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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.

Defending world chess champion Ding Liren has conceded that his Indian challenger, D Gukesh, is the favorite to win their upcoming title showdown in November. Liren's admission comes as Gukesh has been in impressive form at the ongoing 45th Chess Olympiad, leading the Indian team to five consecutive victories."I can see my opponent (Gukesh) playing extremely well in this tournament. Maybe he is a favorite in the World Championship Match. He also has a higher rating than me," Liren said in an interview with the International Chess Federation (FIDE).Liren, who won the world crown in May 2022, has struggled for form in the past year. He took a break from the game due to depression and returned to action earlier this year at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, finishing ninth.Gukesh, on the other hand, has been on a meteoric rise. He became the youngest challenger to the world title at the age of 17 after winning the Candidates tournament in April.The two will clash in Singapore from November 20 to December 15 for the coveted title and a prize fund of USD 2.50 million. Should Gukesh prevail, he would become the first Indian after Viswanathan Anand to claim the title.Liren acknowledged the possibility of a close battle between India and China for the gold medal in the Olympiad. "We are two very strong teams. We have a chance to fight for the gold medal," he said.Gukesh, however, remained cautious, saying that all participating teams are strong. "All countries are strong, we have to come everyday with the right spirit...We have a nice mood in the team, it's enjoyable," he said.

In the highly anticipated first encounter between reigning World Champion Ding Liren and 18-year-old Indian prodigy D Gukesh at the Sinquefield Cup, the two chess titans played out a tense draw in Round 1.Despite Ding's 2-0 advantage over Gukesh in classical chess, the Indian teen held his own, showcasing his remarkable talent. The game began with Ding holding the White pieces, and on move 18, Gukesh made a surprising decision that drew criticism from commentators.Gukesh pushed his Black pawn to d4, opening up a potential mating threat on the kingside. Ding, with his hands resting on his face, pondered his next move for half an hour before playing the anticipated Queen to h6. However, he loosened his grip with a subsequent bd3 move, allowing Gukesh to create a passed pawn and counterplay opportunities.Earlier in the day, Gukesh was spotted entering the World Chess Hall of Fame with his trainer and father. The teen recently received a Mercedes-Benz E-class as a gift from his Chennai school. Despite his recent success, Ding has dropped to his lowest ranking since 2016, while Gukesh has reached his highest-ever ranking of world no. 6.After the game, Ding admitted to wanting to surprise Gukesh in the opening while preserving his preparation. He also acknowledged his improved form and the lessons he has learned from his recent losses.The draw in Round 1 sets the stage for an intriguing rematch between the two players later this year in their World Championship match. Gukesh's performance against the reigning champion demonstrates his potential to challenge for the highest honor in chess.

Singapore's Kevin Goh Wei Ming, the CEO of the Singapore Chess Federation, played a pivotal role in securing the hosting rights for the World Chess Championship between reigning champion Ding Liren and rising star D Gukesh. The championship will be held in Singapore later this year, marking the first time the event will be held in Southeast Asia since 1978.Goh's relationship with both players played a significant role in Singapore's successful bid. He has known Ding for several years and even played football with him during the Asian Indoor Games. Goh also contributed to Gukesh's path to greatness by losing to him in the 2018 Bangkok Open, helping Gukesh earn his first GM norm.Goh believes that Singapore's neutrality was a key factor in winning the bid over two Indian cities. He also credits the support of Sports Singapore, the government agency responsible for hosting major sporting events.The World Championship is expected to have a significant impact on chess in Singapore. Goh hopes that the event will inspire more interest in the game and highlight its benefits for different social groups. He also plans to create an immersive fan experience, including fan zones, master classes, and simultaneous exhibitions by chess legends.Goh acknowledges the potential for an influx of Indian chess fans and welcomes them to Singapore. He believes that the championship will be a great opportunity for Indian tourists to visit the country.Singapore has seen a surge in chess popularity since the pandemic. The number of school children participating in national age group tournaments has increased significantly. Goh attributes this growth to a shift in mindset among parents, who are now recognizing the benefits of chess for their children's development.Despite the growth, Singapore still faces challenges in terms of training and funding. Goh hopes that the World Championship will help attract more sponsors and support for chess development in the country.

Indian chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa continues to make waves in the chess world, adding another high-profile scalp to his growing list of victories. At the prestigious Norway Chess Tournament, Praggnanandhaa defeated world champion Ding Liren in an armageddon game, securing a remarkable triumph.Praggnanandhaa's victory over Ding Liren comes on the heels of his impressive wins against Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana earlier in the tournament. The young Indian prodigy has been in scintillating form, showcasing his exceptional talent and strategic prowess.In the armageddon game against Ding Liren, Praggnanandhaa drew the traditional game, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown. However, in the sudden death format, Praggnanandhaa seized the initiative and emerged victorious, demonstrating his nerves of steel and ability to perform under pressure.Praggnanandhaa's recent performances have garnered widespread praise from the chess community. Former world champion Gary Kasparov lauded his tenacity and resilience, while Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani and Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra hailed his stunning victory over Carlsen.Meanwhile, Hikaru Nakamura also made a significant move in the tournament, edging closer to leader Magnus Carlsen. Nakamura won an armageddon thriller against Carlsen, narrowing the gap to just half a point.In another exciting encounter, Fabiano Caruana and Alireza Firouzja engaged in a roller coaster of emotions. Caruana's bold knight sacrifice nearly backfired, but he managed to salvage a draw in the classical game. However, Firouzja dominated the armageddon game, leaving Caruana with no chance of recovery.Praggnanandhaa's remarkable run of victories has cemented his status as one of the most promising young chess players in the world. His ability to defeat top-ranked opponents consistently demonstrates his exceptional talent and unwavering determination. As he continues to rise through the ranks, Praggnanandhaa is poised to make even greater strides in the chess world.

