Let me start by saying that Im not much for fad diets. I believe that the constant losing and gaining of weight and going on and off of diets throughout a persons life can have negative consequences for your health in the long run. But that said, ten years ago I had reached a low point in the food consumption arena. Thats my euphemism for confessing that I had a problem with junk food. My wife saw this and brought it to my attention, and together (with much cajoling needed on her part) we began what is known as the Whole 30 diet. Nothing fancy, just common-sense eating. The idea is that we were to eat only whole foods for a month. No extra sugar, no sodium, no dairy. Just the healthy stuff.

Within those thirty days I had lost twelve pounds and an inch off my waist, so we decided to keep going. Another three months later, and I had lost a total of 25 pounds. My skin was starting to clear up, I could sleep easily at night, and I was able to stop all allergy medication because my symptoms were non-existent. It was a miracle cure...or was it?

We are surrounded by junk food on a daily basis in this country. Look at the label of what you are eating the next time you go to start dinner. Sugar, sodium, MSG, yellow #5. The list goes on and on. Most (if not all) of these foods are more chemical than food anyway. It is as if bacon cheeseburgers everywhere have come together to form a united front against our ability to live long, healthy lives! To make matters worse, the more bad food you consumethe more your body craves it. This is both psychological and physiological.

When I think of stripping away all of the unhealthy ingredients in these foods, I cannot help but ruminate on what it means to be spiritually healthy as well. We are both physical and spiritual beings. Is the Biblical Christian plagued by extra, unwanted raw materials that hover around the purity of our Lords words? Just how pervasive is church tradition when it comes to interfering with sacred Scripture?

It is important to make the point here about staying true to the purity of Scripture, so lets begin by trying to define what I think are five core beliefs that Christians hold dear. This isnt a comprehensive list, but at its root, it would be difficult for me to imagine anyone holding to a Christian identity if they didnt agree on these five things. I believe all of these concepts are clearly stated in the Bible. Indeed, we need only Google the Apostles Creed to find many of them.

The big five are as follows: we know God to be a trinity (three in one), we know Jesus was resurrected on the third day, we believe in salvation through Christ alone, we understand the concept of original sin, and we profess the second coming of Jesus one day in the future. These are core principles of the faith, and they are repeated over and over again in the Bible. Even with a superficial reading of the text, they are hard to miss.

So then, why is it so easy to mess up religion? Why do so many stray from the center and off into the murky grey area? We know that staying true to the Gospel message was important to the writers of the New Testament also. Listen to this verse from 1 Timothy (4:16), Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

I think that the problem lies in the fact that these Biblical truths are often mixed together with a little bit of sugar here, and a lot of sodium there. By the time we add MSG and a spoon-full of Yellow #5, we have such a watered-down version of the Good News that we shouldnt be surprised if the outside world wants none of it. They are hearing an amalgamated version of the faith, laced with political correctness and a good measure of personal opinion thrown in.

But imagine if we kept it simple, and we stuck to the big five without any additives or extras. Habakkuk says this in fact (2:2-3), Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Imagine if we made it plain.

I believe there would be less in-fighting within churches, and therefore less contempt for the word of God outside of the church as well. We feel so much better when we eat healthy and begin to heal our bodies from the inside out. Wouldnt this hold true for our spiritual selves also? No loaded baked potato with sour cream and butter for me; just serve it to me plain please. None of that other junk that will only slow me down.

Then reality comes rushing back in. Of course, we often cloud these marvelous truths with man-made traditions and supplemental rules. Its what human beings doit always has been. Im sure many well-meaning bishops and pastors throughout generations past have added a bit extra to their sermons here and there. Better to make it plain if possible, however. Once our skin begins to clear up and the allergy symptoms leave, the future of the church begins to look brighter. We may even drop some extra weight in the process.

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Pause to meditate: Guarding your spiritual health | Columnists ... - bdemo.com

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Srinagar, Oct 10: The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Srinagar, under the aegis of NALSA and J&K Legal Services Authority in association with Kashmir Law Circle (NGO) organised awareness programme at ADR centre, District Court Complex, Moominabad, Srinagar, on Mental Health and allied issues.

