Chess Base

• Women's Candidates R1: Four draws, Zhu and Goryachkina miss big chances

  The Women's Candidates began in Pegeia with four draws in round one, though the games featured a number of missed chances. The event, held alongside the open section for a second time, brings together five returning players from 2024 and three young talents. Early pairings included two all-national encounters, while late changes following Humpy Koneru's withdrawal altered the draw. Time pressure and opening surprises marked the first day of action. | Pictured: Aleksandra Goryachkina | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

• Pranav Venkatesh dominates KazChess Masters, obtains 2795 TPR

  The KazChess Masters, held in Shymkent from 21 to 29 March, brought together five experienced international grandmasters and five emerging Kazakhstani players in a single round-robin format. Pranav Venkatesh secured first place with 7½/9, finishing clear of Shamsiddin Vokhidov. The event also highlighted the progress of local talents, notably Danis Kuandykuly (born in 2013), who exceeded expectations with a 4/9 score. | Photo: Kazakhstan Chess Federation

• Candidates Round 1 - Live!

  The Candidates Tournaments form the final qualifying stage of the FIDE World Championship cycle. Each tournament features eight of the world's strongest players competing in a double round-robin format over fourteen rounds of classical chess. The first round features the clash of top seeds in the open section, with Fabiano Caruana playing white against Hikaru Nakamura. | Follow the games live with expert commentary starting at 14.30 CEST (8.30 ET, 18.00 IST) | Photo: Michal Walusza