FIDE and Freestyle Chess agree terms on World Championship (Photos by Michal Walusza and ChessBase India)

NEW DELHI: Late on Wednesday night, Emil Sutovsky, the chief executive officer (CEO) of FIDE, the International Chess Federation, chose a phrase heavy with symbolism.“Burying the hatchet!” he wrote on X, announcing that FIDE and Freestyle Chess had finally reached an agreement.

The deal would see the first official FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship staged at Weissenhaus, Germany, from February 13 to 15, 2026.“The event is governed by FIDE in collaboration with Freestyle Chess,” the statement said.But for those who avoided the bitter public dispute between the two sides over the past couple of years, the question lingered: what exactly had been buried?The answer lies in a saga that began in late 2024, when Freestyle Chess organisers sought to crown their winner the “Freestyle Chess World Champion.”FIDE objected immediately. The international governing body asserted that only it had the authority to sanction any world championship title in chess.What followed became one of the most controversial episodes in modern chess governance.From October 2024 onwards, Freestyle co-founder and CEO Jan Henric Buettner and FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich remained in steady contact as they sought to defuse the growing dispute.And as a breakthrough appeared close, Buettner published an open letter accusing FIDE of reversing course in negotiations.He claimed FIDE had rejected a near-complete agreement after Freestyle Chess refused to recognise FIDE’s exclusive authority over the “World Champion” title.FIDE responded publicly, acknowledging discussions had taken place but denying any binding agreement. It said it had instead offered a conditional waiver to protect Freestyle players’ eligibility for official events, provided Freestyle dropped the championship label and approved the terms by February 4.Amid the hullabaloo, players worried they could be barred from official FIDE events. World No. 1 and five-time World Champion Magnus Carlsen published private messages accusing FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich of reneging on promises.The dispute finally cooled down in February 2025, when Freestyle agreed to drop the “World Championship” label.As later reported by TimesofIndia.com, top-rated Freestyle players, in a private meeting at Weissenhaus, unanimously decided that the 2025 Grand Slam winner would instead be crowned “Freestyle Chess Champion”, a title Carlsen recently claimed in South Africa.Against that backdrop, the new agreement carries the weight of reconciliation.How Freestyle Chess and FIDE buried the hatchetFor Buettner, the deal resolved a problem that had nagged him for months.“Yes, I am very content, especially because it kind of solved an issue that I was thinking about for the last few months,” he told TimesofIndia.com from South Africa during an exclusive conversation.Freestyle Chess, he noted, had just completed what he called a “perfect season” in 2025, with five Grand Slam Tours.“So I was still thinking in October, November, how can I start season two, if I know how season two would end,” he added.“I didn’t want to have a situation where after this great season one, then we have a season two and start like somehow, and then everybody’s comparing.”At the same time, unresolved talks with FIDE were never far from Buettner’s mind. Those negotiations, he said, had once come tantalisingly close to a resolution before collapsing at the last possible moment.“I met Arkady for the first time in October 2024 in London,” Buettner said. “And we spoke, and we actually were very close to a deal in January of last year, so a year ago. Basically similar to now, we had a press release prepared, we had an agreement prepared, and everything was kind of negotiated, maybe even to the last word. And then at the very end, it fell all apart. And I have no idea why.”“We had a great relationship. Obviously, we then went our separate ways, and FIDE did their stuff, and we did our stuff. And I think it’s always good to have a cooling-off period.”The breakthrough came through a new dialogue as Buettner invited Dvorkovich to South Africa ahead of the Grand Slam Tour Final last month. However, due to scheduling conflicts, Dvorkovich couldn’t come.On the sidelines of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships, Dvorkovich then invited Buettner to Qatar, where they met roughly two weeks ago.

