Browsing: Chess

Magnus Carlsen vs D Gukesh (Norway Chess Photo) NEW DELHI: The chess world has recently undergone a mix of surprise and confusion after last weekâ€s announcement of the new “Total Chess World Championship”, a concept developed by Norway Chess and officially approved by the International Chess Federation (FIDE).From Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathiâ€s witty explainer video to fans debating whether the sport really needs another “world titleâ€, the buzz around this unexpected development is undeniable.However, what makes this move remarkable is its timing. Barely months ago, FIDE had been locked in a public feud with the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, the independent tour launched by Magnus Carlsen and German entrepreneur Jan Henric Buettner.That clash began in late 2023 when Freestyle organisers tried to call their champion the “Freestyle Chess World Championâ€. FIDE objected immediately, insisting it alone held the right to sanction any world championship title in chess.The disagreement soon became one of the most talked-about controversies in modern chess.

What Will Happen to Iconic Norway Chess Tournament After Total Chess?

Players feared being barred from official FIDE events, open letters flew between organisers and officials, and Carlsen even published private messages accusing FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich of breaking promises.The issue finally cooled in February 2025 when Freestyle agreed to drop the “World Championship†label, with TimesofIndia.com revealing how, in a private Weissenhaus meeting, top-rated Freestyle Chess players unanimously decided the 2025 Grand Slam winner would be crowned “Freestyle Chess Champion”.Now, just months later, FIDE appears to have taken a more flexible approach, formally allowing Norway Chess to use the title “World Championship†for its “Total Chess†project.“We wanted to create something completely new with a tour system, and we wondered if it’s possible to get the World Championship title. It would be perfect,†Kjell Madland, founder, CEO and tournament director of Norway Chess told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interaction.“So, I had a meeting with Arkady (FIDE President) about 14 months ago to explain our ideas. Over the following months, we had very good discussions on how to make this work together. I told him that this is the Norway Chess project, but we want FIDE on board because we want the title and also to collaborate on rules and other details.â€The negotiations were not without challenges as Madland, who is also the tournament director of Norway Chess, revealed, “Of course, there are always challenges, but if you are respectful to the people youâ€re discussing with and listen carefully while communicating well, both parties will work to solve the issues.â€Behind the scenes, Norway Chessâ€s credibility also helped.”We were no strangers to FIDE when we first approached them,” Norway Chess COO Benedicte Westre Skog said. “Weâ€ve been in the chess world for quite some years now, and people know us. We have also proven that we’re capable of delivering.”Perhaps the most interesting detail is how secretive the process was.According to Madland, even the top players, including Carlsen and current World Champion D Gukesh, were kept completely in the dark until after the deal was signed. “Before the deal was signed, we didn’t talk to anyone. No players at all, not Magnus or other players. So he didnâ€t know anything about this,†Madland revealed. The decision to keep things under wraps was deliberate as the organisers wanted to avoid speculation or leaks before FIDEâ€s approval. As per our understanding, Norway Chess and FIDE officially signed the agreement on the “World Championship” on October 7, and it was made public later on October 15.“Since the agreement, weâ€ve spoken with some players to get their feedback on the regulations, including Magnus, Gukesh, and a few others. But before the deal, no players knew anything about this,†added the tournament director.The “Total Chess†concept itself differs from Freestyleâ€s approach. While Freestyle Chess is based on the Fischer Random format and is unrated by FIDE, Norway Chess top bosses wanted to stick to rated forms of chess: classical, rapid, and blitz.That distinction may have been what allowed FIDE to lend its approval this time.

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Do you think the new Total Chess World Championship is needed in the chess community?

By staying within the rated framework and maintaining a close contact, Norway Chess, already a proven innovator in the chess world with inventions like Armageddon, the Confession Booth, and more over the years, managed to avoid the jurisdictional clash that sank Freestyleâ€s attempt.FIDE, in turn, supported them without appearing to lose control over the “World Championship†title.But why grant one independent organiser the use of the “World Championship†tag while denying another? The difference, it is understood, lies in how the two sides approached the federation.With Carlsen only playing the classical format in Norway Chess, thereâ€s a sense that the introduction of this new multi-format championship, combining faster classical, rapid, and blitz, could see the world No. 1 competing for the new title, attracting more attention, sponsorship, and money.Whether it succeeds in unifying formats and bringing all elites of the game under one roof remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Norway Chess has managed what even the Freestyle tour could not.

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Bodhana Sivanandan (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) Ten-year-old British chess prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan achieved a remarkable victory by defeating former World Champion Grandmaster Mariya Muzychuk at the European Club Cup in Rhodes, Greece on Sunday, becoming one of the youngest chess players to take down a former World Champion.Born in London in 2015 to parents from Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, the young player from north London secured this historic win while representing the 12th-seeded team She Plays to Win Lionesses.

Total Chess World Championship Tour Explained: Norway Chess Answers Fans’ Queries | Exclusive

Despite her team’s 3-1 loss to Turkish Airlines in Round 1, Sivanandan’s victory stood out.The win was particularly significant as Muzychuk, the world number 13 with a FIDE rating of 2485, ranked 280 points above Sivanandan’s 2205.”She seems to be beating a GM every week now!” said English Grandmaster Danny Gormally.”It’s not every day a 10-year-old defeats a GM (and former World Champion) in such style,” remarked England’s number-one Grandmaster David Howell.Grandmaster Susan Polgar, Women’s World Champion from 1996 to 1999, described Sivanandan’s game as “impressive”.Earlier this year, Sivanandan became the youngest female chess player to defeat a grandmaster when she beat 60-year-old Grandmaster Peter Wells at the 2025 British Chess Championships in Liverpool.Her victory at 10 years, five months and three days surpassed the 2019 record held by American Carissa Yip. During the same event, she also became the youngest player to secure a WGM norm.The Harrow schoolgirl, who started playing chess during lockdown, made history in 2024 as the youngest person to represent England internationally in any sport at the Chess Olympiad in Hungary.”English chess has been in the doldrums for so many years. We’ve had good players coming through, don’t get me wrong, but we haven’t had great players coming through for many years,” said Gormally.”And now we’ve suddenly got a generation with GM Shreyas Royal and Bodhana, and FM Supratit Banerjee and FM Ethan Pang and others who are actually exciting. We don’t know how strong they’re going to be.”Sivanandan is part of a new generation of English chess talent making their mark in international competitions.

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Daniel Naroditsky (Kelly Centrelli/Charlotte Chess Center via AP) Daniel Naroditsky, a prominent American chess grandmaster and instructor, has passed away at the age of 29. The Charlotte Chess Center announced his death on October 20, 2025, with the cause remaining undisclosed.Naroditsky, a Stanford graduate, achieved remarkable success in the chess world, becoming a grandmaster at 17. His most recent accomplishment was winning the US National Blitz Championship.”Daniel was a talented chess player, commentator, and educator, and a cherished member of the chess community, admired and respected by fans and players around the world,” his family said in a statement shared by the Charlotte Chess Center. “Let us remember Daniel for his passion and love for the game of chess, and for the joy and inspiration he brought to us all every day.”Days before his death, Naroditsky posted a video on his YouTube channel titled “You Thought I Was Gone!?” This was his first video in three months.In the video, Naroditsky explained his return after taking a creative break from streaming. He demonstrated live chess matches from his home studio while explaining his moves to viewers.The circumstances surrounding his death have sparked discussions within the chess community. Some fans have reported observing unusual behaviour during his final livestream.Several viewers noted concerning behaviour during his last stream, with one Reddit user describing trembling jaw movements, wide eyes, and occasional incoherent speech, including switching to Russian.Russian Grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik has raised questions about the death on his X profile. “What exactly happened? I received this two days ago from a friend who’s a chess fan, and I did what I could to warn people urgently through my posts,” Kramnik wrote. “To those who prefer blaming and shaming instead of helping: awful tragedy. I hope it is properly investigated.”Naroditsky achieved grandmaster status, chess’s highest rank, at age 17 and authored multiple books about the sport. In 2019, he began teaching chess on YouTube under the name Danya, helping introduce the game to a broader audience.Born in San Mateo, California, Naroditsky’s chess journey began at age six when his father taught him the game. He went on to win the World Youth Chess Championship in the under-12 category before earning his grandmaster title.Throughout his career, Naroditsky made significant contributions to chess education and commentary. His online presence and teaching methods helped make chess more accessible to new players.

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October 13, 2025 | Graham Frankel

BATTS†2* Star Under-13 Open yesterday started with our strongest ever line-up. With four in the England top 10, three more in the top 20, and four more in the top 30, we knew would have an exciting tournament, and we were not disappointed.

The players must have been excited too, given that all the expected 48 arrived in such good time we were even able to start 10 minutes before our scheduled time.

As usual we had a wonderfully diverse group of competitors with players from 21 different clubs and 14 different counties. I stand by the slightly controversial decision made earlier this year to limit clubs to a maximum of eight entries. There is a huge benefit to be gained from competing against people from other clubs and areas.

During the group play in the morning, tension mounted as the matches got steadily closer and some of the newer players overcame their initial nerves, giving a few worrying moments to their more experienced opponents.

