FROM THE CEO
Today I want to share with you something that impacted my life deeply. It's not so easy for me to share this, so thank you for giving me the space to do so. We started the ChessBase India YouTube channel back in 2015 and it started picking up in 2017. Now it has 1.82 million subscribers and over 1.5 billion views. It's a project extremely close to my heart, Amruta's heart and I think everyone in the ChessBase India team. When we began the journey we travelled extensively across the country and the world bringing some top notch content. I still remember entire nights being spent on trying to sync the chess board with the interviewee's moves, when editing the video. It was a lot of work, but the work was very gratifying - people enjoyed it. Our subscribers grew, our revenue grew. If it were not for our YouTube channel, ChessBase India would have never grown in terms of people working together like it has done now. We are 28 people strong! Thank you YouTube! :)
As is true with most things in the world, when you put your time, effort and energy - you start getting attached to it. This happened with me as well. I got attached to the channel, the content, the numbers. And this led me into a deep dark forest. The internet is a space where people often take each other's content. Every time I went on the internet I would see channels taking our content, reusing them, sometimes even clipping off our logo. I used to feel agitated by this. "Why can't the world do something original?" was my thought. "Why do they have to resort to stealing?" Naturally, I tried to fight back for the thing that was rightfully mine. Copyright strikes, writing emails, discussions with team - all of this started taking a toll on me. This went on for quite some time.
Fast forward to 2023 and I laid my hands on the book "7 mystical laws of abundance" - a book written by Sujith Ravindran, someone whom I know personally and someone who has impacted my life deeply. The book is not a bestseller, nor had I read about it anywhere. It was Sujith who spoke about it in one of his conversations and I ordered it on Amazon. The book just came to me at the right time. I was open to evolve. I wanted to get out of the pain that every single visit to the internet was bringing me. There is a beautiful story of a young pop singer from California in the book. I don't want to narrate it entirely here, but here are a few lines that opened up my mind to new possibilities. This is what was written:
"There is an age old custom among the traditional Indian classical musicians of welcoming others to play their music. These musicians see themselves more as conduits of music than as creators. That realization holds them back from claiming ownership of their music. They recognize copyright and trademark restrictions as just actions of the ego. The ego wants to possess what it can and identify with it. The soul on the other hand wants to share, and it rejoices in the joy their music brings to others. Once a music maestro was sitting in the front row listening to a group of youngsters play his music. He was mouthing along as they sang, with tears in his eyes. At the end of the show he praised them for playing his music even better than he could. "I am honoured that you have found my music worthy of your lips." was how the maestro acknowledged them."
After reading this, a realization dawned upon me. A tournament is made up of innumerable things - players, organizers, arbiters and so many other people working together. My commentary is nothing but the product of me learning from so many people, books and videos over si many years. The ChessBase India channel is merely a "channel" bringing everything together to the chess loving people. It is merely a conduit. We don't really own anything. Just this shift in the way I was seeing things was enough for me to change the way I was living my life. I began enjoying once again browsing the internet, seeing what everyone was bringing onto the table with their creativity. Most of all I was detached from the work that I was doing. I loved what I was doing, I loved and still love the ChessBase India but I am no longer concerned what would happen once I put out the content in the world.
The world is built by sharing, people sharing with each other. Isn't it true? And today I want to take this opportunity to share 10 copies of this book that impacted my life positively with you. All you need to do is write back to me with your address and if you feel comfortable maybe a reason why you would like to read this book - "7 mystical laws of abundance!" I will ship it to your place! :) - Sagar Shah
HEADLINE OF THE WEEK
Karthik Venkataraman conquers 61st National Championship 2024
GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly (PSPB) and IM Aronyak Ghosh (RSPB) drew with IM Himal Gusain (RSPB) and GM Lalit Rohit (RSPB) respectively in the last round. It created a window of opportunity for GM Karthik Venkataraman (AP) to win the tournament. He defeated the reigning Commonwealth champion, GM Mitrabha Guha (RSPB) to become the champion. Surya finished second on tie-breaks. IM Neelash Saha (RSPB) scored a comfortable win over IM Sammed Shete (MAH) to finish third. The top three finishers scored 9/11 each. Only Neelash made zero draws and lost two games against the remaining podium finishers. Karthik earned his place at the next World Cup. Photos: Himank Ghosh
LEARN YOUR OPENINGS WITH ANISH GIRI!
