Prodigies, GOATs and World Records | Issue 57 | MM Chess
The best monthly chess newsletter you receive.
It’s the 57th Issue of the MM Newsletter. This month, the chess world has been absolutely vibrant, featuring thrilling tournaments, record-breaking attempts, and dazzling performances from both rising stars and seasoned champions. But, before we start, there’s a little favor I’d like to ask you🙏. We’re in the process of growing and improving our service, and we need to hear from you first, so if you don’t mind, please fill out this form and help us grow!
🏙️ We’re running the NexChamp Camp at the Chicago Chess Center! Each row has PM/AM/Full Day registration, and we will be having advanced and beginner groups.
https://nexploreusa.com/camp
Let’s welcome the newest MM students: Ryan, Hossam, Rhea, and Werner
Student Success🏆
Every month, we highlight some of our students' successes. Proud of something chess-related? Send me photos!
Congratulations to Oliver, Mike’s student, who scored an amazing 4 out of 4 points, getting the 1st place in the event!
Congratulations to Mia, Bernadette´s student, on defending her title in the CCF all-girls tournament. She rocks!
“You may learn much more from a game you lose than from a game you win”
– Jose Capablanca
My story 🖼️
It’s wedding szn! Congrats to my friends Dan and Eliana Shpilsky!
“There are times when a well-placed pawn is more powerful than the king.”
– Benjamin Franklin
Monthly Tournaments♟️
📅 This month’s tournament will take place on Wednesday, the 9th, at 7:00 pm EST (6:00 pm CT, 5:00 pm MT, 4:00 pm PT). Most of the players will be rated from 500-1800. Both kids & adults are allowed to play the tournament!
To Play: Reply to this email or press the big green button here. If you haven’t already, you must join the MM team and press the “MM July Arena.” The Zoom for the tournament is here.
“You have to have a fighting spirit. You have to force moves and take chances”
-Bobby Fischer
Chess News 📰
🌀 London Glory! India Makes History at World Rapid Team Championship! The underdogs from Team MGD1 (India) made history by clinching their first-ever FIDE World Rapid Team Championship! Led by a red-hot Arjun Erigaisi, backed by rising star Pranav Venkatesh, and amateur sensation Atharvaa Tayade (with an unbelievable 11/12!), this Indian squad delivered fireworks
👶 Youth Invasion! The Next Generation Is Here! The World Team Championships in London showcased incredible junior talent!
Khagan Ahmad (13, Azerbaijan) stunned the chess world by taking down blitz beast Hikaru Nakamura in a marathon!
Faustino Oro (11, Argentina), the "Golden Boy," continued his legend, drawing against former World Championship contender Ian Nepomniachtchi and defeating Indian superstar Nihal Sarin and GM David Navara!
With such fearless play and undeniable talent, these youngsters are set to redefine the top ranks of chess. Keep your eyes on them!
👑Bullet King Reign! Firouzja Dominates 2025 Bullet Chess Championship! Hold onto your hats, because Alireza Firouzja just proved why he's the undisputed king of bullet chess! He absolutely dominated the 2025 Bullet Chess Championship, successfully defending his title for an incredible third time! Firouzja sealed his victory in the Grand Final with a commanding 19.5-5.5 score, showing unparalleled speed and precision. Pure bullet brilliance!
🎉 Chess.com Steals the Show! 6-Out-Of-5-Stars at Apple's WWDC! During a live performance, singer-songwriter Allen Stone's comedic song, "6 Out Of 5 Stars," featured a direct quote from a glowing Chess.com App Store review: "I would give this app 6 out of 5 stars if I could!" Not only did the Chess.com logo flash across the screen, but this unexpected spotlight also sent their app soaring up the charts in the App Store. It just goes to show, everyone loves chess, even Apple!
🤯 Did Daniel Dardha Just Set a New World Simul Record? Get ready to be amazed! Nineteen-year-old Belgian Grandmaster Daniel Dardha has potentially shattered a world record, showcasing incredible skill in a 50-board clock simul! This isn't your average simultaneous exhibition; a "clock simul" means Dardha had to manage his time across all 50 boards against individual clocks – a monumental feat of concentration and speed.
He achieved an astounding 43.5/50 (40 wins, 7 draws, just 3 losses!), securing an 87% score that surpassed the previous record. While we await official word from Guinness World Records, this performance is already the stuff of legend. Daniel Dardha is definitely a name to watch! For more information about the new and check some of the games, check this video by GM King
✨Pragg Secures UzChess Masters 2025 Title! What a rollercoaster ride! Indian superstar R. Praggnanandhaa just clinched the UzChess Cup Masters 2025 title in a truly dramatic fashion! Despite facing a brutal loss earlier in the tournament (including a game against GM Richard Rapport that's already being called a "candidate for game of the year"!), Pragg showed incredible resilience. He stormed back in the final rounds, taking down top GMs like Erigaisi and Abdusattorov, ultimately securing the gold in a nail-biting tiebreak finish. This victory isn't just about winning; it's about a champion's spirit and the power of an epic comeback!
🤯Nine Years Old Aarit Kapil Nearly Stuns Magnus Carlsen!! Aarit, already a Candidate Master, gained a winning advantage against Carlsen, showing incredible composure and skill beyond his years. Though the game ultimately ended in a thrilling draw due to mutual time trouble, his performance sent shockwaves through the chess world and made national headlines. With his coach predicting Grandmaster potential, Aarit Kapil is definitely a name you'll be hearing for years to come.
“Mother's words resonate deeply with me. Success in life is incomplete if one isn’t kind and humble”
– Gukesh Dommaraju
Fun Facts💡
🏆Did you know the record for the most simultaneous games of chess played by an individual is a staggering 135 games?! That incredible feat was achieved by Iran's Ehsan Ghaem Maghami! Imagine the focus and concentration needed to manage that many boards at once! Absolutely mind-boggling!
🤯In 2016, Timur Gareyev set the current world record by playing 48 blindfold games simultaneously in Las Vegas. This is an awe-inspiring modern-day feat. What made it even more unique was that he did it while riding an exercise bike, which showed a great deal of mental and physical stamina.
📴In the late 19th century, before widespread telephone communication, chess matches were played via telegraph! Imagine the suspense of waiting for each move to be transmitted across vast distances.
♔Did you know the tricky "en passant" move isn't just a quirky rule, but a brilliant invention from the 15th century? It was added to chess to speed up the game and prevent sneaky pawns from using their two-square initial move to unfairly bypass an enemy pawn's attack. It means "in passing" – ensuring fairness and keeping the tactical fireworks going! Pretty cool, right?