Hikaru Nakamura (GCL Photo)

The Global Chess League’s third season is set to begin at Mumbai’s Royal Opera House, with American Gambits making their second tournament appearance.The team has announced World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura’s participation as their Icon player, arriving Sunday morning. The squad includes Bibisara Assaubayeva, Richard Rapport, Vladislav Artemiev, Teodora Injac, and World Rapid Champion Volodar Murzin.

The American Gambits will face PBG Alaskan Knights in their opening match, featuring a clash between Nakamura and World Champion Gukesh D.“We can confirm Hikaru is coming, and the matchup between him and Gukesh is one everyone will be watching closely. They’ve had several exciting battles this year, usually very evenly fought. It will be one of the most anticipated duels of the season. I do feel we have a slight edge because Hikaru is more experienced in shorter time formats, but anything can happen on the day,” Head Coach GM Srinath Narayanan stated.“We are delighted to confirm Hikaru’s participation. He will be donning the American Gambits shirt and leading an incredibly exciting team. Our first match is against Gukesh’s team, and it is going to be a thrilling contest that sets the momentum for us. We’re looking forward to the season,” said Co-owner Prachura PP.The team’s schedule includes matches against Mumbai Masters, Continental Kings, SG Pipers, and Ganges Grandmasters in the opening round.“With the new season being hosted in India, we’re very excited. On paper, we are one of the strongest teams, with one of the highest average ratings. We have champions across the board, including the current World Rapid Champion Murzin. The squad looks solid and promising,” Srinath commented.“Our primary aim is to win the trophy. We have champion players across categories, one of the highest total ratings in the league, and we want everyone performing at their full potential. The mix of experience and young firepower gives us the balance needed to compete deep into the season. The team environment is strong, the preparation has been meticulous, and we believe this is the year we can make a real statement,” Prachura added.The American Gambits team consists of Hikaru Nakamura, Richard Rapport, Vladislav Artemiev, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Teodora Injac, and Volodar Murzin.ALSO READ: The rise of ‘Queen’: From ages 8 to 18, how an all-girl team is bringing free chess to rural India

Three-year-old Sarvagya Singh Kushwaha (File Photo)

A complaint has been lodged against Sarwagya Singh Kushwaha, who recently made headlines as the youngest-ever FIDE-rated chess player. According to a report from The Indian Express, the complaint questions the legitimacy of his achievement, suggesting unfair means were used to obtain the rating.The complaint specifically alleges that his three opponents were coaches from the same academy where he trains.

“It appears that the rating was achieved through unfair means, involving clear violations of FIDE’s fair play principles by the coaches or individuals supervising the games,” the complaint reads.The young prodigy from Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, has support from his father Siddharth Singh Kushwaha and coach Nitin Chaurasiya. While acknowledging the complaint filed with FIDE, they dismiss the allegations as factional politics within the Madhya Pradesh chess federation.“In Sagar, there are two factions in the local chess body. One faction is trying to target the other by trying to prove my son’s record came by unfair means,” Siddharth said.The young player secured victories against Abhijeet Awasthi (1,542), Shubham Chourasiya (1,559), and Yogesh Namdev (1,696) in tournaments across Khandwa, Indore, Chhindwara, and Mangaluru. These matches gained attention as his opponents were older and higher-ranked players. The complaint raises concerns about these opponents, stating they are coaches at the same academy where Sarwagya trains in Sagar.“Just because these people are from Sagar and we know them, it cannot prove that there was anything unfair. I know these three people by face, as someone who also runs a chess academy. They are like our competitors,” his father added.Additional concerns have been raised about one particular tournament where both Sarwagya and Namdev allegedly joined after the initial draw. Reports suggest they were manually added to the draw and paired against each other.In the same tournament, Sarwagya reportedly lost a 10-minute rapid game on time after visiting the washroom during the final minutes.ALSO READ: The rise of ‘Queen’: From ages 8 to 18, how an all-girl team is bringing free chess to rural India

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 schedule unveiled (PTI Photo)

Media company JioStar has confirmed its commitment to fulfil its contract with the International Cricket Council. This statement was released following reports suggesting the broadcaster might exit its USD 3-billion deal before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. JioStar was formed through a merger between Reliance’s media division and Walt Disney’s India operations.

