By Alexa Lardieri U.S. Deputy Health Editor Dailymail.Com 19:29 02 Jan 2024, updated 20:21 02 Jan 2024

You no longer have to feel guilty about missing a spin class or being too tired to go on a run - it turns out integrating even the most minor physical activity into your routine, what experts call exercise 'snacks,' can make a difference in your health.

These short bursts of activity can include something as simple as climbing the stairs for 20 seconds. A study found these short intervals of vigorous activity, performed three times a day on three days of the week improved cardiorespiratory fitness.

While the 'movement snacks' shouldn't replace a more regular exercise routine, they can help keep your health on track when you don't have time to hit the gym for a longer workout.

A study published in Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism of two dozen young adults in Canada analyzed how three bouts of vigorously climbing 60 stairs, separated by one to four hours of rest in between, on three days per week for six weeks affected their fitness abilities.

Researchers found oxygen uptake was higher in people who participated in the exercise 'snacking' than those who did not, showing a modest improvement in overall physical fitness.

Although the benefit was 'modest,' about a five percent increase,co-author Martin Gibala, a professor of kinesiology, said the result was 'not insignificant.'

Dr Gibala added: 'By studying epidemiological data, we've learned that small changes can go a long way.'

Meghan Wieser, a doctor of physical therapy at Maryland-based Recharge Health & Fitness, told Fortune Well: 'Movement is good for us, even if it's not a dedicated exercise session.

'Movement snacks can be a low-barrier way to get your body moving throughout the day, and it correlates with better health markers.'

Low cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality and heart disease.

And while regular physical activity increases cardiorespiratory fitness, many people do not get the recommended amount, citing 'lack of time' as a barrier.

However, authors of the study said their results show vigorous stair climbing is a practical and achievable form of exercise that can increase cardiorespiratory fitness.

The exact amount of exercise needed to optimize your life expectancyhas been revealed in a major study

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) official exercise guidelines recommend people get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, or roughly 20 minutes per day.

Included in that time, the agency recommends two days be dedicated to muscle-strengthening exercises.

Moderate-intensity exercise includes activities like biking, dancing, hiking, jogging, brisk walking and swimming.

Strengthening exercises include weight-lifting, push ups, pull-ups and squats.

Studies have shown that even light physical activity, like household chores, can reduce the risk of disease by more than 20 percent.

Despite all its benefits, Americans are not getting the exercise they need. CDC data released last year showed only 28 percent of adults 18 years and older met both the aerobic and strength the guidelines for weekly physical activity.

Two-thirds of Americans are not meeting guidelines at all.

Ms Wieser said the easiest way to incorporate movement snacks into the day is to 'habit stack.'

She said: 'In a given day, you already have habits built in, like a mid-morning coffee break. So while you're waiting for the coffee to brew, fit in some movement.'

You can also fit an exercise snack in between meetings.

Additionally, wearing a fitness tracker or setting a timer that will remind you to get moving can also be helpful.

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A little goes a long way: Even 20-second exercise 'snacks' improve health - Daily Mail

You've read every relationship and dating advice there is and you thought you had them down to a T. But, for some reason, you always find yourself in toxic relationships.

So, you say to yourself, "Why is this happening to me? Why do I always attract toxic people that hurt me?"

It's very important to realize that nothing ever just happens to us. We create it with our own choices, and that includes choosing to be in a toxic relationship and ignoring the signs of an unhealthy relationship.

If you want that aspect to change, you also have to make a few changes tostop toxic people from coming into your life.

RELATED:15 Glaring Signs You're Attracting Unhealthy Love & And How To Change Your Patterns

Do you put yourself down? Are you hard on yourself? Are you hurting or neglecting yourself?

If so, you will attract more of that negativity. It's important to treat yourself right and know your value so you will attract others who value you as well.

Do you not speak up when someone says or does something you don't like and just let it happen? Are you staying in a job or another situation you hate?

We are whole beings so choices we make in one area of our life will carry over into other areas. So many people tell themselves that they have to stay in a bad situation but no one tells them that they don't have to.

There is always something you can do to start getting yourself out of it and into something better for you. The key is you have to take some new actions to get there. That can be scary and it's the reason why so many people stay miserable but, in the end, it's always worth the effort.

