Chess · Worth knowing

Koneru Humpy, India's first female Grandmaster and top-ranked woman player, discusses her chess journey in a comprehensive interview covering her approach to the game, the influence of her chess-playing father, and balancing professional competition with motherhood. She emphasizes determination and fighting spirit as key qualities, describing how her father's constructive criticism kept her from becoming complacent after victories. Humpy reflects on two World Rapid Championship wins (2019 and 2024), noting the 2024 title was particularly meaningful after a difficult year when she considered quitting. She explains how she transitioned from following her father's guidance to preparing independently around 2012, and details the mental challenges of maintaining elite performance—currently ranked eighth globally—while managing family responsibilities and taking breaks from chess. On competitive strategy, Humpy stresses the importance of fighting for wins rather than accepting draws, understanding when to take risks versus playing solid positions, and the value of experience in knowing where to avoid dubious attacks. She also discusses how women's chess has professionalized with increased prize money and sponsorship opportunities, though she believes competing more in men's tournaments would accelerate development for top female players aiming for 2600+ ratings.

The 112th British Chess Championship is taking place August 1-9, 2026 at the University of Warwick in Coventry as a 9-round Swiss tournament with classical time controls. The 2026 edition has set a new record with over 1,750 entries, making it the largest in the championship's history, and features the largest prize fund ever offered. Top seeds include Luke McShane (2597), Michael Adams (2622), and Shreyas Royal (2502), with notable participation from 11-year-old prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan (2303), the highest-rated woman player in this year's field. Rounds are played daily from August 1-9 starting at 14:30 local time with no rest days, with expanded women's chess programming and festival events accompanying the main championship.

Saint Louis University advanced to the finals of the FIDE World University Team Championship in Almaty with a commanding 6.5-1.5 aggregate victory over the University of Texas at Dallas across two semifinal matches. The team won the first match 3.5-0.5, with WGM Thalia Cervantes Landeiro and GM Nikolozi Kacharava highlighting how they performed well despite limited preparation. Kacharava, who began playing chess at age four, described chess as inseparable from his everyday life and studies. Meanwhile, UT Dallas captain GM Julio Sadorra emphasized the importance of psychological reset after setbacks and drew parallels between chess decision-making and life choices. In the other semifinal, Ural State Mining University defeated KNUS 3-1 in their second match after drawing 2-2 initially, earning the right to face Saint Louis in Sunday's final for the inaugural championship title.