Author: Atreyo Mukhopadhyay

Atreyo Mukhopadhyay The beaches of Goa and adjoining areas turn into a sea of humanity between the months of November and February. That’s when the ‘season’ is. During that period, the tiny state, which is arguably the tourism capital of India, becomes a hotbed of activities featuring folks from the world over. Goa has also hosted the International Film Festival of India annually since 2004. This November event has added another dimension to an atmosphere that encourages visitors to have a good time. Entertainment of another kind is on offer on the Konkan coast this year. The FIDE World Cup…

Atreyo Mukhopadhyay It’s tough to succeed at the higher altitudes of professional sports. Tougher is to sustain that performance level under pressure, which rises alongside the reputation of a sportsperson. After a stellar 2024, when she claimed individual and team gold at the Chess Olympiad, Divya Deshmukh has done better this year. Winning the women’s World Cup and qualifying for the Candidates, securing the Grandmaster title — she has not exactly exceeded expectations. Just that it all happened quicker than expected. The player from Nagpur has decided to test herself in rougher waters. The best way to do it is…

If chess were to name a year after a player, 2025 might well be the ‘Year of Pragg’. The youngster has won three top competitions and was in contention in most of the events he didn’t win. R Praggnanandhaa did not just take the stage by storm with his innovations and powers of calculation. He showed he has added solidity to his game and he can do it day in and day out. The FIDE World Cup in Goa from October 31 to November 27 completes a mini-circle. It was at this event in 2023 that Pragg announced himself on…

Atreyo Mukhopadhyay The rise of the leading trio of Indian chess happened at such a rapid pace that the progress made by others got blurred. It’s not only about D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa. There are several players close to breaking into the elite league. Some of them will participate in the FIDE World Cup in Goa from October 30 to November 27. P Harikrishna and Vidit Gujrathi have spent many seasons in the circuit. Both were members of last year’s Olympiad gold-winning team. Who else to look forward to? In a list of five, the first few…

Atreyo Mukhopadhyay Can Arjun Erigaisi qualify for Candidates 2026? He couldn’t make it in 2024, when a record number of three Indians made the cut. One of the handful of players in history to have crossed the 2800 mark in Elo ratings, an individual gold-winner at the Olympiad last year and a career-best ranking of world No. 3 — at 22, he has achieved things that can take a lifetime. Yet, there is a vacuum. The FIDE World Cup in Goa from October 30 to November 27 is Erigaisi’s best chance to fill that gap. The biggest reward in this…

Tracking the FIDE World Cup is a good way to study the evolution of Indian chess at the highest level. Viswanathan Anand’s reign, then a long period of lull, followed by the emergence of the next generation, and gradually, the number of title contenders multiplying — India’s history in this tournament describes in details every chapter of this journey. A bunch of favourites (2025) The upcoming one first. Goa is hosting the 2025 edition of this knockout event (October 30 to November 27) and the Indians are a formidable force. D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi are heading a…

The world chess witnessed what can be called the controversial moment of the year. In a departure from tradition, Hikaru Nakamura plucked out D Gukesh’sblack king from the board after beating him and tossed it towards the spectators seated in front. Nakamura waved frantically towards the crowd like a football star as Gukesh sat on his chair. Throwing the opponent’s king away after winning a game is unheard of in this game. The stage was “Checkmate: USA vs India”, an exhibition event played in Arlington, USA. The USA team whitewashed the Indians 5-0. That got overshadowed by Nakamura’s unconventional even…

Atreyo Mukhopadhyay There appears to be something called the world champion’s syndrome in chess. In the aftermath of winning the title, the player hits a downward trail. It happened to Ding Liren following his triumph in 2023. After dethroning the Chinese last year, D Gukesh is in a seemingly similar situation. At world No. 11, he is not out of the elite zone. Neither is it comparable with Ding’s steep fall. But this is after a long time that the Indian is not in the top 10. It’s more of a point to note rather than an alarm. Other than…

Not every success story ends in victory. R Praggnanandhaa came within a handshaking distance of his fourth title of the year before losing in a tie-breaker to finish joint-second in the Sinquefield Cup in St Louis in USA. The outcome confirmed his place in the four-player final round of the Global Chess Tour to be played in Sao Paulo next month. It was a day when almost everything went to plan for the 20-year-old, with a little help from D Gukesh. Pragg realised early into his ninth and final round game against Armenian Levon Aronian that a win was difficult.…

The FIDE World Cup, one of the most important events on the international chess circuit, will be held in Goa from October 30 to November 27. India had earlier been announced as the host nation. On Tuesday came the confirmation that the tournament will take place in Goa. Chennai, Delhi, and Ahmedabad were also in contention, but Goa received the nod for everything it offers. “Goa’s stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality make it an exciting backdrop for this global showdown. Players and fans will experience world-class chess alongside a destination famous for its energy and charm,” FIDE president…