Chess News

File image of American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura. (Photo courtesy: GCL)

Hikaru Nakamura gets 6 out of 8 predictions wrong, underlines the unpredictability of the Chess World Cup

November 17, 2025 19:59 IST

The only two predictions which Nakamura got right were the duels between Frederik Svane and Javokhir Sindarov, in which he picked the Uzbek to win — and he won — and expected Nodirbek Yakubboev to ease past Gabriel Sargissian, which is what happened in the match.

Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin in action. (FILE IMAGE: Anna Shtourman/Qatar Masters)

After FIDE World Cup heartbreak, Nihal Sarin takes down Magnus Carlsen, Nakamura, Praggnanandhaa to win Bullet Brawl

November 17, 2025 19:43 IST

Nihal defeated the likes of Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura and compatriot R. Praggnanandhaa for his third Bullet Brawl.

FIDE and the local organisers had told The Indian Express that Nepomniachtchi had not raised his issues in an official complaint with them in writing. (Express Photo by Amit Kamath)

‘A loser talking’: Dutch GM Loek van Wely on Ian Nepomniachtchi’s criticism for FIDE World Cup conditions

November 17, 2025 16:45 IST

Dutch grandmaster Loek van Wely, who was in Goa as the coach of Max Warmerdam and has coached the Triveni Continental Kings to back-to-back titles at the Global Chess League, has weighed in on Nepo’s comments.

Arjun Erigaisi in action during FIDE Chess World Cup 2025. (PHOTO: Eteri Kublashvili/FIDE)

Done in 60 minutes: Arjun Erigaisi’s battle with Wei Yi in Chess World Cup quarterfinal ends in quick draw

November 17, 2025 20:05 IST

FIDE Chess World Cup 2025: Arjun Erigaisi held Wei Yi to a draw with black pieces in the first quarterfinals.

Arjun Erigaisi (left) is the only left as the FIDE World Cup enters the quarter-final stage after Pentala Harikrishna was knocked out on Sunday. (PHOTOS: FIDE via Eteri Kublashvili and Michal Walusza)

FIDE World Cup: Harikrishna’s loss leaves Arjun Erigaisi as last Indian left standing, but he remains favourite for title

November 16, 2025 23:06 IST

"It is a bit underwhelming that we have only one Indian qualifying for the quarterfinals. But I think the fact that we find it underwhelming by itself shows how much we have progressed over the last two to three years," Srinath Narayanan says.

India's Harikrishna was knocked out of FIDE Chess World Cup after losing to Jose Martinez. (PHOTO: FIDE/Eteri Kublashvili)

Harikrishna knocked out in Round 5 by Jose Martinez, Arjun Erigaisi lone Indian in FIDE World Cup 2025

November 16, 2025 19:11 IST

Harikrishna was the only one of two Indians, aside from Arjun, to make it to the fifth round.

Praggnanandhaa escapes with a draw against Daniil Dubov

Daniil Dubov, who knocked out Pragg and then bragged about his 10-min prep, crashes out in next round in rapid tiebreaks

November 17, 2025 14:09 IST

After his victory over Praggnanandhaa, Daniil Dubov had bragged about using his cell phone for just 10 minutes to prepare for classical games against Praggnanandhaa and then defeated the Indian prodigy in tiebreaks

Arjun Erigaisi signs autographs for fans after defeating Levon Aronian in the fifth round of the FIDE World Cup in Goa. (PHOTO: Michal Walusza via FIDE)

After the heartbreak of Toronto, Arjun Erigaisi finds himself two wins away from Candidates

November 15, 2025 23:48 IST

The 22-year old from Warangal’s mentality to seek a fight had even impressed Magnus Carlsen, who had christened him a ‘mad man’. “Arjun is just a complete mad man at the board. He wants to kill you in every single game," Carlsen had told The Indian Express

FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 Round 5 Game 2 LIVE Updates: Follow Indians in action in Goa. (PHOTO: FIDE/Michal Walusza)

FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 Highlights, Round 5 Game 2: Arjun Erigaisi beats Levon Aronian to reach QF; Harikrishna vs Jose Martinez move to tiebreaks

November 16, 2025 00:11 IST

FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 Round 5 Game 2 Highlights | Arjun Erigaisi, Pentala Harikrishna, Levon Aronian Today Match Results Live Streaming Online: Follow two Indians in action in Goa on Saturday.

Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi in action during FIDE World Cup 2025 in Goa. (PHOTO: Eteri Kublashvili/FIDE)

FIDE Chess World Cup 2025: Arjun, Harikrishna play out contrasting draws as fifth round gets off to an uneventful start in Goa

November 15, 2025 00:43 IST

Seven of the eight round of 16 matches ended without a decisive result. The sole exception was Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov, who defeated Germany’s Frederik Svane on the top board.

Praggnanandhaa was knocked out of FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 by Daniil Dubov. (PHOTO: Michal Walusza/FIDE)

FIDE World Cup: R Praggnanandhaa’s early exit a consequence of ‘brutal, unforgiving’ format?

November 15, 2025 00:17 IST

20-year-old’s consistent season, likelihood of Candidates qualification, does not blunt the blow of fourth-round loss, trainer says.

FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 Round 5 Game 1 LIVE Updates: Follow Indians in action in Goa. (PHOTO: FIDE/Michal Walusza)

FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 Highlights, Round 5 Game 1: Arjun vs Aronian, Harikrishna vs Jose Martinez ends in draw

November 15, 2025 00:07 IST

FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 Round 5 Game 1 Highlights | Arjun Erigaisi, Pentala Harikrishna, Levon Aronian Match Results Live Streaming Online: Follow two Indians in action in Goa on Friday.

