"commitment to parity"

#13163206

7 January 2026

Indian chess grandmasters Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and Viswanathan Anand look on during the draw ceremony for the upcoming Tata Steel Chess India tournament in Kolkata, India, on January 6, 2026. The headline narrative of the 2026 edition is the return of Viswanathan Anand to competitive action in Kolkata after a six-year gap. Five-time world champion and the architect of India's modern chess boom, Anand's presence is far more than ceremonial. Even at 56, his speed-chess credentials remain formidable, and his participation creates a symbolic bridge between generations. Facing him is a formidable Indian contingent led by Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa--players who represent the present and future of the sport. For Indian fans, the sight of Anand sharing the board with players he once mentors underlines just how rapidly the country's chess ecosystem matures. The women's section continues Tata Steel Chess India's commitment to parity and depth. With defending champions Aleksandra Goryachkina and Kateryna Lagno returning, and a strong Indian presence led by Divya Deshmukh and R. Vaishali, the competition promises to be fiercely contested. Equal prize money and identical formats underline the tournament's progressive structure and its role in strengthening women's chess in India.

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#13163210

7 January 2026

Indian chess grandmasters Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and Viswanathan Anand look on during the draw ceremony for the upcoming Tata Steel Chess India tournament in Kolkata, India, on January 6, 2026. The headline narrative of the 2026 edition is the return of Viswanathan Anand to competitive action in Kolkata after a six-year gap. Five-time world champion and the architect of India's modern chess boom, Anand's presence is far more than ceremonial. Even at 56, his speed-chess credentials remain formidable, and his participation creates a symbolic bridge between generations. Facing him is a formidable Indian contingent led by Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa--players who represent the present and future of the sport. For Indian fans, the sight of Anand sharing the board with players he once mentored underlines just how rapidly the country's chess ecosystem matures. The women's section continues Tata Steel Chess India's commitment to parity and depth. With defending champions Aleksandra Goryachkina and Kateryna Lagno returning, and a strong Indian presence led by Divya Deshmukh and R. Vaishali, the competition promises to be fiercely contested. Equal prize money and identical formats underline the tournament's progressive structure and its role in strengthening women's chess in India.

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#13163211

7 January 2026

Indian chess grandmasters Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and Viswanathan Anand look on during the draw ceremony for the upcoming Tata Steel Chess India tournament in Kolkata, India, on January 6, 2026. The headline narrative of the 2026 edition is the return of Viswanathan Anand to competitive action in Kolkata after a six-year gap. Five-time world champion and the architect of India's modern chess boom, Anand's presence is far more than ceremonial. Even at 56, his speed-chess credentials remain formidable, and his participation creates a symbolic bridge between generations. Facing him is a formidable Indian contingent led by Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa--players who represent the present and future of the sport. For Indian fans, the sight of Anand sharing the board with players he once mentored underlines just how rapidly the country's chess ecosystem matures. The women's section continues Tata Steel Chess India's commitment to parity and depth. With defending champions Aleksandra Goryachkina and Kateryna Lagno returning, and a strong Indian presence led by Divya Deshmukh and R. Vaishali, the competition promises to be fiercely contested. Equal prize money and identical formats underline the tournament's progressive structure and its role in strengthening women's chess in India.

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#13163212

7 January 2026

Indian chess grandmasters Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and Viswanathan Anand look on during the draw ceremony for the upcoming Tata Steel Chess India tournament in Kolkata, India, on January 6, 2026. The headline narrative of the 2026 edition is the return of Viswanathan Anand to competitive action in Kolkata after a six-year gap. Five-time world champion and the architect of India's modern chess boom, Anand's presence is far more than ceremonial. Even at 56, his speed-chess credentials remain formidable, and his participation creates a symbolic bridge between generations. Facing him is a formidable Indian contingent led by Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa--players who represent the present and future of the sport. For Indian fans, the sight of Anand sharing the board with players he once mentored underlines just how rapidly the country's chess ecosystem matures. The women's section continues Tata Steel Chess India's commitment to parity and depth. With defending champions Aleksandra Goryachkina and Kateryna Lagno returning, and a strong Indian presence led by Divya Deshmukh and R. Vaishali, the competition promises to be fiercely contested. Equal prize money and identical formats underline the tournament's progressive structure and its role in strengthening women's chess in India.

