aikidogs.com – Local Reports & Special Coverage

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.

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa showcased a dominant performance, defeating Alireza Firouzja and surging to joint first place in the Sinquefield Cup alongside Fabiano Caruana with a score of 4.5. However, D Gukesh faced a setback, losing to Wesley So and dropping to the bottom standings in the standings. With three rounds remaining, the competition intensifies as Caruana and Praggnanandhaa lead, followed closely by Wesley So and Levon Aronian.

A grandmaster chess tournament in New Delhi highlights the traditional, silent atmosphere of the game, contrasting sharply with a recent event in Las Vegas where live audiences roared at every move. Players express concerns about distractions caused by spectators, questioning whether chess is truly ready for a live audience setting.