R Vaishali (Photo by Michal Walusza) New Delhi: History was made on the shores of the Mediterranean as Vaishali Rameshbabu won the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament on Wednesday, earning the right to challenge China’s reigning champion Jo Wenjin for the Women’s World Chess Championship crown later this year.Going into the final round, VaishaliHis fate was…
Vincent Kemmer and Javakhir Sundaroff (Photo by Freestyle Chess and Niki Rega) New Delhi: There is a new top hunter in the world of chess, and his name is Javakhir Sandroof.In an impressive display of tactical aggression, the 20-year-old Uzbek Grandmaster (GM) won the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 on Tuesday, earning his right to challenge…
Sandroof wins 2026 candidates (IANS) In a feat perhaps never seen before in Candidates chess, Uzbek grandmaster Javakhir Sindrov upset the reigning champion in a world championship match against defending champion D Gokesh of India in Cyprus.Having won six of his 13 games and lost none, the 20-year-old drew Dutchman Anish Gerry in the 13th…
RL India’s Vaishali Ramesh Babu, Kazakhstan’s Bibi Sara Isaobaifa, and China’s Zhu Jin (Photos by Michael Waloza) New Delhi: The clock of judgment has arrived. Unless a tiebreaker is forced and we have to wait another day, on Wednesday the Mediterranean shores of Cyprus will decide who will be crowned the female contender to challenge…
Javkhair Sandroof vs Anish Giri (Photo by Niki Rega/FIDE) New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru on Tuesday capped a flawless campaign to win the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 title, sealing the crown with a round to set up a blockbuster world championship clash with De Gokesh later this year.The Uzbek grandmaster at the Cape St George’s Hotel…
Harika Dronaveli Qualifies for FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship (Special Arrangements) New Delhi: Indian women’s chess is telling two very different stories today. In Cyprus, Vaishali Ramesh Babu and Dwiya Deshmukh are locked in a fierce battle among the women’s contenders, chasing the right to challenge the reigning world champion. Meanwhile, thousands of kilometers away,…
Uzbekistan GM Nodirbek Yakubboev makes ‘Namaste’ gesture against Harika Dronavali (screengrab) New Delhi: In this digital age, when every gesture is scrutinized under the microscope of social media, a momentary exchange at the recently concluded Greinke Freestyle Open sparked a massive social media debate.When India’s Grandmaster (GM) Harika Dronavali extended his hand to Uzbekistan’s GM…
Ramesh Babu Vaishali (File Photo/Getty Images) Joint leader R Vaishali (7 points) will have to defeat last edition’s winner Tan Zhongy with the black pieces in the 13th and final round on Tuesday to give herself a good shot at the women’s candidate chess title in Cyprus after Monday’s rest day. However, that would be…
Nihal Sarin (Photo by Michal Walusza) New Delhi: Last February, Nihal Sarin was busy playing a game of online chess at TakeTakeTake’s titled Tuesday event. His opponent was Armenian player Ayman Ohanyan. In a tense final game, Nihal outlasted his counterpart. With the game played on a computer rather than a board, a gentleman’s handshake…
Nihal Sarin (Photo by Michal Walusza) New Delhi: Last February, Nihal Sarin was busy playing a game of online chess at TakeTakeTake’s titled Tuesday event. His opponent was Armenian player Ayman Ohanyan. In a tense final game, Nihal outlasted his counterpart. With the game played on a computer rather than a board, a gentleman’s handshake…