Tuesday, May 12
Goa is set to host the FIDE World Cup from October 30 to November 27, offering three Candidates Tournament spots and a $2 million prize pool. The event features chess giants like D Gukesh, Magnus Carlsen, and R Praggnanandhaa. India boasts a strong contingent of 21 players, including Viswanathan Anand, as the World Cup returns to India after 23 years.
Borussia Dortmund has implemented stricter post-match rules, barring players' families from the dressing room area. This decision follows an incident involving Mark Bellingham, father of Jobe Bellingham, who questioned the sporting director about his son's substitution during a recent game. Despite Dortmund downplaying the situation, they aim to prevent future disruptions by limiting access to players, coaches, and officials only.
Sachin Tendulkar, celebrated for his batting, also possessed valuable bowling skills. Despite limited opportunities, he claimed 46 Test wickets, with a cherished moment arriving in the 2004 Multan Test. Asked about his favorite wicket, Tendulkar recalled dismissing Moin Khan with a deceptive googly on the day's final ball.
Hanuma Vihari, celebrated for his resilience against Australia in 2021, is set to represent Tripura in all formats for the 2025-26 season, leaving Andhra Pradesh due to perceived favouritism. Vihari aims for consistent performance and fresh opportunities after a Test career of 839 runs and a strong domestic record of over 9,500 first-class runs.
Virat Kohli paid tribute to Cheteshwar Pujara, acknowledging his significant contributions to the Indian batting order, especially at the No.3 position. Kohli highlighted Pujara's role in easing his own batting at No.4 and their memorable partnerships. The former Indian skipper congratulated him on his career and wished him well for the future.
Ruturaj Gaikwad roared back into form with a brilliant century for Maharashtra in the Buchi Babu Invitational tournament, signaling an end to his recent struggles. After a disappointing start to the competition, Gaikwad's impressive 133 off 144 balls against Himachal Pradesh, including ten boundaries and four sixes took the spotlight.
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa showcased a dominant performance, defeating Alireza Firouzja and surging to joint first place in the Sinquefield Cup alongside Fabiano Caruana with a score of 4.5. However, D Gukesh faced a setback, losing to Wesley So and dropping to the bottom standings in the standings. With three rounds remaining, the competition intensifies as Caruana and Praggnanandhaa lead, followed closely by Wesley So and Levon Aronian.
Astrologer Greenstone Lobo predicts a strong comeback for Shreyas Iyer. Iyer was ignored for the Asia Cup 2025 squad. Lobo believes Iyer's horoscope indicates a potential captaincy. He suggests Iyer could lead India to a major tournament victory, possibly a World Cup. Lobo warns selectors against overlooking Iyer's talent.
Sarfaraz Khan's unbeaten 109 propelled Mumbai against Haryana in the Buchi Babu Tournament, rescuing them from an early collapse. This century follows his earlier 138 against TNCA XI, solidifying his form ahead of the Test season.
Manoj Tiwary has accused MS Dhoni of favoritism, claiming he wasn't backed despite strong performances, including a century. Tiwary suggests Dhoni's preferences influenced team selection, preventing him from securing a consistent place in the playing XI. He expressed his confusion and disappointment, highlighting a perceived lack of support during Dhoni's captaincy.
