Latest news with #Chess.com
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Chess infrastructure gets major push to elevate competitive set-up through esports ecosystem
With the ever-growing popularity of chess and esports, the best of both worlds come together to develop chess infrastructure and push chess as an esports in the country. For this, Nodwin Gaming has partnered with and ChessBase India to collaborate on competitive chess development in India. The partnership brings together three organisations involved in esports production, online chess platforms, and grassroots community engagement. Under this arrangement, Nodwin Gaming will oversee production, broadcasting, and commercial planning. ChessBase India will contribute its network within the Indian chess community, while will provide platform support, tournament infrastructure, and creator tools. The partnership is aimed at focusing on creating new tournament formats, community events, and content initiatives aimed at expanding participation and viewership. This comes on the back of chess' inclusion in the upcoming Esports World Cup (EWC), where multiple Indian stars have signed contracts with Esports organisations. Arjun Erigaisi was among the first few players in the world to sign such a contract. He signed the deal with Gen.G. Earlier, Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram also signed contracts with the Indian Esports organisation S8UL. At the time of writing, from India, only Arjun has confirmed his qualification in the EWC. Nihal and Aravindh participated in the qualifiers but failed to book their spot for the mega showdown in Riyadh. Aravindh participated in the first tier of 'Last Chance Qualifier' (LCQ) and can still participate in EWC through this. The Esports World Cup will be an event where the world's biggest esports clubs compete across 24 of the most popular esports titles. For the first time, the World Cup will also feature chess, which will be played online. The first edition of the Esports World Cup was held in 2024 and saw teams compete over eight weeks. The Esports World Cup 2025 is set to be the largest multi-title esports event in history which is expected to have at least 2,000 players and 200 teams competing for a combined prize pool of $70 million (approx. Rs 602 crore).
NDTV
3 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
NODWIN Gaming Joins Hands With Chess.Com And ChessBase India
In a landmark move poised to redefine the future of chess in India, NODWIN Gaming, a leader in South Asia's esports and gaming ecosystem, has announced a strategic partnership with the world's largest chess platform, and India's leading chess media and grassroots organisation, ChessBase India. The collaboration brings together three powerhouses from the worlds of esports, content, and competitive chess to create a unified ecosystem that nurtures talent, expands reach, and builds India's presence on the global chess esports stage. This strategic alliance unites the complementary strengths of three leaders in the chess and gaming ecosystem. NODWIN Gaming brings deep expertise in production, broadcast, and commercial strategy. ChessBase India offers unmatched access to India's thriving chess community and grassroots networks. contributes its expansive global platform, community, creator partnerships, and world-class tournament infrastructure. Together, they form a unique synergy that will fuel the co-creation and scaling of original IPs, deliver premium competitive formats, spark deeper engagement across both player and creator communities, and deliver great opportunities for brands to partner in the rapidly growing chess ecosystem. Speaking on the announcement, Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming, said, "Chess is undergoing a cultural renaissance, from park benches and schoolrooms to sold-out esports arenas and creator streams. Chess has now become the fourth most-watched sport in the country after cricket, kabaddi, and BGMI tournaments. With this partnership, we're not just supporting a heritage game, we're aiding in its natural course of progression. By combining each organization's unique strengths, we're building a future-ready ecosystem that can take Indian chess from heritage to hype. It's time the brilliance of our grandmasters meets the energy of our digital generation." Chess is getting an accelerated global attention, with over 7.6 billion games played worldwide on in 2024 alone. The platform now boasts over 200 million registered users, with India seeing 9 million+ monthly active players, and an average of 550,000 new signups every month. Viewership has skyrocketed with 925 million total organic views, reflecting a 640% year-over-year growth. The surge in visibility was recently reflected during the World Chess Championship, which was exclusively streamed in India through the combined efforts of NODWIN Gaming, and ChessBase India. The Gukesh Dommaraju-Ding Liren final match, which saw Gukesh being crowned as the World Chess Champion, attracted over 24 million views, with peak concurrent viewership hitting 200,000. India is central to this surge. Cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, and Chennai rank among the top chess-viewing regions globally. Indian users are predominantly mobile-first, with 80.9% of viewership on smartphones, and the largest age group being between 18 and 34 years old, highlighting the game's deep connection with India's digital-native Gen Z and millennial audiences. Speaking on the alliance, Sagar Shah, CEO of ChessBase India, said, "This partnership is not just a business alliance - it's a vision to grow the chess community in India from the grassroots to the grand stage. For the last decade, we've focused on building a robust chess culture in the country, and now, with NODWIN and by our side, we hope to bring forth more opportunities to all those involved in the chess ecosystem." Avadh Shah, Country Director of India, said, "Chess has been one of the most dominant and fastest growing sports in the last 3 years across India and the world. In terms of both participation and viewership, chess is experiencing record-breaking numbers-the highest we've ever seen. Given the excitement around the sport, it is only fitting that the leading companies within the ecosystem collaborate to further its development and invite partners to join this journey as well." The partnership also aligns with the rise of chess as a recognised esports discipline. At the upcoming Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025, chess will make its debut with a prize pool of $1.5 million. Leading Indian esports organization S8UL is set to represent India in competitive chess at the Esports World Cup with its powerhouse roster of Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram, marking the first-ever representation of an Indian esports team in competitive chess on a global stage. Their involvement underscores the growing recognition of chess as a spectator-friendly, high-skill esport. As India prepares to make its mark on this new frontier, the alliance between NODWIN Gaming, and ChessBase India promises to build the foundational infrastructure needed for long-term growth, from top-tier broadcasts and influencer-led content to community tournaments and professional leagues. Together, NODWIN Gaming, ChessBase India, and aim to build a robust ecosystem for Indian chess, one that honors the nation's legacy, empowers creators, and establishes India as a global hub for online competitive chess.
