Sports

Viswanathan Anand and Nihal Sarin (Photos by Vivek Sohani) KOLKATA: Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand recovered from an early setback to register two victories and emerge as joint leader with Nihal Sarin after six rounds of the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid on Thursday.Rounds four to six produced fighting chess and frequent shifts at the…

Tilak Varma of India (Getty Images) India batter Tilak Varma has been ruled out of the first three T20Is against New Zealand following abdominal surgery in Rajkot, the Board of Control for Cricket in India confirmed on Thursday. The 23-year-old underwent emergency surgery at a super-speciality hospital on Wednesday evening after experiencing acute abdominal pain…

India vs New Zealand (Agency Image) The India vs New Zealand ODI rivalry is set to return once again as the two sides meet in a three match series starting Sunday, January 11 in Vadodara. The second ODI will be played on January 14 in Rajkot, with the series concluding on January 18 in Indore….

India’s Ruturaj Gaikwad (PTI Photo/Kunal Patil) Ruturaj Gaikwad delivered one of the finest List A knocks of the season on Thursday, producing a composed yet commanding 134 off 131 balls in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and rewriting several records along the way. It was an innings built on patience, timing and authority, and one that…

Former Multan Sultans owner Ali Khan Tareen and Mohsin Naqvi NEW DELHI: Former Multan Sultans owner Ali Khan Tareen has decided to stay away from the auction for the two new Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises. The auction is being held today in Islamabad at the Jinnah Convention Centre, where the league is expanding from…

WPL all teams captains (X-WPL) The Women’s Premier League returns for its 2026 season on Friday, January 9, with a blockbuster opening clash between defending champions Mumbai Indians and former winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru. With Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz also in the mix, another fiercely contested edition is on the cards. WPL…

FIDE and Freestyle Chess agree terms on World Championship (Photos by Michal Walusza and ChessBase India) NEW DELHI: Late on Wednesday night, Emil Sutovsky, the chief executive officer (CEO) of FIDE, the International Chess Federation, chose a phrase heavy with symbolism.“Burying the hatchet!” he wrote on X, announcing that FIDE and Freestyle Chess had finally…

Australia’s Steve Smith (AP/PTI) Steve Smith has cast doubt over his participation in the 2027 Ashes in England, admitting age could be a decisive factor even as excitement builds within an ageing Australian group following a dominant home series win. Australia sealed a comprehensive 4–1 Ashes triumph with a five-wicket victory in the fifth and…

England’s Ben Stokes, centre, gestures to teammate Brydon Carse in Sydney. (AP Photo) The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has launched an immediate and “thorough” review of the men’s Ashes tour after England slumped to a demoralising 4–1 defeat against Australia, with chief executive Richard Gould admitting the campaign fell well short of expectations.Go…

Magnus Carlsen’s slams table after losing to Arjun Erigaisi in Doha. (Screengrab) NEW DELHI: Magnus Carlsen‘s brilliance over the board is unquestioned, but his repeated emotional outbursts are increasingly sparking debate over the image they project — especially to the next generation of chess players. The latest flashpoint came during the World Rapid and Blitz…