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.             

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Recent news

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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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!
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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
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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
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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
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"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
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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.
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Interview with the man behind the Saint Louis Chess Club, Rex Sinquefield

10/30/2025 – What makes a chess club feel like home? The Saint Louis Chess Club shows that it's the people, the stories and the shared love for the game. They form the heart and soul of this legendary chess club. From world champions to beginners, everyone is welcome at this place, which is driven by a community of passionate chess lovers. Recently, the club hosted the Clutch Chess Legends 2025, where two icons, Garry Kasparov and Viswanathan Anand, faced each other once again. In the middle of all the action, IM Sagar Shah interviewed the person behind this beloved chess club, Rex Sinquefield, the visionary whose dream turned Saint Louis into the chess capital of the world.
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Spreading joy in the world of chess: Anish Giri turns 31 years old today

6/28/2025 – Born in 1994, Anish Giri turns 31 years old today, on 28 June 2025. Anish is a player whom we have known for almost a decade now. In this article, we go down memory lane with some selected images that tell the story of what a gem of an individual Anish is. Amruta and I first met Anish in 2015 at the London Chess Classic. The then young GM has turned into an experienced player - as he remains at the top of the world rankings! | Photos: Amruta Mokal
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Meet Roman Vidonyak: The hidden coach behind top grandmasters

3/11/2025 – Some of the world’s best chess players have trained under him, yet his name remains unknown to many. He has worked with players like Anish Giri, Jorden van Foreest, and Vladimir Fedoseev but always stayed behind the scenes. He is known for his creative training methods and intensive sessions. The name of this mastermind is Roman Vidonyak, and Sagar Shah got the opportunity to meet him in Wijk aan Zee. Check out his interview in which he talks about his training journey, training philosophy, and what it takes to create champions. Photo: German Chess Federation
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Anish Giri takes on the Fischer Quiz in New York!

12/27/2024 – The World Rapid and Blitz Championships began in New York on 26 December. Sagar Shah is reporting for ChessBase India, while Anish Giri is participating. They are good friends and, before the start of the tournament, Sagar invited the Dutch top player to try his luck in a little quiz about the most famous chess player in New York: Bobby Fischer! How well do you know Fischer's games? How well does Giri know Fischer's games?
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