From left to right: Mohammed Al-Modiahki, President of Qatar Chess Association, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, Holly Hock, Jan Buettner and Anya Buettner, daughter of Jan. (Photo by Amruta Mokal/ChessBase India)

It was there, Buettner said, that the decisive idea emerged: “Then Arkady actually came up with the idea to say, why don’t we do the World Championship in 2026? It was actually his idea to have it as a World Championship in Weissenhaus. The initiative to do this came from him. I didn’t even have to do a lot of convincing. It was basically just his suggestion. I also think FIDE has a lot of respect for how we have conducted our tour.”That suggestion resolved several issues at once, with Buettner explaining that the Weissenhaus World Championship will serve as the culmination of the 2025–26 Freestyle Chess cycle.“So I don’t begin season two in Weissenhaus in February,” Buettner continued. “I basically end season one in Weissenhaus with the World Championship. And now we can start season two fresh.”A new Chess World ChampionshipThe inaugural FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship will feature eight players. For 2026, qualification is straightforward: the top six, including Magnus Carlsen, Levon Aronian, Fabiano Caruana, Vincent Keymer, Arjun Erigaisi, and Javokhir Sindarov, from the 2025 Freestyle Grand Slam Tour, plus two wild cards jointly awarded by FIDE and Freestyle Chess.Freestyle Chess has already nominated Hans Niemann after his outstanding performance at the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Las Vegas.FIDE will decide their pick through an online qualifier.Because the agreement came together quickly, Buettner acknowledged the process was improvised.“We had to do this short-term deal,” he said. “But we agreed that we take the time until the World Championship in the next few weeks to also discuss the long-term plan.”

FIDE Freestyle Chess Championship 2026 Schedule (Photo by FIDE)

The longer-term vision is more structured and closer to FIDE norms.“We want to have a transparent system where all the players see if they want to qualify for the World Championship with Freestyle Chess, how they can do that,” Buettner said.Ideas include automatic qualification for top finishers from the previous championship and spots earned through designated events.The Grand Slam Tour, a centrepiece of Freestyle’s recent success, will pause for the time being. “It will not continue in ’26, and maybe also not in ’27,” Buettner revealed, adding that it could return later once a better system is established. For now, the annual February World Championship is the focus.Why no Hikaru Nakamura?One absence immediately caught fans’ attention: Hikaru Nakamura, the reigning FIDE Fischer Random World Champion (Chess960) from 2022.“Actually, he was invited,” Buettner told this website.World No. 2 Nakamura, however, declined.

Hikaru Nakamura (Photos by Michal Walusza)

According to Buettner, Nakamura’s reasoning was personal.“He would not participate … because he’d rather be remembered as the World Champion in Fischer Random of 2022, rather than competing with seven other players with the unlikelihood that he might get this,” Buettner added.“We had a very good, very polite, very good conversation and total respect and understanding,” he said.Nakamura, he added, wants his Fischer Random reign to “be remembered as finishing up with the World Champion title.”Women’s Freestyle Chess Championship?The agreement also opens a door for women’s freestyle chess, though cautiously.At FIDE’s request, a women’s event will run alongside the men’s championship in 2026. For now, it will be an exhibition match rather than a full championship.“That was also a request from Arkady, from FIDE, to have a women’s tournament at the same time,” Buettner said.ALSO READ: World champion at 7 in her first international event; ‘nervous’ while meeting PM Modi: How Pragnika Lakshmi became a chess prodigyLogistical constraints made a full qualification cycle impractical on short notice.“So we said we’d rather do an exhibition match this year, with a clear road to a women’s world championship in 2027,” he added. “Ideally, the top names would be there.”After years of confrontation, the agreement does not erase the past. But for the first time, Freestyle Chess and FIDE are aligned on a single stage, with a single title.In chess politics, that may be as close as burying the hatchet gets.

Renee Nicole Good lived a few blocks from where she died. She was 37, a US-born citizen, a poet, and a mother of three. On a winter morning in south Minneapolis, during a large federal immigration enforcement operation, she was shot and killed by an officer from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while seated inside her car.Within hours, federal officials said the shooting was justified. An investigation was announced, but a definitive account was already being presented.

