The Classical Sicilian, Women’s Grand Prix in Pune, and Carlsen’s Paris Triumph - Ep 15

Female Host

Hey everyone! Welcome to Chess Times, a Chess Gaja Podcast. We've got a packed lineup today, so let’s dive right in.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

First off, we’re gonna talk about the Classical Sicilian, one of the most thrilling and complex chess openings out there. Have you ever wondered why it’s a popular opening in all levels of play?

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

Classical Sicilian really allows Black to play aggressively in the center and counter White throughout the game. Once you learn the key lines of the opening, it can lead to sharp double-edged positions which can lead to results, and that's why I strongly think it is popular in all levels of play.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

Moving on to the Women’s Grand Prix, the fifth leg of the 2024/2025 Grand Prix is taking place in Pune, India, from April 13th to 24th

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

That’s right! Humpy Koneru, Zhu Jiner, and Polina Shuvalova are the top seeds in this ten-player single round robin event. The top two finishers of the Grand Prix series will qualify for the Women’s Candidates Tournament.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

And this is the fifth of six events in this two-year tournament series.

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

Divya Deshmukh snagged her second consecutive victory after her opponent played their bishop one move too soon.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

Ouch! That’s a tough break. On a brighter note, Zhu Jiner displayed masterful rook endgame technique to secure a win.

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

Speaking of champions, Ju Wenjun successfully defended her title in a very lopsided match against Tan Zhongyi, retaining her status as the women’s world champion.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

It’s impressive how she completely controlled the match and maintained her title, showcasing her dominance in the Women's Chess World.

Young, American, Crisp, Female Voice (Conversational)

Now, let’s talk about the exciting match between Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura in Paris. Magnus took first place this time, unlike his previous third-place finish against Vincent Keymer.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

He won $200,000 and solidified his status as the best chess player of our era. In the semifinals against Hikaru, he made a lead and simply traded pieces to simplify the game.

Female Host

And finally, we have some news from the European Women’s Championship. Teodora Injac of Serbia won the 25th edition of the championship, riding a nine-game winning streak!

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

That’s incredible! She finished with a full one and a half points ahead of the next competitor. It’s noteworthy that she lost her first game, where she had a checkmate in two moves, but then rebounded strongly with nine straight wins.

Female Host

Her spirit and determination truly shone through in this tournament.

GM Priyadharshan Kannappan

That’s all we have for today’s episode. Thanks for joining us! We hope you enjoyed the insights and updates from the world of chess