European Chess, Novy Bor’s Dominance, and India’s Rising Stars - Episode 14

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

We’re excited to dive into the most important chess events happening around the world right now.

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

Absolutely! Let’s kick things off with a major event on the horizon—the 25th European Women’s Chess Championship.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

Yes! This championship will take place from March 31st to April 11th in beautiful Rhodes, Greece.

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

That’s right! A total of 136 players will represent over 34 European countries, competing in an engaging 11-round Swiss format.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

And there’s a lot at stake! The top players will be vying for spots to qualify for the Women’s World Chess Cup.

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

The top seeds include some impressive names—Nino Batsiashvili, Teodora Injac, and Meri Arabidze are all in the mix.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

FIDE has confirmed that at least ten players will secure their spots for the world finals. It’s going to be a thrilling competition!

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

And during the opening ceremony, they honored China’s rich chess legacy, which is a nice touch

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

Moving on to another exciting development, Novy Bor has claimed their 14th Czech Extraliga title!

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

That’s right! They finished three full points ahead of their competition, showcasing an absolutely dominant performance.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

Pentala Harikrishna was the star of the show, remaining unbeaten and performing at the level of a 2868-rated player. Incredible!

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

Novy Bor is also the reigning European Chess Club Cup Champion, and they’ve certainly continued their dominance in Czech team chess.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

Now, let’s talk about India, which is asserting its chess dominance on the global stage.

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

Yes! Aravindh has climbed to World Number Eleven, joining other Indian stars at the top of the board.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

He’s become a serious contender for the next Candidates Tournament, alongside Gukesh Dommaraju, Arjun Erigaisi, and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu.

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

He’s really caught fire since the German Bundesliga, rising a full 17.5 rating points.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

And now, there are five Indian players in the World Top 20! Aravindh is currently third in the 2025 FIDE circuit rankings.

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

That’s an impressive feat! Now, let’s wrap up with an exciting event coming up in 2025—the President’s Cup.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

For the second consecutive year, the University of Texas in Dallas will host this prestigious event from April 5th to April 6th.

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

It’s the most exclusive chess event in college, featuring the top four teams from the Pan-American Intercollegiate Chess Championship

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

They’ll be competing in a round-robin format, and this year promises an exceptionally high level of talent.

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

Absolutely! There were an astounding 30 grandmasters present in the qualifying round, showcasing the strength of the college chess scene in the US.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

That’s all we have for today’s episode!