Nihal Sarin and Anish Giri (Photos by Michal Walusza, Lennart Ootes and FIDE)

NEW DELHI: As the chess world descends upon Cyprus for the 2026 Candidates, the name Anish Giri continues to be synonymous with a singular, frustrating memory from the past. 14 draws in 14 games. That legendary run in the 2016 Candidates birthed the “King of Draws” moniker for the current Dutch No. 1.But as the 31-year-old eyes the Candidates crown 10 years later, and with it the right to challenge Dommaraju Gukesh, Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin points out that “Drwaish Giri” is a tired stereotype that ignores the realities of elite chess.“I very, very strongly believe that people saying Anish is a drawish player is complete nonsense, honestly,” Nihal told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview on the eve of the tournament. “I believe he’s a huge fighter, actually. The draw thing is definitely a bit of a myth.”

The “myth” of the Draw KingGiri himself is well aware of the narrative. Speaking about his preparation to TimesofIndia.com, the Dutch No. 1 revealed the unique hurdles of a Candidates cycle, noting that he had to wait to hire seconds (coaching assistants) because his top choices were so good they ended up qualifying for the tournament themselves.“I understand really well what makes a good second because that second was so good he became my opponent,” Giri joked.

Nihal points to Giri’s triumph at the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss, where he finished unbeaten (with five wins and six draws) to qualify for this very event, as proof of his winning intent.“To win the tournament by half a point, he clearly did win a fair few games as well,” Nihal noted. “A lot of draws happen when top players are clashing because that is what chess is. If both play to their absolute potential, it will be a draw. Chess is like that only”Nihal’s Candidates 2026 predictionWhile many experts are hyper-focused on Fabiano Caruana or Hikaru Nakamura, Nihal Sarin’s evaluation of the 2026 field suggests a much more volatile “open” race.While he respects the established American giants, he threw a spotlight on Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov.“If I had to make a guess, maybe Fabi or Sindu [Sindarov],” Nihal told this website. “Sindarov is having a great year so far and playing some amazing chess. And of course, if Pragg has a good event, then absolutely. You can also never count Hikaru out.”Nihal also cautioned against sidelining the two-time European Champion, Matthias Bluebaum. While some call Bluebaum’s style pragmatic, Nihal sees a dangerous trap.“He’s insanely good at being kind of safe. Not drawish, but safe. He is extremely good at punishing if opponents try to go berserk against him. That is a very smart way of winning games,” Nihal remarked.A closely packed women’s fieldTurning his attention to the Women’s Candidates, Nihal believes the tournament is even more unpredictable than the Open section.“I really wouldn’t be surprised at all whoever wins. I think everyone can beat everyone there,” he said.However, he leaned toward experience as the deciding factor.“I would guess probably Aleksandra Goryachkina or Tan Zhongyi is likely to win because they have done it before. I believe it’s a bit easier having that belief, that because you have done it before, you can do it again.”As the marathon begins on Saturday, reputations like “Drawish Giri” or “underdog Bluebaum” mean very little. In Nihal’s words, “Absolutely everybody can win.”

India’s two-time Olympic medallist Gurjant Singh on Friday retired from international hockey after an illustrious career, saying it’s the appropriate time to quit after losing his place in the national team due to a back injury last year.

Gurjant represented India in 130 matches at the senior level and also helped the team win a gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games in China.

The 31-year-old forward from Khailara village in Amritsar was a member of the Indian team that won back-to-back bronze medals at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics.

He announced his retirement during the eighth Hockey India Annual Awards ceremony here on Friday.

“Since June Pro League last year I was forced to sit out of the senior team due to a back injury. I was out of hockey for nearly 7-8 months,” Gurjant told PTI.

“After that, I played Hockey India League and domestic hockey but never could return back into the side. So I felt it is the appropriate time to quit and give the juniors a chance.” 
He, however, will continue to play in the HIL, club and domestic hockey.

“I will continue to play in the HIL, domestic hockey and also looking for club hockey opportunities abroad,” said Gurjant, who is employed with the Sports Department in the Punjab government.

During his nearly 10-year-long career, Gurjant scored 33 goals since making his senior team debut in 2017.

Gurjant rose from junior ranks quickly, drawing attention of the selectors with his pace and sharp instincts. He played a vital role during India’s title triumph in the 2016 Junior FIH World Cup in Lucknow and scored in the final to help India lift the trophy.

Gurjant was also part of India’s gold medal-winning side at the 2023 Asian Games and 2017 Asia Cup, besides multiple Asian Champions Trophy titles.

He was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 2021.