We had some of notable performances in the group matches where players achieved unexpected wins. Callum Campbell (Hampstead) won four of his five group matches to secure a place in Band 1. Three players overcame more experienced opponents to reach Band 2: Bradley Prosser (BATTS), Noah Clarke (Kingfisher) and Matthew Boa (Woodford Wells).

All three of the girls who entered performed well. Saskia Svoboda (Brighton) reached the semi-final of Band 2, while Sky Brafield (Rougham) and Hanusri Mohansundar (Britannia) met in the semi-final of Band 3. Hanusri won that and then went on to beat Samuel Hamilton (Ellenborough) in a very closely fought final.

We hope all three girls, and many others will continue entering our mixed events as well as our first girls-only open tournament scheduled for 5 July next year.

The Band 2 final was another extremely close encounter. The finalists, Elias Amin (Ellenborough) and Kenzo Boulton (Clissold) had met in at the group stage. In the morning match, Kenzo had narrowly won in five sets after Elias had taken the first two sets. The final was beginning to look like an exact replica, with Elias winning the first two sets, Kenzo refusing to give up and taking the next two, then building up a big lead in the decider. But Elias had other ideas. He demonstrated a calm determination to claw back the lead and win the decider. The final scores: 13-11, 11-9, 13-15, 9-11, 11-9.

The Band 1 final between the top two seeds was fascinating. We expected high-class table tennis and were not disappointed. But it had something more than that, almost like a game of chess.

Both finalists were superbly impressive. Li Hao Chen was doing his best to work out how to deal with Lusioâ€s highly skilled bat twiddling. There were times when it began to look like he might have found an answer, but Lusio managed to keep one step ahead and emerged as the grand master, winning 11-5, 11-8, 11-9. A well-deserving recipient of the £80 top prize.

We now look forward to our next junior open tournaments at BATTS. The Under-17s on Sunday 23 November is almost full, and the Under-15s on Monday 29 December has only a few places left.

Thanks to our great team of officials: Linda March, James Pettigrew and David Gatheral and to Neil Brierley for all his help and continuing to keep the club in such pristine condition.

Prize winners: Hanusri Mohansundar (Winner B3), Samuel Hamilton (Finalist B3), Kenzo Boulton (Finalist B2), Elias Amin (Winner B2), Chris Darby (Semi-Finalist B1), Daniel Pavia (Semi-Finalist B1), Li Hao Chen (Finalist B1), Lusio Wen (Winner B1), Linda March who presented the prizes.

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Hikaru Nakamura took the king from Gukesh’s pieces and threw it to the crowd after defeating him (Screengrabs) The USA dominated the opening leg of the ‘Checkmate’ event, defeating India 5-0 in a high-voltage chess spectacle held in Arlington, but it was Hikaru Nakamuraâ€s post-match gesture that stole the spotlight and divided opinion on social media. Facing world champion D Gukesh in the headline game, Nakamura, ranked World No. 2 with a FIDE rating of 2816, produced a clinical performance to outplay the 19-year-old Indian prodigy. The Americans displayed composure under pressure to sweep the tie, while India, playing with black pieces, struggled to find rhythm across the boards. Alongside Nakamuraâ€s win over Gukesh, Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi went down to Fabiano Caruana, Divya Deshmukh was upset by Carissa Yip, International Master Levy Rozman defeated Sagar Shah, and young Ethan Vaz lost to Tani Adewumi. However, Nakamuraâ€s celebration drew widespread attention when he threw Gukeshâ€s king piece toward the crowd moments after sealing victory. The act, which appeared spontaneous, triggered sharp reactions online, with many fans calling it unnecessary and disrespectful.Watch the controversial moment here However, some argued that event organisers must have told both teams that light theatrics such as toppling or tossing pieces were permitted to enhance the live experience. Despite the controversy, Gukesh received strong support from global chess followers, who praised his composure and competitive spirit. The reigning world champion, currently ranked World No. 11, is expected to lead Indiaâ€s fightback when the second leg of Checkmate takes place on home soil.

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What was your reaction to Hikaru Nakamura’s post-match gesture of throwing Gukesh’s king piece?

Nakamuraâ€s fiery display came months after another viral chess flashpoint, when Gukesh defeated Magnus Carlsen during Norway Chess 2025, prompting a rare visible outburst from the Norwegian star. The return leg in India now promises an intense rematch, both on and off the board.

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Anish Giri (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) Dutch Grandmaster (GM) Anish Giri booked his spot in the FIDE Candidates Tournament…

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GM Hans Niemann at FIDE Grand Swiss (Screengrabs) American Grandmaster (GM) Hans Niemann has found himself in the middle of…

India Grand Master (GM) Divya Deshmukh says she won’t mind losing all 11 games in the ongoing FIDE Grand Swiss…

Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) Indian Grandmaster (GM) Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa continues to underline his status as one of…