Tech3 | Gukesh-Ding chess battle draws record viewers in India; Stellaris Ventures closes $300 million fund; and more

Breaking: Competition Commission orders probe against Google after complaint by real-money gaming firm Winzo?

One quick thing: Bengaluru airport metro to open in two phases by 2026?

In today’s newsletter:

• Gukesh-Ding chess battle draws record viewers in India
• Stellaris Ventures closes $300 million fund
• MeitY eyes AI models for Govt schemes

Gukesh-Ding chess battle draws record viewers in India

Chess fever has gripped India as 18-year-old Gukesh Domaraju battles for the World Chess Championship title.

• Indians are glued to streaming platforms, tracking every move by Dommaraju and reigning champion Ding Liren, resulting in record viewership.

Driving the news:?For the first time, a chess tournament in India is being showcased in a hybrid format. While the broadcast on-ground is witnessing 80% occupancy, digital viewership is unprecedented.?

• As the three-week event progresses, daily viewership is expected to double down.?

On chess platform Chess.com, the Gukesh versus Ding matches have recorded 1.3 million daily views and 75,000 peak views.?

Chess boom in India:?India’s chess boom was propelled by the pandemic, which introduced millions to the game through online platforms.?

• Shows like The Queen’s Gambit and influencers such as Samay Raina also played a key role in making chess more mainstream

Today, digital chess viewership has soared to over 1.5 billion across platforms in India.

A chess powerhouse:?India is the fastest growing market for chess, competing with markets like the US.?

• Platforms like Chess.com have seen 8 times growth in terms of active users versus 2020.?

As India's professional chess player base expands, more companies are stepping up to sponsor fresh talent.

Your move?

This is a short version of the MCTech3 newsletter. Sign up here to get the full edition in your inbox every evening on weekdays.?