9/20/2018 – Having had the time of his life at the Faroes Open 2017, GM SRINATH NARAYANAN couldn’t resist an opportunity to go back to Europe’s best keep secret of Summer once more. He had no reasons to regret, as apart from the wild winds, warm people, fresh locations, he also won the Faroes Open for the second time. This year’s starting list was headed by GM Gawain Jones and was a strong tournament that had 17 titled players out of 36 players. The tournament included 7 GMs, and 5 IMs, making it a field made up of almost 50% titled players and 33% of them above the International Master title. | Photo: Jógvan Martin Joensen

8/20/2018 – When I spotted a tournament in Gold Coast, I was only too happy to tick my 3rd continent out of 7. With a population of mere 6,00,000 and an Air Quality score of 18, Gold Coast is one of those ideal escapes. It’s a unique place where one can spot Kangaroos hopping about in the midst of one’s games. In an exciting tournament with just 37 players, 17-year old Teymur Kuybokarov came out on top with 7.5/9. GM Anton Smirnov finished 2nd with 7/9. Former World Under 12 Champion IM Bobby Cheng, who’ll soon be a GM was the first among equals in a group of players sharing the 3rd place. | Photo: Kgbo [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

6/6/2018 – In a rugged archipelago situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic, a different world lingers. Lush green valleys, basalt cliffs, treeless moorlands, refreshing atmosphere, and the warmth of the people beckon. A place truly unspoiled, unexplored and unbelievable. Faroe Islands! Faroes Open 2018 takes place from July 7-14 2018 in Sandavagur. The line up features 7 GM’s in a total of 28 players, lead by GM Gawain Jones. With a lineup 25% filled up with GM’s and 15 titled players out of 28, the tournament aside from being nature’s delight, also promises to be a norm fest. An unforgettable experience awaits those who visit the Faroe Islands. | Photo: Hanna Ólavsdóttir Jacobsen

12/8/2017 – The 2nd edition of Runavik Open took place in Runavik, Faroe Islands from November 20-26. Blue water, enchanting skies, lush green land and mountains all around! With 12 GM’s and a total of 25 titled players in a field of 59 players, there may have been expectations of a drawfest. There were 4 Indians, an army of ex soviet GM’s, and more than a handful of exciting young players. Nikita Maiorov broke through everything to win with 7.5/9. He had to go through more than his share of difficult moments, trials and tribulations, but deservedly came out on top. Read on to find games and pictures. | Photo: Fiona Steil-Antoni

11/12/2017 – It’s never an easy thing to be the rating favourite in a field where the 2nd seed is a 100 points below and the 4th seed, almost 200 points. Nigel Short was in such a scenario where there was a lot to lose and little to gain, in terms of Elo and reputation. However, he is no stranger to being in such a position. Having steamrolled through Bunratty Masters and Bangkok Open earlier this year, he just cruised through the field at the Negros International Open in Bacolod last month, to win the event one point clear. Srinath Narayanan reports. | Photo: Piaya Network Facebook page

10/2/2017 – Have you heard of the City of Smiles? When a crippling economic depression hits your region, how do you recover? Would you just cry for aid or would you start a tradition called the Masskara festival to rouse the masses? When GM Srinath Narayanan was invited to Bacolod to take part in the Negros International Open, he felt inspired by the spirit of the Negrenses and decided he had to pay this wonderful place a visit. Read on to find out more!

8/6/2017 – Grandmaster Srinath Narayanan needed a change from his routine. When he was invited to play in the Faroes Open 2017, he was thrilled with anticipation, yet a little skeptical. The pictures painted a mesmerising impression. Yet, questions lingered: How would the real thing turn out to be? Will it be like online dating? Breaking through the incertitude, he decided that he had to give it a go. | Photos: Hanna Ólavsdóttir Jacobsen/Jógvan Martin Joensen

5/22/2017 – The 36th Zalakaros Open is taking place from 18th May to 26th May in the Hotel Karos Spa in Zalakaros, a beautiful little spa town in the Balaton lake region of Hungary. Top seed Richard Rapport has already suffered a shock defeat at the hands of IM Abhimanyu Puranik. Meanwhile, Indian IM Praggnanandhaa R. is playing some sparkling chess. Report.

