Ravi Abhyankar

Ravi Abhyankar is an independent analyst, writer, logician and strategic advisor based in Mumbai. He previously lived in Russia and Poland for sixteen years. A lifelong chess enthusiast, he has met eight World Chess Champions and played against three of them in simultaneous exhibitions and friendly games.

Recent news

Is Gukesh calculating too much?

3/1/2026 – Is calculation becoming a strength that turns into a weakness? In this opinion piece, Ravi Abhyankar explores the delicate balance between calculation and instinct in modern chess. Can today’s elite players afford to rely only on deep calculation and ignore speed? Why does blitz matter so much for a classical World Champion today? By blending data, history, and modern realities, the article explains what dominance means in modern chess. | Photo: Grand Chess Tour / Lennart Ootes

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Rethinking time controls in the Candidates and World Championship

2/20/2026 – Are the Candidates and World Championship time controls stuck in the past? Players are still facing brutal time scrambles that hurt the quality of chess we love to watch. Why does the increment start at move 41 for some, but from move one in others? Is tradition really helping, or just stressing players unnecessarily? Ravi Abhyankar dives into why FIDE’s current system feels arbitrary and offers a smarter, simpler solution. If you are interested in how time controls shape elite chess, this article offers a thoughtful perspective. | Photo: Wikipedia

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