In a sporting crossover, Venkatesh and Sindarov play a game of chess
Indian cricketer Venkatesh Iyer played a friendly chess match against World No. 4 Javokhir Sindarov in Bengaluru. The event highlighted the city's diverse sporting culture beyond cricket.
Why it matters
It showcases the growing intersection of different professional sports and the cultural enthusiasm for non-traditional sports in India.
Cricket met chess on Sunday night. Royal Challengers Bengaluru all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer, who has played for India in both short formats, took on the World No. 4 Javokhir Sindarov in a game of chess.
After the match against the Uzbek, played at RCB Bar & Cafe, Venkatesh said: “I got the opportunity to play with the world’s No. 4 chess player. I managed to survive five minutes without losing.”
Sindarov, who will challenge India’s D. Gukesh for the World championship this year, is in the city for the Global Chess League, in which he is playing for Fyers American Gambits. He was joined by his teammates Daniil Dubov, Nihal Sarin, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, and MarcAndria Maurizzi.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in