schimschacks.com – Opinion & Topical Discussions

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.

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.

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 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'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.

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.