RELATED:Why So Many Incredible Women Are Drawn To Selfish & Narcissistic Men

When you sacrifice yourself, you will attract people that you will need to sacrifice yourself for.

How you love and respect yourself will be directly reflected in how others will treat you. If you don't treat yourself well, no one else will either.

Show who you are, don't hide it. If you hide who you are and put on a front you will only attract people that align with who you are pretending to be which will never be right for you.

RELATED:Be True To Yourself: The Power & Importance Of Authenticity

Face your issues and fully deal with your past so you can move forward. Anything not fully processed and dealt with will hold you back and hinder attracting the right people to you.

You can never move forward if you are still in the past. Until you deal with your past, similar situations will keep repeating in your life over and over until you finally do deal with it so the sooner the better. Of course, it can be hard to face these things but it ends up being more painful in the long run if we don't.

Always focus on the energy of your choices. If you make choices out of sacrifice you will get more sacrifice in your life. If you make choices out of love and for yourself you will get more love.

Every choice we make has a consequence so focus on making choices that result in good consequences!

RELATED:How To Overcome Past Trauma So It Doesn't Destroy Your Current Relationship

Kristine Carlsonis a psychic medium, advanced soul-realignment practitioner, life coach, and author.

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Life Coach Reveals 6 Harsh Reasons You Keep Attracting Toxic Relationships - YourTango

When youre thinking about cutting animal products out of your life or reducing the amount you use, its likely you start with your diet, before moving on to your clothing choices, and then perhaps your beauty routine. But what about your car?

The vehicles we use every day often get overlooked when it comes to making vegan choices, but it turns out, like most other industries, car manufacturers use animal products frequently. And one of the biggest culprits is leather. In fact, in 2021, the global automotive interior leather market was worth more than $31 billion.

But, if you dont like the idea of sitting on cow skin while you get from A to B, we have good news: a number of car companies are now offering vegan interior options. Heres what you need to know.

Jump to the List

Leather isnt the only animal-derived material used in cars. In fact, its actually very difficult to find a completely vegan car, and thats because animal ingredients can sneak into a number of different elements of the manufacturing process. For example, tires are made from rubber and plastic, which may have been toughened with tallow (fat from sheep), and steel frames may have also been lubricated with animal fat.

Unlike leather seats, tires and frames are very difficult to swap outbut this doesnt mean you should stop driving altogether.

Most leather used in automobiles comes from cowhide, which is produced by the meat industry. This makes leather a coproduct of animal agriculture (not a byproduct, as is commonly assumed). The latter is associated with the slaughter of millions of cows every year, but its also linked with major environmental issues, including deforestation.

That said, not all leather comes from animals. It can be made from plants, like cacti and mushrooms, and it can also be synthetic. If youre looking to avoid leather, here are eight popular manufacturers that offer cars without it.

BMW

In 2022, BMW announced plans to launch its first vehicles with completely vegan interiors. The BMW Group is serving the demand for vegan and leather-free interiors, which is set to increase further in the near future, especially in the US, China, and Europe, it noted.

In May 2023, it revealed that its new 5 Series is the first to feature an all-vegan interior made with its own Veganza leather. From July 2023, customers could also opt for Veganza in its BMW X1, BMW iX1, and BMW 2 Series Active Tourer models. Find out more

Ford

2 Ford

Ford is one of the most vegan-friendly car-makers on the market. In fact, according to one study by British car dealership Dick Lovett, it has 30 different vegan-friendly car models available. The latest models of the popular Ford Fiesta, for example, come with non-leather seats as the default. Find out more

Tesla/Instagram

In 2017, Tesla broke the automotive mold when it declared it would be moving away from the use of leather in its interiors. It started by phasing out leather seats, and after that, in 2019, it launched its first vegan steering wheel. Find out more

Volvo

In 2021, Volvo announced that by 2030, it will only sell electric vehicles, and all of them will be leather-free. We intend to reduce leather content in our cars and this will be a gradual transition, a Volvo spokesperson said at the time. We are conscious that consumers increasingly want leather-free materials, due to concerns over animal welfare.