The awareness programme was organised under the leadership and guidance of Jawad Ahmed, Chairman DLSA (PDJ) Srinagar on the occasion of World Mental Health Day celebrated globally every year on 10th October, as part of a calendar of activities issued by J&K Legal Services Authority Srinagar.

The programme commenced with the address by resource persons of DLSA Srinagar, Nadia (Kashmir Law Circle). The other speakers were Tasneem Kousar (Dy.LADC) and Neelofer (PLV).

The programme was attended by the Staff and Para Legal Volunteers of DLSA, Srinagar, students from Kashmir Law Circle and LADCs of DLSA Sgr.

The DLSA Srinagar also organised a half an-hour Yoga and Meditation Session for Relaxation and Peace of mind.

Sunila Kumari (JLA) conducted the Yoga session and shared valuable meditation techniques. She encouraged the participants to incorporate meditation practices into their daily routines for enhanced well-being and mental peace.

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DLSA Srinagar organises Mental Health Awareness & Meditation Session - Greater Kashmir

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Will relying on AI be human's next big mistake?: Parry Sound ... - parrysound.com

As the festive season of

unfolds, it is a time when people across India celebrate the divine feminine energy and seek blessings from the

Durga. In the world of entertainment, actress

has gained recognition for her exceptional ability to portray goddesses on-screen with grace and authenticity. In this

article, we explore her journey of embodying divinity and the profound impact it has had on her life and career. In a recent interview, she shared her experiences and feelings about her journey in such roles, drawing inspiration from veteran actress

.

"I grew up watching Ramya Krishnan playing the character of '

' in many of her movies," Prathama Prasad stated. "I was inspired by Ramya Krishnan when it comes to portraying such divine roles. Apart from that, I have always been fascinated by getting decked in different avatars."

A Blessing to Portray Goddesses

Prathama Prasad went on to express her gratitude and enthusiasm for receiving the opportunity to portray goddesses in various productions. "It's a bliss, and I feel lucky to have received the role of the goddess so far," she shared. However, she acknowledged that she had initial reservations about taking on these roles due to concerns about being typecast. "Initially, I was a bit skeptical about essaying such roles. The reason being, viewers would get to see me only as a goddess in a particular serial and not as Prathama Prasad."

Expand

A Spiritual Approach

The actress revealed her personal approach to preparing for these divine roles. "I try to have control over my energy level when it comes to portraying the Devi avatar. I meditate a lot and recite Devi shlokas before stepping into the character of the goddess," she explained. Prathama Prasad also emphasized her commitment to a spiritual life off-screen, frequently visiting temples and offering prayers.

Unforeseen Worship

One of the most remarkable aspects of Prathama Prasad's journey is the real-life impact her on-screen portrayal has had. She recounted instances when people mistook her for an actual goddess during her shoots. "There are many instances where I have come across people seeking my blessings when I am in my Devi costume during the shoot," she shared. "No matter how much I try to make them understand that I am only an artist, the immediate response I receive from them is that they respect the character I portray."

She recalled a specific incident: "I still remember this happened when I was shooting for one of my devotional shows. I was in the attire of a goddess during an outdoor schedule. An elderly man thought I was a real goddess and tried to seek blessings from me. He sought my blessings seeing me in the goddess' costume during the shoot. It was one of those unimaginable moments for me. I had to literally make him understand that I am an artist who is dressed up as a goddess."

An Encouragement to Explore

Concluding the interview, Prathama Prasad shared that these unique encounters have acted as a significant motivator for her. "Experiencing these incidents as an artist, it was a very big boost for me. It was more like an encouragement to explore more about my on-screen character and do justice to it," she concluded.

Prathama Prasad's dedication to her craft and her spiritual approach to her roles have made her a beloved actress in the industry. Her experiences offer a fascinating glimpse into the blurred lines between on-screen and off-screen devotion and respect.

