FROM THE CEO
It's been one week since we inaugurated "Temple of Chess". The idea had been moving inside my head for close to a year and then I shared with so many people and I am sure it was revolving in the heads of others for so many months! But there is something to be said about when ideas become reality. More than anything else, it gives you the ground reality of how your idea is perceived by the people for whom you are actually trying to create something. In this case, it was the chess community for whom we wanted to create a space. But I realized, that because the space is so open and positively charged, I feel like going there every day. I think since the day it has been launched I haven't missed a day to come there. I just enjoy being surrounded by books. I like how no one is forced to come there. Kids don't come there because parents paid fees. Adult improvers don't come there because we promised that they would become GMs or get ratings! I like how everyone comes there through their own volition. I feel this often creates a beautiful space where everyone is happy.
How do we keep this space running? It works on Pay as you want model - this means that people can pay any amount that resonates with them. Of course, running such a space has its expenses. I want to check this as an experiment to see if we will be able to sustain or not! Another reason why we decided not to keep any fee or charges was - how can we decide what value someone gets from coming to such a space. For someone it could mean very little. For someone else it could mean a lot more. Keeping it open means people can decide what the value of this space means to them. Sometimes it is not even in monetary terms - it could also mean by giving their complete dedication or helping us with the upkeep of the space.
On 17th of August we conducted a tournament at the Chembur Children's Home where 59 kids took part. A talented boy named Shubhash won the event there. Earlier we could only devote 1.30 to 2 hours a week to him and the other kids every Saturday when we visited the home. But now thanks to Temple of Chess, Shubhash and other talents can now come on the weekends and spend 10-12 hours honing their chess skills! And this is how I envision our social work related to chess that we are doing -
1. Build a community of trainers who want to contribute positively to the society through chess. We call this initiative "Teach Chess India"
2. These competent trainers will spend their time to empower and teach at children homes, orphanages, hospitals, prisons, slums and many more places.
3. Talented gems will be found at these places
4. Bring them to Temple of Chess where they will have the space and resources to hone their skills!
This requires building up the Teach Chess India community, identifying places where chess can be taught and finding a way to build the concept of Temple of Chess in each city of India. I am sure this is doable! And as is true with all good things, they take time. A beautiful project that will help us immensely in this vision is the gift of chess initiative. We launched it today - 30,000 chess sets across the country. This is a huge number. But then when you see the size and scale of India and its population, this is something that would be required. A big thank you to our friends at the Gift of Chess for trusting us with this initiative. I am sure that we will find amazing stories here.
Theoretically, I always used to believe that chess has the power to change lives and bring about a change in our society. But now I see this unfolding beautifully in front of my eyes! There are so many people with whom we work together who have a similar vision! Through chess I think we can bring about a conscious change in the society! I am pretty sure we can. Join us on this mission! - Sagar Shah
A special announcement: Hey everyone, just wanted to share with you an exciting opportunity. A new playing platform is in the making, and the members of the ChessBase India community have been invited to be among the very first to try it and offer their feedback! This Sunday, August 25, from 7:30PM IST , they will conduct a "general rehearsal", to which we will receive exclusive access. The goal is to gather a few hundred players to try the different features like playing against other users in different time controls, issuing direct challenges, analyzing your games etc!!
As a token of gratitude, they would be offering the following to each participant who would be active at the platform at said date and time:
1. 5+ hours video series "Super Human Chess Engine" by FM Charlie Storey
2. A donation of 1000 USD towards Phoenix ChessBase India Chess Club/ Temple of Chess
Here's all you need to do:
1. Create and account on their platform via this link
2. Fill out the google form to confirm your participation:
3. Login to the platform on 25th August with your credentials using the link shared in Step 1 and have fun!
HEADLINE OF THE WEEK
61st National Championship R7: Surya Sekhar Ganguly wins seven in-a-row, stretches his lead by a full point
GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly (PSPB) is wrecking through the competition at 61st National Championship 2024 like it is the 2000s. He is the only Indian to have won the then National 'A' for six consecutive years from 2003 to 2008, long before even ChessBase India existed. His seven consecutive win clearly indicates his intention to for the seventh one and qualify to the World Cup. GM Deep Sengupta (PSPB) had a hard-fought draw against IM Aronyak Ghosh (RSPB). Although the former should have won but it was certainly not easy to spot. Five players are trailing the leader at 6/7 each. They are - GM Diptayan Ghosh (RSPB), GM Karthik Venkataraman (AP), GM Sethuraman S P (PSPB), Aronyak and IM Himal Gusain (RSPB). Round 8 starts today at 3:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Himank Ghosh
LEARN ENDGAME ESSENTIALS WITH SURYA GANGULY
In this video course, GM Surya Ganguly joins IM Sagar Shah and drawing from his colossal experience, shares some uncommon endgame wisdom. The material mostly features positions with rook against rook and a pawn, and starts by covering the fundamentals: Lucena, Philidor, and Vancura. But it quickly enters non-trivial territory, likely to challenge even masters: the slippery theoretical nuances of dealing with doubled pawns and pawns on the f- and h-files.
Today, we have a big 10% discount on Endgame essentials you need to know Vol.1 & Vol 2 by Surya Ganguly! Just use the coupon code "SSG10" to avail the discount. The offer expires on 31st August 2024 - hurry up and get it NOW!
LATEST NEWS OF THE WEEK
Sinquefield Cup R5: Praggnanandhaa squanders a win against So
Few things are not going well for R Praggnanandhaa at Grand Chess Tour Sinquefield Cup 2024. He is having trouble converting his winning advantages into a win. He missed a plethora of winning chances against Wesley So (USA) in Round 5. The world no.12 got a better position early in the middlegame. However, he missed all his chances and So survived by the skin of his teeth. Anish Giri (NED) made a tactical error in a seemingly equal rook, knight and bishop endgame. It cost him three pawns in quick succession and Alireza Firouzja (FRA) walked away with a win. He has now gained sole lead 3.5/5. D Gukesh had a well fought draw against Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB). Today is the sole rest day. Round 6 starts tomorrow Sunday 25th August at 1 p.m. local time, 11:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Tbilisi GP Round 8: Kashlinskaya, Anna and Vaishali score a win each
FIDE Tbilisi GP 2024 is poised for an exciting finish. IM Alina Kashinskaya (POL) defeated IM Lela Javakhishvili (GEO) to join the lead with IM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ). Both are at 5/8 each. Bibisara had her chances against IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE). However, the Greece no.1 woman managed to draw in a complex battle. The highest rated player in the field, GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) scored her first win of the tournament. She defeated IM Sarasadat Khademalsharieh (ESP) after she ignored her back rank issues. GM Vaishali R defeated the in-form GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO). Final round starts today at 1 p.m. local time, 2:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman
30th Abu Dhabi Masters R8: Leon Luke Mendonca rejoins the lead
GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov (UZB) drew with GM Raunak Sadhwani to maintain his lead going into the last round of 30th Abu Dhabi Masters 2024. GM Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB) halted Brazil no.1, GM Luis Paulo Supi's winning streak. GM Leon Luke Mendonca scored a fantastic win over compatriot GM S L Narayanan. GM David Paravyan scored a win over GM Volodar Murzin. Four players - Yakubboev, Vokhidov, Paravyan and Leon are the leaders 6.5/8 each. Raunak, GM Pranav V and GM Aravindh Chithambaram are trailing by a half point at 6/8 each. Leon will face Yakubboev for the battle of first place. Round 9 starts today at 10 a.m. local time, 11:30 a.m. IST. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy
The Gift of Chess Initiative aims to distribute 30,000 chess sets in India
"The Gift of Chess" is a non-profit organization whose aim is to distribute 1 million chess sets across the world by 2030. Chess, according to them, has the power to bring about transformation. And so why not begin with a chess set! They have already begun their work in right earnest in more than 25 countries. And now they would like to begin their work of distribution of the chess sets in India. This they would like to do in collaboration with ChessBase India. The aim is to make 1000 chess sets available to each of the states of the country. But firstly we are beginning with 1000 chess sets! Read the article and apply for your gift of chess!
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