India's R Praggnanandhaa reacts during the game against Daniil Dubov in the tiebreaks of the FIDE World Cup in Goa. (Photo: Eteri Kublashvili via FIDE)

Daniil Dubov says Praggnanandhaa ‘failed to pose single problem with white despite probably spending day and night looking at stuff’

November 14, 2025 07:25 IST

Talking about his opponent, Dubov said: “Generally Praggnanandhaa didn't show his best in this tournament, not only in this match. Pragg is someone who probably spends day and night looking at stuff. He still fails to pose a single problem with white."

India's R. Praggnanandhaa in action against Russia's Daniil Dubov in World Cup 2025. (PHOTO: FIDE/Eteri Kublashvili)

FIDE Chess World Cup 2025: Praggnanandhaa walks into trap set by Daniil Dubov, knocked out in fourth round; two Indians survive

November 14, 2025 01:35 IST

For the third straight round, Dubov effectively conceded the classical games, not even remotely playing for a win. Instead, he shut down the board, forcing draws to steer his opponents toward his preferred territory – the shorter time controls. Pragg couldn't solve the problems.

India's Pentala Harikrishna walks during his fourth round game at the FIDE World Cup in Goa. (PHOTO: Michal Walusza)

FIDE World Cup: Old warhorse Pentala Harikrishna still going strong, one of two surviving Indians

November 13, 2025 22:36 IST

Grandmaster from Guntur beats Sweden's Nils Grandelius in the fourth round but not thinking too far ahead

FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 Round 4 Tiebreaks LIVE Updates: Follow Indians in action in Goa. (PHOTO: FIDE/Michal Walusza)

FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 Round 4 Tiebreaks Highlights: Praggnanandhaa, Vincent Keymer knocked out; Arjun, Harikrishna reach Round 5

November 13, 2025 23:14 IST

Arjun Erigaisi and Harikrishna Pentala qualified for Round 5 while Praggnanandhaa and Vincent Keymer were knocked out.

Indian GM R. Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi and P. Harikrishna in action during FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 in Goa. (PHOTO: FIDE/Michal Walusza)

FIDE Chess World Cup 2025: Pragg, Arjun Erigaisi and Harikrishna left to carry Indian hopes in tie-breaks

November 13, 2025 09:06 IST

Pranav V and Karthik Venkataraman bow out in Round 4 as host country's representation dwindles further

José Eduardo Martínez Alcántara played Vladimir Kramnik in Clash of Blames event. (Photo: World Chess)

FIDE World Cup: Undeterred by Vladimir Kramnik’s cheating allegations, José Eduardo Martínez Alcántara making a big impact in Goa

November 13, 2025 14:21 IST

Young Peruvian-Mexican, one of the several players targeted by ex-world champion's unsubstantiated charges, has become the first contestant to enter Round 5 of marquee eventually

Junior world champion Pranav Venkatesh reacts after resigning in the second game of the fourth round at the FIDE World Cup in Goa. (PHOTO: FIDE via Michal Walusza)

FIDE World Cup: Heartbreak for world junior champion Pranav V and Karthik Venkatraman

November 12, 2025 21:11 IST

An unprecedented 24 Indians had started the tournament, but only three remain in contention to go past the fourth round, which is the halfway mark of the World Cup in Goa

FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 Round 4 Game 2 LIVE Updates: Follow Indians in action in Goa. (PHOTO: FIDE/Michal Walusza)

FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 Highlights, Round 4 Game 2: Pranav, Karthik crash out; Arjun Erigaisi, Praggnanandhaa & Harikrishna left in fray

November 13, 2025 00:37 IST

FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 Round 4 Game 2 Highlights | Arjun Erigaisi, R. Praggnanandhaa and Harikrishna Pentala will fight it out in tiebreaks tomorrow while Karthik Venkataraman and Pranav V were eliminated.

Praggnanandhaa escapes with a draw against Daniil Dubov on a day of stalemates

November 12, 2025 09:23 IST

The day saw 14 games from the 16 encounters ending in draws. This included those involving all five Indians, with Arjun Erigaisi settling for the quickest stalemate with world junior champion Pranav Venkatesh fighting on the longest.

Levon Aronian has been spending his time in Goa visiting the beach and local restaurants with friends and family. (Instagram: Levon Aronian)

How Goa changed Levon Aronian’s life once… and could do so again

November 12, 2025 16:55 IST

Aronian says he has no ambitions at the World Cup. He’s not in Goa chasing the three Candidates spots or the title either. Aronian is in Goa just to play chess and enjoy himself. But like it has once before, Goa might end up changing his mind and his ambitions.

Over 15,000 people have signed a petition to ban Vladimir Kramnik after Daniel Naroditsky's death. (PHOTO: FIDE)

FIDE submits complaint to ethics and disciplinary commission against Vladimir Kramnik

November 11, 2025 22:14 IST

FIDE submitted a complaint to the FIDE Ethics & Disciplinary Commission (EDC) and named former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik as the respondent.

FIDE World Cup 2025 LIVE: Arjun Erigaisi and Praggnanandhaa are leading the five Indians in the fourth round of the Chess World Cup. (PHOTOS: FIDE via Michal Walusza)

FIDE Chess World Cup 2025, Round 4 Game 1: Pragg survives to hold Dubov; Arjun Erigaisi, Harikrishna, Pranav, Karthik draw

November 12, 2025 18:04 IST

FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 Round 4 Game 1: Arjun Erigaisi will be up against Peter Leko with white pieces on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Harikrishna (vs Nils Grandelius) and Karthik Venkataraman (vs Le Quang Leim) will also have white tomorrow after today's draws.