2026 chess season tracker

[New guy]

On 8/3/2025 at 8:48 PM, Lord said:

You are looking at it from women's pov. Obviously more people will get rewarded with more categories. You can further divide it by age, religion etc.. 

 

However categories are normally marked to represent different requirements of abilities of that category mostly physically. No such distinction is there in chess 

Not necessarily, it also looks at historical discrimination or circumstances, for example if a particular demography was excluded for long time, they will be way behind in terms of evolution in terms of sports, so nothing wrong with giving extra incentive to encourage more people from that demography to join a sports. 

[Lord]

9 minutes ago, New guy said:

Not necessarily, it also looks at historical discrimination or circumstances, for example if a particular demography was excluded for long time, they will be way behind in terms of evolution in terms of sports, so nothing wrong with giving extra incentive to encourage more people from that demography to join a sports. 

Which other sports does that? 

[New guy]

3 minutes ago, Lord said:

Which other sports does that? 

Cricket? The women game doesn't nearly bring in as much money, as they get for prize money. All big boards use money from other earnings to pay more to women cricketers.

 

It's to encourage more women to play cricket. 

Edited August 5, 2025 by New guy

[Lord]

2 minutes ago, New guy said:

Cricket? The women game doesn't nearly bring in as much money, as they get for prize money. All big boards use money from other earnings to pay more to women cricketers.

 

It's to encourage more women to play cricket. 

Women cricket have different physical requirements. That's why different ball is used and boundaries are pulled in massively. They can't compete with even U-19 men's team. 

 

No such distinction there in chess

 

 

[Mariyam]

Chennai Grandmasters delayed by a day.

 

There was a fire in the hotel where the players were put up and the tournament was being hosted. Everyone is safe.

 

https://sports.ndtv.com/chess/fire-disrupts-quantbox-chennai-grand-masters-players-safe-event-postponed-by-a-day-9029368

[Tillu]

Great hospitality from Poland. Gukesh was taken on an helicopter ride to the Chess Avenue and was given a warm welcome by the Polish chess fans.

 

 

[Gollum]

On 8/6/2025 at 1:48 PM, Mariyam said:

Chennai Grandmasters delayed by a day.

 

There was a fire in the hotel where the players were put up and the tournament was being hosted. Everyone is safe.

 

https://sports.ndtv.com/chess/fire-disrupts-quantbox-chennai-grand-masters-players-safe-event-postponed-by-a-day-9029368

Interesting event, like the mix of players. 

[Gollum]

 

[Gollum]

This is what I am talking about. Every month, a different city in India should host an elite tournament, preferably classical. 

[Gollum]

Both Naka and Caruana seem to be unhappy with the freestyle tour. Also couldn't find a host city for the September event. Max 1 more year before this circus goes down in flames. 

 

This is what happens when whole tour is planned, scheduled, organized just to benefit one guy. Anybody with opposing view is being censored. Fabi gave a pretty scathing interview in Vegas, video uploaded and then swiftly taken down from their channel. 

 

Naka was very much on board early this year.

[Mariyam]

@Gollum

 

Even if Freestyle is the brainchild of a man child, what's the harm? The events manage to get decent sponsorship and attract top Chess ( Classical) players.

It is only good for Chess commercially. Also it can help break the monotony for chess players. An event they can have fun in , get paid for and not have much to prep.

[Mariyam]

Five year old chess genius Aarini scripts history!

 

https://www.rediff.com/sports/report/five-year-old-chess-genius-aarini-scripts-history/20250809.htm

[Gollum]

1 minute ago, Mariyam said:

@Gollum

 

Even if Freestyle is the brainchild of a man child, what's the harm? The events manage to get decent sponsorship and attract top Chess ( Classical) players.

It is only good for Chess commercially. Also it can help break the monotony for chess players. An event they can have fun in , get paid for and not have much to prep.

Because greater goal seems to be to undermine FIDE. 

 

Regarding bolded part, 6 months have passes since it started and it already seems like Naka, Fabi and Alireza won't take part in future events. 

[randomGuy]

14 hours ago, Gollum said:

Both Naka and Caruana seem to be unhappy with the freestyle tour. Also couldn't find a host city for the September event. Max 1 more year before this circus goes down in flames. 

 

This is what happens when whole tour is planned, scheduled, organized just to benefit one guy. Anybody with opposing view is being censored. Fabi gave a pretty scathing interview in Vegas, video uploaded and then swiftly taken down from their channel. 

 

Naka was very much on board early this year.

 

And also @Mariyam I think I had a better idea of playing from middle game positions. Freestyle chess plays from the beginning, this makes it rather uninteresting and boring....they should be playing computer generated middle game positions between 2 humans. That could be a hit.

Edited August 9, 2025 by randomGuy

[Gollum]

Another gold for India in chess: Chennai’s Velammal wins 2025 World Schools Team Championship

 

Velammal is the engine of Indian chess. 

