Author: Atreyo Mukhopadhyay

Hidden beneath the one-two finish by R Praggnanandhaa and D Gukesh at the Tata Steel chess tournament in the Netherlands are the exploits of two other Indians. They finished way down the ladder in the 14-player elite event, but snatched crucial points at critical stages, which tilted the balance in favour of the top two. Without those, this may not have happened. As things unfolded gradually in the town of Wijk Aan Zee, Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan emerged the biggest threat for eventual champion Pragg and runner-up Gukesh, who were either on top or near the top of the table…

Shortly after midnight (IST), R Praggnanandhaa had a non-committal, neutral look on his face, probably not believing what he had just achieved. At the opposite end of the board, D Gukesh sank in his chair, head tilted skywards, with a blank stare. The Tata Steel chess tournament in Wijk Aan Zee was all about India on a manic Sunday. The main protagonists were still to come to terms with it. In an eventful meet in the serene town in northern Netherlands featuring 14 players including five from the world’s top-10, Indians reigned supreme. Pragg claimed the title of his career…

R Praggnanandhaa had got overshadowed by the exploits of D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi in 2024. On an epic final day at the Tata Steel chess tournament in Wijk aan Zee, he showed what he is made of by beating Gukesh in tie-breaker to win the first elite event of 2025. It was an eventful and dramatic final round in the quaint town on the northern coast of the Netherlands. Gukesh and Pragg were the joint-leaders and a full point ahead of Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Only if both the Indians lost did the World No. 6 from Uzbekistan stand a chance.…

The Indian youth brigade has started the new year with as much flair as was seen from them in 2024. After winning almost every big prize on offer last year, they have raised hopes of another triumph in the Tata Steel chess tournament in the Netherlands. It’s an elite event known as the ‘Wimbledon of chess’ and the only Indian to have won it is Viswanathan Anand. Anand’s protégés have taken Wijk Aan Zee by storm. With one round to play, D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa are the joint leaders with 8.5 point each. Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov is a full…

The Indian contingent was expected to do well at the Tata Steel chess tournament in Wijk Aan Zee. The players have done that so far. After 11 rounds, D Gukesh is the sole leader with eight points. Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov and R Praggnanandhaa are breathing down his neck just half-a-point behind. With two rounds to go, it’s a three-way race featuring two Indians. In the year’s first major tournament — five of the 14 participants are from the world’s top 10 — Arjun Erigaisi has been the biggest headline for India for the wrong reasons. World No. 4 when the…

Wriddhiman Saha would have been proud of the catch the Punjab wicket-keeper held to send him back for a six-ball duck in what turned out to be the Bengal veteran’s last first-class knock. As his team posted an innings win, a 17-year-career, which started with a century on Ranji Trophy debut at Eden Gardens, ended with a zero in the same competition, and at the same venue. There is something about scoring a duck in the last outing when it comes to the stalwarts from Bengal. Pankaj Roy (first-class), Sourav Ganguly (Test cricket) and Jhulan Goswami (women’s ODI) had failed…

World champions react differently with that crown on their head. D Gukesh is having a good time after snatching it from Ding Liren. He is the sole leader and in a good position in his first outing after that momentous win in Singapore last month. . The Chinese he defeated had a terrible time after becoming the champion. His form dipped beyond imagination, he admitted to suffering from depression and became a shadow of himself in the aftermath. Gukesh continues to lead a strong field at the Tata Steel chess tournament in Wijk Aan Zee in the Netherlands. After 10…

A lot of sportspersons believe that playing like a champion is tougher than becoming one. D Gukesh has started his journey as the reigning world champion on a sound note. After nine rounds of the Tata Steel chess tournament in Wijk Aan Zee in the Netherlands, the Indian is the sole leader with 6.5 points. Four more rounds remain in the event also known as the ‘Wimbledon of chess’. In his first competition after winning the world crown in Singapore last month, Gukesh started with a fortuitous win over Anish Giri, before playing out three straight draws. He then defeated…

After the eighth round of the Tata Steel chess tournament in Wijk aan Zee in the Netherlands, D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa are among the three joint leaders with 5.5 points each. There is nothing unexpected about it because these Indian players are in the elite of the world. The surprise lies at the bottom of the table. Having started the year’s first top competition as World No. 4, Arjun Erigaisi is winless. With four draws and as many defeats, he has just two points. The top-rated Indian languishing at last in the 14-player field is something that nobody saw…

A few days ago, there was a post on social media showing a picture of Pat Cummins. The text said something on the lines that the Australia captain had forced the entire Indian team to play domestic cricket. The source couldn’t be traced immediately. If someone notifies, it will be acknowledged here. It’s a laudable directive from the BCCI that India stars turn up for their states when available, following some lacklustre performances in Test matches of late. A lot of players had skipped these fixtures when they could have played. If they needed to be told that Ranji Trophy…