The Good: Renee Nicole Good – mother and poet

Renee Nicole Good (Image/Instagram)

Renee Good was a Minneapolis resident with no known connection to immigration enforcement. According to reporting by Minnesota Public Radio News, she was a mother raising three children, a writer who had studied English and creative writing, and someone known in her neighbourhood for being thoughtful and engaged rather than confrontational.Family members and neighbours told local reporters that she was not participating in protests or attempting to interfere with law enforcement on the day of the shooting. She was described as someone who had recently been navigating significant personal change, including the loss of her former spouse, while focusing on caring for her children and settling into daily life in the city.Her citizenship is relevant context. ICE’s mandate centres on immigration enforcement involving non-citizens. While citizenship does not itself determine whether force was lawful, encounters between federal immigration agents and US citizens fall outside the agency’s primary enforcement purpose and heighten expectations around caution and de-escalation.

The Bad: What happened during the incident

People participate in a protest in response to the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by a Federal immigration officer this morning in Minneapolis, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)

The shooting occurred on Portland Avenue amid what federal authorities described as a major ICE operation in the Twin Cities. MPR News obtained and authenticated multiple videos and eyewitness accounts from the scene.According to those accounts, several ICE vehicles were present, and agents approached Good’s car as it was stopped in the street. Eyewitnesses told MPR News that agents issued conflicting commands, with one officer telling Good to leave the area while another ordered her to get out of the vehicle and reached for the door handle.Witnesses said Good attempted to manoeuvre her car away from the cluster of vehicles and officers. As the car began to move, an ICE officer standing near the front and side of the vehicle fired multiple shots into the car at close range, striking her in the head. The vehicle then continued forward briefly before crashing into a parked object.Several witnesses told MPR News they did not see the car strike any officers before shots were fired. They also reported that neighbours who attempted to render medical aid were ordered to stay back and that emergency responders initially had difficulty accessing the scene due to the positioning of federal vehicles.ICE later said officers believed the vehicle posed an immediate threat. Local officials and witnesses disputed that account, saying the available footage and testimony suggested confusion and attempted withdrawal rather than an attack.

The Ugly: How the shooting was justified

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem speaks to local land owners and other officials on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Brownsville, Texas. (AP Photo/Gabriel V. Cardenas)

Even as investigations were being announced, senior Trump administration officials moved quickly to publicly defend the shooting.US president Donald Trump stated that the ICE officer had acted in self-defence and claimed that Good had deliberately attempted to run officers over. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem echoed that assessment, describing the scene as involving a “mob of agitators” and characterising the use of the vehicle as a lethal threat. Federal statements framed the shooting as a necessary defensive action and said ICE operations in Minneapolis would continue.The language used went beyond acknowledging an inquiry. It asserted conclusions about intent and justification before investigators had completed interviews, reviewed all video evidence, or released formal findings.State and local leaders responded sharply. Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey rejected the federal account and called for ICE to leave the city. Minnesota governor Tim Walz said state officials had warned that intensified federal operations carried public safety risks and described the shooting as the result of unnecessary escalation. Representative Ilhan Omar said federal actions had led directly to a civilian death.The incident has intensified scrutiny of ICE’s enforcement posture under President Trump, marked by large-scale deployments, armed agents in residential areas, and highly visible operations. Supporters argue the approach prioritises officer safety and deterrence. Critics say it increases the likelihood of volatile encounters and undermines public trust.

What comes next

Multiple investigations are now underway to determine whether the use of deadly force complied with constitutional standards and whether ICE officers acted within their authority. Those processes will take time. What is already clear is that a US citizen was killed during a federal operation, that political leaders offered a justification almost immediately, and that local officials and eyewitnesses have challenged that version of events. For Renee Good’s family and community, the legal outcomes remain uncertain. The loss is not.

Organizations should do a comprehensive review across HR, finance, payroll and legal functions. (AI image)

New Labour Codes explained: After rolling out our new labour codes in last November 2025, the government has now published the draft rules, inviting public feedback within stipulated timelines up to February 14, 2026, and January 30, 2026 for the Industrial Relations Rules. These draft rules are important because they outline several key provisions that cover wage definitions for gratuity, overtime payout criteria, rest days, contract labour conditions, grievance redressal mechanisms, compliance obligations for firms, need for appointment letters, employee benefits, standing orders across sectors and the creation of a worker re-skilling fund. According to EY, in response to the rules, organizations should do a comprehensive review across HR, finance, payroll and legal functions, supported by impact assessments and policy revisions, to align with the new labour law framework.

Result of Rationalizing Labour Laws

New Labour Codes: What Do The Draft Rules Clarify?

