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A match during Round 1 of the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026. (Pic credit: FIDE) The Candidates chess tournament, which started in Cyprus on Sunday, has taken care that the men won’t lose on time. But only after the 41st move. Until that point, they may suffer as the principle of legendary Bobby Fischer is unfollowed,…
R Praggnanandhaa vs Anish Giri (Photo by Michal Walusza) NEW DELHI: The opening day of the 2026 FIDE Candidates at the Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort in Paphos, Cyprus, proved that while chess doctrine often predicts a draw when both sides play perfectly, the reality on the board could be far more volatile. Of…
Nihal Sarin and Anish Giri (Photos by Michal Walusza, Lennart Ootes and FIDE) NEW DELHI: As the chess world descends upon Cyprus for the 2026 Candidates, the name Anish Giri continues to be synonymous with a singular, frustrating memory from the past. 14 draws in 14 games. That legendary run in the 2016 Candidates birthed…
R Praggnanandhaa, Divya Deshmukh, and R Vaishali (Image credit: Agencies) NEW DELHI: Two years ago, when Dommaraju Gukesh stormed the Candidates in Toronto, the chess world called it a miracle. By the time he dismantled Ding Liren in Singapore to become the youngest-ever World Champion, that “miracle” had become something else entirely, more like a…
Divya Deshmukh (Image credit: FIDE) NAGPUR: “I am sure it will happen sooner than later.” Divya Deshmukh, fresh after becoming world junior girls chess champion, had oozed confidence about playing the Candidates. That was June 2024.Last July, Divya qualified for the 2026 Candidates by becoming India’s first women’s World Cup winner while earning the Grandmaster…
Visual representation of Pravin Thipsay’s experience (AI-generated Photo) NEW DELHI: Cyprus, an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, will be home to some of the best classical chess over the next fortnight as it hosts both the Open and Women’s categories of the 2026 Candidates tournament starting March 28. Serving as the only path…
NEW DELHI: Chess fans and players have been worried about the upcoming Candidates tournament in Cyprus, mainly due to safety concerns and basic facilities like electricity. The island’s closeness to tensions in West Asia and recent attacks on nearby military bases have raised fears about whether it’s the right place to host such a major…
Koneru Humpy and Criton Tornaritis NEW DELHI: Top Indian Grandmaster (GM) Koneru Humpy has pulled out of the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament in Cyprus, saying she doesn’t feel safe travelling for the event. Her decision has sparked criticism, especially from the Cyprus Chess Federation.Humpy explained her stance clearly as she wrote on X, “After deep…
Koneru Humpy (Photo by Lennart Ootes/FIDE). NEW DELHI: In a move that has sent shockwaves through the global chess community, India’s veteran Grandmaster (GM) and World No. 5 Koneru Humpy has now officially withdrawn from the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament in Cyprus. Citing a “Level 3” travel advisory and escalating tensions in the Middle East,…
Anna Muzychuk (Image credit: X) NEW DELHI: Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk has replaced Koneru Humpy in the upcoming Candidates Tournament in Cyprus after the Indian Grandmaster withdrew, citing safety concerns due to the host country’s proximity to the ongoing West Asia conflict. The tournament, which will determine the challengers for the world championship titles currently held…