But you dont have to wait until the end of the decade to get your hands on a Volvo with vegan-friendly interiors. According to PETAs European car survey, the Swedish manufacturer has several leather-free models right now, including the S60, the V60, and the C40 Recharge. Find out more

Toyota

5 Toyota

Toyota offers vegan interiors as standard in a number of its models, notes PETA, including the Aygo, the Prius, and the Corolla Hatchback. The Japanese manufacturer is in the top 25 vegan-friendly car companies, confirms Dick Lovett, with 11 leather-free models in its range. Find out more

Jaguar Land Rover

The attitude toward animal byproducts is changing. Personally, Id be quite happy to move away from leather tomorrow. I dont like that we have to slaughter all those cows to create leather, Jaguar Land Rovers Chief Creative Officer Gerry McGovern said in an interview in 2017. And in 2021, the manufacturer started to act on that sentiment when it introduced its first vegan interior options in partnership with Ultrafabrics. Find out more

Mercedes-Benz

In 2022, Mercedes-Benz debuted a concept car, called the Vision EQXX, which featured vegan interiors, made with materials like mushroom leather, cactus leather, bamboo, and bio-based vegan silk. But the German luxury car manufacturer also has several vegan options in its current models, too. According to PETA, models like the Marco Polo, the Vito, and the V-Class are all fitted with leather-free interiors as standard. Find out more

Citron

According to Dick Lovett, this popular French car manufacturer is in the top 10 vegan-friendly car brands, with 15 leather-free models on offer. PETA confirms this and notes that vegan-friendly varieties include the C3, the C4, and the -C4. Find out more

Charlotte is a writer and editor based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.

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These 8 Auto Makers Offer Vegan Leather Interior Options - VegNews

If youve been living under a rock and still havent heard of Christspiracy, its a hugely anticipated vegan documentary being released in 2024.

Its the latest brainchild of Kip Andersen, known for his renowned films Cowspiracy (2014), What The Health (2017), and Seaspiracy (2021). All of these explored different aspects of the benefits of veganism, covering the environment, health, animals, and human rights.

Christspiracy: The Spirituality Secret looks set to explore veganism and its links to spirituality. It explores the link between the vegan lifestyle and various religions, and aims to answer one question: Is there a spiritual way to kill an animal?

This question was put to Andersen by an audience member named Kameron Waters at a Q&A session a few years ago. The two subsequently teamed up, and decided to set off on a six-year investigation together to answer it through the lens of religion, philosophy, spirituality, sociology, and psychology.

Heres everything you need to know about the new release.

In an attempt to find out whether there is a spiritual way to kill an animal, Andersen and Waters traveled to four continents to explore animal ethics within five different religions. As the name suggests, one of these religions was Christianity. The two spoke to experts around the world to shed new light on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

The film includes conversations with a number of interviewees, including well-known archaeologists and theologians. The interviews were conducted, say the filmmakers, to uncover the biggest cover-up in the last 2,000 years, one that will transform history, forever.

Waters grew up in Georgia in the US, and spent much of his life in the church. He even attended a Christian hunting and fishing club, and didnt initially question the treatment of animals by members of his faith. After a few years, however, he eventually started to think seriously about his relationship with animals, leading him, eventually, to the Q&A session with Andersen.

Kams relationship to food and faith were intertwined from the day he was born, the filmmakers previously said in a statement. But it wasnt until he started reassessing how his Churchs interpretation of scripture had convinced him that hunting and eating animals was okay, that he started to question, How would Jesus kill an animal?.

While Christianity may have been the initial plan of focus, the film is by no means limited to this religion. It explores the issue of animal ethics in a variety of different faiths, and Andersen previously told Plant Based News (PBN) that the film has universal appeal for all.

Were not pointing fingers, were asking questions, he said. Its a very full spectrum discussion and exploration of this subject. Whats been really fun [in test screenings] is that from atheists to hardcore conservative Christians, any walk of life, they love this film.

Due to the name, however, some people have assumed that Christspiracy would focus wholly on Christianity. In response to whether Christspiracy is a Christian or Christian-bashing film, Waters and Andersen wrote on Instagram: Absolutely not. In fact, this film explores more than the Christian faith and includes Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, and even philosophy, sociology, and history to deeply explore how faiths around the world answer the question: Is there a spiritual way to kill an animal? No Christians were harmed in the making of this film. We promise.

The filmmakers have also emphasized that, while the film does explore religion, it is more than a religious film focusing on ethics, as well as a number of different areas and disciplines.

