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Gukesh D and Divya Deshmukh drew in a lengthy endgame, while Nihal Sarin secured a quick draw, sharing the lead in the FIDE Grand Swiss. R Vaishali lost her lead in the women's section after a defeat, and Vidit Gujrathi was also defeated. Kateryna Lagno now leads the women's section with 6.5 points, holding a half-point advantage.

At the FIDE Grand Swiss in Samarkand, Indian chess presents a contrasting picture. Nihal Sarin shines, securing his third consecutive win and joining the lead. Meanwhile, World Champion D Gukesh struggles, losing his third straight game and risking a drop from the top 10. Despite Nihal's success, he humbly credits Viswanathan Anand and Gukesh for India's chess boom.

In the FIDE Grand Swiss, Gukesh faced his second consecutive defeat, this time against Nikolas Theodorou, while Arjun Erigaisi held Parham Maghsoodloo. Vaishali secured a win, joining Kateryna Lagno in the lead for the women's section. With a rest day approaching, players are gearing up for the crucial rounds ahead, battling for Candidates Tournament qualification.

Turkish chess prodigy Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, 14, drew against his coach Shakhriyar Mamedyarov at the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 after a short 16-move game. This followed Yagiz's stunning victory over India’s Aditya Mittal, where he executed a brilliant checkmate despite a significant material disadvantage. Praveen Thipsay called it a “game for the books of combinations.

The FIDE Grand Swiss witnessed a stunning upset as Hungarian teenager Zsóka Gaál defeated world No. 5 Anna Muzychuk. Reigning world champion D Gukesh of India began strongly, defeating Etienne Bacrot, while Praggnanandhaa drew with Jeffery Xiong. In other matches, Vaishali secured a win, adding to the excitement of the tournament's opening day.

Yosha Iglesias, 37, made history as the first transgender chess player to earn the WIM title and win the French women’s championship. From battling depression, financial struggles, and online hate to embracing her identity in 2020, her journey reflects resilience.

Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa maintains his position as a top player. He is currently ranked fourth in the world. Vincent Keymer makes a significant jump in the rankings. He enters the top ten for the first time. Keymer's rise pushes him past chess legends. Nodirbek Abdusattorov experiences a drop in ranking. Wesley So improves his standing after a tournament win.

Pranav Venkatesh triumphed in the Superstars section of the Fujairah Global Chess 2025, held in UAE. He secured victory with an aggressive final-round win, finishing with 7.0/9 points. Prior to this, the 2025 World Junior Champion earned a spot in the FIDE Grand Swiss by winning the "Asian Wildcard Match"Z against GM Kazybek Nogerbek.

A video shows a Chinese man analysing his chess loss in the rain. Grandmaster Hans Niemann shared a similar experience. Anish Giri joked about his rain-free victory. Niemann criticised the American chess system, praising India's support for players. Divya Deshmukh received a Rs 3 crore prize for her chess achievements. Chess passion continues to inspire globally.

D Gukesh, the youngest World Chess Champion, revealed that Viswanathan Anand's advice helped him recover after a poor start in Singapore. The 19-year-old admitted overconfidence led to a loss in the opening game, serving as a wake-up call. He revealed the 'pep talk' that gave him perspective and ultimately led to victory.

Gukesh Dommaraju admitted that overconfidence cost him the opening game of his World Championship run. But a pep talk from Viswanathan Anand and a timely mental reset helped the teenager bounce back, leading to his historic title in Singapore.

India’s Divya Deshmukh sparked laughs with her “No jeans!” rule-change joke, recalling Magnus Carlsen’s 2024 dress code controversy. Carlsen famously refused to change his Corneliani jeans, was fined, and later auctioned them for $36,100. Proceeds went to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, turning a quirky chess moment into a powerful charitable milestone.

Chess legends Viswanathan Anand and Garry Kasparov are set to reignite their historic rivalry in St. Louis this October, headlining the Clutch Chess series. Adding to the excitement, current world champion D Gukesh will face off against Magnus Carlsen. Kasparov, while acknowledging Gukesh's title win, suggests Carlsen remains the strongest player, sparking debate about the current world championship landscape.

Garry Kasparov commented on Gukesh's recent world championship win during the Sinquefield Cup. Kasparov acknowledged Gukesh's victory but questioned his status as the strongest player. He contrasted Gukesh's title with those of past champions like Magnus Carlsen. Kasparov later apologised while standing by his opinion. He highlighted the excitement for future Candidates and world championship matches.

Garry Kasparov ignited controversy by suggesting Gukesh's world title lacks the prestige of past champions, despite Gukesh winning fairly. He implied Magnus Carlsen's era redefined the title's significance, prompting strong defence from Susan Polgar, who highlighted Gukesh's Candidates Tournament victory and criticised double standards. Gukesh continues to face intense scrutiny as he competes in the Sinquefield Cup.

Indian chess player R Praggnanandhaa has achieved a milestone. He defeated D Gukesh at the Sinquefield Cup. Praggnanandhaa is now ranked World No. 3. He has a live rating of 2784.1 points. Only Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura are ahead of him. Praggnanandhaa shares the tournament lead with Levon Aronian. The Sinquefield Cup has a prize pool of USD 350,000.

Anish Giri criticized Ian Nepomniachtchi and Hikaru Nakamura over their protest at the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Teams event, questioning their sense of entitlement after arriving late and replaying games. Nepo and Nakamura fired back with sarcastic remarks, while Giri insisted he only reacts strongly to perceived injustice.

After Magnus Carlsen’s table-slam went viral following a loss to D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa called it an instinctive reaction — not ideal, but good for chess visibility. While praising Carlsen as the best, Praggnanandhaa reflected on his own breakthrough year, having won three major titles and rising to World No. 4 as he eyes a Candidates spot.

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has intervened in the dispute between Vladimir Kramnik and David Navara. FIDE expresses concern over the impact of Kramnik's accusations. It supports Navara and asks Kramnik to withdraw his defamation lawsuit. Levon Aronian has also appealed to Kramnik for reconciliation. FIDE emphasizes fairness and unity within the chess community.

In a public plea, Armenian chess grandmaster Levon Aronian has urged Vladimir Kramnik, a former World Champion, to reconcile amidst a defamation lawsuit. Aronian's letter, shared on social media, expresses deep respect for Kramnik, acknowledging his significant influence. This follows Kramnik's lawsuit against Chessdom, GM David Navara, and others, stemming from disputes over alleged online cheating.