Ethan Vaz Becomes India’s 96th Grandmaster: A Journey of Talent, Hard Work, and Never Giving Up
Indian chess continues to reach new heights, and one more young star has now joined thecountry’s growing list of grandmasters. At just 14 years old, Ethan Vaz from Goa has becomeIndia’s 96th Chess Grandmaster. His achievement is much more than earning a title—it is astory of patience, family support, financial struggles, and the determination to […]
How Praggnanandhaa Won Norway Chess 2026 – And Why Good Chess Schools Matter
In June 2026, Indian Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa created history bybecoming the first Indian ever to win Norway Chess, one of the strongest and mostprestigious tournaments in the world. It was a victory that showcased resilience,preparation, and exceptional mental strength rather than flawless play from the verybeginning.What made this triumph so inspiring wasn’t just the trophy—it […]
If India invented chess , why didn’t it dominate the game?
Imagine inventing one of the greatest strategy games in history, only to watch the rest of theworld become better at it than you. That’s the story of chess. Most historians believe the gameoriginated in ancient India as Chaturanga, yet for centuries, the world’s strongest chess nationswere far from its birthplace.So, what happened? How did an […]
The evolution of chess rating: then vs now
Chess ratings have become the universal way of measuring a player’s strength. Whether it’sreaching 1000, 2000, or even 2500 Elo, every milestone carries a certain reputation. But haveyou ever wondered if those numbers mean the same thing today as they did 50 years ago?Over the decades, chess has changed dramatically. The rise of online platforms, […]
Why Every School Should Have a Chess Club
Walk into most schools after the final bell rings and you’ll see students heading towards football practice, basketball courts, music rooms, or debate clubs. These activities help children discover new interests, make friends, and build confidence outside the classroom. But there’s one activity that’s becoming increasingly common in schools around the world—chess. Not because every […]
Why Memorizing Opening Lines Isn’t Enough to Win Games
If you’ve been playing chess for a while, you’ve probably done this at least once. You spend an evening studying an opening, watch a few videos, save a couple of PGN files, and memorize the first ten or fifteen moves. It feels productive, and you can’t wait to try it in your next game. Then […]
Beyond the Board: What Makes a Great Chess Training Environment?
Every chess player remembers where they first learned the game. For some, it was across a dining table with a parent who patiently explained why the knight moved differently from every other piece. For others, it was during school lunch breaks, at a neighborhood club, or through an online tutorial that sparked an unexpected fascination. […]
From Coffee Houses to Digital Communities: How Chess Clubs Have Evolved, but the Way We Learn Hasn’t
There was a time when becoming a stronger chess player meant finding the nearest coffee house. Long before online ratings, streaming platforms, or chess engines, players gathered around wooden boards in cafés, parks, libraries, and local clubs. They debated openings, replayed famous games from memory, argued over sacrifices that may or may not have worked, […]
The Real Cost of Getting Better at Chess
A player at one of our local events told me something a few months back that I haven’t been able to shake. He said he already knew what he needed to do. Study endgames. Get his games looked at by someone better. Play more tournaments. He just couldn’t afford most of it. Lessons where he […]
Why you Keep Blundering the Same way (It’s Not What you Think)
You lose a piece to a fork you’ve seen a hundred times before. You close the tab, tell yourself to “focus more next game,” and then three days later it happens again — different position, same pattern, same sinking feeling. If this sounds familiar, you’ve probably already tried the obvious fixes. Slow down. Double-check before […]