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#13163213

7 January 2026

Indian chess grandmasters Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and Viswanathan Anand look on during the draw ceremony for the upcoming Tata Steel Chess India tournament in Kolkata, India, on January 6, 2026. The headline narrative of the 2026 edition is the return of Viswanathan Anand to competitive action in Kolkata after a six-year gap. Five-time world champion and the architect of India's modern chess boom, Anand's presence is far more than ceremonial. Even at 56, his speed-chess credentials remain formidable, and his participation creates a symbolic bridge between generations. Facing him is a formidable Indian contingent led by Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa--players who represent the present and future of the sport. For Indian fans, the sight of Anand sharing the board with players he once mentored underlines just how rapidly the country's chess ecosystem matures. The women's section continues Tata Steel Chess India's commitment to parity and depth. With defending champions Aleksandra Goryachkina and Kateryna Lagno returning, and a strong Indian presence led by Divya Deshmukh and R. Vaishali, the competition promises to be fiercely contested. Equal prize money and identical formats underline the tournament's progressive structure and its role in strengthening women's chess in India.

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#13163215

7 January 2026

Indian chess grandmasters Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and Viswanathan Anand look on during the draw ceremony for the upcoming Tata Steel Chess India tournament in Kolkata, India, on January 6, 2026. The headline narrative of the 2026 edition is the return of Viswanathan Anand to competitive action in Kolkata after a six-year gap. Five-time world champion and the architect of India's modern chess boom, Anand's presence is far more than ceremonial. Even at 56, his speed-chess credentials remain formidable, and his participation creates a symbolic bridge between generations. Facing him is a formidable Indian contingent led by Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa--players who represent the present and future of the sport. For Indian fans, the sight of Anand sharing the board with players he once mentored underlines just how rapidly the country's chess ecosystem matures. The women's section continues Tata Steel Chess India's commitment to parity and depth. With defending champions Aleksandra Goryachkina and Kateryna Lagno returning, and a strong Indian presence led by Divya Deshmukh and R. Vaishali, the competition promises to be fiercely contested. Equal prize money and identical formats underline the tournament's progressive structure and its role in strengthening women's chess in India.

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#13163218

7 January 2026

Indian chess grandmasters Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and Viswanathan Anand look on during the draw ceremony for the upcoming Tata Steel Chess India tournament in Kolkata, India, on January 6, 2026. The headline narrative of the 2026 edition is the return of Viswanathan Anand to competitive action in Kolkata after a six-year gap. Five-time world champion and the architect of India's modern chess boom, Anand's presence is far more than ceremonial. Even at 56, his speed-chess credentials remain formidable, and his participation creates a symbolic bridge between generations. Facing him is a formidable Indian contingent led by Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa--players who represent the present and future of the sport. For Indian fans, the sight of Anand sharing the board with players he once mentored underlines just how rapidly the country's chess ecosystem matures. The women's section continues Tata Steel Chess India's commitment to parity and depth. With defending champions Aleksandra Goryachkina and Kateryna Lagno returning, and a strong Indian presence led by Divya Deshmukh and R. Vaishali, the competition promises to be fiercely contested. Equal prize money and identical formats underline the tournament's progressive structure and its role in strengthening women's chess in India.

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#13163219

7 January 2026

Indian chess grandmasters Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and Viswanathan Anand speak during the draw ceremony for the upcoming Tata Steel Chess India tournament in Kolkata, India, on January 6, 2026. The headline narrative of the 2026 edition is the return of Viswanathan Anand to competitive action in Kolkata after a six-year gap. Five-time world champion and the architect of India's modern chess boom, Anand's presence is more than ceremonial. Even at 56, his speed-chess credentials remain formidable, and his participation creates a symbolic bridge between generations. Facing him is a formidable Indian contingent led by Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa--players who represent the present and future of the sport. For Indian fans, the sight of Anand sharing the board with players he once mentored underlines how rapidly the country's chess ecosystem has matured. The women's section continues Tata Steel Chess India's commitment to parity and depth. With defending champions Aleksandra Goryachkina and Kateryna Lagno returning, and a strong Indian presence led by Divya Deshmukh and R. Vaishali, the competition promises to be fiercely contested. Equal prize money and identical formats underline the tournament's progressive structure and its role in strengthening women's chess in India.

