Articles by Susan Ninan
Ding Liren crowned first Chinese male chess world champion
Seals title with a 68-move win over Russian GM Ian Nepomniachtchi with black in the fourth and last rapid game of the tie-break phase in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Published on May 01, 2023 12:22 AM IST
Crafty Nepo, candid Ding: Mind games at world chess
The Russian and his Chinese rival are chasing their first world chess title and the intensity and mind games in Astana has been fascinating.

Published on Apr 22, 2023 09:27 PM IST
How Norway is coping with a Magnus Carlsen-less WC
Chess had become a way of life for the Scandinavian country but with Carlsen missing in action, something different is playing out

Published on Apr 17, 2023 08:23 PM IST
Ding lets out his emotions in battle for chess’ ultimate prize
The World Chess Championship match between the Chinese world No 3 and Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi is evenly poised at 2-2

Updated on Apr 14, 2023 08:56 PM IST
Nepo, Ding battle for the crown but Carlsen still rules
The missing champion will cast a big shadow on Astana’s glass-domed, Kazakh yurt-inspired St Regis setting for chess’ ultimate title this weekend.

Published on Apr 07, 2023 07:59 PM IST
Indian origin teen’s race to become UK’s youngest chess Grandmaster
Shreyas Royal, 14, has achieved one of the three required GM norms. David Howell is the holder of the youngest UK GM record, achieved at 16 years and one month

Published on Apr 01, 2023 05:40 PM IST
Calculate, move, return to sender: The slow genius of correspondence chess
Before computers arrived, PB Dhanish waited for the mailman to deliver his opponents’ moves.

Updated on Mar 25, 2023 02:00 PM IST
Family is my solace: Chess’s Koneru Humpy on life, love and being one move ahead
She was the world’s youngest female grandmaster, at 15. Faced a backlash for it from elders in the sport; battled depression, found love, became a mother. Now 35, Humpy has won India’s first silver at the World Blitz. What’s truly precious to her today, she says, is that her five-year-old doesn’t understand the fuss. ‘She’s aware that I play chess but not that I do it more than reasonably well.’

Updated on Jan 13, 2023 06:14 PM IST
Aravindh Chithambaram is finally starting to play to win
As a junior, the youngster ticked off the boxes of a gifted player on course to a propitious future but then he stumbled for a bit.

Published on Sep 16, 2022 09:30 PM IST
Cheating at chess? Upheaval after Magnus Carlsen questions Hans Niemann
Norwegian world champion suggesting the 19-year-old US player could have cheated while beating him has thrown up many questions

Published on Sep 13, 2022 07:28 PM IST
Viswanathan Anand on his new opening move in FIDE
India’s five-time world chess champion explains why he has taken on the role as deputy to Russian FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich in politically testing times.

Published on Aug 22, 2022 08:04 PM IST
Susan Ninan, Chennai
The Magnus Carlsen effect: When a humble Macedonian GM felt the butterflies
The modestly rated Stanojovski, 58, has a brush with super stardom at the 44th Chess Olympiad after going 55 moves with the Norwegian world champion and No 1 player.

Published on Aug 06, 2022 12:44 PM IST
Susan Ninan, Mahabalipuram
Understanding Carlsen: Why has he given up his world champion status?
In choosing not to be limited and defined by what the world thinks should be his legacy, Carlsen has broken free.

Published on Jul 21, 2022 09:19 PM IST
Sri Lanka distress weighs on its chess stars as Olympiad looms
As the island hit by economic crisis teeters on the brink, its top players set for the event in India are staring at power cuts, zooming prices, scarcity and lawlessness.

Published on Jul 09, 2022 10:09 PM IST
Expectant mom Harika ready to chase Olympiad glory
The Grand Master, world's No 10 ranked woman player, is in her final trimester but is hopeful of withstanding discomforts to guide India at the chess Olympiad starting on July 28.

Published on Jun 25, 2022 09:16 PM IST