CHESS
Pratitee, Mayank inch closer to crowns
Top seeds WFM Pratitee Bordoloi and GM-elect Mayank Chakraborty moved a step closer to the Asian Junior Classical Chess Championship crowns with wins in the eighth and penultimate round in Mumbai.
Pratitee scored a crucial victory over FM Prishita Gupta to take her tally to an impressive 7/8 and extend her lead to a full point. Her nearest rival, WCM Shohradova Leyla of Turkmenistan, was held to a draw by WCM Dakshita Kumawat and moved to 6 points. WFM Mariya Kholyavko of Kazakhstan and WCM Sravyasree Bheemarasetty registered important victories to also reach 6 points.
In the Open Championship, Mayank Chakraborty strengthened his grip on the title by defeating Daksh Goyal to move to 7/8. His nearest challenger, IM Artem Pingin of Russia, scored an important victory over IM Vignesh Advaith Vemula to reach 6.5 points.
FM Sharnarthi Viresh was held to a draw by IM Apoorv Kamble and moved to 6 points, while FM Madhvendra Pratap Sharma defeated CM Ahmet Gubatayev of Turkmenistan to also reach 6 points.
With one round remaining, Mayank holds a half-point advantage over Pingin, setting up an exciting finish to the Open Championship. Pratitee, meanwhile, holds a one-point cushion over her nearest challengers as both title races head into the decisive final round.
-Team Sportstar
Road to GCL, Bengaluru: FIDE-rated Rapid Chess tournament to bring 1,000 players together on August 26
The Road to GCL tournament on August 26 is expected to bring Bengaluru’s chess community together ahead of nine days of world-class chess action.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The Road to GCL tournament on August 26 is expected to bring Bengaluru’s chess community together ahead of nine days of world-class chess action.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
As Bengaluru gears up to host the world’s top players for Season 4 of the Global Chess League (GCL), the city will witness a major grassroots chess celebration with the Road to GCL initiative on August 26 at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium.
The FIDE-rated Rapid Chess tournament will bring together up to 1,000 players, creating a large-scale competitive platform for chess enthusiasts across age groups and skill levels.
With a ₹4 lakh cash prize pool, the tournament will offer participants an opportunity to compete in a professionally organised, FIDE-rated rapid chess format while being part of the build-up to GCL Season 4. The initiative aims to take the excitement around the league beyond the professional circuit and create a direct connection between the global stars of the sport and Bengaluru’s vibrant chess community.
GCL Commissioner Gourav Rakshit said, “The Road to GCL is about bringing the spirit of the Global Chess League closer to the people who make chess what it is… the players, fans, and communities who continue to grow the game. Bringing 1,000 players together for a FIDE-rated tournament in Bengaluru is a great way to build momentum for Season 4 and celebrate the depth of chess talent in the city. We hope this experience offers participants not just the opportunity to compete but also a chance to feel part of the larger GCL journey and experience world-class chess up close.”
Adding to the experience, participants will also have an opportunity to receive passes to the tournament, giving them the chance to watch some of the world’s best players compete live as six global franchises battle it out in GCL’s unique team-based format.
-Team Sportstar
HOCKEY
Chhattisgarh set to host India’s first state Hockey League
The Sports and Youth Welfare Department of Chhattisgarh has announced the inaugural Chhattisgarh Hockey League (CHL), India’s first official state-level hockey league sanctioned by Hockey India.
The franchise-based league is scheduled to take place from October 21 to November 1 at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Hockey Stadium in Raipur.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The franchise-based league is scheduled to take place from October 21 to November 1 at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Hockey Stadium in Raipur.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The franchise-based league is scheduled to take place from October 21 to November 1, 2026, at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Hockey Stadium in Raipur.
The official logo, mascot and identities of the six participating teams were unveiled at an event attended by Deputy Chief Minister and Sports & Youth Welfare Minister Arun Sao, officials from the department and Hockey Chhattisgarh president Firoz Ansari.
The league will feature six franchise teams namely Rajdhani Royals, Chitrakoot Challengers, Sanskardhani Strikers, Chakradhar Champions, Nyayadhani Knights and Mainpat Titans represent different regions of Chhattisgarh.
The teams will compete in a league format, with the top four advancing to the semi-finals. The final is scheduled for November 1, along with a special exhibition match involving women’s teams.
Olympians and Indian hockey players Gurjant Singh, Shamsher Singh and Surender Kumar have been named among the marquee players. Other prominent names include Jaskaran Singh and Devindar Walmiki.
-Team Sportstar
Published on Aug 25, 2026