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#13163220

7 January 2026

Indian chess grandmasters Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and Viswanathan Anand speak during the draw ceremony for the upcoming Tata Steel Chess India tournament in Kolkata, India, on January 6, 2026. The headline narrative of the 2026 edition is the return of Viswanathan Anand to competitive action in Kolkata after a six-year gap. Five-time world champion and the architect of India's modern chess boom, Anand's presence is more than ceremonial. Even at 56, his speed-chess credentials remain formidable, and his participation creates a symbolic bridge between generations. Facing him is a formidable Indian contingent led by Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa--players who represent the present and future of the sport. For Indian fans, the sight of Anand sharing the board with players he once mentored underlines how rapidly the country's chess ecosystem has matured. The women's section continues Tata Steel Chess India's commitment to parity and depth. With defending champions Aleksandra Goryachkina and Kateryna Lagno returning, and a strong Indian presence led by Divya Deshmukh and R. Vaishali, the competition promises to be fiercely contested. Equal prize money and identical formats underline the tournament's progressive structure and its role in strengthening women's chess in India.

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#13163221

7 January 2026

Indian chess grandmasters Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and Viswanathan Anand look on during the draw ceremony for the upcoming Tata Steel Chess India tournament in Kolkata, India, on January 6, 2026. The headline narrative of the 2026 edition is the return of Viswanathan Anand to competitive action in Kolkata after a six-year gap. Five-time world champion and the architect of India's modern chess boom, Anand's presence is far more than ceremonial. Even at 56, his speed-chess credentials remain formidable, and his participation creates a symbolic bridge between generations. Facing him is a formidable Indian contingent led by Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa--players who represent the present and future of the sport. For Indian fans, the sight of Anand sharing the board with players he once mentored underlines just how rapidly the country's chess ecosystem matures. The women's section continues Tata Steel Chess India's commitment to parity and depth. With defending champions Aleksandra Goryachkina and Kateryna Lagno returning, and a strong Indian presence led by Divya Deshmukh and R. Vaishali, the competition promises to be fiercely contested. Equal prize money and identical formats underline the tournament's progressive structure and its role in strengthening women's chess in India.

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#13163222

7 January 2026

Indian chess grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa participates in the draw ceremony for the upcoming Tata Steel Chess India tournament in Kolkata, India, on January 6, 2026. The headline narrative of the 2026 edition is the return of Viswanathan Anand to competitive action in Kolkata after a six-year gap. Five-time world champion and the architect of India's modern chess boom, Anand's presence is far more than ceremonial. Even at 56, his speed-chess credentials remain formidable, and his participation creates a symbolic bridge between generations. Facing him is a formidable Indian contingent led by Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa--players who represent the present and future of the sport. For Indian fans, the sight of Anand sharing the board with players he once mentored underlines just how rapidly the country's chess ecosystem matures. The women's section continues Tata Steel Chess India's commitment to parity and depth. With defending champions Aleksandra Goryachkina and Kateryna Lagno returning, and a strong Indian presence led by Divya Deshmukh and R. Vaishali, the competition promises to be fiercely contested. Equal prize money and identical formats underline the tournament's progressive structure and its role in strengthening women's chess in India.

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#13084569

11 December 2025

CPN-UML Chair and former Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli (Center) addresses editors and journalists in Kathmandu, Nepal, on December 11, 2025. During the briefing, Oli criticizes the 10-point agreement signed between the interim government and representatives of the Gen-Z People's Movement. Oli says the government lacks any legitimate mandate to negotiate with the Gen-Z groups. Oli adds that the agreement, which is presented by the government without proper authorization, has already been rejected in practice. He says such documents should not be recognized or legitimized. The government and Gen-Z movement describe the deal as a step toward good governance, youth participation, and long-term political stability. The agreement also includes provisions for declaring individuals who died during the September 8-9 Gen-Z protests as martyrs, providing their families with relief and support, free medical care, education, employment opportunities, and social security for the injured, and establishing a Martyrs' Memorial Foundation. Other commitments in the agreement focus on human rights investigations, reducing partisan influence in state institutions, introducing a ''None of the Above'' (NOTA) voting option, conducting primary elections, and setting the minimum age for candidacy at 21. Despite these provisions, Oli rejects the agreement entirely, maintaining that it is a theatrical exercise without legal or political validity.

