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Following Nikhil Kamath, Chess.com has flagged the accounts of Sajid Nadiadwala and Kichcha Sudeep for violating the platform’s Fair Play Policy.
On June 13th, the platform held a Checkmate COVID fundraiser, which was a grand success as more than ₹10 lakh was collected during the 4-hour 30-minute long stream. It featured the five-time world champion and number one Indian chess player, Viswanathan Anand, playing simultaneously against nine opponents.
The star-studded list of participants included Nikhil Kamath, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kichcha Sudeep, Sajid Nadiadwala, Riteish Deshmukh, Aamir Khan, Arijit Singh, Anaya Birla, and Manu Kumar Jain.
Anand won eight of the nine games during the event, only losing to Nikhil Kamath, who had an accuracy of 99% in the game. Viewers had suspicions of foul play during the event, which was confirmed after the suspension of his account.
Chess.com bans Sajid Nadiadwala and Kichcha Sudeep for Fair Play violation
A new controversy has erupted around the event as two more players, Sajid Nadiadwala and Kichcha Sudeep, have been banned by Chess.com for cheating.
Yesterday was a celebrity simul for people to raise money It was a fun experience upholding the ethics of the game.I just played the position onthe board and expected the same from everyone . pic.twitter.com/ISJcguA8jQ
— Viswanathan Anand (@vishy64theking) June 14, 2021
It comes a day after Nikhil Kamath was banned, and the co-founder of Zerodha apologized for his mistake in a tweet. He later added:
“In my head, it was just a fun game we amateurs were playing against the greatest chess champ from India to raise funds for charity. But it still gives no excuse for what I did. It was wrong, and I sincerely apologize.”
Vishy Anand shared his views on this whole cheating issue in his reply to the tweet.
Yesterday was a celebrity simul for people to raise money It was a fun experience upholding the ethics of the game.I just played the position onthe board and expected the same from everyone . pic.twitter.com/ISJcguA8jQ
— Viswanathan Anand (@vishy64theking) June 14, 2021
Prachura P P posted this clarification on the cheating incident on behalf of the organizing team:
“We were completely unaware that non-ethical practices were resorted to during the event, and assure that we are duty-bound to uphold the ethics in the game of chess.”
On behalf of organizing team @itherocky and the hosts @TaniaSachdev @ReheSamay wish to clarify that we were completely unaware that non ethical practices were resorted to during the event, and assure that we are duty bound to uphold the ethics in the game of chess.
— Prachura (@Prachura1) June 14, 2021
Chess.com’s Chief Chess Officer, Danny Rensch, released the following statement regarding the cheating controversy and closure of the account on June 14th:
“When it comes to Fair Play, Chess.com acts only in the best interest of the global chess community. Our goals are to protect the integrity of all games played on our site.”
As for cheating, jokes aside, there are billions of reasons not to do so and zero to do so, so I just never get it. ??♂️ #ChessDrama
— Anish Giri (@anishgiri) June 15, 2021
Can't believe that @KicchaSudeep also did this, all 3 accounts are banned. https://t.co/W1I6yEo51i pic.twitter.com/q5Oy4PC1Xi
— P V P kumar (@PVPkumar1) June 14, 2021
One more to go....#fairplay #sportsmanspirit https://t.co/Nj2ct606aF
— Surya Sekhar Ganguly (@suryachess64) June 14, 2021
How can cheating be fun in a COVID charity event? You disrespected not only chess but also other guests and thousands of fans watching the event. https://t.co/QXiddAduIH
— Harikrishna (@HariChess) June 14, 2021
Disheartened to come to know that even Sajid Nadiadwala cheated yesterday. This is pure disrespect to chess.
— Samay Raina (@ReheSamay) June 14, 2021
Great job @chesscom on banning cheaters. It is easy to follow the trend/crowd but it takes guts/bravery to speak against wrong when no one else doing it. Thanks @nsrinath69 for the starting tweet. I was wondering how to write it in a plain direct manner & ur tweet nailed it.
— Surya Sekhar Ganguly (@suryachess64) June 15, 2021
Everyone suspected this. I didn't want to be the judge, jury, executioner. Now the truth of this whole thing is out and clear. pic.twitter.com/SqSbqpqRcf
— Srinath Narayanan (@nsrinath69) June 14, 2021
Many of you have been asking me for my opinion about this incident. It’s obvious. The game of Chess wasn’t played in the right spirit. It’s wrong. No two ways about it. pic.twitter.com/QQqoGJWJCr
— Vidit Gujrathi (@viditchess) June 14, 2021
Woke up to this. Complete disrespect to chess. Nothing justifies cheating. Going back to sleep https://t.co/d8RCCst3TG
— Tania Sachdev (@TaniaSachdev) June 14, 2021
Seems like more people had help from their silicone friend yesterday which makes Vishy's result even more impressive. Guy held a simul against multiple Stockfish engines ?
— agadmator (@agadmator) June 14, 2021
Courtesy: www.sportskeeda.com
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New Delhi: Supreme Court judge B.V. Nagarathna has recorded a dissent note against the collegium’s recommendation to elevate Patna High Court Chief Justice Vipul Manubhai Pancholi to the apex court, The Indian Express reported.
The five-member collegium, comprising Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, J.K. Maheshwari, and Nagarathna, reached the decision with a 4–1 split. Justice Nagarathna, the lone woman on the bench, opposed Pancholi’s elevation, citing concerns over seniority and regional representation.
Justice Pancholi ranks 57th on the all-India seniority list of high court judges. Justice Nagarathna reportedly objected to the move, noting that it came less than three months after another judge from the Gujarat High Court, Justice N.V. Anjaria, was elevated to the Supreme Court. She argued that advancing Pancholi would bypass several senior judges and further increase Gujarat’s representation at the top court, while other high courts remain underrepresented.
Her dissenting note, according to reports, emphasized that such decisions could undermine the credibility of the collegium system and have long-term consequences for the administration of justice.
Justice Pancholi, who served nearly two decades in the Gujarat High Court, was transferred to Patna High Court in July 2023 and appointed its Chief Justice in July 2025. His elevation, along with that of Justice Anjaria, was intended to maintain Gujarat’s representation in the Supreme Court following the retirements of Justices M.R. Shah and Bela Trivedi earlier this year.
With a sanctioned strength of 34 judges, the Supreme Court follows criteria of seniority, merit, integrity, and regional balance in appointments. Justice Nagarathna’s dissent highlights ongoing debates about diversity and fairness in judicial elevations.