Gurjant also holds the record of scoring the fastest goal by an Indian in international hockey, with his sensational strike just 13 seconds into the game against the Netherlands in his FIH Pro League debut in January 2020 in Bhubaneswar, helping the country to register a superb 5-2 victory over the Oranje.

Gurjant said he has no regrets in his career.

“I started my hockey journey by looking up to the seniors sitting in this room, and to have fulfilled my dream of playing for India alongside them is something I will always treasure,” he said.

Gurjant was felicitated by Hockey India during the awards ceremony with a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh.

“I feel incredibly satisfied to have been part of the historical revival of Indian hockey and to have achieved two Olympic medals. I leave the international stage a very happy and proud man,” he said.

With back-to-back general managers, Rick Spielman and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, trades were frequent for the Minnesota Vikings. Neither of those men works for the Vikings anymore, but there’s a chance that the “new” guy, interim boss Rob Brzezinski, pulls off a blockbuster trade on Night No. 1 of the NFL Draft. This is a peek at the possibilities.

Minnesota has the tools to make noise if it wants a splashy draft-weekend move.

The Vikings have nine draft picks this year and a couple of tradeable players, at least in theory.

Five Aggressive Trade Ideas That Would Shake Up the Vikings’ Draft

Blockbuster trade ideas for the Vikings, ranked in order of realism (No. 1 = most realistic blockbuster trade).

5. Trade for JAX WR Brian Thomas

No one really knows if Jordan Addison will succeed in Minnesota — or if he’ll flame out because of the next arrest. Trading for Thomas hedges that bet, and the Vikings would take the mystery and crapshoot nature of the draft out of the 18th pick.

Minnesota can then decide to keep a three-deep setup indefinitely or trade Addison when the time is right.

In any event, Thomas is reportedly on the trade block after a quiet sophomore campaign.

4. Trade up for Ohio S Caleb Downs

Harrison Smith might retire, and even if he doesn’t, the Vikings still need a safety for the long haul. There’s a small chance that Downs — the best safety in next month’s draft — tumbles a smidge due to injury fears, and every team that passes up, well, he gets more attainable for the Vikings.

Some consider Downs a future Hall of Famer. And while it’s not wise to trade up for a non-premium position like safety, it is wise to draft Hall of Famers.

In this scenario, Brian Flores and Co. realize that Downs is a game-changer, donating the 2nd-Rounder to Cincinnati for the pick that fetches Downs.

3. Trade for NYG DT Dexter Lawrence

Lawrence is still only 28 years old; if a team trades for him, they’ll get a full contract’s worth of Pro Bowl production.

The phenom nose tackle is probably gettable for the equivalent of a late 1st-Rounder or early 2nd-Round pick, so in this proposal, Minnesota opts for the sure thing in Lawrence, while grabbing the Giants’ 2nd-Rounder, which it could spend on a cornerback like Colton Hood (Tennessee) or running back like Jadarian Price (Notre Dame).

Lawrence would cook in Minnesota, sandwiched between Jonathan Greenard, Dallas Turner, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Jalen Redmond.

2. Trade up for Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love

Perhaps the most fun option on the list, the Vikings put their running back drought to bed, trading up the board for Love.

Minnesota hasn’t drafted a game-changing tailback since Dalvin Cook, and that happened nine years ago. Like the safety proposal with Downs, it’s usually taboo to trade up for a running back. But who really cares if the end game is pairing Love, this class’s best halfback, with Kyler Murray, Justin Jefferson, and Jordan Addison for the next five years? Would you be mad?

Trading for Love would force the Vikings to be run-centric, at least more than they are now, and that could, alas, unlock Kevin O’Connell’s offense.

1. OLB Jonathan Greenard to the Eagles

For now, the momentum has shifted for Greenard to remain in Minnesota — the Vikings probably would’ve traded him by now if he wanted out over a contractual dispute.

But let’s pretend that the thesis is wrong, and the Vikings offload Greenard during the draft. Philadelphia’s outside linebackers right now are Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt. The Eagles will have Super Bowl hopes again in 2026 after their version of a down year; they’ll need more EDGE help than Smith and Hunt to do it.

Here, Minnesota pries the Eagles’ 1st-Rounder away while Philadelphia gets a guaranteed-to-be-good pass rusher, a 3rd-Rounder, and a 5th-Round scratch off. The irony here is that Minnesota might turn around and draft an EDGE defender with the pick.

Greenard could land a big payday in Philadelphia, and Minnesota would lean into the youth movement at OLB with a new guy and Dallas Turner, who is the fourth-youngest player on the Vikings’ roster.

PurplePTSD works in partnership with Vikings Territory, similarly doing their utmost to offer top-notch coverage of the Minnesota Vikings. As a result, we’re promoting five of their top articles of the past month in “The P/PTSD Perspective.” Take a peek at some of their best stuff.