The biggest clarification that comes from the release of the draft rules is on the definition of wages. The calculation of wages is important since this is what decides the gratuity amount received by individuals when leaving their jobs.According to the draft rules, wages cover:All remuneration whether by way of salaries, allowances or otherwise payable to a person employed. This includes: Basic pay, Dearness allowance, Retaining allowance, if any If the payments/allowances other than Basic pay, Dearness allowance and Retaining allowance exceed 50% or such percentage as notified of all remuneration, then amount exceeding 50% or such percentage as notified shall be added in the ‘Wages’What is the 50% rule for allowances?If the allowances and benefits together (except gratuity and retrenchment compensation) exceed 50% of the all remuneration, the excess amount shall be added back to wages. This added amount shall be treated as wages for statutory purposes. Leave encashment is not a part of allowances.Let’s understand the allowance rule with the help of an example:

As per the Code on Social Security, 2020, gratuity has to be calculated based on the rate of “wages” last drawn by the employee. The rules clarify that for the purpose of determination of gratuity, the exclusions from ‘wages’ shall also include any payment payable on an annual basis, that is linked to performance or productivity of an employee or of the establishment in which he/she is employed and is not part of the remuneration payable under the terms of employment.

FAQs on New Labour Codes

Additionally, the following shall not form part of the ‘wages’ –

However, according to an EY analysis, the rules are yet to clarify if such components will be covered within the 50% limit on exclusions in the definition of ‘wages’. When is gratuity payable?Gratuity shall be payable in following events:

How is gratuity calculated?The calculation is simple: for every completed year of service or part thereof in excess of six months: 15 days’ wages per year (or such number as notified by Central Government) based on the rate of wages last drawn. The maximum gratuity is as notified by the central government which is currently Rs 20 lakh.Weekly offs or rest daysEmployees will be entitled to at least one ‘rest day’ per week. The employee shall not be required or allowed to work on the rest day unless they have a substituted rest day for a whole day on one of the working days in a week immediately before or after the rest day. No substitution can be made which will result in the employee working for more than ten days consecutively without a rest day for a whole day, the new rules say.Appointment letter rulesA letter of appointment has to be issued to all employees in an establishment within 3 months of the new labour rules coming into force.Overtime rules:Workers will be entitled to overtime pay, if certain work hour criteria are met. As per the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSHWC) Rules, if a worker works for more than 8 hours in any day as daily wager in an organisation, or for more than 48 hours in any week, they shall be entitled to wages at the rate of twice his rate of wages for the extra time and shall be paid at the end of each wage period. Accordingly, ‘workers’ shall be entitled to overtime for working beyond 48 hours in a week (without any daily working hour limit for applicability of overtime). Labour codes: New Benefit RulesWomen working after 7 PM: There are rules for employment of women in night shifts (i.e., after 7 PM and before 6 AM) – written consent of women employees is required and a pick and drop transport facility is mandatory. Medical medical examination: Every employer of a factory, dock, mine, building & other construction work has to ensure free of cost medical examination for every employee annually. This has to happen within 120 days from the commencement of the calendar year for those who have completed 40 years of age. An employer may avail facility for medical examination of the employee (s) under relevant rule of Social Security Code Rules, 2025 through Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC). Creche allowance: The employer and negotiating union/council or majority of employees of the establishment (in the absence of negotiating union/ council) can enter into agreements for provision of creche facility in the establishment and if not provided, then for pay creche allowance, which shall not be less than Rs 500 per month per child. Journey allowance to inter-state migrant workers: The employer has to pay a journey allowance to inter-state migrant workers once in 12 months for a to & fro journey from the place of employment to the place of residence. Worker re-skilling fund Any employer who retrenches a worker(s) has to transfer an amount equivalent to 15 days last drawn wages of such worker(s), within 10 days of such retrenchment, in an account to be maintained by the prescribed labour commissioner.The fund received from the employer can be electronically transferred by the labour commissioner to the account of the retrenched worker(s) within 45 days of retrenchment to enable the worker(s) to utilize the amount for re-skilling. Engagement of contract labour Employment of contract labour in core activities of an establishment is not allowed, subject to exceptions. As per the OSHWC Rules, the Joint Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Labour & Employment (‘MoLE’) is empowered to pass an order on the question whether an activity classifies as a core activity or not. Other conditions with respect to engagement of contract labour include:

Compliance requirements

Grievance redressal rulesEvery industrial establishment that employs 20 or more workers has to set up a grievance redressal committee that will look to resolve disputes that arise out of individual grievances. The OSHWC Rules introduce a provision for setting up a separate grievance redressal mechanism for contract labour for redressal of grievances related to health, working conditions and wages. The grievances may be submitted at the level of the principal employer. In addition, every establishment employing 500 or more workers has to constitute a safety committee in the prescribed manner and shall consist of an equal number of members representing the employer and the workers, which shall not exceed 20. What do the new rules mean for organizations: According to an EY analysis, while the rules pre-published by the government under labour codes have introduced some significant changes to promote ease of doing business and simplify compliance, it is essential for organizations to thoroughly assess the implications of these changes. It recommends the following points for organisations to take note of:

Way forward

Panaji: In what could be further undermining the standing of football and players in India, several clubs have now started having “honest discussions” with their players, whose salaries take up almost 60-70% of the budgets. This development comes close following the sports ministry’s announcement Tuesday that the Indian Super League (ISL) will kick off on Feb 14 with all 14 teams agreeing to take part.Despite the ministry’s announcement, finally ending months of uncertainty, club officials were not entirely convinced and were engaged in discussions with players to see if they can take a pay cut and reduce the financial burden for this truncated season, where just 13 matches will be played in the top tier.Bengaluru FC owner Parth Jindal set the cat among the pigeons with his assertion that many football clubs could be forced to shut shop due to huge losses, particularly this season when there’s no central revenue or sponsorships for the ISL.“Truly hope the players understand the additional financial burden on the clubs and agree to also sacrifice as we are all in this together,” said Jindal, “We are in this for the love of football … BFC has been a loss-making proposition since I can remember. This year’s numbers, without the players helping out, will force many to shut shop for good.”“Clubs today find themselves in an extremely precarious financial position,” FC Goa CEO Ravi Puskur told TOI. “We are being asked to directly fund the costs of running the league at a time when there is no commercial visibility, no central revenues, and mounting liabilities. Any discussion around wage rationalisation is not about blame; it is about survival.”In absence of a central revenue model in the ISL, the clubs are essentially seeking a one-year waiver of the franchise fees, to the tune of Rs 14-cr surplus, that the AIFF levies on the clubs.Consider the numbers, the total proposed operational budget — or the cost of running the league — is Rs 24.26 cr, of which the AIFF will contribute Rs 9.70 cr, and the clubs are expected to contribute Rs 14.56 cr as central operational fees. Each club must also pay Rs 1 crore to the AIFF as franchise fee.Goa initiated talks with players on Tuesday with a 20-25% reduction being discussed. Sources said Kerala Blasters FC will need almost 35-40% reduction in salaries to salvage the season, despite two of their highest earners – Adrian Luna and Noah Sadaoui – being loaned to clubs in the Indonesia Super League.“The players have to understand that everyone has to make a sacrifice,” said Blasters CEO Abhik Chatterjee.Most of the clubs have paid players till Dec when the Super Cup concluded in Goa. Only Chennaiyin FC and Odisha FC made payments for June and July before suspending first team operations. Inter Kashi FC deferred payments till Jan.At NorthEast United, the discussions started in Dec with the club informing players and coaches about the situation. Now there appears to be a broad understanding from all employees – players, coaches, support staff, administrative staff, youth and the CEO himself – that all of them have to make sacrifices.“Everyone has to take a step back to move three steps ahead,” said CEO Mandar Tamhane. “We have to be pragmatic and (also) understand the owners’ perspective. On behalf of all employees, this is our way of ok. the showing support for the owner.”Not everyone is supportive though, particularly players who are uncomfortable losing money for no fault of theirs. The players’ tough stance has invited criticism from some officials, less than a week after leading players publicly positioned themselves as the voice of the ecosystem and pointed out how livelihoods were under threat.“When clubs ask for a reasonable, temporary sharing of the burden, those same players have flatly refused to engage,” said a senior official who did not want to be named. “The concern for livelihoods clearly did not extend beyond their own contracts. Clubs have continued to carry financial risk, honour agreements and protect staff jobs in complete uncertainty, while some players now choose to draw a line when any sacrifice is asked of them.”