When you begin your journey of building an opening repertoire, how nice would it be to get a glimpse of what each opening looks like through the eyes of a super GM. It would help building your opening repertoire and understanding the vast world of chess openings. It is exactly with this thought that "A Supergrandmaster's Guide to Openings with Anish Giri” was made.
This video course includes GM Anish Giri's deep insights and IM Sagar Shah's pertinent questions to the super GM. In Vol.1 all the openings after 1.e4 are covered. This includes the Ruy Lopez, Italian, Petroff, Scotch, French, Sicilian, Caro Kann, Pirc, Modern and much more. While Vol.1 dealt with 1.e4, Vol.2 has all the openings after 1.d4 as well as 1.c4 and sidelines are covered. This includes the Queen's Gambit Accepted, Queen's Gambit Declined, Slav, Nimzo Complex, London System, English Opening, 1.b3, Bird's opening and more.
Along with explaining the nuances, each video also has a story, narrated by Anish, on the favourite game he played in that opening and his memories related to it. It is extremely valuable to hear the thoughts of a player who is currently considered one of the best opening experts in the world of chess. Getting this video course will elevate your knowledge of chess openings and will help you make informed decisions on how to go about building your opening repertoire!
Today, we have a big 10% discount on A Super Grandmaster's Guide to Openings Vol.1 & 2 by Anish Giri! Just use the coupon code "AGIRI10" to avail the discount. The offer expires on 9th September 2024 - hurry up and get it NOW!
LATEST NEWS OF THE WEEK
Phenomenal Firouzja is the Sinquefield Cup champion for the second time in his career
Alireza Firouzja (FRA) drew his final round game against R Praggnanandhaa to win Sinquefield Cup 2024. He had already won the Grand Chess Tour 2024 season in the previous round. Two years ago in 2022, the World no.9 won the same - Sinquefield Cup and the entire GCT. At the age of 21, he has already won Sinquefield Cup and Grand Chess Tour twice which is phenomenal. He is now World no.5 in the live ratings. Fabiano Caruana (USA) defeated Anish Giri (NED) to finish second in the tournament and the tour also. Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) won against Ian Nepomniachtchi to share third place with Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) who defeated Ding Liren (CHN). Wesley So (USA) drew with D Gukesh. They shared fifth place with Praggnanandhaa. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Soham Kamotra becomes the first International Master of Jammu and Kashmir
FM Soham Kamotra became the first International Master of Jammu and Kashmir. The monumental feat was achieved when he drew with the Africa no.1 GM Bassem Amin (EGY) in the sixth round of 30th Abu Dhabi Masters on 21st August. The draw helped him cross 2400 in the live ratings. The first IM-norm was scored at 22nd Abu Dhabi Masters 2022 in UAE. A little over nine months later, he secured his second IM-norm at Hanoi GM Round Robin 2023 in Vietnam. About eight months later he earned his final IM-norm at 1st SOA GM International Chess Festival 2024. Get to know about Soham's journey towards the IM title. He is also well on track to become the first GM from J&K. Photo: Aditya Sur Roy
Sriiyukthaa Abirami and Aarav Dengla clinch Gold, Silver and Bronze at World Schools Rapid and Blitz 2024
Sriiyukthaa Marksim Karki Abirami scored 7.5/9 to win Gold at FIDE World Schools Rapid Under-9 Girls 2024. She finished a half point ahead of the field. After suffering her sole loss against the eventual Bronze winner, Mumtozbegim Sobirova (UZB) in Round 6, Sriiyukthaa bounced back by winning the next three games. Sriiyukthaa also won a Bronze medal in the Blitz event scoring 7/9. She finished a full point behind the Gold medal winner, Husnorakhon Khusnitdinova (UZB). IM Aarav Dengla won Silver in Under-15 Open Blitz. He finished a half point behind the champion, FM Akbarali Abdukhakimov (UZB). Photo: Uzbekistan Chess Federation
Senthil Maran K becomes the latest International Master of India
FM Senthil Maran K became the latest International Master of India. The 25-year-old crossed the 2400 and earned his final IM-norm at the same event - Slovakia Open Piestany 2024. The Chennai lad got a published rating of 2411 in the August FIDE Rating list. The first IM-norm was scored at 26th Abu Dhabi Masters 2019 in UAE. Almost four years later, he secured his second IM-norm at 96th Paris IdF Masters 2023. Exactly a year later he earned his final IM-norm with a round to spare on 16th July in Slovakia. When he defeated GM Titas Stremavicius (LTU) in the third round, he surpassed 2400 in the live ratings. Senthil's journey will continue towards the coveted GM title. Photo: Aditya Sur Roy
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