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Navtari special-Speaking with the Devis: 'I meditate a lot and recite Devi slokas before stepping into th - Times of India

PM Narendra Modi and Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami at Parvati Kund in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh. PTI

Donning a traditional attire, Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered prayers at Parvati Kund in Uttarakhands Pithoragarh district today (12 October). Parvati Kund is a significant holy site for Hindus. Modis day-long visit to the hill state also included darshan of the Adi Kailash peak, believed to be Lord Shivas abode.

PM Modi regularly visits famous shrines and sites and has also opened up about his spiritual awakening previously. As the Indian premier again grabs headlines with his latest holy trip, lets dive into his spiritual journey.

Pithoragarh visit

PM Modi keeps returning to Uttarakhand where he ensures to practice spirituality.

Today, he performed aarti at the Shiva Parvati temple along the banks of Parvati Kund in Jolingkong. A white turban and a ranga (upper body garment) completed his outfit. He also meditated briefly in front of the Adi Kailash peak, seeking blessings from Lord Shiva.

Modi shared pictures of his visit on X and tweeted, I am overwhelmed with the darshan and worship at the holy Parvati Kund of Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand. The mind is also happy with the darshan of Adi Kailash from here. From this place of spirituality and culture nestled in the lap of nature, I wished for a happy life for all the family members of the country.

He then headed to the Gunji village, where he interacted with the locals and personnel of the Army, BRO and ITBP.

Modi also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of several projects worth Rs 4,200 crore in Pithoragarh.

Kerala

PM Modi paid obeisance to saint-philosopher Adi Shankaracharya in his birthplace at Kalady village in Keralas Ernakulam district last September.

Seen in the traditional attire of Kerala, Modi said he felt blessed after his visit. I feel very blessed to be at the Sri Adishankara Janmabhumi Kshetram. It is indeed a special place. Generations to come will remain indebted to the great Adi Shankaracharya for his rich contribution towards protecting our culture, the prime minister tweeted along with his pictures.

According to a PTI report, addressing a public rally during his two-day visit to the southern state, Modi had said the legacy created by Adi Shankaracharya, who was known for the philosophy of Advaita, was spread from Kerala by various spiritual leaders and social reformers like Sree Narayana Guru, Chattampi Swamikal and Ayyankali.

Modi was also honoured to visit Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam in Kochi.

Uttarakhand

Days ahead of Diwali, PM Modi offered prayers at the famous Kedarnath temple in October 2022. He wore Chola Dora, a handmade dress gifted to him by the women of Chamba in Himachal Pradesh, which he paired with a chudidaar pajama, a red and yellow pahadi cap, a kamarband and black shoes.

The Chola Dora featured a swastika and peacock feathers on the back. Modi was presented with the outfit when he had visited the then-poll-bound Himachal.

PM Modi also prayed to Bhagwan Nandi outside the Shiva temple and visited the Adi Guru Shankaracharya Samadhi Sthal in Kedarnath.

He also performed puja at Badrinath Dham wearing a white kurta-pajama and a black winter jacket. He remembered his pitra (ancestors) and prayed for their mukti at the temple, reported Indian Express.

During his visit to Kedarnath in November 2021, Modi had unveiled a 13-foot-tall statue of Adi Shankaracharya at his reconstructed samadhi. In his address last year, the PM said there was a time when spirituality and dharma were connected only with stereotypes and wrong morals but today our culture, our tradition and religious centres are seen with the same sense of pride it should have been seen, according to Indian Express.

Uttar Pradesh

In December 2021, PM Modi said the Kashi Vishwanath (KV) Corridor project will augment the spiritual vibrancy of Kashi or Varanasi. He made a remark a day before inaugurating the project.

Spread over 5.5 lahks (550,000) square feet area, the KV Corridor connects the Ganga river with the Kashi Vishwanath temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in Uttar Pradeshs Varanasi.

Modi unveiled the redeveloped Corridor last February. He was also seen taking a dip in the river Ganga in Varanasi during his visit to the holy city.

