Latest news with #WorldRapidandBlitzTeamChampionships
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Indian youngsters bag handful of medals
Kolkata: Indian chess looks to be in good hands as the country's youngsters shone brightly at different world age-group meets this week. While India clinched seven including three gold, two silver and two bronze medals at the World Cadet Chess Cup that concluded in Batumi, Georgia, they ended the Asian Junior and Girls meet in Kalutara, Sri Lanka, with a haul of six medals across classical, rapid and blitz formats in open and girls sections. India got a new World champion when Sarbartho Mani won gold in the U-10 open section in Batumi. India swept the category as Oishik Mondal and Kapil Aarit came second and third respectively. It has been a phenomenal rise for Mani who had previously won gold in Commonwealth and Asian age-group chess too. Mani (1847) recently played alongside his idol Viswanathan Anand, Anna Muzychuk and others to win bronze in rapid for Team Freedom at the World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships in London. The Kolkata boy drew both his classical games against Mondal (1857) in Stage 2 and then went on to win the next two rapid games (15'+2") each to top the podium while Mondal settled for silver. CM Aarit Kapil (2078), who recently came close to defeating world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen before settling for a draw in the 'Early Titled Tuesday' online chess tournament, defeated Iman Nabiyev (Kaz, 1716) twice to bag the bronze medal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure your family's future! ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata WCM Divi Bijesh (1872) defeated WCM Zhihan Chen (Chn, 1785) in both U-10 classical games to clinch the gold while WCM Sharvaanica AS (1884) picked bronze in the section. WCM Pratitee Bordoloi (1971) fetched the third gold in the U-12 girl's category and Aadya secured the silver. In Sri Lanka, FM Sourath Biswas finished with 7.5 points out of nine to clinch the gold in the open section. IM Kashish Manoj Jain finished with seven points to secure the bronze. In the girl's section, WIM Velpula Sarayu bagged seven points out of nine to end up with a bronze medal.
Mint
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Mint
‘Grit and determination': PM Modi hails chess grandmaster Divya Deshmukh for beating World No. 1 at Blitz Championships
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday congratulated Indian chess grandmaster Divya Deshmukh as she defeated World No. 1 Hou Yifan in the second leg of the Blitz semifinal. She achieved the feat at the World Team Blitz Championships that are being held at London. Prime Minister Modi said that Divya Deshmukh's success 'inspires' the upcoming chess players. 'Congratulations to Divya Deshmukh on defeating the World No. 1, Hou Yifan in the 2nd leg of Blitz semifinal at the World Team Blitz Championships, London. Her success highlights her grit and determination. It also inspires many upcoming chess players. Best wishes for her future endeavours,' PM Modi said in a message on X. Divya thanked PM Modi in the comments. 'Thank you, Respected Sir. It is a great honour and encouragement for me to be recognised by the Prime Minister,' she replied. Nagpur girl Divya Deshmukh scripted history as India witnessed another monumental moment in chess. The 19-year-old won against World No. 1 Hou Yifan at the Blitz semifinals of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championship 2025 in London. Her stunning 74-move win was crucial in making India finish at the third-place in the Blitz segment of the tournament and second in the Rapid format. Divya took to social media after her historic win. 'Finally, what seemed like an eternity is over—World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships! The team finished second in rapid and third in blitz. Had an amazing experience with the team,' she said. Meanwhile, India has been performing really well in chess off late, especially in the international forum. D. Gukesh, the reigning World Champion and a recipient of the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award secured a third-place position in the Norway Chess tournament, which concluded early in June. One of his standout moments during the competition was a win over world number one Magnus Carlsen, which was his first classical game win over him. Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi also finished fifth. Apart from Gukesh, Aravindh Chithambaram clinched first place in the Stepan Avagyan Memorial Chess Tournament, and R Praggnanandhaa, secured second place in the same tournament. The tournament was held from May 28 to June 6.
News18
19-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
World Team Blitz Championships: PM Modi Praises Divya Deshmukh After India Star Beats World No. 1 Hou Yifan
Last Updated: PM Modi praised Divya Deshmukh for her win over World No. 1 Hou Yifan at the World Team Blitz Championships in London. Divya led her team to bronze. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday praised India's chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh for her remarkable first-ever victory over World No. 1 Hou Yifan in the second leg of the blitz semifinal at the World Team Blitz Championships in London. Representing Hexamind Chess Club, the 18-year-old Indian talent faced off against the Chinese powerhouse, who was playing for the WR Chess Team. In an electrifying 74-move encounter, Divya outsmarted Yifan, who made a crucial error by losing her bishop in a theoretically drawn rook vs. bishop endgame. 