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India's Chess Veteran Tania Sachdev Urges State Governments to Support Young PlayersIndia's chess veteran Tania Sachdev has emphasized the crucial role of state governments in fostering a pipeline of young players and maintaining the country's dominance in the sport. Speaking at the NDTV World Summit, Sachdev, who was part of India's historic double gold campaign at the 45th Chess Olympiad 2024, highlighted the importance of state support in inspiring and nurturing young talent.Sachdev, who hails from Delhi, pointed out that she was the sole chess representative from the capital for nearly 16 years until the emergence of Vantika Agrawal. She stressed that state governments play a vital role in providing opportunities and recognition to young players, which is essential for their development and success."There's a reason why we see so many Grandmasters from Tamil Nadu. Why does every girl want to play badminton? Because she's seen a PV Sindhu," said Sachdev. "Unless the state governments recognize the effort of its own players, how are you going to inspire the youth of a profession seriously?"Sachdev's comments come in the wake of India's remarkable achievement at the 45th Chess Olympiad, where both the men's and women's teams won gold. For Sachdev, who has been a part of India's chess team at the Olympiad since 2008, the gold medal was the culmination of a 16-year journey. Her teammate D Harika had to wait 20 years for the same honor."It is something that we worked towards not one or two years, but 16 years for me and even longer for her (Harika)," said Sachdev. "Having got the job done, we all felt more emotional than we ever have. It went far beyond winning the gold, it was a lifetime journey for a lot of us."Vantika Agrawal also revealed that the chess team had planned special celebrations once they knew that they had both won gold. The team's success is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and support that they have received over the years.

The sixth edition of Tata Steel Chess India, scheduled from November 13 to 17, will witness the return of World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen. The Norwegian Grandmaster, who previously triumphed in the 2019 edition, will headline the prestigious event.India's strong contingent, fresh from their golden performance at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, will feature rising stars Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, and Vidit Gujrathi. Nihal Sarin and S L Narayanan will also represent India in the 'Open' category.Like previous editions, the tournament will comprise 'Open' and women's categories with identical rapid and blitz formats and equal prize money. India's women's team will be represented by Koneru Humpy, R Vaishali, D. Harika, Divya Deshmukh, and Vantika Agrawal.Chess legend Viswanathan Anand, the tournament's ambassador, expressed his excitement: "I am looking forward to being back at Tata Steel Chess India. It has become the marquee event in India. This year brings the best of the world headed by Magnus Carlsen."Chanakya Chaudhary, vice-president of corporate services at Tata Steel, said: "We are excited to host the sixth edition of Tata Steel Chess India, which marks the return of world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen. Members of the Indian men's and women's squads, following their gold medal wins at the Chess Olympiad, will also join the tournament alongside top global players."The tournament lineup includes:Open:- Magnus Carlsen- Nodirbek Abdusattorov- Wesley So- Vincent Keymer- Daniil Dubov- Arjun Erigaisi- R Praggnanandhaa- Vidit Gujrathi- Nihal Sarin- S L NarayananWomen:- Aleksandra Goryachkina- Kateryna Lagno- Alexandra Kosteniuk- Nana Dzagnidze- Valentina Gunina- Koneru Humpy- R. Vaishali- D. Harika- Divya Deshmukh- Vantika Agrawal

At the recently concluded Chess Olympiad in Budapest, the highly anticipated clash between India and China on the top board did not materialize. China opted to rest Ding Liren, the world's second-ranked player, against India's rising star, D. Gukesh.Gukesh, 18, expressed no disappointment over the missed opportunity. "We thought it was likely Ding would play, but there was a chance he might not because he had lost the previous round," said Gukesh. "I was ready for both scenarios."Despite the absence of Ding, Gukesh's performance at the Olympiad was exceptional. He won the individual gold medal for the second consecutive time, playing a pivotal role in India's dominant victory."It was a very special performance for me," said Gukesh. "I'm glad with how I played and handled different situations."Gukesh's confidence has soared ahead of his upcoming World Championship match against Ding, scheduled to begin on November 23 in Singapore. However, he remains unfazed by the pressure."The pressure is about just playing in the World Championship," said Gukesh. "For me, it's just a match against a very strong player. I'm sure Ding will come to the match with the right spirit and give it his best. My approach is to treat every game with the utmost respect and energy."Gukesh's exceptional performance at the Olympiad has not only boosted his confidence but also raised expectations for his World Championship match. As he prepares for the biggest challenge of his career, Gukesh remains focused and determined to give it his all.

