Month: September 2024

Arjun Erigaisi (Photo: @chesscom on X)

Indian chess scripted not just one but two ‘famous five’ stories over 14 days in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, where young teams of men and women went on to win historic maiden gold medals for the country at the 45th Chess Olympiad.
The Indian men’s team of Arjun Erigaisi, D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, Vidit Gujrathi and Pentala Harikrishna remained unbeaten across 11 rounds and secured 21 out of a possible 22 points to boss the tournament with unprecedented dominance.
The women’s team of Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal and Tania Sachdev were not to be left behind even if they had to hold nerve till the end of the 11th round to clinch gold.
Besides the team gold medals, India also clinched four individual gold — won by Arjun, Gukesh, Vantika and Divya. And one of those star performers, Erigaisi, took time out to talk to Timesofindia.com and shared insights on his journey as well as how it all came together in Budapest for India to shine bright.

Celebrations started after you won the last game against the US team, but there was still confusion…
Basically we knew that the gold was in the bag, but didn’t want to be overconfident and play the last game (round 11 against Slovenia) in a too relaxed manner and not finish on a high. Although we felt the gold was with us, we still wanted to give our best. So we were trying to not think about all that and stay focused in the last game as well.
Many sent out their congratulations to India on social media after the win over the US, but FIDE put out a post on about China still being mathematically alive going into Round 11…
We had an idea that gold slipping away was an extremely unlikely possibility because even if we lost and China won, our tiebreak (score) was still better than theirs. For that (Chinese victory) to happen, all our and China’s previous opponents also needed to lose.
Talking about your background, your father is a neurosurgeon. So was there the usual parental pressure to focus on academics and give education the priority?
No. My dad, in fact, used to tell me ‘become anything but a doctor’. He knows how busy and how tough his job is. So he suggested against that for me and my sister. But she went into that out of her own interest. She is in her MBBS final year.

You could recite multiplication tables in reverse as a third-grader, and knew about currencies and capitals of almost every country. That’s almost a god-sent message that the 64 squares is where you should be headed…
My mother used to teach me a lot of things. One of them was like she bought a book of flags. It had names of countries, their capital, flags and currencies mentioned. I really liked it and used to go through the book all the time. Tables, I really used to enjoy math, and also I was quick at it. My teachers used to appreciate that. I was able to do tables in reverse also. My mother also told me and my sister many stories of Mahabharata. Whenever any guests came home, we used to tell them those stories. My name came from my grandmother who was a huge fan of Arjuna (one of the Pandavas).
Where did you get your calm demeanour from or were you always like that?
Actually, I have always been a lot of energy and competitive. The look of me wouldn’t show that. Even in my childhood, I used to look very calm. It’s just the inner feeling, being competitive and trying to win all the time. But on the outside, I have always been the same, looking calm.
You stayed unbeaten, so did Gukesh, and both of you also won the individual gold besides the team gold. Can you sum up India’s journey?
Going into the tournament, we knew that we were one of the favourites to win it. But we didn’t want to overthink and decided to take one game at a time and focus on that. It turned out that all of us were extremely motivated and in good shape. We were scoring and also had a lot of fun; we made good memories on and off the board. Having a good atmosphere also helped us play well.

Talking about good memories, the team’s dance inside a room on ‘We are the Champions’ is still not out…
Yeah, it’s not (smiles).
You have been called ‘Madman on the Chess Board’ from none other than Magnus Carlsen…
Basically he was referring to my style and me being ambitious in general, trying to play for a win from most positions and not caring who my opponent is. So it’s like a nice compliment.
Which match in this Olympiad do you reckon was the best or the toughest for you individually?
My win against Bardiya Daneshvar of Iran was a very strong one. Basically, it felt like he was making all the normal moves. Optically, his position looked nicer than mine. but it takes deep understanding to know that it only looks nice, but is actually not. Mine, maybe, didn’t look as good, but it was actually a position that was easier (to win from). Twelve minutes into the game, he was a bit worried seeing my position.
Srinath Narayana was your non-playing captain. What kind of role does a captain have in a sport like chess?
He had to make a lot of decisions, with respect to opening…and also picking the team of assistant coaches who will be helping us during the tournament…During the Asian Games, it wasn’t easy because I was in bad shape, Gukesh also was in not so good shape. So it wasn’t easy to decide whom to field and whom to rest. So he takes these decisions.

