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Gulf Today
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Krishna beats holder Muradli, goes on top in Dubai chess tourney
International Master (IM) S Rohith Krishna of India defeated defending champion GM Mahammad Muradli of Azerbaijan to rise to the top of the standings in a tie with Grandmaster (GM) Aleksey Grebnev of Russia after Sunday night's sixth round of the 25th Dubai Open Chess Tournament at the Dubai Chess and Culture Club. Grebnev, the overnight solo leader, drew with top-seed GM Nihal Sarin on the first board, allowing Krishna to join him for the lead with five points each. The two players will face each other in the seventh round. Nihal remains in joint second place with 4.5 points, alongside his compatriot GM Bharath Subramaniyam, GM Ivan Zemlyanskii of Russia, GM Shant Sargsyan of Armenia, and GM Sina Movahed of Iran. Muradli, playing black, sacrificed a pawn on move six in a delayed Benko Gambit and a few moves later the game reached a position that was previously seen in a game between world number two Hikaru Nakamura and former FIDE world champion Ruslan Ponomariov. Muradli, however, deviated on move 13, a questionable decision that allowed Krishna to gain time to reinforce his central pawns and plant an uncontested knight on the c4-square, the white knight's ideal outpost in the Benko Gambit. It was all downhill from thereon for Muradli as Krishna managed to create a powerful passed pawn on the a-file and a strong initiative in the queenside. Muradli sacrificed his rook for a bishop and to eliminate the dangerous passed pawn, while pinning his hopes on his passer on the c-file, but Krishna's two rooks proved more than a match for Muradli's bishop-and-rook combo in the endgame. Sarin took risks to unbalance the position and create chances against Grebnev, leaving his king in the center and launching a kingside pawn storm, but the Russian defended accurately and the game ended in a draw by repetition of moves. In Category B, Fide Master (FM) Mahdi Nikookar of Iran won his sixth straight game to remain the only player with a perfect score in the tournament. Nikookar defeated Candidate Master (CM) Allayar Shirliyev of Turkmenistan for his sixth point, half a point ahead of Sri Lanka's Pesandu Rashmitha Liyanage, who has 5.5 points after winning over FM Sajid Sakline Mostafa of Bangladesh. CM Alankar Sawai Vandan of India and Davit Baghdasaryan of Armenia are in joint third place with five points each. The tournament follows a 9-round Swiss system with a 90-minute time control plus a 30-second increment per move. Games are played every day from 5pm, except the final round on June 4, which starts at 10am. The awarding ceremony is on June 5. The tournament offers a prize pool of $52,000 to be handed out to the winners of both categories. Category A, contested by players with a rating over 2300, has a total prize fund of $39,500 with $12,000 going to the champion, while Category B, open to players rated below 2300, offers $12,500 in total prizes and $2,000 awarded to the champion. Special prizes will also be distributed to top performers among rating categories, unrated, youth, women, and UAE players. International arbiter team & live coverage International Arbiter Majed Al Abdooli of the UAE spearheads the tournament's international team of arbiters who will manage and oversee the competition. Chess fans from around the world can watch the Category A games live on the club's website as well as chess platforms such as and Earlier, Grandmaster (GM) Aleksey Grebnev grabbed the pole position after emerging as the lone winner among the erstwhile co-leaders in Saturday night's fifth round of the 25th Dubai Open Chess Tournament at the Dubai Chess and Culture Club. The 18-year-old Russian talent played the Sicilian Defence and then accepted and ultimately refuted a rare pawn gambit line unleashed by the Indian GM Bharath Subramaniyam to pick up his fourth win against a lone draw and no losses. Subramaniyam initially succeeded in keeping Grebnev's king stuck in the centre, but the Indian lost his way in the complications when he allowed a queen trade that left him a pawn down in the endgame - and where the Russian's previously vulnerable king became an active asset.
