Iran states it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the US meets conditions including lifting blockades, ending sanctions, releasing frozen assets, and paying war damages.
FIDE's neutral flag has historically shielded chess players like Viktor Korchnoi, Alireza Firouzja, and Ian Nepomniachtchi from state-driven geopolitical conflicts, preserving their right to compete.
The All India Chess Federation (AICF) has released quarterly stipends totaling ₹42.3 lakh to 42 top young Indian chess players (U7-U19), aiming to alleviate financial burdens for training and competition, as part of a grassroots development plan.
Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi has re-entered the world's top 10 chess players, securing the No. 8 spot in the June 2026 FIDE ratings. He is the sole Indian player in the top 10.
Abhijeet Gupta has alleged that his Rs 5.5 lakh winner’s prize from the Odisha GM Open, held in January 2026 with a Rs 45 lakh prize pool, remains unpaid. The Arjuna Awardee criticised organisers and the All India Chess Federation for a lack of accountability, saying repeated emails went unanswered. Gupta urged authorities to protect the “dignity and trust” of Indian chess players.
Abhijeet Gupta has alleged that his Rs 5.5 lakh winner’s prize from the Odisha GM Open, held in January 2026 with a Rs 45 lakh prize pool, remains unpaid. The Arjuna Awardee criticised organisers and the All India Chess Federation for a lack of accountability, saying repeated emails went unanswered. Gupta urged authorities to protect the “dignity and trust” of Indian chess players.
Abhijeet Gupta has alleged that his Rs 5.5 lakh winner’s prize from the Odisha GM Open, held in January 2026 with a Rs 45 lakh prize pool, remains unpaid. The Arjuna Awardee criticised organisers and the All India Chess Federation for a lack of accountability, saying repeated emails went unanswered. Gupta urged authorities to protect the “dignity and trust” of Indian chess players.
Abhijeet Gupta has alleged that his Rs 1 lakh winner’s prize from the Odisha GM Open, held in January 2026 with a Rs 45 lakh prize pool, remains unpaid. The Arjuna Awardee criticised organisers and the All India Chess Federation for a lack of accountability, saying repeated emails went unanswered. Gupta urged authorities to protect the “dignity and trust” of Indian chess players.
In this exclusive interview, Vincent Keymer reflected on his rise from winning the Grenke Open at 13 to claiming the Grenke Freestyle 2026 title in Karlsruhe. Germany’s No. 1 spoke about freestyle chess relying more on intuition, handling the “intimidation factor” of Magnus Carlsen, and balancing school with chess while growing up in a family of musicians. Keymer also praised coach Péter Lékó and discussed the challenges young chess players face in Germany compared to countries like India.
Vincent Keymer, Germany's top chess player, reflects on his recent Grenke Freestyle 2026 victory, his approach to the Chess960 format, and the influence of his coach, Péter Lékó, on his professional development.
Russia's 11-year-old Roman Shogdzhiev won the under-18 world blitz chess championship, becoming the youngest-ever winner in that category. Russian players dominated the World Youth Blitz Championship in Belgrade, winning seven gold, three silver, and five bronze medals total. Other Russian winners included Mikhail Shishov (U8), Fedor Sidelnikov (U10), Daniil Kaminskii (U12), Alisa Genrietta Yunker (U12 girls), David Kaufman (U16), and Diana Preobrazhenskaya (U16 girls). Shogdzhiev was designated a grandmaster by the International Chess Federation at age 10.