How is the form of a player decided in a sport like chess?
Fortunately, here we were all in good shape. I don’t know what exactly it depends on.
How do you define ‘being in good shape’?
Basically playing good quality moves and winning not just by playing bad but getting lucky, but also by outplaying the opponent from start to finish.
Do you follow any pre- and post-match routine and what’s an off-season like for you at home?
For me, when I am home, I generally tend to be strict with workout and diet. But when I am in tournaments, I give myself full liberty. So I don’t really follow any particular routine or diet anytime during a tournament. I just let myself do whatever I feel like.
Gukesh won the Candidates and will be playing Ding Liren for the World Championships in November, the team won the Chess Olympiad. What exactly has inspired Indian chess to shine so bright?
One of the things is for sure Vishy (Viswanathan) Anand sir’s influence. We all started playing chess seeing him as the world champion. When I started playing, he was the world champion. We were following his games. That is one thing. Also, each and every one of us is highly motivated and very hard-working. These are the factors.

Anything special Anand said to the team during or after the tournament?
He met us there and has guided us in the past as well. But actually during tournaments, most of the players prefer to be in the tournament zone and not go out of it. Him being a player, he obviously knew about it, so he was quite understanding. He didn’t talk during the tournament, but once it ended, we had a nice chat.
Can you share what he said?
It started with that moment in Chennai (last Olympiad). This was more like referring to Gukesh and Pragg because they were in the B team. They almost had gold and it just slipped away. (He said that) We showed it was by bad luck that it went away, now we have won with complete dominance.
We knew that, but coming from him made it more special.
Lastly, who planned that walk with the trophy that you guys had fun doing?
It was definitely inspired by Rohit Sharma and Lionel Messi. It was Vidit’s idea to recreate that. We thought it would be fun.

The Kremlin on Thursday issued a stark warning to Western nations, announcing that Moscow’s updated nuclear doctrine will allow the use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states under certain conditions.
The move is seen as a direct message to countries supporting Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia.
Nuclear policy changes are a clear signal to the West: Peskov
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that adjustments have been made to Russia’s nuclear policy document, titled “The Foundations of State Policy in the Sphere of Nuclear Deterrence.” When asked if these changes were intended as a signal to the West, Peskov confirmed, “This should be considered a definite signal.”
He added, “This is a signal that warns these countries about the consequences if they participate in an attack on our country by various means, and not necessarily nuclear ones.”
Peskov highlighted the global context, saying that the world is witnessing an “unprecedented confrontation,” which he attributed to the “direct involvement of Western countries, including nuclear powers,” in the Ukraine war.
Regarding the publication of the revised nuclear documents, Peskov said a decision would be made at a later date.
The revised doctrine expands the list of military threats that could justify the use of nuclear weapons and broadens the scope of deterrence to include more states and military alliances. According to the Kremlin, the updated policy is outlined in two key documents.
Aggression by non-nuclear states with nuclear allies will be treated as ‘joint attack’: Putin
In a meeting with senior officials on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that the amendments to the nuclear doctrine have already been formulated. He highlighted that these changes clarify the conditions under which Russia would resort to nuclear weapons.
“What I would especially like to draw your attention to, is that in the updated version of the document, aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state, is proposed to be considered as their joint attack on the Russian Federation,” Putin said.
The timing of the announcement is crucial as Western allies, particularly the US and UK, debate whether to authorise Ukraine to use long-range weaponry against targets within Russian territory.
Putin’s comments appear to be a direct response to these discussions, underscoring Russia’s readiness to treat any attack by a non-nuclear state, if backed by a nuclear-armed nation, as a joint assault on Russia.
The Kremlin has not yet made a decision on whether to release the amended nuclear doctrine to the public. However, the new policy marks a clear escalation in Russia’s stance on nuclear deterrence as the war in Ukraine continues.