The P/PTSD Perspective: March 28th, 2026

1) By Golly, The Vikings’ Front Office May Have Stuck the Landing: The Vikings had a very small chance at landing a compensatory pick. The wild part is that one may be coming to Minnesota despite the long odds. We’ll see if the 6th gets across the finish line.

2) Vikings Called Landing Spot for Big Rival Defender: Minnesota’s defensive line has plenty of young talent. What’s not as plentiful is established, high-floor veteran talent. Maybe the add ends up being Christian Wilkins. Or, perhaps, the rival defender with hulking size.

3) Ex-Vikings is Headed to Arizona: Lately, the focus has been on talent moving in the opposite direction. That’s what will happen when a QB as promising as Kyler Murray gets cut and then signed. Turns out the NFL’s talent exchange is a two-way street.

4) Vikings Evidently Have a Trade Asset: Several, in fact. Rumors have been out there for a little while, but nothing has happened so far. Rob Brzezinski has been very patient. The upcoming draft is very likely to involve at least some shuffling.

5) Vikings Signal Interest in Young DT, TE, and LB: ‘Tis the season for meeting with draft prospects. In less than a month, the 2026 NFL Draft will have come and gone. Pretty wild, right? Minnesota needs to crush the event, pulling off a talent heist that mirrors the 2015 effort.

Enjoy the extra reading, Vikings fans.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

British rider Tom Pidcock is out of the Volta a Catalunya after crashing during Friday’s fifth stage.

The Pinarello-Q36.5 rider had what he described as a “horror” fall in a ravine after he went off the road, misjudging a corner during the penultimate descent of the day.

The 26-year-old eventually finished more than 29 minutes behind stage winner Jonas Vingegaard.

But following medical checks, he has been ruled out of the remainder of the race.

“Due to his crash he suffered injuries, most likely bone and ligament damage in particular to his right knee and also right wrist,” said team doctor Lorenz Emmert.

“Unfortunately we had to make the decision to take him out of the race. Further clinical evaluation and imaging will follow in the next days.”

Pidcock won the Milano-Torino race earlier this month and was just edged out in the Milan-San Remo by world champion Tadej Pogacar.

“We did everything to try to make it to the start [of Saturday’s stage six] but it’s not possible,” said the two-time Olympic cross-country mountain bike champion.

“I fought to finish the stage yesterday to make sure I had the option to continue. Now the focus is on recovery, and I’ll be back.”

Cristiano Ronaldo-led Al-Nassr could potentially be dealt a massive blow as Sadio Mane could leave the club in the summer transfer window. Turkish giants Besiktas have reportedly submitted an official offer to sign the Senegal international and are aiming to finalize the deal in the coming weeks.

Mane chose to leave Bayern Munich and sign for the Knights of Najd in the summer of 2023 on a three-year deal. The 33-year-old has established a lethal connection with Cristiano Ronaldo and his other teammates up front, consistently featuring on the scoresheet.

However, Al-Nassr are now facing a future without the former Liverpool superstar, as Besiktas are allegedly keen on signing Mane to bolster their status in Europe. Following two unsuccessful attempts to sign him over the past year, Turkish news outlet Sporx stated (via World Soccer Talk):

“Besiktas has made an official offer to sign Senegalese forward Sadio Mane from Al-Nassr during the summer transfer window, and the club is looking to negotiate with the player to finalise the deal in the coming period.”

Mane has excelled for the Saudi Pro League giants over the past three seasons, scoring 47 goals and providing 32 assists in 119 appearances across all competitions.

“I’ve never seen another player like him” – When Sadio Mane hailed Cristiano Ronaldo’s impact at Al-Nassr

Al-Nassr winger Sadio Mane once waxed lyrical about Cristiano Ronaldo’s impact at the club, crediting the Portugal ace for his fitness, work ethic, impact, and mentality. Mane also stated that he has yet to see any other footballer match Ronaldo’s professionalism, with the latter still going strong despite being at the age of 41.

After playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo for over two years, Mane spoke with Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand in November 2025 and said (via beIN Sports):

“He’s an example for any footballer. I’ve never seen another player like him. He works hard every single day, he wants to win always, even at 40. He’s a complete athlete. His impact is exceptional. His mentality and passion for football have no comparison.”

Cristiano Ronaldo has shown no signs of slowing down at Al-Nassr and has bagged 22 goals and four assists in 26 appearances across all competitions this season. He is currently sidelined due to a hamstring injury, but will be aiming to return for their upcoming fixture against Al-Najma on April 3.