“Both organisations remain focused on delivering uninterrupted, world-class coverage of upcoming ICC events to fans across India, including the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, one of the sport’s most anticipated global tournaments,” JioStar said in a statement.The company assured that event preparations are proceeding as scheduled, with no disruption to viewers, advertisers, or industry partners.“ICC and JioStar, as long-term commercial partners, maintain regular communication on operational, commercial and strategic matters focused on the role the partnership can play in growing the sport,” it said.The company acknowledged recent media speculation about ICC’s media rights agreement in India.“These reports do not reflect the position of either organisation. The existing agreement between the ICC and JioStar remains fully in force, and JioStar continues as the ICC’s official media rights partner in India. Any suggestion that JioStar has withdrawn from the agreement is incorrect,” the statement said.ICC released its own statement confirming the partnership: “The existing agreement between the ICC and JioStar remains fully in force, and JioStar continues as the ICC’s official media rights partner in India. Any suggestion that JioStar has withdrawn from the agreement is incorrect.”The cricket governing body emphasised JioStar’s commitment to honour its contractual obligations. Recent reports had suggested that JioStar informed ICC about withdrawing from the remaining two years of its four-year agreement due to financial losses. These reports also claimed ICC had begun searching for new bidders for the 2026-29 rights cycle.

R Praggnanandhaa (PTI Photo)

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa believes the traditional world championship will remain dominant despite the upcoming Total Chess World Championship Tour, which will begin its pilot phase next year.The Total Chess World Championship Tour will become an annual event from 2027, featuring competitions in Fast Classic, Rapid, and Blitz chess formats, while the World Championship continues with the Classical format.

“I honestly haven’t really read through the regulations properly, so I don’t know how everything is shaped,” Praggnanandhaa told PTI during the Dharavi Chess Championship here on Friday.“But I do know that the winner of that will be qualified as a Candidate so that essentially means that the World Championship is still the priority,” he said when asked if the new competition would pose any challenge to the existing World Championship.Norway Chess CEO Kjell Madland has confirmed a long-term agreement with the International Chess Federation for the Chess World Championship Tour, which has received official FIDE approval.Praggnanandhaa welcomes the new tournaments as they create more opportunities for players to earn from the sport, including those focusing on Rapid and Blitz formats.“I am happy to see that there are new opportunities for the players to play, and since we have so many players, getting more opportunities for them to play is amazing, in that way it is great to see new tournaments coming up,” he said. “In terms of format, there are constant shifts which is happening. I am not sure if it is a good thing or a bad thing, but as a player, I think it is sometimes difficult to adjust to each format,” he said.“But it is also good that we have so many tournaments around, that players can participate in and they can make a living out of playing,” he added.Praggnanandhaa, who qualified for the 2026 Candidates Tournament after winning the FIDE Circuit 2025, plans to maintain his usual preparation approach.“Everything (including rest and mental preparation) is important, I will try to focus on everything and try to prepare well for it and we will see how it goes,” he said.“I am just going to take one game at a time, it is too far fetched to think about winning already — of course I want to do it — that’s the goal and I think I can do it, I have the ability so I will just try to give my best and see,” he added.ALSO READ: The rise of ‘Queen’: From ages 8 to 18, how an all-girl team is bringing free chess to rural India

Vaibhav Suryavanshi of India (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi showcased an extraordinary performance in the U-19 Asia Cup match against UAE in Dubai on Wednesday, scoring 171 runs off just 95 balls. His remarkable innings helped India post a massive total of 433/6 in their allocated 50 overs.The 14-year-old left-handed batsman from Bihar set a new world record in U-19 cricket by hitting fourteen sixes and nine fours during his innings.

During the 32nd over of India’s innings, when Sooryavanshi was approaching his century, an interesting exchange occurred between him and UAE wicketkeeper Saleh Amin.“Come on boys. 90’s curse. 90’s curse,” Amin was heard saying on the stump mic.“Tere saath selfie loon? (Wanna take selfie with me?)” Sooryavanshi responded to the UAE wicketkeeper.When asked about the incident later, Sooryavanshi responded confidently: “Main Bihar se hoon. Peeth peeche jo bhi baatein hoti hain, usse mujhko farak nahi padta.” (I am from Bihar. What is said behind my back does not bother me.)The match began with UAE captain Yayin Rai winning the toss and asking India to bat first. India faced an early setback when captain Ayush Mhatre was dismissed for just four runs in the third over.Sooryavanshi then joined forces with Aaron George at the crease. The young batsman initially played with caution before accelerating his innings, reaching his fifty in just 30 balls.His powerful hitting display earned him a new tournament record for most sixes in a single innings in the U-19 Asia Cup. He surpassed the previous record of ten sixes set by Afghanistan’s Darwish Rasooli in 2017.Sooryavanshi continued his aggressive batting, reaching his century in 56 balls. He maintained his momentum to score 150 runs in 84 balls before being run out after scoring 171 runs. His innings came at an impressive strike rate of 180.The innings now stands as the second-highest score by an Indian in Youth ODI cricket. The record is still held by Ambati Rayudu, who scored an unbeaten 177 against England U-19 in 2002.The Indian innings was well supported by Aaron George and Vihaan Malhotra, who both scored 69 runs each. Vedant Trivedi contributed 38 runs, while Abhigyan Kundu and Kanishk Chouhan added 32 and 28 runs, respectively. The combined effort helped India set an enormous target of 434 runs for the UAE team.UAE’s response resulted in a score of 199/7 in their allocated 50 overs. Their innings was highlighted by Uddish Suri’s unbeaten 78 and Prithvi Madhu’s fifty. India U19 secured a dominant 234-run win.India U19 will face their next challenge against Pakistan U19 in a group stage match on Sunday.

