Latest news with #TataSteelChess
News18
11 hours ago
- Sport
- News18
R Praggnanandhaa Overthrows World Champion D Gukesh In Live Chess Rankings; Enters Top 5
Last Updated: Praggnanandhaa is now fifth in the live FIDE Rankings with a rating of 2777.2, surpassing Gukesh. It seems as if Gukesh Dommaraju has stiff competition brewing for his throne, and it is none other than his Indian compatriot R Praggnanandhaa, who is aiming to dethrone the reigning World Champion. Pragg's steady ascent to the upper echelons of the chess world has now been exemplified with the young Indian overtaking the reigning champion Gukesh in the live FIDE Rankings. As per Praggnanandhaa currently stands fifth overall in the world with a rating of 2777.2, toppling over Gukesh, who stands at sixth with a rating of 2776.6, as of June 20. Yet, this still doesn't make Pragg India's No.1, as that honour still is bestowed upon Arjun Erigaisi, who stands tall at fourth place in the world with a rating of 2780.7. The 18-year-old from Chennai has emerged as one of India's brightest stars, steadily carving his place among the elite while carrying the weight of a chess revolution unfolding back home. Earlier this year, Praggnanandhaa joined an exclusive club, becoming only the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to win the prestigious Tata Steel Chess tournament. The Indian GM has only one goal in his mind for the upcoming year: secure qualification for the 2026 Candidates to have a shot at competing for the Championship. 'This year is all about qualifying for the Candidates Tournament next year," Praggnandhaa said in an exclusive interaction with News18 Sports. Praggnanandhaa drew in the first round and then got his first win in Round 2, beating Uzbek Shamsiddin Vokhidov with the white pieces. He leads the tournament leaderboard with 1.5 points, tied with Erigaisi and others. The shift in rankings reignites the intense competitive arc between Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh.
News18
5 days ago
- Sport
- News18
‘Magnus Carlsen Is Still a Level Above, But We're Closing In'
Last Updated: In an exclusive interview, chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa opens up on chasing Magnus Carlsen, his 2025 success, India's chess boom, and his path to the Candidates Tournament. In the increasingly crowded arena of global chess, R Praggnanandhaa stands out—not just for his youth, but for his quiet confidence and an ever-growing list of achievements that belie his age. The 18-year-old from Chennai has emerged as one of India's brightest stars, steadily carving his place among the elite while carrying the weight of a chess revolution unfolding back home. Fresh off a strong showing at the Stepan Avagyan Memorial in Armenia, where he finished tied on points with compatriot Aravindh Chidambaram, Praggnanandhaa remains unfazed by the thin margins that separate victory from second place. 'I scored +4, which is quite good in this field," he says matter-of-factly. 'In the end, I finished second because of the tiebreak, but I don't really care too much about whether it's first or second. For me, I played well and tried for first place." It's this grounded outlook that seems to fuel his steady ascent. Earlier this year, Praggnanandhaa joined an exclusive club, becoming only the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to win the prestigious Tata Steel Chess tournament. 'Starting the year like that gave me a lot of confidence, especially after having a rough year previously," he reflects. 'That boost was much needed." Responding to Carlsen: Young Stars Are Closing the Gap But even as his personal milestones accumulate, Praggnanandhaa is acutely aware of the larger conversation in world chess, particularly following Magnus Carlsen's recent comments questioning whether anyone is ready to succeed him at the top. 'The older players have more experience for sure," Praggnanandhaa concedes, but he is quick to defend the rising generation. 'We're improving rapidly, and young players are already achieving great results. Maybe we're not completely at their level yet, but we're very close." So far in 2025, Praggnanandhaa has made a conscious shift in his approach. 'I've tried to be more ambitious and fight for that extra half point in every game," he explains. 'This year, I'm scoring more wins compared to last year when I was making too many draws. Now, I'm fighting much more than I used to." With qualification for the 2026 Candidates Tournament firmly in his sights, Praggnanandhaa's calendar is packed. 'This year is all about qualifying for the Candidates Tournament next year," he says. Upcoming events include the UzChess Cup in Tashkent, the Grand Chess Tour Rapid in Croatia, and the Freestyle tournament in Las Vegas—all in quick succession. 'It's a very tight schedule." Chennai's Chess Factory: Anand's Legacy and Local Competition Amidst this whirlwind, Praggnanandhaa remains both a product and a symbol of India's astonishing chess boom. 'First and foremost is Anand Sir. Without him, chess wouldn't be as big in India," he says with gratitude. 'I started playing when he was world champion, and he's always been someone I look up to." Now, having the opportunity to occasionally discuss chess directly with Anand is, for Praggnanandhaa, 'a great learning experience." India's chess ecosystem, once nascent, is now flourishing thanks to a combination of factors: frequent domestic tournaments, a wealth of academies and coaches, and strong intra-country competition. 'The competition within India itself is very strong, which prepares players well for international events," he explains. 'We have so many underrated players that even foreigners who come to play in Indian open tournaments often find it tough." Financial backing has also played a crucial role in supporting India's young grandmasters. For Praggnanandhaa, corporate support has been game-changing. 'The biggest help is that I can train with more people and have my seconds travel with me to tournaments," he says, crediting Adani [Sportsline] Group for enabling him to set up a professional team. 'All these things—training camps, seconds, and travel—are more expensive than people realize. Having a sponsor like Adani Group takes care of these aspects so I can fully focus on improving my game." Chennai, often dubbed the 'chess capital of India," continues to produce top-level players, and Praggnanandhaa offers a personal anecdote that illustrates how local heroes can inspire the next generation. 'In 2012, when Anand Sir won the world championship match against Gelfand, my school took me to the airport to welcome him. That moment inspired me a lot. Within a month of meeting him, I won the Asian U9 Championship." Family Ties: Crucial Parental and Sibling Support Family too, has been his anchor. His sister Vaishali is herself an accomplished chess player, and the two often exchange ideas despite their busy, often overlapping schedules. 'While I was playing in Armenia, my sister was playing in Norway, but we still managed to talk and share ideas whenever possible," he says with a smile. 'Of course, sometimes I steal her ideas and vice versa." Behind the scenes, the support of his parents remains foundational. 'Their support is everything. Without them, it wouldn't be possible for me to be here," he says. His mother travels with him to tournaments while his father manages things at home. 'Even when I'm away, my parents call me every day to check on me. They've always been there for me," he adds. About the Author Vineet Ramakrishnan Vineet R, an accomplished sports journalist with over 13 years of experience in digital media, currently serves as the Associate Editor - Sports at CricketNext and News18 Sports. With a specialization in More 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 India Magnus Carlsen R Praggnanandhaa Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 12, 2025, 12:38 IST News sports R Praggnanandhaa EXCLUSIVE | 'Magnus Carlsen Is Still a Level Above, But We're Closing In'
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
06-06-2025
- Sport
- First Post
Norway Chess 2025: Can D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi beat Magnus Carlsen to the top spot? Scenarios explained
The 10th and final round of the 2025 Norway Chess gets underway on Friday with defending champion and world No 1 Magnus Carlsen, reigning world champion D Gukesh and No 2 Hikaru Nakamura among the chess stars fighting for the title. read more While D Gukesh is in the fray to finish top of the 2025 Norway Chess standings, Arjun Erigaisi can finish second at best. Image credit: Michal Waluzstan, Norway Chess One round is all that remains in the 13th edition of the Norway Chess, and the final day of the event is expected to witness a high-voltage showdown between defending champion Magnus Carlsen, D Gukesh and Hikaru Nakamura. It's been quite the topsy-turvy ride for everyone involved, including reigning world champion Gukesh who began his campaign with back-to-back defeats against Carlsen and fellow Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi but was back on track with a victory over Nakamura in Round 3. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD World champion Gukesh, who had turned 19 a day after his victory over Nakamura, would go on to defeat Carlsen in the sixth round, beating the world No 1 for the first time in his career. The game made headlines not just for Gukesh's superb turnaround from a losing position but also for Carlsen's reaction to the loss – angrily slamming his fist on the table that toppled the pieces on the board, taking his opponent and everyone else at the hall by surprise. And despite admitting to being mentally affected by the loss to the point where he claims defending his title at the event will not matter to him any more, Carlsen continues to occupy the top spot on the standings, leading Gukesh by the barest of margins. Gukesh