"speed contests"

#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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#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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#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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#13099400

15 December 2025

Protesters pose for a picture. Several associations, such as 'Amis de la Terre' (i.e., 'Friends of Earth'), Stop-LGV 47, Stop-LGV 33, and LGV-No Thanks, call for a gathering in front of the main railway station of Toulouse, the Matabiau train station, just before a hearing at the Administrative Court of Toulouse to contest the legality of environmental authorizations for the planned high-speed train between Bordeaux and Toulouse. The CNPN (National Council for the Protection of Nature) says the SNCF file to build this high-speed railway is inadequate, false, and incomplete. The Environmental Authority also says there is no research on alternatives for the LGV, which is a legal duty. Moreover, the projected price tag is initially estimated at EUR10 billion for 200 km, then EUR14 billion in 2021, and now the costs are estimated to exceed EUR20 billion. The EU will not provide any funding. However, there are already two train lines between Bordeaux and Toulouse. The works and the line will use more than 6,300 ha of good soils, including 3,000 ha of forests and 370 ha of wetlands, in Toulouse, France, on December 15, 2025.

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#13099401

15 December 2025

The placard on the right reads 'TER equal Train arriving late Stop LGV'. Several associations such as 'Amis de la Terre' (i.e., 'Friends of Earth'), Stop-LGV 47, Stop-LGV 33, and LGV-No Thanks call for a gathering in front of the main railway station of Toulouse, the Matabiau train station, just before a hearing at the Administrative Court of Toulouse to contest the legality of environmental authorizations of the planned high-speed train between Bordeaux and Toulouse. The CNPN (National Council for the Protection of Nature) says the SNCF file to build this high-speed railway is inadequate, false, and incomplete. The Environmental Authority also says the LGV lacks research on alternatives, which is a legal duty. Moreover, the projected price tag is initially estimated at EUR10bn for 200 km, then EUR14bn (in 2021), and now, the costs are estimated to exceed EUR20bn. The EU does not provide any funding. However, there are already two train lines between Bordeaux and Toulouse. The works and the line use more than 6,300 ha of good soils, of which 3,000 ha are forests and 370 ha are wetlands in Toulouse, France, on December 15, 2025.

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#13099404

15 December 2025

Several associations, such as 'Amis de la Terre' ('Friends of Earth'), Stop-LGV 47, Stop-LGV 33, and LGV-No Thanks, call for a gathering in front of the main railway station of Toulouse, the Matabiau train station, just before a hearing at the Administrative Court of Toulouse to contest the legality of environmental authorizations for the planned high-speed train between Bordeaux and Toulouse. The CNPN (National Council for the Protection of Nature) says the SNCF file to build this high-speed railway is inadequate, false, and incomplete. The Environmental Authority also says there is no research on alternatives for the LGV, which is a legal duty. Moreover, the projected price tag is initially estimated at EUR10 billion for 200 km, then EUR14 billion in 2021, and now the costs are estimated to exceed EUR20 billion. The EU does not provide any funding. However, there are already two train lines between Bordeaux and Toulouse. The works and the line will use more than 6,300 hectares of good soils, including 3,000 hectares of forests and 370 hectares of wetlands. In Toulouse, France, on December 15, 2025.

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#13099414

15 December 2025

Several associations, such as 'Amis de la Terre' ('Friends of Earth'), Stop-LGV 47, Stop-LGV 33, and LGV-No Thanks, call for a gathering in front of the main railway station of Toulouse, the Matabiau train station, just before a hearing at the Administrative Court of Toulouse to contest the legality of environmental authorizations for the planned high-speed train between Bordeaux and Toulouse. The CNPN (National Council for the Protection of Nature) says the SNCF file to build this high-speed railway is inadequate, false, and incomplete. The Environmental Authority also says there is no research on alternatives for the LGV, which is a legal duty. Moreover, the projected price tag is initially estimated at EUR10 billion for 200 km, then EUR14 billion in 2021, and now the costs are estimated to exceed EUR20 billion. The EU does not provide any funding. However, there are already two train lines between Bordeaux and Toulouse. The works and the line will use more than 6,300 hectares of good soils, including 3,000 hectares of forests and 370 hectares of wetlands. In Toulouse, France, on December 15, 2025.

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#13099415

15 December 2025

Opponents enter the Administrative Court with a flag reading 'LGV No Thanks'. Several associations, such as 'Amis de la Terre' (i.e., 'Friends of Earth'), Stop-LGV 47, Stop-LGV 33, and LGV-No Thanks, call for a gathering in front of the main railway station of Toulouse, the Matabiau train station, just before a hearing at the Administrative Court of Toulouse to contest the legality of environmental authorizations for the planned high-speed train between Bordeaux and Toulouse. The CNPN (National Council for the Protection of Nature) says the SNCF file to build this high-speed railway is inadequate, false, and incomplete. The Environmental Authority also says there is no research on alternatives for the LGV, which is a legal duty. Moreover, the projected price tag was initially estimated at EUR10 billion for 200 km, then EUR14 billion in 2021, and now the costs are estimated to exceed EUR20 billion. The EU will not provide any funding. However, there are already two train lines between Bordeaux and Toulouse. The works and the line will use more than 6,300 hectares of good soils, including 3,000 hectares of forests and 370 hectares of wetlands. This takes place in Toulouse, France, on December 15, 2025.

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