The famous cave visit

On the eve of the final day of voting during the 2019 general elections, PM Modi was meditating at a cave 11,700 feet up in the Himalayas. He spent the night at the now-famous Rudra meditation cave that May, which is a little over a kilometres trek from Kedarnath, reported The Hindu.

As per Indian Express, the Rudraprayag District Magistrate revealed that the cave has electricity, a heater, a simple bed, mattress, a small bathing area, an attached toilet, an electric geyser for hot water and even a telephone.

The Prime Ministers Office (PMO) took special permission for the visit from the Election Commission as rules prohibit any campaigning 48 hours before voting, reported PTI.

The meditation cave has become a tourist attraction since then. According to The Hindu, there are a total of three caves offering a view of the picturesque Kedarnath valley. Authorities said the caves were booked 103 times in 2019, only 36 times in 2020 due to COVID-19, and none the following year.

Last year, 64 people booked the caves. The bookings again jumped from April this year, as the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand began.

The main cave, where the PM meditated, costs Rs 3,000 per night, while the others are available at Rs 1,500 plus GST, reported The Hindu.

When PM Modi spoke on spirituality

In an interview with Humans of Bombay in January 2019, Modi recalled how he left his home when he was 17 years old for the Himalayas.

I was undecided, unguided and unclear I didnt know where I wanted to go, what I wanted to do and why I wanted to do it. But all I knew, was that I wanted to do something.

He spoke at length about his two-year journey and how he woke up early, took baths in the freezing waters of the Himalayas, and lived with sadhus who taught him to align himself with the rhythm of the universe.

I went wherever God wanted to take me it was an undecided period of my life but still, gave me so many answers, Modi was quoted as saying by India Today.

I aligned and experienced revelations that help me till today. I realised that were all tied down by our thoughts and limitations. When you surrender and stand in front of the vastness you know that youre a small part of a large universe. When you understand that, any trace of arrogance you have in you melts and then life truly begins.

Thats when it all changed, Modi said. After two years, I returned home with clarity and a guiding force to lead the way.

The prime minister, who has amplified efforts to promote yoga since he first came to power in 2014, had said in 2017, Yoga is the entrance point to ones spiritual journey. One should not consider it as the last point, as it is simply the entry gate to the spiritual world, reported Times of India (TOI).

Modi also said that spirituality was Indias strength, and lamented that people tend to link it to religion, emphasising that the two are different.

With inputs from agencies

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Published on: October 12, 2023 17:33:29 IST

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Temple visits, meditating at cave and more: Tracing PM Narendra Modis spiritual journey - Firstpost

The inside pictures of the Bigg Boss 17 house are going viral on social media. The house, which features monotone and earthy interiors, does not have lavish interiors, but rather stone and brick flooring with brown walls. The walls of the house look interesting with intricate carving with figures from the game of chess. There is a huge horse with wings in stone at the entrance as well. Most of the seating area and even the dining table is casted in stone. The couch has cushioned seats in brick print and the garden area seating has stones with white couches. There are three kinds of bedrooms in the house, one has a lavender setting and the other bedroom has wooden interiors in brown with chess figures on the walls and the third bedroom has ancient interiors. Bollywood hunk Salman Khan once again returned as the host with Bigg Boss 17. The show airs on Colors TV from Monday to Friday at 10pm and on Saturday and Sunday at 10pm. It will continue to be live on JioCinema at all times. The show premiered on October 15, 2023.

In This Pic : Bigg Boss 17 House, Bigg Boss 17

Excerpt from:

Sneak peek inside Bigg Boss 17 house with chess theme and opulent interiors - IndiaTimes

Teams of India and Mongolia became the champions of the third Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners, the event organized by FIDE and the Cook County (Chicago, IL, USA) Sheriffs Office, after winning the final matches in youth and womens sections of the biggest-ever chess event among correctional facilities.

The team of Pune prison (India) clinched the title inthe men's tournament of the Intercontinental Online Championship for Prisoners 2023 after beating El Salvador in the final.

The final matches in womens and youth sections ran concurrently. In the womens final, Mongolia beat England and took the title; England claimed silver medals. The womens match for third place between El Salvador and the Philippines was not played due to technical reasons. Both teams shared third place.

