SPORTS

62nd National Chess Championship

• Grandmaster P. Iniyan from Tamil Nadu clinched the national chess title, remaining unbeaten throughout the competition.

• The championship took place in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, and Iniyan secured 7 wins and 4 draws across 11 rounds.

• He finished with the same score as 15-year-old IM H. Goutham Krishna (Kerala) but claimed the title due to a higher Buchholz tie-break score.

• Iniyan received ₹6 lakh as the champion, while Goutham Krishna earned ₹5 lakh for finishing second.

• The Buchholz system, used to break ties in chess tournaments, evaluates a player’s performance based on the strength of their opponents.

• Six players ended with 8.5 points, among whom GM Sasikiran Krishnan (PSPB) had the best tie-break and secured third place with ₹4 lakh.

• International Master Aronyak Ghosh (Railways) finished fourth, followed by Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta in fifth position.

Mirabai Chanu Shines at World Weightlifting Championships

• Mirabai Chanu clinched the silver medal in the women’s 48kg category at the World Championships held in Førde, Norway.

• She achieved a total lift of 199kg, comprising 84kg in snatch and 115kg in clean and jerk.

• With this performance, Chanu secured the second position overall in the event.

• This tournament marked her first World Championship appearance since 2022.

• It was also her second competition after the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she narrowly missed a podium finish and placed fourth.

• Ri Song-gum of South Korea, the reigning world champion, claimed the gold medal with a total lift of 213kg.

• Chanu’s strong comeback underlines her continued presence among the world’s top weightlifters.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS

‘Wings of Valour’ – Book Launch Highlights

• Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, officially launched the book titled Wings of Valour.

• The book is authored by Swapnil Pandey and highlights some of the most courageous missions of the Indian Air Force.

• It has been published by HarperCollins India.

• One of the chapters offers an in-depth narrative on Operation Sindoor, showcasing the bravery and precision of the IAF.

• During the launch event, AP Singh addressed the gathering and spoke about the spirit of service and sacrifice in the Air Force.

• He emphasised the contributions of not only those fighting on the frontlines but also the teams working silently in the background.

• AP Singh highlighted that many of these heroes remain unrecognised and urged society to honour their dedication and service.

SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE

United Nations Troop Contributing Countries’ (UNTCC) Chiefs Conclave

• India will host the UNTCC Chiefs Conclave in New Delhi from October 14 to 16, bringing together senior military leaders from over 30 UN peacekeeping nations.

• The event aims to enhance global cooperation and reaffirm commitment to international peace and security.

• Discussions will focus on improving peacekeeping missions through stronger communication, coordination, and sharing of on-ground experiences.

• A special emphasis will be placed on indigenous technology, self-reliance, and innovative solutions to make peacekeeping more efficient and future-ready.

• Lt General Rakesh Kapoor highlighted the conclave as a key platform for strengthening military partnership and mutual understanding among participating countries.

• Nations like Algeria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, France, Ghana, Italy, Indonesia, and many others are expected to join the discussion.

• As one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping missions, India will showcase its operational expertise and innovations to support more effective global peacekeeping efforts.

MISCELLANEOUS

Elon Musk Becomes First to Hit $500 Billion Net Worth

• Elon Musk briefly became the first person in history to touch a net worth of $500 billion.

• As per Forbes’ billionaires list, his wealth crossed $500 billion on October 1 but later dropped slightly to $499 billion.

• Musk holds a 12% share in Tesla, which is valued at over $1.5 trillion, and the sharp rise in Tesla’s share price has significantly boosted his net worth.

• Tesla delivered 497,099 vehicles between July and September, contributing to the company’s strong financial performance.

• SpaceX, another company led by Musk, has an estimated valuation of around $400 billion, and Musk owns 42% of it.

• His AI company, xAI, was valued at $75 billion in July, according to Pitchbook.

• Musk’s net worth continues to fluctuate because of Tesla stock movements and political controversies; in September, Larry Ellison of Oracle briefly overtook him as the world’s richest person, as per Bloomberg’s index.