Khatron Ke Khiladi 14 has kept viewers on the edge of their seats. The show’s winner will be revealed over the weekend. Ahead of the show’s grand finale, it has managed to generate a lot of interest. As fans count down the days before the finale, the producers released an exciting promo featuring finalist Shalin Bhanot attempting yet another risky manoeuvre.
According to the show’s new commercial, Shalin Bhanot is dubbed The Showman after performing a spectacular feat in the show’s grand finale. Shalin is seen jumping from one automobile to another in his search for flags. The catch is that the cars are suspended in the air, attached to a harness. Bhanot demonstrates his power and determination by jumping from one car to another and saluting Lord Ram.
Shalin Bhanot experienced a roller coaster journey in Khatron Ke Khiladi 14. While he began as a strong competitor, he lost his form on several occasions. He was frequently chastised for failing to follow the stunts’ rules and standards, and he even abandoned a number of them before performing them.
Shalin stopped the tear gas stunt at the first phase and left the work in seconds. He didn’t try to obtain flags in the ostrich stunt and gave up quickly as well. He was placed in the ice-cold water tank as part of the final stunt ticket. He lost his patience and calm as soon as he entered the tank and called off the act. Meanwhile, Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia won the stunt, staying in the tank for ten minutes.
While Shalin was frequently chastised for aborting feats and taking a few stunts lightly, he returned to the competition a few weeks ago, promising host Rohit Shetty that he’d perform well and make it to the final. Interestingly, the actor did exactly what he said. While spectators expected Gashmeer Mahajani to become the show’s second finalist, Shalin Bhanot proved his mettle by defeating Mahajani in a stunt. He outperformed Mahajani and made Rohit Shetty pleased by executing the stunt on time.
The Khatron Ke Khiladi 14 grand finale promos have already been released, sparking fans’ intrigue and enthusiasm. The big finale of the show will feature Alia Bhatt and Vedang Raina promoting their film Jigra.
Finalist Abhishek Kumar told Alia Bhatt an amazing story from the sets of Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya, as Kumar was a crowd artist in the film and was on set for almost 22 days. He explained how he wanted to take a picture with Bhatt, but her security officers shooed him away. Alia felt awful after hearing the story, so she asked Kumar to take photographs with her, leaving him captivated.

Apart from Alia and Vedang, the grand finale episode of Khatron Ke Khiladi 14 will feature Laughter Chefs Unlimited Entertainment stars Bharti Singh, Kashmeera Shah, and Nia Sharma.
The top five finalists from this season are Karan Veer Mehra, Shalin Bhanot, Gashmeer Mahajani, Abhishek Kumar, and Krishna Shroff.

Marvel Studios’ blockbuster ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ is has begun campaigning for a shot at the Oscars 2025, following its massive box office success.
The film, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in lead roles, is aiming to replicate the awards success of the original ‘Deadpool’ from 2016, with Disney targeting major awards shows this season.
Reynolds, who plays Wade Wilson aka Deadpool, will be submitted in the Best Actor (Comedy or Musical) category at the Golden Globes, while Jackman, reprising his iconic role as the Wolverine, will compete in the Supporting Actor category.This marks a surprise move, as Jackman will be pushed for Best Supporting Actor awards in key ceremonies, including the Screen Actors Guild Awards, Critics Choice Awards, and the Oscars, according to reports from Variety.In addition to acting categories, ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ is a strong contender for the Golden Globes’ new Cinematic and Box Office Achievement award, celebrating the year’s highest-grossing and most critically acclaimed films. Last year, this award went to ‘Barbie’, which went on to secure eight Oscar nominations.
The film is also expected to campaign for technical categories at the Oscars, such as Production Design, Sound, and Visual Effects.

The original ‘Deadpool’ was a critical and commercial hit, earning over $780 million worldwide and landing two Golden Globe nominations, including Best Actor for Reynolds. This latest entry, which surpassed the billion-dollar mark at the global box office, is now looking to secure awards and nominations in similar categories.
The film’s production team, including Reynolds, Levy, Marvel boss Kevin Feige, and Lauren Shuler Donner, is banking on the movie’s mass appeal and strong performances to capture the attention of voters.
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ is set to launch on digital platforms on October 1, with physical releases on 4K Blu-ray and DVD on October 22.

Sixteen-year-old Suhanaa Setty recently released her debut book, Invisible Hands of the Indian Economy. This work shines a spotlight on the overlooked contributions of women across India, challenging traditional economic narratives that often disregard their essential yet invisible roles.
The book captures the untold stories of 22 women from diverse backgrounds—ranging from homemakers to construction workers—highlighting their significant but unacknowledged contributions to the economy.Through evocative black-and-white imagery and personal anecdotes, Setty underscores how women’s work, while vital to the economy, remains unaccounted for in National Income Accounting (NIA) frameworks.
Invisible Hands of the Indian Economy invites readers to reconsider what defines economic value, advocating for a broader and more inclusive understanding of GDP that recognises women’s unpaid and often unrecognised labour in areas like household management, agriculture, and small-scale industries. Setty shares stories of women like Ratna and Parmila, who break societal norms and contribute significantly to their communities despite facing educational and cultural barriers.
This anthology of sorts not only celebrates the resilience of these women but also serves as a call to action for policymakers, economists, and society to integrate these invisible contributions into economic discourse. It is a timely and crucial addition to discussions on gender and economics, appealing to students, academicians, policymakers, and anyone interested in social justice and gender studies.
“It is more than just a book or illustrated narratives; it challenges us to rethink the traditional metrics of economic progress. Through the lives and stories of these twenty-two women, it urges a recognition of the unseen labour that sustains our households, communities, and, ultimately, the nation,” shares Suhanaa Setty.