5/15/2017 – Tepe Sigeman & Co concluded yesterday, with all the final round games ending in draws. But this was a tournament of missed opportunities for the top seed Pavel Eljanov and also Nigel Short. Swedish grandmaster Nils Grandelius and Georgia's Baadur Jobava scored 3.0/5 each making them joint winners of the tournament. Erik Blomqvist and Pavel Eljanov shared the third and fourth places with 2½/5. Indian star Dronavalli Harika shared the last place with Nigel Short. Report with grandmaster analysis

5/12/2017 – Round two of TePe Sigeman & Co. Chess Tournament saw the reigning Swedish Champion Erik Blomqvist bounce back from yesterday's loss and defeat the top seed Pavel Eljanov. Baadur Jobava is now leading the tournament after a super-charged victory against Nigel Short. India's Harika Dronavalli signed peace with Nils Grandelius after missing a couple of chances to win. Report with grandmaster analysis.

5/11/2017 – With a brand new sponsor, the TePe Sigeman & Co Chess tournament is back! The five-round event is being held in Malmo, Sweden. The tournament features a strong contention in the form of Nigel Short, Pavel Eljanov, Baadur Jobava, Nils Grandelius, Erik Blomqvist and Harika Dronavalli. And Short is off to a 'dream' start as he explained in his one-line tweet after the game. Report with grandmaster analysis.

4/18/2017 – They were tied for first in the New Classical games but the battle went in a different direction in the final blitz phase. Nakamura played good, fast chess and dominated the proceedings while Nepomniachtchi finished with a loss. We have beautiful pictures by Eugeny Atarov and grandmaster analysis by Srinath Narayanan.

4/17/2017 – At the end of the ‘new classical’ part of the tournament, Hikaru Nakamura and Ian Nepomniatchi are on top with 10 points each. They’ll have the edge, as play moves on into the blitz phase. In the blitz phase, however, we move back to the conventional scoring system. Illustrated report with grandmaster analysis.

4/16/2017 – Nihal Sarin has announced his arrival and how! It is true that he had already started making a name for himself as a dangerous 12-year-old boy who could crush you if you give him one small opportunity. But the TV2 Fagernes GM International saw the 12-year-old genius score his first GM norm, stay undefeated, smash a 2600 GM on the way, tie for second (take fourth place on the tiebreak), and play breathtaking chess. We have a report with grandmaster analysis of Nihal's games.

4/16/2017 – Former World Champion Viswanathan Anand was struggling to get going in the first two days, but the third day saw him regain his flow as he disarmed and destroyed Grigoriy Oparin and Boris Gelfand like the Vishy of the lore. Hikaru Nakamura also was at his peak as he won both the games today to join Peter Svidler in the lead. Illustrated report with grandmaster analysis.

4/15/2017 – The match-ups on show in the second and third rounds of the 'New Classical' were all interesting and full of 'time-trouble' miracles. While Svidler's incredible ...Nf5 not only saved him from defeat but even won him the game against Hikaru. Vladimir Kramnik was a piece up against Ian Nepomniachtchi but the latter, armed with an irritating passer, fished out a draw! But that was not all—Gelfand missed a win against Kramnik as well! Report and grandmaster analysis.

4/14/2017 – As in the blitz, Yannick Pelletier and Peter Svidler were put under serious pressure, on the board as well as on the clock. While Peter managed to bring about a rearguard, not without some generosity from Nepomniachtchi, Hikaru Nakamura gave his opponent no such chance. Vladimir Kramnik scored a trademark victory over Viswanathan Anand. Report with grandmaster analysis.

4/13/2017 – The Korchnoi Zurich Chess Challenge 2017 began with legendary grandmasters and Russian talents in the fray, promising entertaining chess for the fans. The opening day saw an exhibition match between the chief sponsor Oleg Skvortsov and Viswanathan Anand. The Indian legend made it a showstopper with a queen sacrifice. A seven-round blitz tourney followed to determine the pairings for the main event, which was led by Boris Gelfand until the sixth round, but as has become traditional in Zurich now, it was Hikaru Nakamura who won the tournament on the tiebreak!