India's historic triumph at the Chess Olympiad, with both the men's and women's teams securing their first-ever titles, has sparked a wave of excitement and optimism for the future of chess in the country. However, five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand cautions that while this is a promising start, there is still much work to be done, particularly in promoting women's chess.Anand, who has been a mentor and inspiration to the current generation of Indian chess prodigies, believes that the Olympiad victory will inspire more girls to take up the game. "It's a very good beginning, but we must continuously keep progressing," he said. "We need to get more and more girls to play, and this result will hopefully inspire them."While the men's game has witnessed a surge in popularity in recent years, with young talents like R Praggnanandhaa and D Gukesh making waves on the world stage, the women's game has lagged behind. Anand emphasizes the importance of supporting players at all levels and creating opportunities for them to compete."We need to grow the game and increase the base of the pyramid," he said. "Events like the Global Chess League play a big part in that because they give a lot of people opportunities. Unexpectedly, you might play a much bigger role than you expected. Teams victory, all these things will boost."Anand also warns that other countries will be analyzing India's performance and returning stronger. "Every country goes back and learns lessons," he said. "The other teams will take their disappointment, they'll go back and they'll come back stronger."To maintain India's recent success in chess, Anand believes that it is crucial to tap into the talent at the grassroots level. "We want many more things like this to happen," he said. "We need to support players at all levels and create opportunities for them to compete."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed India's historic triumph at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, where both the men's and women's teams clinched their maiden gold medals.India's men's team, comprising D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and R Praggnanandhaa, defeated Slovenia in the final round, while the women's team, led by R Vaishali, D Harika, and Tania Sachdev, triumphed over Azerbaijan.Gukesh, the star of the tournament, won 10 out of 11 rounds in the Open category, playing a pivotal role in India's victory. Erigaisi and Praggnanandhaa also secured decisive wins in the final round.The women's team secured their gold by defeating Azerbaijan. Vaishali, Harika, and Sachdev displayed exceptional skills and determination throughout the tournament.In a video shared on social media, Modi interacted with the chess champions, who presented him with a chessboard. Praggnanandhaa and Erigaisi played a quick game of chess, leaving Modi spellbound.The Indian men's team finished with an impressive 21 out of 22 possible points, conceding only one draw against Uzbekistan. The women's team also performed remarkably, securing 18.5 points out of 22.India's historic achievement at the Chess Olympiad is a testament to the growing popularity and talent in the sport. The gold medals are a source of pride for the nation and will inspire future generations of chess players.

Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi, fresh from his triumph at the Chess Olympiad, has decided to forgo defending his title at the Vugar Gashimov Memorial Chess Super Tournament in Azerbaijan to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Gujrathi, who won the Azerbaijan event last year, was part of the historic Indian men's team that clinched the Chess Olympiad gold in the Open category.Upon learning about the felicitation function, Gujrathi expressed his joy and gratitude on social media. "I reached Baku and I got to know our Hon'ble PM wants to felicitate the Indian team. I was overjoyed when I heard this and I wanted to be a part of it. It's amazing at how such short notice he is taking out time for us," he wrote.Gujrathi, 29, has been replaced by Aravindh Chithambaram for the event to be held from September 25-30. "I contacted Sarkhan Gashimov (organiser) and he understood my sentiments. Big thanks to him! Wishing Aravindh the best to play against top players in this prestigious event," Gujrathi added.After India's historic Chess Olympiad victory, Gujrathi remarked that the golden era of chess has just begun for his country. "We can call it a golden era for Indian chess, as gold has been won. The same team competed in the Asian Games, but I think everyone has stepped up their game over the past year. We were winning by significant margins, and it was a dominant performance," he said.Gujrathi also addressed the incident where he missed shaking hands with his opponent, Levon Aronian. "I have a routine of meditating before every match, which helps me stay focused and perform better. I was busy with that, which is why I missed shaking hands with him. When I opened my eyes, I then shook hands with him," he explained.

