Pranav V (Photo Credits: X) NEW DELHI: “Mera ground hai yeh (This is my ground)” — that was all Bengaluru-born cricketer KL Rahul could say, thumping his chest a couple of times after an unbeaten 53-ball 93 that single-handedly turned the tide for Delhi Capitals on Thursday night.With the Capitals reeling at 30 for 3,…
Vincent Keymer and Magnus Carlsen (Photo Credits: Lennart Ootes/Freestyle Chess) NEW DELHI: Viswanathan Anand was expected to headline the opening leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour in Weissenhaus, Germany, earlier this year.But just days before the event, the five-time world chess champion pulled out.While his withdrawal wasn’t as dramatic as Hans Niemann’s last-minute…
D Gukesh, Viswanathan Anand dance to Bollywood beats (Screengrabs) NEW DELHI: In a moment that took fans by surprise, current world chess champion D Gukesh and five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand were seen dancing to popular Bollywood songs at fellow Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi’s wedding. The video, which has since gone viral, shows the usually reserved…
Pranav Venkatesh and his coach GM Shyam Sundar M (@GM_Pranav_V on X) NEW DELHI: The soft thud of a yellow smiley-face sponge ball striking the floor again and again barely disturbed the silence of a five-star hotel room, where 18-year-old Pranav Venkatesh and his coach, GM Shyam Sundar M, were putting up during the Chennai…
Nodirbek Yakubboev chooses ‘Namaste’ over handshake in greeting Divya Deshmukh (Screengrab) NEW DELHI: Uzbek grandmaster (GM) Nodirbek Yakubboev greeted India’s Divya Deshmukh with a traditional ‘Namaste’ before the start of their third-round clash in what appeared to be a heartwarming moment at the Prague Festival Challengers 2025. While the match itself ended in disappointment for…
Magnus Carlsen (Photo Credit: @FIDE_chess on X) NEW DELHI: Norwegian chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, a five-time world champion and the current world no. 1 in chess, found himself in an unusual situation involving a pair of jeans and a dress code violation last year. During the 2024 World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in New…
Anna Muzychuk (FIDE Chess Photo) NEW DELHI: Ukraine’s top-ranked Anna Muzychuk, eighth in the world, is set to compete in Norway Chess Women 2025 (May 26–June 6), determined to build on her strong runner-up finish from last year.Born into a chess family, Anna learnt the ABC of the 64 squares early, guided by her parents,…
Magnus Carlsen (Photo Credit: Freestyle Chess / Lennart Ootes) NEW DELHI: In his column for The Economist last January, Magnus Carlsen, a five-time World Chess champion and the current World No. 1, penned, “As the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour begins, I look forward not only to competing but to witnessing how this format reshapes…
Vaishali vs Nodirbek at Tata Steel Chess Challengers (Screengrab) NEW DELHI: Indian chess Grandmaster R Vaishali has outlined her primary ambitions for the year, focusing on achieving consistent performances and aiming for a spot in the prestigious Candidates Tournament. The 23-year-old had a notable year in 2024, marked by significant achievements including earning the Grandmaster…
Wei Yi (Photo Credit: Tata Steel Chess 2025) NEW DELHI: Just a few days back, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa made a stunning statement in the Tata Steel Masters by defeating the youngest-ever World Chess Champion to claim the prestigious title, often referred to as the “Wimbledon of Chess,” at Wijk Aan Zee, the Netherlands.On the sidelines of…