has had a mixed run since being crowned the youngest world champion in chess history with his victory over Chinese Grandmaster Ding Liren in December; he had finished runner-up at the Tata Steel Chess in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands at the start of the year after losing to compatriot R Praggnanandhaa in the tie-breaks, but would flop at the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour events in Weissenhaus and Paris that took place in February and April respectively. Gukesh's struggle in the Freestyle format appeared to have shaken his confidence in the Classical format as well, with the Chennai lad struggling to make an impact at the Superbet Classic in Bucharest Romania. Gukesh, however, appears to have regained his touch in Norway and has silenced his critics, who were beginning to doubt if he truly deserved the tag of 'world champion' and belonged among the sport's elite, with his victories over Carlsen, Nakamura and others. Can Gukesh, or Arjun for that matter finish top of the standings after the conclusion of the final round on Friday? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How Gukesh and Arjun can finish top of the 2025 Norway Chess standings Gukesh currently has 14.5 points to his name after his victory over Chinese No 1 Wei Yi in the ninth round on Thursday, and is half-a-point behind Carlsen, who regained the top spot from Fabiano Caruana after defeating the American GM on the same day. The only way Gukesh gets to win Norway Chess is if Carlsen fails to win his final game – either by losing or being held to a draw. Should Carlsen lose to Arjun in the final round, a draw will suffice for Gukesh even if he goes on to lose the Armageddon playoff against Caruana. American GM Nakamura, however, isn't far behind on 13 points, and should he defeat Wei in Round 10, Gukesh will have no option but to win his last game. The only other player with a distant chance of finishing at the top is Caruana, who is fourth in the standings with 12.5 points. Not only will he have to defeat Gukesh, he will also be hoping Carlsen loses his final game against Arjun and Hikaru doesn't collect more than 1.5 points out of the possible 3 against Wei. Such a scenario will have Caruana finishing at the top with 15.5 points, half-a-point ahead of the second-placed Carlsen. There could also be a two-way tie between Gukesh and Arjun on 14.5 points for the third spot, which could even be a three-way tie if Hikaru pulls off an Armageddon victory. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Wei, the lowest-ranked among all the players (No 8), is set to finish at the bottom of the standings regardless of his performance in the final round.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
Gukesh overcomes Erigaisi challenge to jump to second spot in Norway Chess
Reigning world champion D Gukesh continued to turn adversity into opportunity as he wriggled out of a virtually intractable position to beat compatriot Arjun Erigaisi for the first time ever in a classical game and jump to sole second position after round 7 of the Norway Chess. As has been the trend in Gukesh's campaign in this elite six-payer double round-robin tournament, the teenager, playing with white, showed nerves of steel to secure his second consecutive win, without going through the rigmarole of an Armageddon tie-break, to take sweet revenge for his loss to Erigaisi earlier in Round 2. The win, which came after a nerve-wracking victory against defending champion and world No.1 Magnus Carlsen, saw Gukesh, 19, overtake the 34-year-old Norwegian on the points table with 11.5 points. This was also Gukesh's first win in three attempts against Erigaisi, who had beaten the world champion at the Tata Steel Chess tournament in Wijk Aan Zee to spoil his title-winning chances, and then again in Round 2 here. With three more rounds to go, pole sitter American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana, who defeated Wei Yi of China, is on 12.5 points. Carlsen is third with 11 points following his Armageddon win against another American Grandmaster and world No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura, who is fourth with 8.5 points. Erigaisi dropped to fifth position with 7.5 points following the loss, while Wei Yi is placed sixth with 6.5 points. For the first three-and-a-half hours of the game, Gukesh was on the defensive but finally managed to up his game to earn a win, tying down his opponent in time trouble. Erigaisi faltered that wee bit, which gave Gukesh an opening that he exploited and forced his opponent to resign after some intense play. "Probably I was just losing it at some point. I was just slowly getting outplayed. From the opening nothing went my way but once I got to this position I just had to keep making moves which doesn't lose on the spot and in the time scrambles things happen," Gukesh told the broadcaster after the match. Analysing the game, Gukesh's Polish coach Grzegorz