NDTV
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Viswanathan Anand Defeats Faustino Oro 20 In The Clash Of Generations Match
In the historic "Clash of Generations" match held at La Versiliana in the beautiful city of Pietrasanta, Italy, India's five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand defeated Argentina's 11-year-old prodigy Faustino Oro 2-0. While the match was largely one-sided, Oro displayed composure and focus beyond his age, and in the future, this match will certainly hold historical importance. Anand won the first game with the white pieces and the second with black. In both games, Anand played quickly and maintained pressure on Oro throughout. The opening ceremony was unique, as both players were brought to the match venue in a specially designed horse-drawn carriage. Prior to the match, the grand opening of the Chess Roads Festival included an exhibition of 40 rare and precious chess boards, inaugurated by Anand, Oro, world-famous musician Andrea Bocelli, and Paola Rovellini, President of the La Versiliana Foundation. Following the match, both players participated in a simultaneous exhibition game, where Anand and Oro each faced 10 invited guests. They both won all of their games, creating a lasting impression on the audience. This historic event will certainly be remembered among the most special in chess history. Players arrive in royal style by horse-drawn carriage - A regal start to the Chess Festival On June 1, 2025, the Chess Roads Festival in Pietrasanta, Italy, began with a grand and cultural procession. Players and distinguished guests arrived at Villa La Versiliana in traditional horse-drawn carriages. This parade passed through Forte dei Marmi and Pietrasanta, giving the event historical and cultural depth. The unique welcome highlighted that this was not just a sports event, but a celebration of art, tradition, and history. The sight of players arriving in royal style gave the game of chess a noble and intellectual touch, reflecting both the grandeur of the event and the rich cultural heritage of Italy. Inauguration of the Chess Roads - The Exhibition Just before the match, a grand exhibition of 40 rare and historic chess boards was inaugurated. The exhibition was jointly opened by five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand, 11-year-old Argentine prodigy Faustino Oro, world-famous musician Andrea Bocelli, and Paola Rovellini, President of the La Versiliana Foundation. Among the distinguished guests were FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, Kazakhstan Chess Federation President Timur Turlov, Italian Chess Federation President Luigi Maggi, Pietrasanta Mayor Alberto Stefano Giovannetti, and GM Roberto Mogranzini, President of Unichess. The exhibition was more than just a chess display; it was a celebration of the game's historical, cultural, and artistic legacy, with rare chess sets from Asia and Europe spanning from the 1700s to the present. Anand takes the lead with first game victory After the inauguration, the highly anticipated match began. As Anand noted afterward, this match wasn't about rating differences, as in today's chess world, rating gaps are difficult to measure. Both Anand and Oro played the match with great professionalism. Anand, playing white, opened with the Ruy Lopez. Until move 15, the game was balanced. Then, a misstep by Oro with his knight allowed Anand to exchange dark-squared bishops. As Oro moved the pawn in front of his kingside rook, Anand began building pressure. Even though the position remained level for some time, Anand's advancing flank pawns increased the pressure. On move 40, Oro made a major mistake with his knight, and Anand converted the resulting endgame smoothly, winning in 57 moves and taking a 1-0 lead. Anand clearly outperformed Oro in the middlegame and endgame. FIDE President inaugurates second game The second game was ceremonially opened by FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, who made the first move on behalf of Oro. Oro opened with the king pawn, and Anand responded with the French Defence. For Oro, a win was necessary to equalize the match, while Anand only needed a draw to secure overall victory. Once again, the opening of the kingside f-file allowed Anand to create pressure. By move 30, Anand's queen and rook were already active on Oro's kingside, while Oro was trying to generate counterplay on Anand's queenside. However, the pawn-locked center limited piece maneuverability. On move 37, Oro made a major error, and Anand comfortably converted his advantage, securing the second game in 48 moves and winning the historic match 2-0. Anand's win was not unexpected, as the gap between the two players is currently significant. This was evident throughout the match. For Oro, however, sharing the stage with a five-time World Champion was a major opportunity that will surely help him establish himself in the competitive chess world. Facing Anand must have brought pressure, but Oro managed his emotions well, reflecting his confidence. After the second game, Anand and Oro spent time analyzing the match together. For young Oro, this must have been a fan moment. Anand and Oro play simul with 20 special guests After the main match, Anand and Oro took part in a special simultaneous exhibition match against 20 invited guests. Anand played 10 boards, and Oro played the other 10. Impressively, both players won all of their games, scoring a perfect 100% and leaving the audience highly impressed. Following the simul, another beautiful moment unfolded - each participant took autographs from Anand and Oro on their chess boards. Long queues formed at the venue, especially for Anand, with people eager to take photos and interact with him. Anand's calm, humble, and inspiring personality naturally draws admiration, and it was evident that fans of all ages were trying to experience a moment with the legend. This was not just a chess event, but a living example of the passion for the game and the respect held for its players.