It is the third gold medal of the Intercontinental Championship for Prisoners under Mongolias belt. In 2021, the country won gold in the inaugural event open competition. A year later, Mongolia came out on top in the womens section. Mongolias triumph is hardly a big surprise, as Mongolia has a long-standing tradition of teaching chess in prisons. Since 1956, chess tournaments have been running in all correctional units across the country.

In the youth section, team India lifted the trophy after defeating the defending champions Serbia in the final. The bronze medal went to team Ecuador.

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich congratulated the winners and finalists:

This has been an event filled with remarkable stories, incredible talent, and a shared commitment to the transformative power of chess and the resourcefulness of the human spirit. What is most important is that over the past three days, we have all taken part in something new and meaningful that gives a chance for change and improvement. You are all now part of the global chess family. And wherever you go or wherever your life may take you, remember FIDEs motto, which in Latin reads Gens Una Sumus and means We are one family.

Players were also greeted by the Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board, Dana Reizniece-Ozola: I congratulate all of you who have succeeded in being the top teams in the 3rd Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners. I hope it brings you great satisfaction because I know you have been working very hard to achieve these results. All the officials who have been supporting you also get my warm thank you and appreciation. The competition in our tournament does increase together with the number of countries participating, and there will be more! Next year, we have the goal to engage 64 countries!

The winner in the mens section will be determined on Monday, October 16th.

The third Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners aims to popularize chess as an efficient tool for reintegrating incarcerated people. This year, the event attracted 118 teams from 50 countries representing all continents, providing an opportunity for inmates to play with their peers across the globe.

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Mongolia and India win Intercontinental Championship for Prisoners - FIDE

In the heart of Budapest at Judit Polgar's ninth Global Chess Festival 2023, the Hungarian duo, Team Mighty Fox, claimed victory in the festival's invitational triathlon event, bagging $4,000 in prize money in the process.

The winning team, comprised of GM Ferenc Berkes and WIM Zsoka Gaal, scrimmaged through three chess disciplinesPuzzle Battle, tandem chess, and finally, bullet chess, and finished atop the leaderboard ahead of GM David Howell and WFM Alessia Santeramo's Team Crazylandia.

Also running during the two-day celebration of chess were the online #ChessConnectUs Open and Scholastic tournaments, which were won by the 15-year-old FM Syvatoslav Bazakutsa and 13-year-old Will Moorehouse, respectively.

Creative crossovers between IRL and online play are all the vogue in chess right now and Polgar has continued to elevate the entertainment value of the Global Chess Festival with each edition.

In 2023, the Triathlon event took center stage, and with a star-studded lineup, including several of Hungary's top players as well as world-renowned content creators, viewers were in for a spectacle.

Speaking about the format of the triathlon, Polgar said the following: "Well, it was my idea to come up with something that might be very entertaining for chess enthusiasts and chess lovers. So the idea was to have mixed pairs and to have three kinds of chess activities where the players can show their focus, how they make decisions, what their intuition is all about, and how they can play in pairs. So to mix things up and have fun!"

The first segment on the schedule was Puzzle Battle and from these matches, two frontrunners would emerge Team Crazylandia and Team Mighty Fox, who both finished on four points. Individually, the most outstanding performance in the section went to Howell, who won all his battles with scores over 44 and a high score of 46, with only IM Gellert Karacsonyi (42) coming close. Howell was all smiles after each clash.

The English GM's partner Santeramo was unlucky not to put their duo in front after striking out on a score of 29 in her match with Team Maglat's WGM Dana Reizniece-Ozola. With 30 seconds on the clock, Reizniece-Ozola was able to make up the ground between them and finish two puzzles ahead of Santeramo on 31.

Meanwhile, Berkes and Gaal got off to a flying start and both managed to win two of their three Puzzle Battles. For Berkes, accuracy was prioritized over speed and, thanks to this, he was able to clutch up against GM Miguel Illescas by two puzzles.