India's chess teams made history on Sunday, claiming gold medals in both the men's and women's categories at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest.The men's team, led by D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and R Praggnanadhaa, defeated Slovenia 3-0 in the final round to secure the title. Gukesh, playing with black pieces, displayed his technical prowess against Vladimir Fedoseev, while Erigaisi and Praggnanadhaa also emerged victorious.The women's team, featuring Tania Sachdev, Koneru Humpy, and Harika Dronavalli, clinched the gold with a 3.5-0.5 triumph over Azerbaijan. Sachdev and Humpy won their matches, while Dronavalli drew hers.This marks the first time that India has won gold medals in both the men's and women's categories at the Chess Olympiad. The men's team had previously won bronze medals in 2014 and 2022, while the women's team had won bronze in 2022.After their victory, the Indian contingent celebrated with a unique gesture, imitating the iconic slow-walk celebration of Rohit Sharma and Lionel Messi after winning the T20 World Cup 2024 and FIFA World Cup 2022, respectively.The Indian men's team finished the tournament with an impressive 21 points out of a possible 22, conceding only a single draw to Uzbekistan. The women's team also performed exceptionally, scoring 3.5-0.5 against Azerbaijan.This historic victory is a testament to the growing strength of chess in India and the dedication and hard work of the players and coaches. It is a proud moment for the nation and a significant milestone in the history of Indian chess.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Team India's historic double gold triumph at the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Chess Olympiad, declaring that "Bharat is brimming with energy and aspirations."India's exceptional performance in Budapest culminated in gold medals for both the men's and women's teams on Sunday. Addressing the Indian diaspora at Nassau Coliseum in New York, PM Modi lauded their achievements."India is a nation brimming with energy and dreams. We witness new milestones every day. Today, both our men's and women's teams have brought home gold medals from the Chess Olympiad," he said.In the final round, India's men's team, led by D Gukesh, R. Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, and Pentala Harikrishna, emerged victorious over Slovenia to secure the gold. Gukesh and Erigaisi's wins gave India an early 2-0 lead, while Praggnanandhaa's subsequent victory and Vidit's draw sealed the gold with a 3.5-0.5 triumph.Meanwhile, the Indian women's team, featuring Harika Dronavalli, R. Vaishali, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agarwal, and Tania Sachdev, also clinched gold by defeating Azerbaijan 3.5-0.5. Harika, Divya, and Vantika secured individual victories, while Vaishali drew her match.PM Modi's visit to New York marks the second leg of his three-day trip to the United States. On Saturday, he participated in the Quad Summit and held bilateral meetings with US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.The Quad has emerged as a pivotal group of like-minded nations collaborating for peace, progress, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. PM Modi and President Biden explored new avenues to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.PM Modi will also engage with prominent American business leaders, who play a crucial role in fostering the unique partnership between the world's largest and oldest democracies. He is scheduled to address the Summit of the Future at the UN General Assembly in New York.

Grandmaster D Gukesh, a rising star in the chess world, has led the Indian men's team to a historic victory at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest. Gukesh, who is set to challenge for the World Championship title in November, showcased his exceptional skills and nerves of steel against top-seeded teams.In a crucial match against Fabiano Caruana of the United States, Gukesh employed a Catalan opening, which led to a complex middle game. Gukesh seized the initiative, capturing a pawn and forcing Caruana into a difficult position. Under pressure, Caruana faltered and lost a second pawn, allowing Gukesh to enter a winning endgame.Meanwhile, R Praggnanandhaa fought valiantly against Wesley So, but the American team gained an early lead. However, Arjun Erigaisi and Vidit Gujrathi remained composed, securing victories against Lenier Dominguez Perez and Levon Aronian, respectively.With one round remaining, the Indian men's team is poised to claim their first-ever Olympiad gold medal. Their triumph is a testament to their talent, determination, and the growing strength of Indian chess.On the women's side, Divya Deshmukh continued to shine, defeating Ni Shiqun of China on board three. R Vaishali also played a crucial role, holding her own against Guo Qi and forcing a draw. D Harika and Vantika Agarwal secured draws on the top and second boards, respectively.With Georgia expected to defeat Kazakhstan, the Indian women's team is likely to regain the top position and become the favorites for the gold medal. Their performance has been equally impressive, showcasing the depth of talent in Indian chess.