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Gukesh Dommaraju and Divya Deshmukh, Indian chess prodigies, faced off at the FIDE Grand Swiss in Uzbekistan. Their first classical format encounter ended in a draw after a 103-move battle. Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay analysed the game, highlighting Divya's unusual opening and Gukesh's missed opportunities. With the draw, Gukesh, undergoing a slump, fell out of the top 10 in live ratings.

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.

A Gujarat teacher is transforming chess education in village schools through personal funding and dedication. His efforts are nurturing young talent and setting a model for grassroots sports growth in India.

Aarini Lahoty, a five-year-old chess prodigy from Delhi, has achieved a remarkable feat by earning FIDE ratings in classical, rapid, and blitz chess formats. She is the youngest girl globally to achieve this milestone and the first Indian player born in 2019 to do so. She now holds ratings of 1553 (classical), 1550 (rapid) and 1498 (blitz).

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's witty remark on Praggnanandhaa becoming the World No.1 junior highlights the rise of young chess talents. Praggnanandhaa's UzChess Cup Masters 2025 victory, propelling him to World No.4 and India's top player, showcases his dominance. His dramatic win, praised by Viswanathan Anand, underscores his impressive character and solidifies his position as a leading force in chess.