Despite starting slowly in the Puzzle Battle segment, the tandem chess rounds were a raging success for Illescas and IM Olga Alexandrova, also known as Team DragonChess. After securing a draw with Howell and Santeramo in round one, the duo was unstoppable.

A helpmate against Berkes and Gaal from an equal position followed by a rook blunder by Karacsonyi and Reizniece-Ozola catapulted Team DragonChess into second place on seven points.

Still ahead of them however was Team Mighty Fox, who managed to win their other two games and take a commanding three-point lead over the field. The duo's success could be attributed to their teamwork throughout and their decision to play double-fianchetto systems paid off, particularly in their game against Team Maglat.

The final leg of the triathlon was bullet chess, a fitting sprint to the finish for the four teams. Unsurprisingly, the top seed Howell was the most dominant of the male players, scoring 2.5/3 for his team and only conceding a draw to Berkes (2/3) while Santeramo managed to add just one point to Team Crazylandia's tally.

Alexandrova and Gaal were equally impressive and finished in a tie on 2/3. Due to Berkes and Gaal adding a combined four points to their total, in the bullet segment, Team Mighty Fox's final score sat at 12, spelling a comprehensive victory for the Hungarian team.

In a post-tournament interview with Polgar and Sachdev, Berkes cordially spoke about the naming of their team, stating: "I used to be tricky and I think for sure that Zsoka [Gaal] was a part of this [in reference to the fox]." Berkes went on to suggest that his favorite segment was tandem chess while Gaal gave an alternate response, indicating that she enjoyed bullet chess.

For their efforts, the pair received $4,000 while Team Crazylandia walked away with the $3,000 prize for second place.

Standings - Triathlon

All Games - Tandem/Bullet Segments

On the first day of the Global Chess Festival, two winners were crowned in the #Chessconnectsus online Swiss finals. In the open event, Balakutsa, a familiar name to eagle eyed fans of Chess.com's Junior Speed Chess Championship, won with a perfect 11/11 score having defeated multiple titled players in a clinical fashion.

The road to victory was a little tougher in the scholastic division for Moorehouse and after losing his fifth and sixth rounds, the "Go Magnus Chess Academy" student recovered sensationally with a hack-and-slash 13-move victory over his 1800-rated opponent.

Moorehouse then finished the event with five wins on the fly to assume his rightful place at the top and claim the year of free diamond membership along with a 150 Chessable voucher.

Judit Polgar's Global Chess Festival, now in its ninth edition since starting in 2007, is one of the true highlights of the chess calendar. Held in Budapest, Hungary, and also online, it attracts thousands of chess fans from around the world. The triathlon was the focal point of the event and with a $10,000 prize fund and live coverage provided by Chess.com, the festival is back and bigger than ever.

Previous reports:

Link:

(Global Chess Festival 2023): Berkes, Gaal Win Judit Polgar's First ... - Chess.com

File Photo: Two young girls playing chess at the Unruly Queens Fall 2022 Chess Festival. (Manasa Gudavalli for WSN)

Parents and coaches tend to be biased against female chess players, according to a study conducted by researchers at NYUs psychology department.

The researchers interviewed around 300 parents and coaches of chess students, asking them to evaluate the skills of more than 650 players. Those interviewed 90% of whom were men rated the potential of female chess players lower on average compared to that of male players.

Sophie Arnold, a doctoral student at NYUs Department of Psychology and lead author of the study, said the study is part of a larger effort to look at how gender bias impacts women in male-dominated fields. Only 14% of chess players are women, according to the United States Chess Federation.

Our research highlights the seemingly innocuous belief that success in chess requires extreme intellectual talent, brilliance, as one belief that can contribute to gender bias in chess, Arnold said in an interview with WSN. This connection suggests that, for combating gender bias in chess, folks could also look to successful ways of combating gender bias in other brilliance-oriented fields.

Researchers also found that many of the people interviewed believed that brilliance played a major factor in their ratings. Respondents who said brilliance was necessary to play chess also thought that female chess players would be more likely to quit due to a lack of skill compared to male players.

