Sagar Shah

Sagar Shah is an International Master from India with two GM norms. He loves to cover chess tournaments, as that helps him understand and improve at the game he loves so much. He is the co-founder and CEO of ChessBase India, the biggest chess news portal in the country. His YouTube channel has over a million subscribers, and to date close to a billion views.

ChessBase India is the sole distributor of ChessBase products in India and seven adjoining countries (Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, Bangladesh, Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia) and the prices are tailored to the spending capacity of these countries. All ChessBase products including ChessBase software, Mega-database, Fritz, different engines and DVDs by world famous authors are available for 60% discount as compared to International prices.             

Google+

Recent news

Interview with the Olympic winners from Uzbekistan: "We have many more victories to come!"

9/29/2026 – Uzbekistan are Olympiad champions again! They finished two match points clear of Germany and India. After the celebrations, ChessBase India caught up with the Uzbek team to talk about the games, the pressure, and what this win means to them. Do not miss what the newly crowned champions had to say! | Photo: Nils Rohde / ChessBase
More...
 3

Starting Saturday in Bengaluru: Global Chess League with Carlsen, Sindarov and Anand in the mix

9/1/2026 – The Tech Mahindra Global Chess League returns for its fourth season, bringing the world's biggest chess stars to Bengaluru from September 5–13, 2026. With six power-packed franchises, fresh team combinations, exciting debutants and fierce rivalries, here's a complete look at every squad, their strengths and what makes this season the most anticipated yet. | Pictured: Vishy Anand with Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra Group
More...
 3

Renowned ex-footballer Gerard Piqué now part-owner of Fyers American Gambits

8/22/2026 – A legendary centre-back for FC Barcelona, a 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 champion and one of sport's most restless entrepreneurs is now a stakeholder in a chess franchise. Gerard Piqué has come on board the Fyers American Gambits as a strategic shareholder, joining former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin in the ownership group, ahead of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League Season 4 in Bengaluru (3-13 September 2026). It is one of the biggest crossovers chess has seen between football and the 64 squares. | Pictured: A press conference to announce the partnership took place in Bengaluru
More...
 3

Global Chess League to take place in India's Silicon Valley: Carlsen, Sindarov and Anand in the mix

7/26/2026 – The Tech Mahindra Global Chess League returns for its fourth season, bringing the world's biggest chess stars to Bengaluru from September 3–13, 2026. With six power-packed franchises, fresh team combinations, exciting debutants and fierce rivalries, here's a complete look at every squad, their strengths and what makes this season the most anticipated yet. | Pictured: Vishy Anand with Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra Group
More...
 6

Jorge Cori and Faustino Oro shine at 67-hour chess marathon in Peru

7/7/2026 – Three full days! What if, out of those 72 hours, you play chess for 67 hours? Would you be able to survive? This was the question posed to all the players as the WR Chess World Record Marathon kicked off in Lima, Peru at the Sheraton Hotel. Some of the best grandmasters from South America participated in this amazing chess celebration that had US$100,000 at stake! We bring you the entire report from Lima.
More...
 2

Lima: Faustino Oro defeats José Martínez 4-2 in rapid and blitz match

6/26/2026 – Argentine prodigy Faustino Oro, 12, travelled to his rival José Martínez's home city, Lima, and beat him at his own game - speed chess. Faustino and José played a six-game match: two rapid encounters and four blitz game. The final score was 4-2 Oro's favour. | Photo: ChessBase India / Amruta Mokal
More...
 2

Over 60 hours of non-stop chess: World Record Chess Marathon begins in Lima

6/25/2026 – From 25 to 28 June 2026, the Sheraton in Lima, Peru becomes the stage for one of the most unusual chess festivals of the year. Eight tournaments, elite simultaneous exhibitions, a top showdown, US$100,000 prize fund and a clock that essentially never stops for four days and nights for chess. Here is everything you need to know about the World Record Chess Marathon.

How strong is the Polish Minister of Finance? Andrzej Domanski faced Judit Polgar in Warsaw

5/27/2026 – On Tuesday, 5 May 2026, on the sidelines of the Super Rapid and Blitz tournament in Warsaw, a very special event took place. The Polish Minister of Finance and Economy, Andrzej Domanski, met the legendary Judit Polgar. They discussed how chess can be made accessible to all. And following the discussion, they also played a game of chess. Check out the encounter to see how strong the Minister actually is! | Photo: ChessBase India
More...
 5

The history of Grand Chess Tour by CEO Michael Khodarkovsky

5/16/2026 – As the Grand Chess Tour (GCT) enters its 11th edition, it has become a cornerstone of the professional chess world. With a $2 million prize fund and a reach spanning four continents, the tour is often described as a "well-oiled machine". In an exclusive look at the tour's history, CEO and Executive Director Michael Khodarkovsky shares the philosophy that has sustained this elite circuit for over a decade. | Photo: Grand Chess Tour
More...
 3

