Editor Speaks
The second issue of this year’s AIWCF Bulletin is here. Sorry for the delay in releasing this issue.
2026 has been one of the most tumultuous years since the early 2020’s. Since end-February this year when US and Israel attacked Iran, the war continues on multiple fronts seven months later, affecting the Gulf region in particular and the whole world in general.
2026 brought a new Challenger Javokhir Sindarov from Uzbekistan into the spotlight with a dominating run in the Candidates with an unbeaten score of 10/14 (6 wins and 8 draws) and a 2898 rating performance. Fellow countryman Abdusattarov had won the Tata Steel Masters early this year. Just like Gukesh who emerged from the shadows of Praggnanandhaa to star in the 2022 Olympiad, Sindarov has emerged ahead of Abdusattarov, the latter easily the most dominant player of this year. Uzbekistan dominated Olympiad chess in the just-concluded Olympiad at their capital Samarkand, with Abdussatarov (Board 1 gold) and Sindarov (Board 2 bronze) on top-2 boards. After 2 consecutive silvers on Board 1 for Uzbekistan, Abdusattarov finally won the gold with a performance of 8.5/11 and 2869 rating performance!
We can look forward to an exciting World Chess Championship match between hot favourite Sindarov and resurgent Gukesh at Geneva starting November 22, 2026.
From Indian standpoint, Praggnanandhaa has been the performer of the year and currently India #1. He had won the Norway Masters, the first Indian to ever do so. This is especially remarkable since he came ahead of So, Carlsen, Firouzja, Keymer and Gukesh. He also bagged a bronze on Board 2 at Olympiad, while remaining unbeaten. He beat Anish Giri in a crucial round 5 match.
World champion Gukesh bagged a silver on Board 4(!) at the Olympiad! Gukesh was in line for the gold on the lowest board until last round where he lost the game to in-form Hungarian Dudin, and lost the medal to 17-year old Ukrainian star Samuenkov. At Olympiad, little-known Savitha Shri was our best performer who remained undefeated and won the only gold for India on reserve board while Divya Deshmukh won a silver on Board 3. Savitha went 7/7 at one point before ending with 9/10 score. India won the Gaprindashvili Trophy for the combined team performance. R. Vaishali, the challenger to Women’s world champion Ju Wenjun in 2027 was off-color in the Olympiad. China with a young team with Zhu Jiner leading won the team gold and several individual medals, with Zhu herself winning the individual gold on board 1 with unbeaten 7/9. This was her 2nd consecutive gold medal at the Olympiad.
In this Bulletin, CCM Mohan Turaga, our Games Editor, besides providing the Games section has provided an exciting article based on Queen sacrifice. Some historic games are well-known but there are a few less-known games as well.
AIWCF Champion IM Omprakash Mohanty has provided some master advice how to evaluate Chess Engine evaluation 0.00 (equal) and push for decisive advantage. KVL Narayana has provided an interesting article on the colourful life of Rossolimo away from chess.
CCM Sailesh Chandra has provided a new article on Chess composition, which can help enhance chess skills of players at all levels.
Umesh Nair has provided a continuation of his article on Problem-like positions from actual games.
AIWCF 1522 championship (Engine allowed) concluded with a tie for top position between Sameeh Nazrulla and Om Prakash with 9/14. Dr. Chatterjee and Carlos Hernandez had the same score but with inferior S.B. scores, so were declared 3rd and 4th respectively.
The obituary column this time features veteran chess journalist Dimitrije Bjelica of Bobby Fischer fame.
Hope you will like enjoying the Bulletin as much as we liked putting it together,
Sincerely Yours,
Anil Anand