In a thrilling Elite Group C clash of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 at Dr. Soni Stadium in Jaipur on January 8, 2026, Maharashtra elected to bat first against Goa. Ruturaj Gaikwad, the Maharashtra skipper, anchored the innings with a magnificent unbeaten 134 off 131 balls, featuring eight fours and six sixes at a strike rate of 102.29. Fans erupted in frenzy online, hailing his knock as a masterclass amid early collapses.

Ruturaj Gaikwad’s record-shattering hundred against Goa in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26

Gaikwad turned the tide single-handedly, smashing his way to an unbeaten 134 that propelled Maharashtra to 249/7 in 50 overs. Facing a precarious 2/3 after quick dismissals of Prithvi Shaw (1), Arshin Kulkarni (0), and Ankit Bawne (0), Gaikwad rebuilt with grit, reaching his century in style. His aggressive shot-making, including lofted covers and powerful pulls, silenced Goa’s bowlers like Vasuki Koushik (3/38), who struck early.​

This innings marked Gaikwad’s latest Vijay Hazare gem, building on his storied domestic form where he has notched joint most tons, including a double century earlier in the tournament. Social media buzzed with “GOAT” chants as clips of his sixes went viral, underscoring his evolution from IPL star to List A powerhouse. Maharashtra’s fightback owed everything to his composure under pressure.​

Also READ: Brother Vikas hits back at Virat Kohli’s critics ahead of IND vs NZ ODI series

Here’s how fans reacted:

🚨 RUTURAJ GAIKWAD SMASHED 134* (131) IN THE VIJAY HAZARE TROPHY. 🚨

– Maharashtra were 52/6 at one stage, then the captain stepped up.

Rutu, despite playing such crucial knocks, will be ignored by the selectors. 💔 pic.twitter.com/Wj2RZto3U3

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 8, 2026

TOUGH TRACK BULLY – RUTURAJ GAIKWAD 😂🔥 pic.twitter.com/6ceQKnEZOg

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 8, 2026

If someone asks who Ruturaj Gaikwad is, show them this picture. pic.twitter.com/D2kvbynwjH

— Sergio (@SergioCSKK) January 8, 2026

Ruturaj Gaikwad delivered a masterclass against Goa, scoring an unbeaten 134 off just 131 balls ✨#RuturajGaikwad #VijayHazareTrophy pic.twitter.com/EAdcTfEzSE

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) January 8, 2026

Meet Ruturaj Gaikwad :

– Can bat as opener
– Can bat at no. 4
– Can be a anchor
– Can accelerate whenever needed
– Bats in death overs like rohit sharma
– Always performs on tough pitches
– Not a flat track bully pic.twitter.com/b3MbAQyzt1

— Yash MSdian ™️ 🦁 (@itzyash07) January 8, 2026

🚨 Fastest to reach 5K List A Runs :-

95* innings – Ruturaj Gaikwad.
97 – Babar Azam.
101 – Hasim Amla.
114 – Sir Viv Richards.
114 – Virat Kohli.
114 – Shai Hope.
115 – David Warner.

The Prince of World Cricket – Ruturaj. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2ZQmxrqAxQ

— Pratyush Halder (@pratyush_no7) January 8, 2026

Not a single player could even score 10 runs in top 6 & Ruturaj Gaikwad scored an unbeaten 134 runs, this is what Ruturaj Gaikwad has been doing in List A cricket!!

Now averaging above 57 at 100+ strike rate, proved himself as opener as well as middle order batter.