Wadim Rosenstein and his intensive plan to promote chess

5/14/2026 – Wadim Rosenstein came into prominence when he organised the first edition of WR Chess in 2023. He then came up with the idea of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Teams - an event that has become a mainstay in the chess calendar. In recent times, if you follow Rosenstein on his X account, the number of activities that he is doing for chess has grown exponentially! In this interview, we ask him about these events, his vision for chess and whether he is planning to become the FIDE President. | Photo: Lennart Ootes
More...
 5

Coach Roman Vidonyak: Javokhir Sindarov's secret weapon

4/23/2026 – Javokhir Sindarov had an incredible performance at the Candidates Tournament. He won the event and finished 1½ points ahead of second-placed Anish Giri. While many people have contributed towards Javokhir's success, one man takes the lion's share. His name is Roman Vidonyak, and he is Sindarov's coach. The journey of Roman and Javokhir began in January 2025 and in the last sixteen months they have achieved something truly special. What are Roman's methods of training? We tried to understand from the man himself. | Photo: Amruta Mokal
More...
 10

The untold journey of Vaishali through the eyes of coach R.B. Ramesh

4/21/2026 – In the world of Indian chess, few stories are as cinematic as the rise of Vaishali Rameshbabu. While the world watches her exploits, the man who has spent a decade moulding her talent, GM R.B. Ramesh, provides an intimate look at the sacrifice, ethics and the psychological sides of India's newest Women's World Championship challenger. Read the article to know more about not just the professional but also the personal side of this amazing champion. | Photo: ChessBase India
More...
 16

When kids take the lead: Tania Sachdev's memorable morning in Kolkata

3/24/2026 – International Master Tania Sachdev visited RP Goenka School in Kolkata for what turned out to be a truly memorable interaction. What stood out wasn't just the questions - but the confidence, clarity and leadership shown by children as young as eight. In this heartwarming account, Tania reflects on young minds, the role of sport and the moments from school that stay with us forever. It's wonderful to see what Tania is doing apart from playing chess and commentating - inspiring the next generation!
More...
 4

The most beautiful combination of Sasikiran's chess career

3/8/2026 – Krishnan Sasikiran is an absolute legend of Indian chess. In recent times, he has lost some rating, but his strength has never been in doubt. He proved what an evergreen champion he is by winning the Prague Open ahead of 11 GMs and 23 IMs. He did so by executing a brilliant combination in his seventh round game against Eren Ataberk! This was described by Sasikiran as one of the best combinations of his career. | Photo: Prajwal Bhat
More...
 2

Commentator or strong GM? Harshit Raja's inspiring run at Saint Louis Masters

3/3/2026 – After a small break, GM Harshit Raja made a fine return to classical chess at the Saint Louis Masters, an elite invitational tournament featuring a powerhouse lineup of just 70 players. Facing a gauntlet of opponents with an average rating of nearly 2580, Harshit proved what a strong player he is, leading to a performance rating of 2600+ and a gain of 13 Elo points. From daring "coffeehouse complications" against Grigoriy Oparin to a strategic masterclass in the Najdorf, Harshit shares the insights behind his "chill" and inspired approach to the game. | Photo: Lennart Ootes
More...
 3

The touch-move controversy between Judit Polgar and Garry Kasparov

2/10/2026 – Netflix launched a new documentary on the life of Judit Polgar, "The Queen of Chess". The documentary is extremely well-made and is definitely worth a watch if you are a chess fan. It brought back to life an incident that had happened 32 years ago in 1994, when an 18-year-old Judit took on the world number-one Garry Kasparov for the first time. It involved a famous touch-move incident. | Photo: Judit Polgar Chess Foundation
More...
 25

"I just wanted a medal" - Vladislav Artemiev on beating Magnus Carlsen and winning silver at World Rapid 2025

1/14/2026 – Vladislav Artemiev had an impressive run at the FIDE World Rapid Championship 2025. He finished the tournament unbeaten, defeated Magnus Carlsen, survived severe time pressure against Arjun Erigaisi, and eventually claimed the silver medal. In this exclusive interview with Sagar Shah, Artemiev speaks openly about his approach to the tournament, his struggles with time management, and the balance he tries to maintain between ambition and stability. He also reflects on his memorable games against Magnus and Arjun during the event. | Photo: Lennart Ootes
More...
 7

The inspiring story of Alojzije Jankovic, enthusiastic chess promoter

12/6/2025 – On the rest day of the FIDE World Cup, on 20 November, I decided to interview GM Alojzije Jankovic. Every time I have met him, I have always been amazed by his warmth and infectious enthusiasm. A man who has worn many hats in the chess world, Jankovic carries the rare combination of passion, humility and purpose. A strong GM who once reached a 2593 rating, Jankovic is also a long-time television presenter in Croatia, Vice President of the European Chess Union, author, theoretician, trainer, commentator and researcher. Let's dive into his multi-faceted life.
More...
 4
Scroll down to reload more