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Magnus Carlsen's broken confidence summed up in his own words after shock defeat to D Gukesh: ‘I just don't think it's…'
D Gukesh scripted an epic comeback win vs Magnus Carlsen on Sunday, in their Round 6 Norway Chess 2025 encounter. The 18-year-old staged a comeback from a losing position to defeat the World No. 1. The match lasted in 62 moves and over four hours. Carlsen's reaction summed up the moment as he lost, slamming the table in rage. After that, he also shook hands with Gukesh, who stood up, and looked dazed. Meanwhile, Carlsen even patted his back, on his way out. Speaking to TV 2 Sport (shared via Norway Chess on social media), Carlsen spoke on his defeat to Gukesh and felt that he doesn't find classical chess fun anymore. In his words, the Norwegian also looked like he was finally doubting himself for the first time ever. 'I generally feel good in this tournament, I just don't think it's fun to play anymore, and that's the problem. I'm sitting there in the middle of the game, thinking that I have the same position as I had so many times. It's just moving slowly,' he said. 'I don't find it exciting, and I know I can play really well. It is satisfying to play well, but then I collapsed towards the end, and showed great weaknesses; Gukesh fights really well,' he added. It was also Gukesh's maiden classical win vs Carlsen, as the match finished in 62 moves and over four hours. Meanwhile, Gukesh was humble as ever after the win. Speaking to Chess24, he said, 'I was just trying to play moves that were tricky for him and luckily he got into time scramble. One thing I learnt from this tournament is that time scrambles can get too much out of control.' '99 out of 100 times I would lose. Just a lucky day,' he added. For Gukesh, the win had a special meaning, as he also defeated the World No. 1, who had quit the official FIDE cycle and would not be participating in the World C'ships.
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First Post
8 hours ago
- Sport
- First Post
Stunning defeat against Gukesh makes Carlsen question future in Classical chess: 'Will have to make some decisions'
Reigning world champion D Gukesh defeated world No 1 Magnus Carlsen in their sixth-round meeting at Norway Chess on Sunday, with the Indian Grandmaster prevailing in 62 moves. The defeat made Carlsen rethink about his future in Classical chess, a format he has been highly critical of in recent months. read more Defending champion and world No 1 Magnus Carlsen in action against D Gukesh in Round 6 of the 2025 Norway Chess in Stavanger, Norway. Image credit: Michal Walusza/Norway Chess Magnus Carlsen made headlines on Sunday, albeit for the wrong reasons, with the world's top-ranked player reacting angrily after losing to reigning world champion D Gukesh in Round 6 of Norway Chess. Carlsen, who is the defending champion in the tournament, resigned in 62 moves with half-a-minute left on the clock. And he slammed his fist on the table the moment he got to know that it was over for him, much to the surprise of his opponent and those who present at the hall where the game was happening. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The 34-year-old Norwegian Grandmaster has been critical of world governing body FIDE as well as the Classical format for months now, while promoting Freestyle Chess – a fancier term for the unpredictable Chess960 format – as well as the ongoing Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour that has successfully hosted two events so far. Carlsen reignites discussions on his future in Classical chess And a day after suffering the first defeat of his career against Gukesh, Carlsen reignited discussions on bidding the Standard format goodbye after the conclusion of the ongoing tournament. 'I think I'll play the last three games (in Norway Chess), and then I will have to make some decisions about next year here or potential other tournaments later, because, yeah… I just don't enjoy (Classical chess) that much,' Carlsen told Norwegian television channel TV2 after playing out a draw against Hikaru Nakamura in Round 7 and defeating the American GM in the subsequent Armageddon playoff. 'It's possible, yeah. I'm not going to sit here and say that I'm not going to play Classical events ever again, but right now it doesn't. 'The thing is that, you know, losses are painful no matter what, but at least if I can lose doing something that I really enjoy (Blitz, Rapid or Freestyle), then that's much easier,' Carlsen, a five-time Classical world champion, added. Also Read | Gukesh doesn't miss while coming at 'King' Carlsen, justifies the 'world champion' tag STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a separate conversation with Take Take Take, Carlsen heaped praise on Gukesh for his fighting ability, which he exhibited in his dramatic victory on Sunday as well as in his victory over China's Ding Liren in their World Championship showdown in December. 