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Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Is chess ready for vocal audiences during tournaments who have access to the eval bar?
A loud gasp reverberated around the playing hall which was created in Las Vegas' Wynn as the game between Magnus Carlsen and Wesley So entered the end game and the world no 1 made a blunder with his rook that allowed him to be checkmated in a few moves. The gasp from the fans was so loud that it was even audible on the live broadcast. Carlsen at that stage was wearing noise cancellation headphones. So wasn't Wesley. These were unique quirks of the recently-concluded Las Vegas leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour: live audiences in the arena who had access both to live commentary and to the eval bar and players wearing noise cancellation headphones. Thanks to the first quirk, some nuances of games — like the fact that checkmate was inevitable in a few moves — that probably would have been lost on the chess-following folks was now apparent. That access to information for fans led to plenty of criticism of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam event by players like Fabiano Caruana, who unlike players like Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura are much more measured in their opinions. But so incensed was Caruana by the fact that fans were allowed to hear commentary and see the eval bar in real-time and were reacting loudly like at any other sports event, that he criticised the organisers in an interview to their own social media handle after the event was over. Caruana complained that in his own critical game with Nakamura later on in the tournament — by which time organisers had made the wearing of noise-cancelling headphones mandatory for the players — he could hear the audience's reactions despite wearing the headphones. 'In the match (against Nakamura which he lost), I started to get very annoyed at the whole tournament. I don't think it should come down to outside interference. Not to make excuses, but I mean, the spectators are basically just yelling when we have five seconds each. Hikaru was crushing me and then, he probably had some mating chances, but it wasn't easy. He had 5 seconds. He went back with the queen. I was back in the game. And around this moment there was just yelling (from the fans). I mean like very (loud yelling). I'm not exaggerating at all. It was just screaming in the audience and you can't play (like that) with five seconds. So we both blundered. I could basically have mated him and also won his queen on two different occasions. It just leaves a bad taste,' Caruana had told the media team of Freestyle Chess after the tournament ended. This issue was such a sticking point that it was debated extensively for during the players' meeting before the Las Vegas tournament started, where multiple players raised the issue. Allowing in-arena fans this crucial piece of insight during a game is a debate that is likely to rage louder in the coming days, especially with chess also embracing itself as an esport: the world's top players are currently in Riyadh playing at the Esports World Cup, where the noise cancelling headphones are back as players play in front of a much bigger arena filled with fans. Allowing access for fans to commentary and the eval bar in the playing hall was an attempt from Freestyle Chess to make the game much more accessible. And interesting. To make a spectator sport out of chess. Because that opens the doors to invite a wider cross-section of fans into the arena and make them understand the drama that's happening on the chess board. After all, that's eventually how you can raise some money from ticket sales as well. But the ploy seems to have backfired. Walk into a playing hall during games of a chess tournament — almost every chess tournament from Norway Chess to the Tata Steel Rapid and Blitz event in Kolkata — and you will be greeted with pin-drop silence. Try as much as whispering something into the ear of the person sitting next to you, and you will have stern librarian looks thrown at you. Try and peek at your mobile phone during a game, and chances are you will be politely asked to leave. There is a reason why chess tournaments have not tried to make it a spectator sport and why they have people assigned to remind fans walking into the playing hall that they need to keep their phones tucked away into their pockets at all times. As Caruana pointed out on his own podcast later, unlike a tennis tournament — where chair umpires also frown upon fans shouting in the middle of points — a shout or a loud gasp at a chess tournament can hand a player a key piece of information that could be the difference between winning and losing. A gasp from the audience could alert a player that their opponent had blundered. 'They didn't take the security as seriously as it should have been,' Caruana added. If this seems like regular chess grandmaster paranoia, it might be crucial to remember that at a previous Chess Olympiad, one player had cheated just by having their team captain standing at a different spot to view the game which would send a signal to the man on the board that he had to move a particular piece on the next move. It's absurd to have players be put through stringent fairplay safety checks before the games start only to have neutral fans hooting and gasping during games, which is almost like allowing the players to get a peek at the eval bar themselves. This is why at the World Championship events — the most prestigious tournament in chess with millions of dollars at stake — the players are behind sound-proof and one-way glass rooms. Caruana said that while he was all for chess tournaments trying to monetise viewing experiences, this was not the way to do it. 'Let's say you want to make chess a business, I'm not an expert, but I can't imagine that the way towards that is live ticket sales. I just don't see it. I think if you want to make chess a business, you have to sell it to Amazon Prime or Netflix,' Caruana said. The noise from the chesshall is clear: stay quiet or go home. Amit Kamath is Assistant Editor at The Indian Express and is based in Mumbai. ... Read More
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First Post
11 hours ago
- Sport
- First Post
Exclusive: Nihal Sarin to make Esports World Cup 2025 debut, says new format is the 'future of chess'
Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin is set to compete at the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, representing Team S8UL. In an exclusive chat with Firstpost, he shared thoughts on his preparation, tournament format, and why he believes this is the future of chess. read more Advertisement Nihal is the sole Indian to secure his spot in the Esports World Cup via LCQ. Image: Special arrangement Indian chess Grandmaster Nihal Sarin is all set to compete in the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, where he will represent Team S8UL. Speaking exclusively to Firstpost, the 21-year-old shared his thoughts on preparation, format, and the experience of playing in this unique environment. Nihal earned his place at the World Cup after a superb run in the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ). 'Of course, it was a very tough field. I was just trying to enjoy and not take any pressure,' Nihal said. 'There was some pressure, but I was really enjoying everything. Fortunately, I managed to show a pretty good level.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The youngster put on an impressive display in the LCQ group stage, registering five wins and finishing with 5.5 points to secure a spot in the top four of Group B. In the playoffs, he produced a remarkable comeback against Belarusian player Denis Lazavik, and followed that up with another 1.5-0.5 win over Anish Giri. Sarin on his preparation for Esports World Cup He sealed his ticket to Riyadh by beating Andrey Esipenko 2.5-1.5 in a thrilling winners' bracket match. When asked about his preparation for the main event, Nihal said, 'In regard to preparation, nothing special. Just trying to relax and reset and be well rested before the new tournament.' Nihal, who is currently ranked 8th in India and 37th in the world with a FIDE rating of 2692, will join 15 of the world's top players at the Esports World Cup. The lineup includes Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Alireza Firouzja, and fellow Indian Arjun Erigaisi. Nihal also praised his team, S8UL, for the support and opportunity to be part of the event. 'I am very, very thankful to my team S8UL for giving me the opportunity to be part of this fantastic event. I have never really seen anything like this. They are supporting in every way possible. They are taking care of me extremely well. I will remember this experience for a lifetime.' Sarin on future of chess and the best format Nihal backed the tournament format, calling it the future of the sport. 'I strongly feel that this format, or a similar format, is the future of chess,' he said. 'The traditional, classical chess is the purest form and of highest quality — it's like Test cricket. But this Esports format, with live commentary, a faster pace, and even a video game element, is great for viewership. That's what sports need to grow.' The Esports World Cup 2025 chess event will have a $1.5 million prize pool (over Rs 13 crore). Each player will get 10 minutes for the whole game and there won't be any extra time added after each move. If the match ends in a tie, it will be decided by one final Armageddon game. The final will be played as a best-of-three sets match.
Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Magnus Carlsen praises Nihal Sarin: ‘Saw how incredibly good he is with very little time on clock'
World No. 1 chess player and five-time World Champion Magnus Carlsen will be in action at the ongoing Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, representing Team Liquid. Ahead of the event, Carlsen spoke about the unique time format (10 minutes with no increment), which creates additional pressure with no increment, unlike the many rapid and blitz events played online. Carlsen said his mouse speed is slow, and if he runs into someone like young Indian Nihal Sarin, it might turn into a dangerous match-up. 'I only played the two qualifier events to get here with this time control, but for me, it worked out okay. My mouse speed is not necessarily the best, but I play fast and well enough that it doesn't usually bother me,' said Carlsen to Chessbase India ahead of the Esports World Cup. 'We will see, however, you could run into really dangerous matchups here. For instance, we saw in the qualifier how incredibly good Nihal (Sarin) is with very little time on the clock. There could be certain players like him and Alireza (Firouzja); I think, especially if they have a good event, they can use that mouse speed to their advantage,' he said. Speed demon, Nihal carries a moniker for being one of the best players when it comes to speed chess. 'But overall, it is entertainment, but it's also esports, and therefore, motor skills should matter a little bit more in over-the-board play. I generally like events that are unforgiving in terms of time control, where time management actually is an important part of the game. So overall, it may make the players uncomfortable at times, but that's part of the game, and overall, I like it.' Speaking on the players he should be wary of in the 16-player event, Carlsen said: 'I think the Falcons players, Hikaru and Alireza, are on paper the most dangerous. Hikaru is probably quite clearly the most consistent among the others. But there are many players who could make a dent. I would say practically all the players here have some sort of chance to make a deep run. There really isn't that much in between them. I might have personal preferences about whom I would like to play, but if you talk to one of the other top players, they might be different. So, it's a really stacked field, and everybody's very strong.' Nihal and Arjun Erigaisi are the two Indians who will feature in the EWC 2025.
Web Release
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Web Release
AG.AL CROWNED WINNERS OF THE HONOR OF KINGS WORLD CUP, HONOR OF KINGS INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HEADS TO THE PHILIPPINES IN NOVEMBER!
has emerged victorious in Riyadh at the KWC where they took down TT Global in an intense back-and-forth, which saw them battle it out across seven matches to lift the trophy, with executing an exhilarating reverse sweep that saw them turn the tide at game 5, before resounding wins in games 6 and 7. As champions, claimed $750,000 USD of the $3M USD prize pool. The grand final between and TT Global was the culmination of an intense series of matches that unfolded during the KWC at the Esports World Cup, where the world's 18 best Honor of Kings teams went head-to-head for a chance to claim victory on the world stage. Final results of KWC 2025 KWC began on July 15th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of the Esports World Cup 2025, bringing together the best teams from across the world to compete for a $3M prize pool. The grand final saw a full house of fans around the world, and in the arena, treated to a thrilling best-of-seven series with clinching the victory in the final match. Coming back from a match point 3-1 deficit earlier in the series, managed to keep their cool, eventually taking down TT Global to earn their place in Honor of Kings esports history. Chen 'Zoe' Jiahao from was awarded the grand final MVP trophy for his impressive performance throughout the series. also earned the right to be called one of the best Honor of Kings teams in the world. Players from all around the world also celebrate KWC online and vote in game for their favorite team and player. finally crowned as Fan Favorite Team, claimed as Fan Favorite Player, and Mara Aquino claimed as the Fan Favorite Voice. Upcoming Excitements in Honor of Kings Esports 'We've built an esports ecosystem for players worldwide. Over 160,000 players have created their own esports stories. We see these stories worldwide, happening in each players' daily lives. And in the second half of 2025, we'll tell these stories even more fiercely, with greater tournaments, lower barriers to enter, and more ways for players to make their mark.' Said James Yang, Senior Director of Level Infinite Global Esports Center. Honor of Kings International Championship During KWC more details around what viewers can look forward to from Honor of Kings Esports in 2025 were revealed. The Honor of Kings International Championship (KIC), the crown jewel of Honor of Kings Esports returns in November, where top teams worldwide will head