We dont yet have a confirmed Christspiracy release date, but we do know it will be some time in 2024.

Andersens other films are available to stream on Netflix, but he previously confirmed to PBN that he turned down the streaming service for Christspiracy due to the fact that they wanted to retain their own edit of the film (which was initially called Cowspiritual).

Waters and Andersen have stated that Netflix wanted to redact key parts of the documentary to take it in a different direction than they had intended. They therefore decided to go it alone.

[We are] super grateful to Netflix for providing a platform and releasing the other three previous films, said Andersen. With this film it is a little challenging, as some of the subject matter is so bold and so controversial.

The filmmakers have fundraised to help bring the film to as large an audience as possible. They are aiming to bring the film to at least a billion viewers. According to their Kickstarter page, they raised USD $433,747 to help them to do this.

Andersen and Waters say that they want the Christspiracy documentary to go where no film has ever gone before, and that they hope to bring it to billions of viewers. To do this, they have launched a pay-it-forward model where its hoped that people will watch the film and donate money to allow someone else to watch it for free. Its a cycle of kindness that YOU get to start, they said. This philosophy allows the film to be accessible to anyone around the world, regardless of ones income status or subscription.

They hope that Christspiracy will be shown in movie theaters, places of worship, and many more platforms, including our own collective one. Its more than a movie, its a movement, they said.

Find out more about the film here.

More:

What Is 'Christspiracy'? Inside The Film Everyone's Talking About - Plant Based News

Delve into the teachings of Robert Waldinger, a psychiatrist and Zen priest, as he explores the essence of Zen Buddhism.

Waldinger, who directs the long-running Harvard Study of Adult Development, discusses how Zen can help people discover the transformative power of impermanence, mindfulness, and the art of relieving suffering. He shares practical wisdom on cultivating loving-kindness, maintaining a beginners mind, and fostering fulfilling relationships.

Whether youre seeking inner peace or navigating relationships, Waldinger offers practical guidance for a more fulfilling existence.

ROBERT WALDINGER: Zen emphasizes community. It's called 'Sangha' in the Buddhist language, and it's really the idea that we practice learning about ourselves and each other by being in relationships with each other, both during meditation sessions and out there in the world.

I am a Zen practitioner. I'm actually a Rshi, a Zen Master. It's a big part of my life, and it is an enormous benefit in terms of how I think about my own life, other people's lives, how I think about my research, and how I think about working with patients.

I would rate the concept of impermanence as, number one, as the greatest hit of Zen Buddhism. Basically, the idea of everything constantly changing. There's nothing to hold onto in the deepest sense.

And that, on the one hand, that can be scary; on the other hand, it can be an enormous relief because we tell ourselves so many stories about who we are, and who we're supposed to be, and how the world is supposed to be, and when we really know the truth of impermanence, we let a lot of that go.

Once we realize that everything is always changing, it helps us be more compassionate to other people because we realize that they are also dealing with all the complexities of a self and a world that's constantly changing.

The Four Noble Truths are perhaps the most iconic teachings of the Buddha. They start with the Buddhist statement. Now, it's often said that, "The Buddha was teaching that you could get to a point where you never suffer anymore." Zen does not teach that.

Rather, what we can do is learn to be with what's unsatisfactory in life, learn to be with unhappiness, even be with pain in a way that makes it more bearable, in a way that doesn't layer on the optional suffering being the stories we tell about how unfair it all is.

For example, that I have back pain or how unfair it is that I've got a cold todaythat all of these things are workable. It makes me a little less likely to blame other people for what's going on in me, and that can be hugely helpful.

When we talk about harmony in relationships. The best definition I know of mindfulness is simple: So right now, for me, that's talking with you. That's the feel of the chair on my back. It's the feel of the air on my skin.

You can work on your mindfulness right this moment, by simply paying attention to whatever stimuli are reaching you. It might be your heartbeat, it might be your breath, it might be the sound of the fan in the roomanything. And simply letting yourself be open and receive whatever is here right now. And you can do that in any moment.

Buddhism talks about the idea of attachment. It's really about holding on tightly to a fixed view of something. Zen teaches that unsatisfactoriness is always there in life, and that we do have preferences, but that what we can do is to insist less that the world be a certain way.