Jitesh Sharma’s lucky escape against South Africa (Screengrabs)

NEW DELHI: In the second T20I match of the five-match series between India and South Africa, wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma experienced an unusual moment at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh on Thursday.Jitesh Sharma, who currently serves as India’s primary wicketkeeper-batter in T20Is after Sanju Samson’s omission from the playing XI, represents Royal Challengers Bengaluru in domestic cricket.

Known for his exceptional hitting abilities, particularly during death overs, Jitesh Sharma typically bats in the lower order to maximise his aggressive strokeplay.During the match’s 15th over, a remarkable incident occurred when Ottneil Baartman delivered a length ball on off-stump. Sharma, who could only score 27 off 17, attempted to hit the ball but missed completely. The ball touched the bail and rolled it over, yet surprisingly, the bail remained in place, allowing Sharma to continue batting.Watch:Despite Jitesh’s lucky escape, South Africa secured a 51-run victory against India in the second T20 match. After winning the toss, South Africa posted a score of 213-4, while India was dismissed for 162 in 19.1 overs, leveling the five-match series at 1-1.The South African team made three changes following their previous match, where they recorded their lowest-ever T20 total of 74 runs. India maintained their unchanged lineup from their 101-run victory in the series opener.Quinton de Kock delivered an impressive performance, scoring 90 runs off 46 balls, including seven sixes and five fours. His innings came to an end when he was run out following quick work by Indian wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma.South Africa finished strongly in the final three overs, adding 49 runs to their total. Donovan Ferreira remained unbeaten with 30 runs from 16 balls, including two sixes against Jasprit Bumrah in the final over. David Miller also contributed with an unbeaten 20 runs from 12 deliveries.For India, Tilak Varma emerged as the highest scorer with 62 runs from 34 balls.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: All eyes will be on young batters Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre during India’s Asia Cup U-19 campaign, but a key point of attention will be whether the BCCI permits the players to shake hands with the Pakistan team, a gesture seen as basic sporting courtesy at the junior level.The India U-19 team, captained by Mumbai and CSK opener Mhatre, will start its campaign against the UAE on Friday. The match against Pakistan on Sunday is expected to draw the most attention in a tournament viewed as preparation for next year’s U-19 World Cup.

In the senior men’s Asia Cup, the Women’s ODI World Cup and the Rising Stars Asia Cup T20, Indian players did not shake hands with Pakistan players as a gesture of support for the Indian Army and victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.For the U-19 players, it is understood that the ICC prefers that political issues not be linked with junior cricket and that regular protocols of sportsmanship be followed.“The boys haven’t been told anything. But obviously BCCI has given explicit instructions to its manager Anand Datar. Now if Indian boys don’t shake hands with Pakistan team then match referee will have to be informed in advance. We know for a fact that ICC doesn’t want politics to take front seat when it comes to junior cricket. So it is a case of both bad optics and public sentiment,” a BCCI official was quoted as saying by the news agency PTI.In the tournament, India and Pakistan are expected to make the semi-finals as the top two teams from Group A. Malaysia and the UAE are the other group members and have limited experience in 50-over cricket.Both Sooryavanshi and Mhatre enter the event after strong performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Mhatre contributed with consecutive centuries and a fifty in the group stage, while Sooryavanshi became the youngest player to score a SMAT century, against Maharashtra.In India’s 15-member squad, these two players have played more than 30 senior matches across formats and have a combined total of nine centuries. This is the highest number of senior-level centuries when compared to all the other seven teams together, making India strong contenders in the tournament.India U19 squad for Asia Cup: