Advaith S
Chess writer · Shatranj Live
Advaith S writes about chess openings, history, and the legends of the game — from Paul Morphy to Magnus Carlsen. His guides break down complex theory into practical ideas any player can use.
Articles by Advaith S (36)
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Candidates 2026 Tiebreak Rules: Playoffs, Armageddon & What Happens If Players Tie
What happens if players tie at the 2026 Candidates? Complete guide to FIDE tiebreak rules — rapid playoffs, blitz, Armageddon format, and how the challenger is decided.
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Untold: Chess Mates (Netflix 2026) — Carlsen vs Niemann Cheating Documentary
Netflix's Untold: Chess Mates documentary covers the 2022 Carlsen-Niemann cheating scandal. Premiere date, what to expect, key players interviewed, and how the Sinquefield Cup incident shook chess.
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Anatoly Karpov: World Titles, Kasparov Rivalry, Peak Rating & Legacy
Anatoly Karpov's world chess championship titles (1975–1985), legendary rivalry with Kasparov, peak FIDE rating, health update, and his lasting impact on positional chess.
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Youngest Chess Grandmaster Ever: Faustino Oro's Record-Breaking GM Title
Faustino Oro became the youngest chess grandmaster in history at age 10. How he broke the record, his FIDE rating, training journey, and what this means for the future of chess.
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How Many Chess Grandmasters Are There? 2026 Numbers, Countries & Breakdown
There are about 1,900+ active FIDE Grandmasters in chess as of 2026. Full breakdown by country, growth over time, how it compares to other titles, and which nations produce the most GMs.
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Lichess vs Chess.com (2026): Which Is Better? Honest Comparison
Lichess vs Chess.com compared in 2026 — pricing (free vs paid), puzzles, lessons, analysis tools, interface, and which platform is best for beginners vs advanced players.
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Pia Cramling: Career, Peak Rating & Sweden's Chess Legend | 2026 Profile
Pia Cramling's chess career spanning four decades, peak FIDE rating, major achievements, the Cramling chess family legacy, and her continuing presence in top-level chess in 2026.
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Vladimir Kramnik: World Title, Berlin Wall, Cheating Allegations & Legacy
Vladimir Kramnik's World Championship victory over Kasparov (2000), the legendary Berlin Defense, recent cheating allegations against online players, and his controversial chess legacy.
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Top American Chess Players in 2026: Rankings and Ratings
Top American chess players in 2026 ranked by FIDE rating, with profiles of Nakamura, Caruana, So, Aronian, and more.
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Candidates 2026 Venue: Paphos, Cyprus — Travel Guide, Hall Details & How to Watch
Complete guide to the Candidates 2026 venue in Paphos, Cyprus — the playing hall, dates, travel tips, how to watch live, and everything spectators need to know.
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Chess960 (Fischer Random): Rules, Starting Positions & How to Play
Chess960 explained — all the rules, how 960 starting positions are generated, castling in Fischer Random, and why top GMs prefer it over classical chess.
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How Many Female Chess Grandmasters Are There? 2026 GM vs WGM Breakdown
How many female chess grandmasters exist in 2026? Full GM vs WGM breakdown, country analysis, notable female GMs like Hou Yifan and Judit Polgar, and why the gender gap persists.
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How to Get a FIDE Rating: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners (2026)
How to get your first FIDE rating in 2026 — step-by-step from federation registration to your first rated tournament. Requirements, costs, timeline, and tips for your published Elo.
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Levon Aronian FIDE Rating 2026: World Cup Wins, US Switch & Career Profile
Levon Aronian's current FIDE rating, two World Cup victories, historic federation switch from Armenia to the USA, and complete 2026 career profile with tournament results.
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Mikhail Tal: The Magician — World Title, Sacrificial Style & Immortal Games
Mikhail Tal's 1960 World Championship victory, legendary sacrificial attacking style, famous games, and why 'The Magician from Riga' remains the most beloved chess player in history.
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Samay Raina Chess Rating & Career: From Comedian to Chess Influencer
Samay Raina's chess rating (~1,700 on Chess.com), SuperPogChamps 2025 win, Chess Super League, and how India's top comedy star became chess's biggest online personality.
