Ep 21: Norway Chess, Giri’s Win, and London’s ChessFest

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

Hey everyone, welcome to another episode of Chess Gaja — your weekly dive into the game we all love and live for.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

This week, we’ve got some fascinating stories from the chess world. There's so much happening—Norway Chess, Sharjah Masters, and even a bold new idea tying chess to blockchain tech.

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

Right? Plus, there’s ChessFest coming up in London and national titles being claimed in Germany. Chess is buzzing right now. And you know what? I think we’re gonna see some really interesting shifts in the global chess scene soon. So, let’s get into it.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

Absolutely. Let’s start with Norway Chess—

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

Let’s start with Norway Chess. The 13th edition is well underway in Stavanger and runs until June 6. What’s really special this year is the format — for the first time, we have parallel events for open and women’s sections, same number of players, same format, and even the same prize money. That’s a big statement for equality in chess.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

Absolutely! And it’s a stacked field. You've got both reigning world champions — Ju Wenjun and Gukesh Dommaraju — and of course, Magnus Carlsen, playing on home turf. Both events are structured as 6-player double round robins, and here’s the twist: if the classical game ends in a draw, they go straight to Armageddon.

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

And in round four of the women's tournament, Sara Khadem notched her first classical win, taking down Lei Tingjie with the black pieces. Big moment for her — she’s now up to fourth in the standings.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

Meanwhile, co-leaders Anna Muzychuk and Humpy Koneru both lost their Armageddon games — to Vaishali Rameshbabu and Ju Wenjun respectively — but still share the top spot with 7 points. Friday's a rest day, which the players probably need with the intensity of these matches.

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

Fun fact — this format, with classical followed by Armageddon, really brings out the prep and nerves. It’s like a chess version of penalty shootouts. And with Carlsen playing, Norway always turns into the Wimbledon of chess.

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

Now let’s head over to the 2025 Sharjah Masters, where Anish Giri clinched outright victory with a solid 7 out of 9. Giri was on fire — consistent, confident, and classy.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

He faced a tough final round matchup against Aditya Mittal, and after a long, technical struggle, Giri managed to grind out a win from what looked like a drawn rook endgame. Meanwhile, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who was tied with Giri heading into the final day, drew with Amin Tabatabaei, which meant Giri took clear first, with Aleksandar Indjic finishing second and Abdusattorov third.

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

That secured Giri the crown and moved him just outside the world’s top ten in live ratings. Not bad for a guy who often gets labeled a “draw master” — looks like he's rewriting that narrative.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

And let’s not forget Bibisara Assaubayeva. She earned her third and final GM norm in Sharjah, officially becoming a grandmaster at just 21. Huge milestone. She’s already a two-time women’s blitz world champ — now she’s proving she can compete across formats.

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

Switching gears — have you heard about the new “Chess Passport” idea?

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

Yeah, it’s kind of wild. World Chess and the Algorand Foundation are teaming up to launch a blockchain-based credential system. The idea is to create secure, verifiable digital IDs for chess players — and potentially other sports — which could simplify everything from registration to tracking titles.

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

It’s like a FIDE ID 2.0, but powered by Web3. Imagine linking your performance, norms, anti-cheating verification — all into one portable, secure digital wallet. It sounds futuristic, but also incredibly practical.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

And it’s happening at a time when other industries are facing growing concerns around data privacy and credential fraud. So it’s a smart move for chess to be ahead of the curve here.

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

Mark your calendars — ChessFest is back! Sunday, July 13th, Trafalgar Square in London transforms into a giant chessboard again, with events running from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

It’s one of the coolest free chess events on the planet — masters giving simuls, giant chess sets, blitz showdowns, and activities for kids. Total chess carnival vibes.

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

And with under eight weeks to go, the hype is real. For folks in the UK, this is a must-attend, especially with chess interest peaking post-Queen's Gambit and Carlsen’s constant media buzz.

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

And before we wrap up — a quick shoutout to the German Chess Championships, which just wrapped up in Munich. Vincent Keymer clinched his first national title — finally! He’s been Germany’s top hope for a while now, and this win really cements his standing.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

In the women’s section, it was Dinara Wagner who took the title, winning a dramatic rapid playoff against Hanna Marie Klek. Also worth noting — Matthias Bluebaum secured clear second in the open section. Germany’s got a solid lineup right now

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

A good reminder that national championships can still pack serious drama — and with younger players breaking through, it’s exciting to watch.

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

Speaking of Germany’s momentum, Priyadharshan, it’s been quite a week for chess overall. After Keymer and Wagner’s impressive runs, we’ve also seen fireworks internationally—Norway Chess wrapping up, Giri shining in Sharjah—it’s almost too much to keep up with, right?

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

Absolutely. Chess continues to evolve, with players achieving new milestones and the game itself expanding into unexpected areas like blockchain. It’s an exciting time to be part of this world.

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

Right? And events like ChessFest in London are a good reminder that chess is more than just games on a board—it’s about community and creativity. Honestly, I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year has in store.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

Neither can I. Let this excitement inspire everyone listening to explore their own chess journeys, whether it’s through tournaments, studying, or just enjoying the beauty of the game.

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

Couldn’t have said it better myself. So, to our listeners, thank you for joining us on this week’s episode of Chess Gaja. If you enjoyed the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate us five stars, and share it with your friends.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

And, as always, we’d love to hear your thoughts. Which story stood out to you the most, and what do you think about the future of chess technology? Reach out to us on our social media or website.

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

Alright, everyone. Until next time—keep your queens active, your pawns connected, and your ideas sharp. See you soon!