Edited August 9, 2025 by Gollum

[Tillu]

 

 

R. Praggnanandhaa’s interview on Raj Shamani’s “Figuring Out” podcast offers a comprehensive look into his early chess journey, personal philosophies, mindset in competitions, training routines, and reflections on the Indian chess boom. Here’s a detailed summary with notable anecdotes from the episode:

• Early Chess Journey: Praggnanandhaa started playing chess after his sister, who was introduced to the game to spend her time productively. His parents noticed his interest at age three, leading him to join a chess club and play his first state championship by five. He emphasized it was his dream—not just his parents’—to compete globally, seeing initial success after finishing second in the under-seven nationals and qualifying for Asian and world championships at age eight.

• Family Support and Sacrifice: His family, particularly his mother, travelled extensively with him for tournaments, while his father managed logistics. The episode highlights that his family never pushed him academically, prioritizing his chess ambitions and emotional well-being regardless of wins or losses. After defeats, his parents focus on whether he ate and slept well rather than his chess performance, embodying a nurturing approach.

• Handling Pressure and Failure: Pragg stressed the importance of self-belief and not obsessing over outcomes. Instead of succumbing to title pressure or external expectations, he trusts the process and aims for personal bests. He recounted crying after a loss at the Prague Masters, but also discussed his resilience and ability to quickly reset before the next tournament.

• Mindset and Competition: Early in his career, seeing contemporaries succeed made him feel insecure and pressured, but now their achievements inspire him. He reflects on turning potential jealousy into motivation, using peer performances as a source of energy rather than anxiety. He described his attitude after beating Magnus Carlsen: “the top players are not invincible; you can beat them,” which gave him crucial confidence.

• Training and Daily Routine: As a teenager and grandmaster, his daily life diverged from his peers—training all day with his coach or individually, focusing on chess over other typical teenage pursuits. His preparation for major tournaments mirrors that for regular games; he intentionally avoids adding extra pressure and follows consistent routines, including subtle superstitions like taking particular routes for good luck.

• On Intuition and Calculation: He compared himself with Carlsen, noting that while Carlsen relies heavily on intuition, Praggnanandhaa uses detailed calculation, sometimes capitalizing when intuition falters. He learns from analyzing the games of top players and classics, believing nuanced evaluation can give him an edge.

• Reading Opponents: Pragg discussed body language and psychology in chess, noting how he interprets discomfort or confidence from opponents—analyzing their reactions for strategic advantage. Some opponents are expressive; others, like Arjun, reveal little whether winning or losing.

• Chess Boom in India and South Indian Dominance: He credited streaming personalities like Samay Raina and Sagar Shah for popularizing chess, especially during the pandemic and with shows like "The Queen’s Gambit." The chess infrastructure and legacy in Chennai, including role models like Viswanathan Anand, have given South Indian players a “starting advantage.” He recalled attending Anand’s hero’s welcome after a world title and how it inspired him and others.

• Principles and Philosophies:

  • He wears vibhuti (holy ash) as a reminder of humility and the cyclical nature of life, saying, “We come from the ash and go back to it—there is nothing to be arrogant about.”

  • He advocates “trusting the process” and not fixating on results, underscoring mental focus and resilience as key to long-term growth.

  • He discussed Michael Jordan’s belief that “everything in life happens twice—once inside your head and then in reality,” reiterating his commitment to self-belief.

• Money in Chess and Life Outside the Board: He acknowledged that professional chess now offers much more financial stability than in the past. Sacrifices include missing out on youthful experiences and friendships, but he remains committed to his goal of becoming world number one, guided by ambition rather than pressure.

• Anecdotes:

  • After beating Carlsen online at 2 a.m., Pragg woke his father to share the win, only for his father to respond sleepily and return to bed.

  • He shared the emotional letdown and motivation after missing the chance to become the youngest Grandmaster—a personal challenge that taught him to handle pressure better.

Throughout the conversation, Praggnanandhaa emphasized the importance of family support, inspiration from peers, focus on routine, and mental fortitude, offering valuable life lessons that transcend chess.

 

 

 

Edited August 10, 2025 by Tillu

[Tillu]

Del

Edited August 10, 2025 by Tillu

[Gollum]

 

[Mariyam]

On 8/9/2025 at 12:14 PM, randomGuy said:

 

And also @Mariyam I think I had a better idea of playing from middle game positions. Freestyle chess plays from the beginning, this makes it rather uninteresting and boring....they should be playing computer generated middle game positions between 2 humans. That could be a hit.

 

But what if the computer generated middle game positions aren't equal? One side has an advantage?

 

At least in Chess 960 the position is balanced,

[randomGuy]

13 minutes ago, Mariyam said:

 

But what if the computer generated middle game positions aren't equal? One side has an advantage?

 

At least in Chess 960 the position is balanced,

Correct. They will be equal objectively (i.e. according to computer). But practically speaking, any one player may have easier play. That will be negated if you give them multiple positions to play.