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Wesley So FIDE Rating 2026: Chess960 World Champion, US Championship & Career
Wesley So's current FIDE rating, Chess960 World Championship titles, US Chess Championship wins, federation switch from Philippines to USA, and 2026 career profile.
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Castling in Chess: Rules, When to Castle & Common Mistakes
Complete guide to castling in chess — kingside vs queenside, when castling is legal, strategic timing, and common mistakes beginners make. With clear diagrams.
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En Passant in Chess: What It Is, When to Use It & Examples
En passant explained simply — what the rule is, when it applies, how to execute it, and real game examples. The most misunderstood chess move, broken down for beginners.
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Ju Wenjun: 5x Women's World Chess Champion — Rating, Career & Title Defenses
Ju Wenjun (FIDE 2559) is the reigning five-time Women's World Chess Champion. Her title defenses, career milestones, 2025 match vs Tan Zhongyi, and complete 2026 profile.
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Bobby Fischer: World Title, Peak Rating, Famous Games & Legacy
Bobby Fischer's 1972 World Championship run, peak rating, his brilliant games, the Candidates dominance, and the complicated chess legacy he left behind.
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Garry Kasparov: Peak 2851 Rating, World Titles, Deep Blue & Chess Legacy
Garry Kasparov's peak 2851 FIDE rating, 15 years as World Champion (1985–2000), the iconic Deep Blue match vs IBM, rivalry with Karpov, and why he's considered the greatest chess player ever.
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How to Play Chess for Beginners: Rules, Pieces, Setup & First Moves
Learn how to play chess from scratch — piece movement, board setup, special rules (castling, en passant), checkmate patterns, and beginner openings explained step by step.
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What Is a Chess Grandmaster? GM Title Requirements & How to Get It
What a chess Grandmaster (GM) title is, the exact requirements to earn it — 2500+ Elo, 3 norms, and FIDE rules. How many GMs exist and what makes the title so hard to achieve.
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Viswanathan Anand: 5x World Champion, Peak Rating & India's Chess Pioneer
Viswanathan Anand's five World Championship titles, peak FIDE rating, how he pioneered Indian chess, and his lasting impact. The man who inspired Gukesh, Pragg, and India's chess revolution.
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How to Follow Live Chess Tournaments: Best Platforms and Tools
How to follow live chess tournaments with the best platforms, standings pages, broadcasts, and results tools.
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Candidates Tournament History: Every Winner from 1950 to 2026 — Complete List
Complete list of every Candidates Tournament winner from 1950 to 2026. Format changes through the decades, legendary runs by Fischer, Kasparov, and Carlsen, and how the event shaped chess history.
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Chess Tournament Formats: Swiss, Round Robin and Knockout
Chess tournament formats explained, including Swiss, round robin, knockout, double round robin, and Armageddon tiebreaks.
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Shatranj History: The Ancient Origins of Modern Chess
Shatranj history explained, from Persian terminology and Indian roots to the evolution of modern chess.
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Shatranj Meaning: Why India Calls Chess Shatranj
Shatranj (शतरंज) is the Hindi and Urdu word for chess, tracing back to Sanskrit chaturanga. How the word survived 1,400 years while English forgot its roots.
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Best Platforms for Live Chess Updates in 2026
Best platforms for live chess updates, standings, pairings, and broadcasts, including Lichess, Chess.com, 2700chess, and Shatranj Live.
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Hou Yifan: 4x Women's World Champion, Peak Rating & Academic Career
Hou Yifan's FIDE rating, four Women's World Championship titles, peak Elo, why she left competitive chess for academia, and her legacy as the greatest female player ever.
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Judit Polgar: Peak Rating, Career & the Strongest Female Chess Player in History
Judit Polgar's peak FIDE rating (2735), wins against Kasparov, Carlsen, and nearly every World Champion, and why she remains the strongest female chess player of all time.
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Jorden van Foreest: FIDE Rating, Tata Steel Champion & 2026 Career
Jorden van Foreest's FIDE rating, dramatic Tata Steel 2021 victory, playing style, and complete 2026 career profile of the Netherlands' top chess talent.
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Prague Chess Festival History: Winners and Past Results
Prague Chess Festival history with every Masters winner, past results, and how the event has grown since 2019.
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What Is the Candidates Tournament? Format, History and Qualification
What the Candidates Tournament is, how the format works, how players qualify, and why it decides the world title challenger.