In other words, to insist less that the world be a certain way. I mean, think about in relationships, how much we try to insist that someone else be a certain way that we want them to be, and how much less we suffer if we let that go.

And just assume that that person is allowed to show up in the world as they are, and we are allowed to show up in the world as we are. So this idea of relieving suffering is in Zen, the idea of being able to face towards suffering, looking at it, and living with it in a way that hurts less.

There's a concept of Metta, loving-kindness, in Buddhism, and there are a couple of different ways that it's talked about. One is an explicit skill that we can cultivate. You can do a loving-kindness meditation where you think about another person and you say to yourself, "May you be happy, may you be at peace."

And you do that over and over again, and you come to feel differently about the other person, including about people you don't like very much or you're angry at. So there's that way of actively cultivating a skill.

There's another way, which is simply by becoming more and more aware of your own pain, your own anxious, angry thoughts, your own difficulties. Because what happens when we become more aware of that through meditation, for example, is that we become much more empathic toward other people.

And naturally, that kind of loving-kindness arises, where we see an angry person and say, "Oh, I wonder if that person is having a terrible day," rather than immediately reacting with our own anger. And so that's a different way to cultivate loving-kindness, but it happens pretty reliably through meditation.

And finally, there's a wonderful teaching in Zen about Beginner's Mind. The idea that we let go of all the stories we tell ourselves that we're so sure of. Having a beginner's mind really helps in relationships because it allows us to be curious, it allows us to say, "Okay, there's so much I don't know about this person, let me watch closely. Let me notice what I haven't seen before about this person. Let me find new ways to interact with this person."

And that brings a kind of freshness and openness to relationships that can otherwise easily get stale. Shunryu Suzuki was a Zen Master who had a saying that I love. And what he meant by that is when we can remain open to many possibilities, rather than being so sure that we know what's what, that we become open to surprise, open to new ways of experiencing ourselves and the world, that make us suffer a great deal less than when we are so-called experts.

And the older I get, and the more people call me an expert, the more aware I am of how little I know.

Excerpt from:
A Zen master's guide to crushing pain & unlocking peace - Big Think

Ani Zamba Chozom. From facebook.com

The widely respected Buddhist teacher Ani Zamba Chozom, one of the first Western female monastics to be fully ordained, has died after an extended illness. She was 75 years old.

According to statements from close friends and associates, Ani Zamba passed on 23 December at a hospital in Sao Paolo.

Ani Zamba was born Susan Dawn Belanda in London in 1948. Growing up, she suffered a serious illness that aroused within her a desire to dedicate her life to the benefit of others. In 1969, seeking answers to the suffering of life, she traveled to India, where she eventually began to study the Buddhadharma. She was subsequently able to travel widely, studying and practicing in several Buddhist traditions.

She received the Dharma name Jampa Chozom when the renowned scholar and meditation master Geshe Rabten ordained her as a monastic in Dharamsala in 1972. In 1975, she received full bhikshuni ordination in Hong Kong, and from 1978, she spent an extended period working at a drug rehabilitation center in Thailands Wat Thamkrabok.

Ani Zamba spent a total of nine years living in India and Nepal, where she received teachings from many great Gelugpa, Drukpa Kagyu, and Nyingma lamas. She studied and practiced under some of the most revered modern masters of Tibetan Buddhism, among them Khamtrul Rinpoche, Dungsey Thinley Norbu Rinpoche, Dudjom Rinpoche, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, Lama Wangdur, and Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.

In 1983, Ani Zamba received full ordination again in South Korea, and was later given further ordinations in Taiwan and China. While living in Thailand from 197882, she met many great teachers from the Thai Forest Tradition of that time, while also working in a Khmer Rouge refugee camp and with child prostitution.

Ani Zambas work and travel would subsequently see her based in the Philippines, Hong Kongs Lamma Island, and the United States.

Eventually she settled in Brazil, where Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche had founded a Dharma center, becoming his representative in the north of the country. After Rinpoches death in 2002, she would go on to become an independent teacher with her own community of students, offering practical teachings in the Dzogchen tradition, especially on the direct observation of the nature of the mind, and establishing a retreat center.

Ani Zamba was widely lauded for her courage in the face of the numerous obstacles encountered by Western female monastics studying the Buddhadharma in Asia. Messages were posted widely online mourning her passing. Information on services and memorials are expected to be shared on social media.