to The Philippines to compete. Renowned for embracing the culture of its host region, this year's KIC will provide local and global fans with an exciting spectacle, with more to be announced soon. Alongside a significant share of the $1,000,000 prize pool, the champion of KIC 2025 will be immortalised in-game, with their very own hero skin in Honor of Kings. What's more, the Top 3 performing teams from KIC will carry their regional flags to the Challenger Cup in China this December. Honor of Kings Nation Clash Honor of Kings has also announced a brand new tournament – Honor of Kings Nation Clash (KNC), to offer more opportunities for players to compete, with the first iteration taking place in Malaysia in October, inviting the best talent from Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines to compete. Honor of Kings Regional Professional Leagues The second half of 2025 will also see the launch of the Honor of Kings Regional Professional Leagues return for a second season, with the winners from IKL, MKL and PKL, receiving a special team-themed outfit for the Honor of Kings hero Flowborn. Indonesia King Laga (IKL) – August 22nd – October 5th MY Honor of Kings League (MKL) – September 5th – October 19th Philippine Kings League (PKL) – August 29th – October 12th Wildcard Kings Series (WKS) – September 5th – September 7th Honor of Kings Brazil Championship (CHOKBR) – September 5th – September 28th Major East League (KME) – September 11th – September 28th Major West League (KMW) – September 11th – September 28th Honor of Kings Open Series So far in 2025, the top performing players in the Honor of Kings Open Series have paved their way to the global stage. Twisted Minds have paved their way from the Open Series, to Honor of Kings Major West League to earn their coveted spot in the KWC 2025 where they placed fourth in the leaderboard. In the Open Series Split 3, over 160,000 players from over 100 countries and regions competed in the tournaments, and 18 teams advanced to regional professional leagues. Now, Open Series Split 4 has begun, with low entry requirements and a new format for more competitive battles. Honor of Kings Campus Series The inaugural KCS tournaments took place in over 500 campuses around the world, with thousands of students participating, offering them a taste of pro-level competition and meet with like-minded players. For the remainder of 2025 KCS tournaments will roll out to even more campuses around the world, as well as offer more online events for mass participation. For more information on Honor of Kings esports news and updates, be sure to follow the Honor of Kings Esports' official social channels: Instagram: @hok_global_esports Facebook: @HOK Global Esports X (formerly Twitter): @HoKEsports YouTube: @hokglobalesports Twitch: @HOK_Esports
Indian Express
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Hans Niemann slams table after losing to Anish Giri; no signs of going viral
Nostalgics will lament that table-slams after losing a chess match, are not what they used to be once. For Hans Niemann has done the predictable – gently slammed the playing table at the Esports World Cup of chess, to no visible after effect. The video of the last chance qualifier was put out by garnered 54.6K views, but didn't exactly go viral. Niemann was winning the qualifier against Anish Giri, when with 8 seconds to go he seemed to have frozen like mint icecream, the colour of his shirt. Niemann went KingB7 down at six seconds and sacrificed on the pre-game moves as last resort. Giri however was refusing to go Dutch for a draw, and ended up flagging Niemann with a rook check to give Team Secret a quality boost. Niemann who had been 15 seconds up on the clock with less than a minute to go, imploded and hit a Magnus-Lite table small, more a fist with his left, thereafter. Hans SLAMS The Table 🤜💥 — (@chesscom) July 26, 2025 The Slam though didn't quite fetch much aura, like Magnus Carlsen's against Gukesh, though it recreated the pressure and exhalation after losing from a winning position. 'The chess has spoken once again' ran the refrain riffing off Niemann's diss of Carlsen losses. This format in e chess does not allow time increments. Giri though dawdling through the match, had the recent upperhand over Niemann in blitz before punching his ticket for the World Cup of eSports, and had set up the shootoff after beating Pragg. The table slam was a restrained fist thump on the computer table, minus the 'oh my god' ST. He would remove his earphones, look around at his surroundings where nothing much stirred and walk off with no controversy fallowing in his wake. 27 reposts and 569 likes of the clip on made it distinctly unviral. Niemann had once destroyed and entire hotel room, so this was viewed as a sign of flailing tempest and maturity outcomes. While tables are a routine, common enemy of several chess players, a literal punching bag, Carlsen had elevated slamming tables to level of pro-max frustrate emote, after D Gukesh defeated him. Given the propensity to thump tables, there were calls to add a slam button to the app. His exit meant no tables turned at Qiddiya.
