, sealing top honours in commanding campaign began with an early stumble - a first-round defeat to Jan-Krzysztof Duda. But that only sparked a remarkable turnaround. Gukesh responded with five consecutive victories, including a clinical dismantling of World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in Round 4, a result that firmly placed him in control of the capped off the rapid section with a signature win over Wesley So of the United States in the final round - a composed 36-move performance that exploited a tactical oversight to convert a material edge into two full points. It was a fitting end to a run that included six wins, two draws, and a solitary Champion Gukesh @DGukesh wins Grand Chess Tour Croatia rapid Chessdom (@chessdom) July 4, 2025 Day 3 began with a quiet draw against Dutch GM Anish Giri, as the players reached a near-locked middlegame and shook hands. The second game of the day - against Croatia's Ivan Aric—was a lengthy contest where Gukesh employed the Marshall Gambit. The 87-move encounter eventually ended in a draw, but showed Gukesh's readiness to fight for every made an encouraging start to the final day, defeating Fabiano Caruana in his opening game, but a subsequent draw against Nodirbek Abdusattorov put paid to his chances of closing the gap. Duda, the only player to defeat Gukesh in Zagreb, finished second, his consistency keeping the pressure alive until the end.R. Praggnanandhaa, the other Indian on the field, had a more subdued outing. He picked up one win - against Aric—and drew seven of his nine games, finishing with nine points. While off the pace in Zagreb, the 18-year-old remains a strong contender in the overall standings, having won the Bucharest leg and secured third place in blitz section of the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz gets underway on Saturday and concludes on 6 July. Combined points from both formats will determine the overall two more stops to follow - in the United States (August) and Brazil (September-October) - Gukesh's imperious form in Zagreb could prove a defining moment in what is shaping up to be a landmark year for Indian chess.- Ends
United News of India
07-06-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Gauff stuns Sabalenka to lift 1st French Open crown
Gukesh, a symbol of India's chess future : Stalin Chennai, June 7 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday lauded GM for finishing third in the Norway tournament and described him as a symbol of India's chess future. "Proud of our very own for finishing third at Norway Chess 2025 with an impressive 14.5 points", he wrote on X. "With remarkable talent and determination, Gukesh continues to shine as a symbol of India's chess future", he added. UNI GV 2155