News18
3 days ago
- Business
- News18
NODWIN Gaming Joins Hands With Chess.com And ChessBase India to Build future Of Chess Esports In India
The partnership combines NODWIN Gaming's expertise in production and broadcast, ChessBase India's grassroots network and global platform to revolutionise chess in India In a landmark move set to shape the future of chess in India, NODWIN Gaming, a leader in South Asia's esports and gaming sector, has announced a strategic partnership with the world's largest chess platform, and India's top chess media and grassroots organisation, ChessBase India. This collaboration brings together three major players from esports, content creation, and competitive chess to form a cohesive ecosystem that nurtures talent, broadens reach, and enhances India's presence on the global chess esports stage. This alliance combines the unique strengths of these leaders in the chess and gaming industry. NODWIN Gaming contributes its expertise in production, broadcasting, and commercial strategy. ChessBase India offers unparalleled access to India's vibrant chess community and grassroots networks. brings its extensive global platform, community, creator partnerships, and world-class tournament infrastructure. Together, they create a synergy aimed at developing and scaling original intellectual properties, delivering premium competitive formats, fostering deeper engagement across player and creator communities, and offering significant opportunities for brands to partner in the rapidly growing chess ecosystem. Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming, stated, 'Chess is experiencing a cultural renaissance, from park benches and schoolrooms to sold-out esports arenas and creator streams. Chess has now become the fourth most-watched sport in the country, following cricket, kabaddi, and BGMI tournaments. This partnership is not just about supporting a heritage game; it's about facilitating its natural progression. By combining our unique strengths, we are creating a future-ready ecosystem that can elevate Indian chess from heritage to hype. It's time for our grandmasters to meet the energy of our digital generation." This visibility spike was evident during the World Chess Championship, exclusively streamed in India through the efforts of NODWIN Gaming, and ChessBase India. The final match between Gukesh Dommaraju and Ding Liren, which crowned Gukesh as the World Chess Champion, garnered over 24 million views, with peak concurrent viewership reaching 200,000. India plays a central role in this surge, with cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, and Chennai ranking among the top chess-viewing regions globally. Indian users primarily access content via mobile, with 80.9% of viewership on smartphones, and the largest age group being 18 to 34 years old, highlighting the game's strong connection with India's digital-native Gen Z and millennial audiences. Sagar Shah, CEO of ChessBase India, commented, 'This partnership isn't just a business alliance — it's a vision to grow the chess community in India from the grassroots to the grand stage. For the past decade, we've focused on building a robust chess culture in the country. Now, with NODWIN and by our side, we aim to create more opportunities for everyone involved in the chess ecosystem." Avadh Shah, Country Director of India, added, 'Chess has been one of the most dominant and fastest-growing sports in the last three years across India and the world. In terms of both participation and viewership, chess is achieving record-breaking numbers. Given the excitement around the sport, it's fitting that leading companies within the ecosystem collaborate to further its development and invite partners to join this journey." The partnership also aligns with the rise of chess as a recognised esports discipline. At the upcoming Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025, chess will debut with a prize pool of $1.5 million. Leading Indian esports organisation S8UL will represent India in competitive chess at the Esports World Cup with its team of Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram, marking the first-ever representation of an Indian esports team in competitive chess on a global stage. Their involvement highlights the growing recognition of chess as a spectator-friendly, high-skill esport. As India prepares to make its mark on this new frontier, the alliance between NODWIN Gaming, and ChessBase India promises to build the foundational infrastructure needed for long-term growth, from top-tier broadcasts and influencer-led content to community tournaments and professional leagues. Together, NODWIN Gaming, ChessBase India, and aim to establish a robust ecosystem for Indian chess that honours the nation's legacy, empowers creators, and positions India as a global hub for online competitive chess. News18 Sports brings you the latest updates, live commentary, and highlights from cricket, football, tennis, badmintion, wwe and more. Catch breaking news, live scores, and in-depth coverage. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Chess esports Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 18, 2025, 19:49 IST
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Indian sports wrap, June 18: Junior hockey men's team leaves for 4 Nations; Actress Kangana Ranaut named brand ambassador of World Para Athletics Championships