In a message shared on Facebook, her close friend Ani Jinba said in part: Yesterday one of my oldest friends since the early seventies, British nun Ani Zamba (Jampa Chozom), passed away at a hospital in Brazil after a long illness. . . . Her passing is a great loss for the Dharma and she will be missed by many, may the blessings of her great masters continue to guide her . . .

Ani Zamba(Facebook)

The Life Story of Ani Zamba Chozom: Part Two Meeting Lama Yeshe The Life Story of Ani Zamba Chozom: Part Three Ordination, First Retreat, and First Teaching The Life Story of Ani Zamba Chozom: Part Four Finding the Nyingma Lineage The Life Story of Ani Zamba Chozom: Part Five Dzogchen and Meeting Her Teachers The Life Story of Ani Zamba Chozom: Part Six Thailand, Burma, and Korea The Life Story of Ani Zamba Chozom: Part Seven From Korea to the Philippines to Hong Kong The Life Story of Ani Zamba Chozom: Part Eight Brazil

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Renowned Buddhist Nun and Teacher Ani Zamba Chozom Has Died - Buddhistdoor Global

By Kelsi Karruli For Dailymail.Com 22:24 21 Dec 2023, updated 13:59 22 Dec 2023

A life coach has shared the five signs that will help you spot a narcissist during an argument - and what they made to make you look like the bad guy.

Mark Fennell has been helping people transform their lives for over 20 years and he frequently shares his life-changing tips on his TikTok account, where he boasts over 65,000 followers.

Throughout his time as an Ireland-based mentor, he came across his fair share of self-centered people and has issued a warning to viewers when dealing with them.

In a viral video, which has so far amassed over 7.2 million views, he shared the five indications that you're dealing with a narcissist.

He captioned the clip: 'How to spot a narcissist in an argument. My five signs they might be narcissistic.'

'I've been life coaching people for 20 years and I've seen my fair share of narcissistic behavior,' Mark said before jumping into the signals.

The first sign you're dealing with an egotistical person is if they always 'play victim.'

The life coach explained that narcissists never believe they are the 'cause of anything whatsoever.'

'They're always the victim and they will always play the victim card,' he added.

Moving on to the next key, Mark said narcissists refuse to take accountability for their actions and will 'deny' being at fault.

'Number two, denial. They will always deny everything and anything that points at them as being the cause, they will never take ownership and will never take responsibility, instead they will deny,' he noted.

Another sign that will point to someone being a narcissist is when they attempt to turn the conversation around on you.

'Number three, deflection. They will deflect away from themselves and suddenly, you'll find that the conversation is becoming about you and not about them,' he explained.

The fourth signal that you are in an argument with a narcissist is obvious when they begin to gaslight you.

Mark said: 'They will gaslight you, they will make you doubt how you perceive the situation, they'll say things like, "Oh it wasn't like that", or, "Oh I didn't mean it like this."

'They will make you doubt what you believed happened and how you recall what happened.'

Lastly, narcissists will become aggressive when they don't get what they want.

'When all four other options have failed, they will attack and become aggressive. This is to intimidate you and make you back off,' he said.

People flooded the comments section and praised the life coach for his advice.

One person said: 'They're exhausting.'

Someone else added: 'The true victim is never allowed to get their point across.'

Another user wrote: 'They are the victim or the star of every story!'

'Spot on,' someone else added.

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Life coach reveals five warning signs to help you spot a NARCISSIST - and the VERY sneaky tactics they use to - Daily Mail

GMs Pentala Harikrishna and Pavel Eljanov started with wins over GMs Arjun Erigaisi and Parham Maghsoodloo respectively in two high-pressure, error-prone games to share the lead with a point apiece after the first round of the Chennai Grand Masters 2023. Both players kept their nerves under check in a quicker time control which seemed to be the deciding factor of the day.

The other two encounters of the day between GMs Levon Aronian and Gukesh Dommaraju, and GMs Alexandr Predke and Sanan Sjugirov ended in almost uneventful draws.

The Chennai Grand Masters continues with round two on Saturday, December 16, at 4:45 a.m. ET/10:45 CET/3:15 p.m. IST.

