INDIA'S CHESS ERA SEES BRONZE MEDAL, A NEW ERA IN CHESS HISTORY BEGINS

India's World Blitz Chess Champion, R Vaishali, may not have won the top prize in the semi-finals against China's Ju Wenjun, but her efforts were still rewarded with a bronze medal. This podium finish capped off a phenomenal year for Indian chess players, who dominated various events around the world.

In another unexpected twist, Norway's Magnus Carlsen and Russia's Ian Nepomniachtchi shared the title in the open section of the World Blitz Chess Championship in New York. The two top-ranked players agreed to split the spoils after three rounds of tie-break, amidst a dramatic 3-1 victory for China's Zhu Jiner over Vaishali in their semi-final encounter.

Vaishali had set off with impressive wins against top opponents, including Chinese player Zhu. However, she faced stiff competition from Ju Wenjun in the semi-finals, ultimately losing to the eventual winner.

Despite this setback, Indians still enjoyed a world domination in chess classical format this year. India's players swept every single major event on offer since December, bringing home titles and medals aplenty. Yet, they faltered under pressure in the speed formats - rapid and blitz.

It was clear that the only Indian player who stood out in the shorter formats was Viswanathan Anand, although his younger counterpart Koneru Humpy broke records to claim his second world championship title in a row earlier this year.

It is a testament to young players' ability to shine that R Vaishali and others below 25 managed to pull off impressive performances. What these feats tell us is that the foundation laid by seasoned players will soon propel new generation of chess minds into international showpiece events, with expectations soaring higher than ever."

Source: Alaryana Daily