In the ongoing Norway Chess tournament, the Indian duo of R Praggnanandhaaa and R Vaishali faced setbacks in their respective sections. Meanwhile, world champion Magnus Carlsen extended his lead to 12 points, securing the sole lead after defeating Ding Liren.Praggnanandhaaa's hopes were dashed by Firouzja Alireza of France in the Armageddon tiebreaker. Despite a challenging Classical game, Praggnanandhaa faltered in the return game, allowing Alireza to claim victory.In the women's section, Vaishali suffered a loss to world champion Wenjun Ju of China. Ju's technical prowess and endgame strategy proved too strong for Vaishali.Carlsen, however, maintained his dominance, capitalizing on his double Bishops to launch an attack on Ding Liren's king side. A blunder by Liren allowed Carlsen to finish the game with a queen sacrifice.Fabiano Caruana also contributed to Carlsen's lead by defeating compatriot Hikaru Nakamura. Carlsen now leads the tournament with 12 points, followed by Nakamura with 11 points. Praggnanandhaa remains in third place with 9.5 points.In the women's section, Wenjun Ju and Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine share the lead with 10.5 points each. Vaishali is now in third place with 10 points, while Koneru Humpy suffered another loss to Pia Cramling of Sweden.With four rounds remaining in both sections, the tournament remains highly competitive. Carlsen is the clear favorite in the men's section, while the women's section is still wide open.

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa's impressive run at the Norway Chess tournament came to an end in the second round, as he succumbed to World Champion Ding Liren in the Armageddon tie-breaker. The highly anticipated clash between the two ended in a draw under normal time control, setting the stage for a thrilling tie-breaker.In the Armageddon game, Liren emerged victorious, showcasing his exceptional skills under pressure. The Chinese GM's triumph marked a significant moment in the tournament, as he overcame Praggnanandhaa's 2-0 head-to-head advantage.Meanwhile, Magnus Carlsen continued his dominance, securing a crucial victory in the Armageddon game against Hikaru Nakamura. Carlsen's exceptional skill under pressure was evident as he added to his impressive Armageddon record and took the lead in the tournament standings with 3 points.Alireza Firouzja also impressed, drawing his classical game against Fabiano Caruana before showcasing his abilities in speed chess to bag 1.5 points in the Armageddon game.In the women's section, R Vaishali made history by defeating fellow Indian Koneru Humpy in a classical game. Vaishali's victory marked her first classical win in the tournament and propelled her to the position of India's number two female player on the live rating list.The other two classical matches between Lei Tingjie and Pia Cramling, as well as Ju Wenjun and Anna Muzychuk, ended in hard-fought draws. However, the Chinese duo of Wenjun and Tingjie emerged victorious in their respective Armageddon games.The Norway Chess tournament continues to provide thrilling action, with the world's top players showcasing their exceptional skills. Praggnanandhaa's loss to Liren may have been a setback, but it serves as a reminder of the intense competition at the highest level of chess.

Indian chess prodigy Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu is eagerly anticipating his participation in the prestigious 12th edition of Norway Chess, set to take place from May 27 to June 7 in Stavanger, Norway. The tournament boasts an exceptional lineup, including world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, World Champion Ding Liren, and world No. 3 Hikaru Nakamura.Pragg, 18, expressed his excitement about the opportunity to compete against such a formidable field. "I am very happy and excited to play in Norway Chess. The field is extremely strong. This is perhaps the strongest field I have played, and I see this as an opportunity and a challenge to give my best," he said.Reflecting on his memorable contest with Carlsen at last year's FIDE Chess World Cup, Pragg emphasized his eagerness to face the Norwegian once again. "I always enjoy a good challenge. After the World Cup last year, this will be my first classical game with him. I am quite excited to play him and equally excited to play the others. No doubt the experience here will help me in future tournaments."Pragg dismissed the notion that playing Carlsen on his home turf would pose a significant challenge. "I don't think playing Magnus on his home turf is a challenge for me. Usually, it matters to the player playing in his home, but it won't matter so much for me," he asserted.The young Indian also expressed his delight at the inclusion of an exclusive women's tournament in Norway Chess. "I am happy to see an exclusive women's tournament being introduced in Norway Chess. It is a very good initiative because there are not many tournaments for women. This will encourage other organizations to come up with women's tournaments too."Pragg's sister, Vaishali Rameshbabu, will also make her debut in the Norway Chess Women's Tournament. "I am looking forward to seeing how she will do," Pragg said.The tournament will be played in a double round-robin format with classical time control. In case of a draw, an Armageddon game will be played.