'Congratulations to Divya Deshmukh on defeating the World No. 1, Hou Yifan in the 2nd leg of Blitz semifinal at the World Team Blitz Championships, London. Her success highlights her grit and determination. It also inspires many upcoming chess players. Best wishes for her future endeavours," PM Modi wrote on X. Congratulations to Divya Deshmukh on defeating the World No. 1, Hou Yifan in the 2nd leg of Blitz semifinal at the World Team Blitz Championships, London. Her success highlights her grit and determination. It also inspires many upcoming chess players. Best wishes for her future… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 19, 2025 In the blitz format, Divya secured six wins, one draw, and only one loss out of eight games, achieving an impressive performance rating of 2606. She subsequently excelled in the third-place playoff, leading her team to a 3.5–2.5 victory over Uzbekistan in both rounds to clinch the team bronze medal. Checkmate ♟️ !Heartiest congratulations to our chess star Divya Deshmukh on her stunning win over World No. 1 Hou Yifan in the 2nd leg of the Blitz semifinal at the World Team Blitz Championships in London. Wishing you the very best for the future games. — Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) June 18, 2025 In the rapid format, Divya achieved five wins, six draws, and just one loss, securing team silver and an individual bronze on Board 6, with a performance rating of 2420. The third edition of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships took place in London from June 10 to 16. The total prize fund was 500,000 euros; 310,000 euros for the rapid tournament and 190,000 euros for the blitz. First Published: June 19, 2025, 15:40 IST
Spectator
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Spectator
World Rapid and Blitz Teams
It was a treat to see so many of the world's top players in London for the World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships last week. Now in its third edition, the event has an unusual format, in which teams of six must include one female player and one rated below 2000 (roughly, a strong club player). That drew a sociable mix of teams, including traditional clubs, both from the UK and abroad, some national teams, and some teams with corporate sponsorship. My team, Malcolm's Mates (Malcolm Pein is the federation's international director), had a considerable overlap with the English national team, with additional strong players from abroad. But we were knocked out of the blitz event by WR Chess, whose team of superstars (including the reigning world blitz champion Ian Nepomniachtchi, as well as Hikaru Nakamura and Alireza Firouzja) went on to win the whole thing. In the final round of the rapid event, we were beaten by the winning team MGD1, named after the Indian chess management firm whose star player is 21-year-old Arjun Erigaisi, currently ranked fourth in the world. Perhaps the most beautiful game of the event was the one below, in which Erigaisi was beaten by Viswanathan Anand. The former world champion, now the deputy president of Fide, remains a formidable player at the age of 55 and represented the team Freedom, who also sponsored Fide's individual World Rapid and Blitz event in New York last year. Anand joked later that the game made him feel like a one-trick pony, referring to the similarity with his celebrated game against Levon Aronian at Wijk aan Zee, 2013, in which his bishops also bore down on the white kingside with decisive effect. Arjun Erigaisi-Viswanathan Anand Fide World Rapid Team, London 2025 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 d5 4 e3 Be7 5 b3 O-O 6 Bd3 c5 7 O-O Nc6 8 Bb2 cxd4 9 exd4 Nb4 10 Be2 b6 11 Nc3 Bb7 12 Rc1 dxc4 13 bxc4 Rc8 14 Ne5 Nd7 15 Nxd7 Qxd7 16 d5 Rfd8 16…exd5 17 a3 Nc6 18 Nxd5 leaves the knight well placed in the centre. 17 a3 Na6 18 Ne4 Energetic play. In case of 18…exd5, Erigaisi might have been tempted by 19 Qd4 Bf8 20 Nf6+ gxf6 21 Rc3, when the threats of Rc3-g3+ and Qd4xf6 pose severe problems. Nc5 19 Qd4 f6 20 Nxc5 Bxc5 21 Qg4 f5 Now 21…exd5 22 Qxd7 Rxd7 23 Bg4 wins rook for bishop. Opening the long diagonal for the Bb2 looks risky, but Anand has lined up a nimble counterattack. 22 dxe6 Qe7 23 Qxf5 Rd2 24 Bd3 g6 25 Qe5 (see diagram) Walking into Anand's trap. It was time to bail out with 25 Qf7+ Qxf7 26 exf7+ Kxf7 27 Bc2 when Black's active pieces provide ample compensation for the pawn, so the game remains balanced. Rxb2!! Forced, as White was threatening mate, but also the start of a dazzling combination. 26 Qxb2 Qg5 27 g3 The f-pawn is pinned by the Bc5, so f2-f3 was impossible, but now the light squares around the king are fatally weakened. Qg4! This wonderful quiet move had to be seen by Anand far in advance. The chief threat is Qg4-f3, while 28 Qe2 is met by Bf3 with Qg4-h3 to follow. 28 Qf6 Rf8 Yet again, the only winning move. 29 e7 Rxf6 30 e8=Q+ Rf8 31 Qe2 Bf3 White resigns
News18
14-06-2025
- Sport
- News18
World Rapid And Blitz Team Championships: Arjun Erigaisi's Team MGD1 Claim Rapid Title
Last Updated: The Erigaisi-led side finished at the top of the table, ahead of second-placed Hexamind and Viswanathan Anand-led Freedom came in third. Team MGD1 clinched the Rapid event title at the World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships on Saturday as the Arjun Erigaisi-led side finished at the top of the table, ahead of second-placed Hexamind and Viswanathan Anand-led Freedom came in third. The team led by captain Srinath Narayanan comprised Tsolakidou Stovroula, Pentala Harikrishna, Leon Mendonca, David Anton Guijarro, Pranav and Atharva Tayade in addition to Erigaisi. MGD1, who had claimed the silver and bronze medals in the previous two editions of the event bettered their record to clinch the top podium spot with four wins on the last day of the Rapid event. 'This is very special! With the Indian team in the Olympiad we were the favourites to win and out here with Team MGD1 we were the underdogs. And yet we won gold again," skipper Srinath said following the triumph. 'Team MGD1 is all about Team Spirit. I was having a bad day on day 2 and others stepped up to keep the momentum going. Also Atharvaa's performance was out of this world," Erigaisi added. Despite commendable performances from across the spectrum, it was amateur player Atharvaa Tayade who shone the brightest with a nearly unblemished record at the team event that dictates contingents to include a sub-2000 ELO ranked male and female player each. Tayade remained unbeaten up until the final round in the Rapid section of the event in the United Kingdom to help his side script history with the victory as they became the first India team to clinch the coveted title in London. 'I am really happy! With this team it's mainly about a great culture! Even though I'm an amateur player they didn't make me feel like one," Tayade added. First Published: June 14, 2025, 10:00 IST