Chennai Grand Masters Round 1 Results

The drawing of lots ceremony was held at the tournament venueThe Leela Palace Hotel, situated in the heart of Chennai but admirably away from the usual bustle, right at the mouth of the Adyar River, facing the vast expanse of the Bay of Bengal.

Such a location offers breathtaking views of the sea, the estuary, and the beach, even under the downcast sky of unseasonal rain, all making it an unusual venue for the tournament.

As is common in India, the tournament started with the lighting of the traditional lamp, in the presence of the organizers and officials of the provincial state government of Tamil Nadu, which has contributed the entire cost of the tournament.

When approached with the proposal to conduct the tournament, the minister of sports of the government of Tamil Nadu approved the event in about half an hour, and sanctioned an amount of Rs.1,77,00,000 (US $213,146 approximately). GM Srinath Narayanan one of the main organizers, gave us details about the birth of the event.

The organization brought in an unusual touch for the drawing of lots too, as the players got to choose between eight paintings done by the budding young artist Akhil Anand, son of former world champion Vishy Anand. The paintings were based on the theme of "Poikkal Kuthirai," (translated as "false-legged horse"), a folk dance of the state of Tamil Nadu.

The most entertaining part of the evening was when Aronian came up to pick his number, and Akhil ventured to help him.

One of the inevitable narratives of the tournament is the qualification targets for the FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament 2024 for Gukesh and Arjun (through the FIDE Circuit) and Maghsoodloo (through rating). It is anyone's guess whether this applies considerable pressure to them, and allows the others in the tournament to play with a more relaxed mindset.

Another major factor is the time control being followed, which is not very standard for a tournament of this stature: the entire game is played with 90 minutes for each player on the clock, with an increment of 30 seconds per move from the beginning. Appearing on the live commentary, GM Anish Giri called it "unusual" and proclaimed, "I have never played with this time control in my life!"

The arguments can be easily understood when we look at a couple of critical moments from both games.

After defending a difficult ending for a long time, Maghsoodloo had to find 51.Rb1! to salvage a draw here, which was probably made difficult by less time on the clock. He blundered with 51.Re3?? and Eljanov went on to win the game.

When asked about the lack of pressure on him to play for a specific target, Eljanov answered pretty straight-forwardly: "Yes, I was very relaxed. I didn't prepare much before the game. I slept very wellhelped me get over jet lag." It showed on the board too, as Eljanov looked to be steady throughout the game with no outward show of emotions.

Harikrishna confessed to not having prepared the specific simplistic opening variation of the day against Arjun, but was rewarded with a critical error from his opponent early in the game.

Here, a simple scheme like 15...Kf7 with further development of his pieces would have preserved equality, but Arjun erred with 15...Bxc3? overlooking the prosaic16.Rc1!, which gave Harikrishna an everlasting initiative in one of his favorite parts of the game, the endgame.

From his young days, Harikrishna's forte was his endgame ability. Hence, when an endgame with rooks and opposite-colored bishops came up on the board, it was expected that Hari would be able to convert his advantage. But with both players having under a minute on the clock, and both looking outwardly tense at the board, it was Hari's turn to overlook a simple tactic.

Harikrishna had to find 49.f5!, sacrificing the pawn, to facilitate the push of his h-pawn here, but he blundered with 49.Ra7??.After the further50.f5, Arjun seemed to have a simple tactic to secure the draw:

Arjun had to find 50...Rh1+ 51.Kd2 Rxh5 to level the game here, as the loss of White's h-pawn cannot be avoided. However, he blundered in turn with 50...Rxf5?? allowing51.a6and Harikrishna went on to win the game.

This fascinating encounter is our Game of the Day, analyzed by GM Rafael Leitao below.

The other two games ended in draws after short fights. The Aronian-Gukesh encounter was billed as the game of the day, but it never rose to high levels of excitement. Aronian confessed after the game that he was still not over jetlag and still missing his sleep.

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The Chennai Grand Masters 2023 is an 8-player all-play-all tournament in Chennai, India running December 15-21. The strongest classical invitational tournament ever held in India, it gives Gukesh, Arjun, and Maghsoodloo a chance to qualify for the 2024 Candidates tournament. The prize fund is $60,000, with $18,000 for first place.

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Chennai Grand Masters Round 1: Harikrishna, Eljanov Start With Wins - Chess.com