Should have… pic.twitter.com/Mxy2WdP5qy

— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) January 8, 2026

100 for Ruturaj Gaikwad. 106* off 124 balls at a strike rate of 85 when the whole team scored only 208 runs. Came in at 5 and formed two good partnerships with number 8 & 9 batters to put a decent score on the board. Tough situation bully. pic.twitter.com/2amcdwCX7u

— Heisenberg ☢ (@internetumpire) January 8, 2026

Ruturaj Gaikwad in VHT 2025-26 (till now) :

7 Innings
335* runs
67* avg
106 Strike Rate

The Undisputed King of List A cricket. ❤️pic.twitter.com/Nhk5JZigJp

— Srijan (@LegendDhonii) January 8, 2026

🚨 Ruturaj has surpassed players like Kohli, Sir Viv Richards, Babar, Amla, Hope, Warner to become the fastest to reach 5K List A Runs. 🔥

It’s India’s loss that this guy isn’t a regular in the National team. 💔 🇮🇳pic.twitter.com/jjtIkEuUVo

— Pratyush Halder (@pratyush_no7) January 8, 2026

Maharashtra puts up a fighting total in first innings

Maharashtra scraped together a fighting 249/7 despite an early collapse, as Gaikwad’s unbeaten 134 held the innings together, finding solid support from Vicky Ostwal’s patient 53, scored off 82 balls. Rajvardhan Hangargekar added a sharp finish, smashing 32* from just 19 deliveries to lift the tempo to 4.98 an over. The defining alliance was the 96-run stand for the seventh wicket, before Ostwal departed at 158/7, late in the 42nd over.

The innings began disastrously, with wickets falling at 1-2, 2-2 and 3-2, before further losses at 16, 25, and 52. Maharashtra also benefited from seven extras, including two no-balls and five wides. Goa’s attack worked hard, with Arjun Tendulkar, Deepraj Gaonkar, Darshan Misal and Lalit Yadav sharing the damage, but Gaikwad remained unmoved. At the interval, Goa faced a stiff chase.

Also READ: EXPLAINED: Why Virat Kohli is not playing for Delhi in today’s Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 clash against Railways

Earlier, Banerjee rejected the allegations and accused the central agency of attempting to seize the TMC’s internal documents and election strategy (PTI photo)

NEW DELHI: Enforcement Directorate on Thursday accused West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee of obstructing an ongoing money-laundering investigation, claiming that search operations were conducted “in a peaceful and professional manner till the arrival of the Bengal CM” along with senior state police officials.In a statement, the ED said it was carrying out searches at 10 premises, six in West Bengal and four in Delhi under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in connection with an alleged coal smuggling syndicate led by Anup Majee.

Also read: Mamata reaches I-PAC chief’s house, hits out at Amit Shah; asks ‘Is this home minister’s job?’The ED alleged that proceedings were disrupted after Banerjee arrived at the residence of Pratik Jain, the I-PAC chief, accompanied by a large number of police personnel. “Mamata Banerjee entered the residential premises of Prateek Jain and took away key evidences including physical documents and electronic devices,” the agency said. It further claimed that the chief minister’s convoy then moved to I-PAC’s office, from where “Banerjee, her aides, and state police personnel forcibly removed physical documents and electronic evidences”.The agency said the investigation had uncovered links between the coal smuggling network and hawala operators, with proceeds of crime running into tens of crores of rupees. One such hawala operator, the ED claimed, had facilitated transactions to Indrapac Consulting Private Limited (I-PAC), a political consultancy firm associated with the Trinamool Congress.According to the ED, these actions resulted in obstruction of an ongoing investigation. The agency insisted that the searches were evidence-based, not targeted at any political establishment, and unrelated to elections. “No party office has been searched,” it said, adding that the operation was part of a routine crackdown on money laundering and conducted strictly in accordance with legal safeguards.Earlier, Banerjee rejected the allegations and accused the central agency of attempting to seize the TMC’s internal documents and election strategy. Speaking to reporters after visiting Jain’s residence and the I-PAC office in Salt Lake, she said ED officials were confiscating party documents, hard disks, laptops and mobile phones containing sensitive political data. “Is it the duty of the ED to collect political party data?” she asked, describing the searches as politically motivated and unconstitutional.Launching a sharp attack on the BJP leadership, Banerjee accused Union home minister Amit Shah of misusing central agencies to intimidate opposition parties. She alleged that the raid amounted to “political vendetta” and claimed the ED had begun searches early in the morning when no one was present at the office, allowing officials to access and copy election-related data.