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#13084570

11 December 2025

CPN-UML Chair and former Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli (in black cap) addresses editors and journalists in Kathmandu, Nepal, on December 11, 2025. During the briefing, Oli criticizes the 10-point agreement signed between the interim government and representatives of the Gen-Z People's Movement. Oli says the government lacks any legitimate mandate to negotiate with the Gen-Z groups. Oli adds that the agreement, which is presented by the government without proper authorization, has already been rejected in practice. He says such documents should not be recognized or legitimized. The government and Gen-Z movement describe the deal as a step toward good governance, youth participation, and long-term political stability. The agreement also includes provisions for declaring individuals who died during the September 8-9 Gen-Z protests as martyrs, providing their families with relief and support, free medical care, education, employment opportunities, and social security for the injured, and establishing a Martyrs' Memorial Foundation. Other commitments in the agreement focus on human rights investigations, reducing partisan influence in state institutions, introducing a ''None of the Above'' (NOTA) voting option, conducting primary elections, and setting the minimum age for candidacy at 21. Despite these provisions, Oli rejects the agreement entirely, maintaining that it is a theatrical exercise without legal or political validity.

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#13084571

11 December 2025

CPN-UML Chair and former Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli (Center) addresses editors and journalists in Kathmandu, Nepal, on December 11, 2025. During the briefing, Oli criticizes the 10-point agreement signed between the interim government and representatives of the Gen-Z People's Movement. Oli says the government lacks any legitimate mandate to negotiate with the Gen-Z groups. Oli adds that the agreement, which is presented by the government without proper authorization, has already been rejected in practice. He says such documents should not be recognized or legitimized. The government and Gen-Z movement describe the deal as a step toward good governance, youth participation, and long-term political stability. The agreement also includes provisions for declaring individuals who died during the September 8-9 Gen-Z protests as martyrs, providing their families with relief and support, free medical care, education, employment opportunities, and social security for the injured, and establishing a Martyrs' Memorial Foundation. Other commitments in the agreement focus on human rights investigations, reducing partisan influence in state institutions, introducing a ''None of the Above'' (NOTA) voting option, conducting primary elections, and setting the minimum age for candidacy at 21. Despite these provisions, Oli rejects the agreement entirely, maintaining that it is a theatrical exercise without legal or political validity.

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#13084572

11 December 2025

CPN-UML Chair and former Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli (Center) addresses editors and journalists in Kathmandu, Nepal, on December 11, 2025. During the briefing, Oli criticizes the 10-point agreement signed between the interim government and representatives of the Gen-Z People's Movement. Oli says the government lacks any legitimate mandate to negotiate with the Gen-Z groups. Oli adds that the agreement, which is presented by the government without proper authorization, has already been rejected in practice. He says such documents should not be recognized or legitimized. The government and Gen-Z movement describe the deal as a step toward good governance, youth participation, and long-term political stability. The agreement also includes provisions for declaring individuals who died during the September 8-9 Gen-Z protests as martyrs, providing their families with relief and support, free medical care, education, employment opportunities, and social security for the injured, and establishing a Martyrs' Memorial Foundation. Other commitments in the agreement focus on human rights investigations, reducing partisan influence in state institutions, introducing a ''None of the Above'' (NOTA) voting option, conducting primary elections, and setting the minimum age for candidacy at 21. Despite these provisions, Oli rejects the agreement entirely, maintaining that it is a theatrical exercise without legal or political validity.

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#13084573

11 December 2025

CPN-UML Chair and former Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli (Center) addresses editors and journalists in Kathmandu, Nepal, on December 11, 2025. During the briefing, Oli criticizes the 10-point agreement signed between the interim government and representatives of the Gen-Z People's Movement. Oli says the government lacks any legitimate mandate to negotiate with the Gen-Z groups. Oli adds that the agreement, which is presented by the government without proper authorization, has already been rejected in practice. He says such documents should not be recognized or legitimized. The government and Gen-Z movement describe the deal as a step toward good governance, youth participation, and long-term political stability. The agreement also includes provisions for declaring individuals who died during the September 8-9 Gen-Z protests as martyrs, providing their families with relief and support, free medical care, education, employment opportunities, and social security for the injured, and establishing a Martyrs' Memorial Foundation. Other commitments in the agreement focus on human rights investigations, reducing partisan influence in state institutions, introducing a ''None of the Above'' (NOTA) voting option, conducting primary elections, and setting the minimum age for candidacy at 21. Despite these provisions, Oli rejects the agreement entirely, maintaining that it is a theatrical exercise without legal or political validity.

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