Gajewski said, though it was not the best game played by the reigning world champion but he was happy that he had pulled it off. "Probably not his best game ever, at least not the first half of the game, but definitely a very good second half of the game, so happy with that." On whether the win on Monday was because of a change of mindset following Gukesh's come-from-behind victory against Carlsen on Sunday, Gajewski said, "When you're in such trouble (as in Sunday's game) and you keep fighting and you get rewarded for it, you have even more faith that it makes sense to keep fighting. "So, on the very next day (against Erigaisi), when you're again in trouble, you definitely know what to do, you just keep fighting," opined Gukesh's coach. He added that Gukesh was aiming for playing the perfect games, where the margin of error was bare minimum, which was finally contributing to his success here. "He's demanding the very highest level of accuracy and precision from you (opponent), and if you're not up to it, you might mess up the position even if you're number one in the world, said the Pole. On whether the win against Erigaisi was bigger than the victory over Carlsen, given that Gukesh had never beaten his Indian counterpart ever in Classical chess before the win on Monday, the coach said, "Yes, definitely, Erigaisi is a very difficult opponent to beat, but I would not compare the two games. You really have to achieve a lot to be compared with Magnus in any regard. (For Monday's game) Gukesh was just focused. It was nice, definitely very nice yesterday (to beat Carlsen), but today is a new challenge and after that there is another challenge. "Gukesh was just making moves; he was completely in the zone from the first move to the last move He has extraordinary calculation abilities, which combined with his fighting spirit help him defend so many positions, added the Pole. The Carlsen vs Nakamura game was interesting as the two players agreed to a draw after just 21 moves, with both having about an hour-and-a-half each left on the clock. In the Armageddon, Carlsen defeated the world No.2 to log in 1.5 points. In the women's section, Ukrainian GM Anna Muzychuk got the better of two-time world rapid champion Koneru Humpy in Armageddon tie-break, while GM R. Vaishali fell apart in time trouble against China's Lei Tingjie. Ju Wenjun is leading the table with 11.5 points, followed by Muzychuk (11 points) in second and Humpy in third with 10.5 points. Results (Round 7) =========== Open: D Gukesh (Ind 11.5 points) bt Arjun Erigaisi (Ind 7.5); Fabiano Caruana (USA 12.5) bt Wei Yi (Chn 6.5); Magnus Carlsen (Nor 11) bt Hikaru Nakamura (USA 8.5) in Armageddon tie-break. Women: Lei Tingjie (Chn 9) bt R Vaishali (Ind 8); Ju Wenjun (Chn 11.5 points) bt Sara Khadem (Esp - 6); Koneru Humpy (Ind - 10.5) lost to Anna Muzychuk (Ukr 11) in Armageddon tie-break.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis after D Gukesh beat Magnus Carlsen: ‘I feel for Magnus here, but…'
Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis has responded to D Gukesh 's win over Magnus Carlsen in the 2025 Norway Chess tournament. Taking to microblogging platform X (formerly Twitter), Hassabis said 'Chess is a much more intense game than people realise'. In his post, DeepMind CEO also sympathized with Carlsen, stating 'I feel for Magnus here (he was winning earlier), but congrats also to Gukesh!'. Hassabi's post came after Gukesh scored his first-ever classical victory over Carlsen in a dramatic sixth-round game of the ongoing 2025 Norway Chess tournament. Although Carlsen had a better position for most of the match, a late error allowed Gukesh to turn the tables and mark his first win against the world chess champion. Carlsen's reaction—slamming the table and leaving without addressing the media— in contrast with Gukesh's calm demeanor has been widely shared and discussed online. Anand Mahindra reacts to D Gukesh's win Billionaire Anand Mahindra also praised Gukesh through an X post. Mahindra highlighted the emotional weight of the moment, noting how Gukesh's composed reaction stood in stark contrast to Carlsen's visible frustration after the loss. He wrote: 'Carlsen's visible frustration at the end wasn't just a tantrum — it was the greatest compliment the World Champion could receive from the GOAT No fist pump. No smirk. Gukesh didn't need one. His silence roared louder than Carlsen's exit.' Meanwhile, the Norway Chess tournament continues. Earlier today, Gukesh beat compatriot Arjun Erigaisi for the first time ever, jumping to second position after round 7 of the tournament. This was also Gukesh's first win in three games against Erigaisi, who had defeated the world champion at the Tata Steel Chess tournament in Wijk aan Zee — hurting his title chances — and beat him again in Round 2 of this event. Itel A95 5G Unboxing & First Look | AI Features and Sleek Design at just Rs 10,199 AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