NYU alum and U.S. Womens Chess Champion Jennifer Shahade, who co-authored the study, said that parents and coaches may be quick to judge female players who dont quickly show promise. She said the belief that chess requires inherent brilliance could lead parents and coaches to prevent players from learning and improving.

Theres a bias against female players who dont immediately display their talent and potential, Shahade told WSN. Were cutting some girls too early from something that they can enjoy and excel in when we overvalue the importance of inherent brilliance in chess.

The team found that parents and coaches reported investing equal time and energy in male and female players, suggesting some may not be aware of the biases they hold against female chess students. Shahade said she thinks that more wide-ranging representation of female players at all levels of the sport could help them feel more confident. She said the high level of chess showcased on the popular Netflix series The Queens Gambit, for example, could intimidate emerging female players.

We need to showcase the accomplishments of a wider variety of female players so that girls can see many examples of women excelling in chess, Shahade said. When its all focused on a super genius character like Beth Harmon, it can be quite compelling and exciting, but of course, not everyone checkmates their coach on the second week.

ContactGraylin Lucas at [emailprotected].

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Chess players, coaches biased against female players, NYU study ... - Washington Square News

Chess.coms top event for women, the $70,000 Julius Baer Womens Speed Chess Championship, is back next month and this time with a big-name sponsor and six of the strongest players on the planet.

Defending champion GM Kateryna Lagno and the near-legendary GM Hou Yifan, the world number-one for eight years and last years runner-up, have confirmed they will resume their speed chess rivalry.

Both will battle it out in the main event from November 13 to 22, which is supported by the Swiss private bank Julius Baer.

The stellar lineup also includes the highly-decorated GMs Alexandra Kosteniuk and Valentina Gunina. Kosteniuk and Gunina are two of the finest and fastest women players, and both former champions.

Indias GM Harika Dronavalli, the runner up to Hou in 2021, will also return alongside fellow countrywoman IM Vaishali Rameshbabu, the fast-rising 22-year-old from Chennai and sister of the prodigy GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu.

Here's what happened in last year's dramatic final:

Two more spots are available from what promises to be an exciting qualification event, open to all titled women, from November 8 to 9. This year, however, the format for the first stage is slightly different.

The Julius Baer Womens Speed Chess Championship is being brought into line with the Speed Chess Championship and the Junior Speed Chess Championship which means the qualifier will see a 14-round Swiss on day one followed by a top-8 double elimination bracket on the second day.

The winner of each bracket on day two will advance from the qualifier to the main event. Play will begin at 9 a.m. ET / 15:00 CEST / 18:30 IST on both days.

The main event starting November 13 will see an eight-player single elimination bracket, with seedings determined by a Chess.com panel. The six players listed above have been directly invited, and will be joined by the two qualifiers.

All matches will be played over 5+1, 3+1 and 1+1 time controls. The exact schedule will be confirmed later.

Antje Hembd, Head Global Sponsoring & Partnership Julius Baer, said: We are thrilled to support the Womens Speed Chess Championship for the first time and to help to empower women and create a more equitable, diverse and exciting chess landscape.

"This year Julius Baer has been included in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GE). This inclusion shows our commitment to advance to the topic and to share our results transparently supporting our Diversity & Inclusion vision to foster an inclusive environment built on care.

This years Julius Baer Womens Speed Chess Championship is the fifth edition of the event, which has seen a series of thrilling finals since it first burst onto the scene four years ago.

GM Elina Danielian, who reached the main event as a qualifier, won the inaugural WSCC in 2019 defeating Gunina 15-13 in the final. Danielian was dethroned in 2020 by GM Anna Ushenina, who beat Kosteniuk in the final. Hou then took the title in 2021, toppling Dronavalli, before Lagno won it against Hou in 2022.

You can watch the live broadcast on Chess.com/TV or on our YouTube and Twitch channels. Find out more about the 2023 Julius Baer Women's Speed Chess Championship in our event guide here.

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Hou Yifan Out For Revenge Against Lagno In 2023 Julius Baer ... - Chess.com