HOCKEY India junior men's hockey team leaves for 4 Nations Tournament in Germany The Indian junior men's hockey team left for Berlin on Wednesday morning to take part in the upcoming 4 Nations Tournament that is scheduled to be held between June 21-25. Led by Araijeet Singh Hundal, the team will play its first pool stage match against the host Germany on June 21, followed by matches against Australia on June 22 and Spain on June 24. The top two teams in the pool stage will then compete for the top spot, while the bottom two teams will play for third and fourth rankings on June 25. All matches will be held at TC 1899 Blau Weiß, Berlin. Before the side's departure, Araijeet said, 'This tournament is crucial for us ahead of the FIH Junior World Cup 2025. With just a few months to go, it's the perfect opportunity for us to assess our strengths, try out new combinations, and identify areas for improvement. We'll be facing some of the best hockey teams, which will allow us to test our strength and try different strategies.' The FIH Junior Men's Hockey World Cup 2025 will take place in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 to December 10. With less than six months left for the global hockey event, the 4 Nations Tournament will serve as a vital preparatory platform for the Indian colts. -Team Sportstar ESPORTS/CHESS NODWIN Gaming joins hands with ChessBase India NODWIN Gaming, a leader in South Asia's esports and gaming ecosystem, on Wednesday announced a strategic partnership with the world's largest chess platform, and India's leading chess media and grassroots organisation, ChessBase India. The collaboration aims to create a unified ecosystem that nurtures talent, expands reach, and builds India's presence on the global chess esports stage. Together, they plan to fuel the co-creation and scaling of original IPs, deliver premium competitive formats, spark deeper engagement across both player and creator communities, and deliver great opportunities for brands to partner in the rapidly growing chess ecosystem. Speaking on the announcement, Akshat Rathee, co-founder and managing director of NODWIN Gaming, said, 'Chess is undergoing a cultural renaissance, from park benches and schoolrooms to sold-out esports arenas and creator streams. Chess has now become the fourth most-watched sport in the country after cricket, kabaddi, and BGMI tournaments. With this partnership, we're not just supporting a heritage game; we're aiding in its natural course of progression.' The partnership also aligns with the rise of chess as a recognised esports discipline. At the upcoming Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025, chess will make its debut with a prize pool of $1.5 million. Leading Indian esports organization S8UL is set to represent India in competitive chess at the Esports World Cup with its powerhouse roster of Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram, marking the first-ever representation of an Indian esports team in competitive chess on a global stage. -Team Sportstar ATHLETICS Kangana Ranaut named brand ambassador of World Para Athletics Championships BJP MP and actress Kangana Ranaut. | Photo Credit: Manvender Vashist Lav/PTI Actor-cum-politician Kangana Ranaut was on Wednesday named brand ambassador of the World Para Athletics Championships to be held in New Delhi between September 26 and October 5. The 39-year-old Ranaut, who garnered acclaim for her performances in films like Fashion and Queen, represents Himachal Pradesh's Mandi constituency in the current Lok Sabha. 'India's para athletes are rewriting what is possible every single day. I am deeply honoured to support them and help raise awareness about their incredible achievements. Para sport is not just about competition—it is about courage, and I am proud to stand behind our champions,' Ranaut said in a press release issued by the Paralympic Committee of India. PCI president and BJP leader Devendra Jhajharia, who is also a two-time Paralympic gold medal-winning javelin thrower, added: 'Her passion, influence, and commitment to India's athletes make her a perfect ambassador for the New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships.' The marquee event will feature athletes from more than 100 countries. -PTI
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Magnus Carlsen fever! P Harikrishna copies famous fist-smash of World No 1 chess player; watch video
's outburst after losing to World Champion Gukesh in the recently concluded Norway Chess tournament has taken over social media in the past few days — and it seems it isn't going away anytime soon. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In an interview with FIDE, Indian grandmaster Pentala Harikrishna mimicked Carlsen's famous fist smash. Harikrishna was part of Gukesh's team when the Indian teenager won the World Chess Championship last year. In the interview, Harikrishna was asked, 'Tell me you are a chess player, without telling me you are a chess player.' 'Can I show (demonstrate) it?' Harikrishna replied. After being given the go-ahead, Harikrishna turned around and smashed his fist on the table behind them, then said, 'Oh my God!' Harikrishna isn't the first to imitate Carlsen's trademark fist smash. During the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Teams Championships, Anish Giri was also seen gently tapping his fist on the table before the start of a game, flashing a knowing smile at the camera as he did so. Earlier this month, 19-year-old Gukesh defeated the Norwegian for the first time in a classical chess contest, and Magnus couldn't digest the loss — slamming his fist on the chess board. Carlsen later apologised to Gukesh twice for his emotional outburst. When later asked if he was surprised by Carlsen's reaction, the 19-year-old told 'No, it was heartbreaking how he lost. I completely understand. I have also banged many tables in my career — a couple of them on camera, a few off camera. But I wasn't paying too much attention to what he did; I was trying to calm myself down.'