'What he (Gukesh) does well, as I alluded to, is he really fights very, very well, and he was there to take his chance, so he deserves credit for that. 'But that's the kind of chance that I really, really have to put away. Otherwise, I have no chance,' Carlsen said. Carlsen had defeated Gukesh multiple times this year, from their meetings in the Weissenhaus and Paris legs of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour to the opening round of the ongoing tournament – which was the first time the Indian GM had come face to face with the Norwegian since he was crowned the youngest chess world champion in December. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Also Read | Gukesh left 'shaken' by first-ever classical win over world No.1 Carlsen: 'Just a lucky day Carlsen looked like he would complete a double against Gukesh in their second meeting on Sunday – in which the latter was playing as white. However, Gukesh, who celebrated his 19th birthday last week, managed to turn the tables and put Carlsen under pressure with his never-say-die attitude. Gukesh would go on to collect back-to-back victories by defeating compatriot Arjun Erigaisi on Monday, once again while playing with white pieces. Arjun, however, put up a more inspired fight, dragging the game past the 90-move mark despite committing a couple of blunders along the way, making his opponent fight tooth and nail for the full three points. Gukesh prevailed in the end and ended up avening his defeats against Carlsen and Arjun in the first two rounds of the tournament. The wins have helped him surge past Carlsen to the second spot in the standings with 11.5 – trailing current leader Fabiano Caruana by a full point with three rounds to go. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Chess champion Gukesh Dommaraju speaks out after Magnus Carlsen's post-defeat outburst
Reigning World Chess Champion Gukesh Dommaraju has spoken out after his stunning victory over the former World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in round six of the Norway Chess 2025 tournament. The two faced off Sunday, with Dommaraju of India, 19, beating the Norwegian grandmaster Carlsen, 34, in a match that lasted more than four hours. Advertisement While Carlsen had led most of the game, he ended up losing his knight in a faulty move, eventually leading to Dommaraju's victory. When Carlsen realized he had lost, he instantly slammed his fist on the table, causing the chess pieces to fall. Standing up, he shook Dommaraju's hand before turning away and huffing, 'Oh my god,' in frustration. He then quickly apologized to his opponent. After the match, Dommaraju admitted that his win was 'not the way I wanted it to be, but okay, I will take it,' per Addressing Carlsen's outburst, he sympathized, saying: 'I have also banged a lot of tables in my career.' D Gukesh (left) defeated Magnus Carlsen in round 6 of Norway Chess 2025 tournament ( In shock at his triumph, Dommaraju humbly admitted that '99 out of 100 times I would lose. But it was just a lucky day.' Advertisement Dommaraju's win increased his point total by three, putting him in third place at 8.5. Carlsen remains tied for first with Italian-American chess grandmaster Fabiano Caruana at 9.5 points in the five-player round-robin tournament. The ongoing tournament, which lasts until June 6, has a 1,690,000 Norwegian Krone ($167,000) prize fund. Sunday's match marked Dommaraju's first time beating Carlsen in a classical match. It was also their first classic match since Carlsen returned to individual classic chess after taking a brief break. Carlsen, who's been ranked the No. 1 chess player in the FIDE world rankings for nearly 15 years straight, declined to defend his world championship title in 2022, citing his frustration with the current format. 'I think if we reduce the time controls, made it more games, that would be a very good start,' he previously suggested. Advertisement In December 2024, Dommaraju went on to defeat China's Ding Liren to become the youngest chess world champion at 18 years old. Carlsen sat out of that tournament as well. 'Becoming the world champion doesn't mean I am the best player in the world. Obviously, there is Magnus Carlsen and he will always be a motivating factor for me,' Dommaraju said after his world championship title win. He went on to credit Carlsen's world championship win over Indian chess wizard Viswanathan Anand in 2013 as his motivation to one day 'bring back the title to India.' 'I was in the stands and I was looking inside the glass box and I thought it'd be so cool to be inside one day,' Dommaraju remembered at the time. 'And when Magnus won, I thought I really wanted to be the one to bring back the title to India and this dream that I had like more than 10 years ago has been the single most important thing in my life so far.'
