KazChess Masters Almaty 2026 - Live!

10/27/2026 – The KazChess Masters Almaty 2026 takes place from 26 October to 3 November in Kazakhstan. The ten-player invitational tournament brings together five international grandmasters and five players from the host country. Among the best-known participants are Muhammad Muradli, Daniil Dubov and Denis Lazavik, who recently reached the Esports World Cup final. Another player to watch is 14-year-old Kazakh talent Mark Smirnov (pictured). | Live from approximately 6:15 AM ET / 3:45 PM IST / 11:15 AM CET | Photo: Kazakhstan Chess Federation

Reykjavik Open, Olafsson Memorial

10/27/2026 – Founded in 1964, the Reykjavik Open transformed from a biennial closed to an annual Swiss-system open tournament. It attracts hundreds of players each year, ranging from casual enthusiasts and rising talents to elite international. The Reykjavik Open 2027 will take place from March 17th to 23rd, in the stunning Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre in Reykjavík. But before then, from November 24th-29th, you can take part in the Friðrik Ólafsson Memorial 2026.

A knight on the rim is dim

10/27/2026 – A knight on the rim is dim: Dr Tarrasch's old saying is often, but not always true: Black to move and win.
More...
 1

Svitlana's Smart Moves - King’s Indian Attack at the Olympiad

10/27/2026 – In this special Olympiad episode of Svitlana’s Smart Moves, Svitlana looks back at her final round game for Canada against Singapore. She explains how she handled a familiar setup in the King's Indian Attack, why she chose a safer practical route instead of an early pawn sacrifice, and how typical plans such as e5 and kingside pressure developed into a strong attack. She features several instructive tactical moments, difficult decisions about when to simplify, and a winning endgame that Svitlana had to calculate precisely.

Timur Turlov outlines plans to restructure FIDE

10/27/2026 – FIDE President Timur Turlov has presented plans for a new organizational structure aimed at clarifying responsibilities, improving governance and strengthening the federation's international activities. The proposed changes include a stronger role for the FIDE Council, a new Advisory Board and several leadership appointments. Turlov also outlined plans to expand support for national federations, chess education and international partnerships.
More...
 1

European Club Cup: Amateurs rub shoulders with the pros

10/26/2026 – While looking through the standings of the European Club Cup which concluded last week, René Mandelbaum focused on the teams at the bottom of the table. To his surprise, he discovered that many of their players were rated between 1800 and 2000. These are good club players - still, he had expected stronger opposition at a European championship. "With a field like this, we shouldn't finish last", he thought. | Photos: SK Weisse Dame Hamburg

Harvey beats Willow in Armageddon, claims English Rapidplay title

10/26/2026 – IM Marcus Harvey won the English Rapidplay Championship in Peterborough after defeating fellow IM Jonah Willow in a five-game playoff. Both players finished the 11-round tournament on 9 points, half a point ahead of top seed Michael Adams, who was held to a draw in the final round. Harvey and Willow exchanged wins in both the rapid and blitz stages of the playoff before Harvey prevailed in Armageddon. | Photo: Yuri Krylov / 4NCL

KCF Academy: Third Season Highlights

10/26/2026 – The Kasparov Chess Foundation Academy has wrapped up its third season, marking another important year of growth for the organization, with expanding educational programs, international events, and outstanding achievements by participants in KCF programs. And the momentum isn't slowing down: registration is now open for the KCF Academy 2027 season, a six-month online training program for ambitious chess players around the world.
More...
 1

Clutch Chess: Caruana, Nakamura, Sindarov and Pragg meet in Saint Louis

10/26/2026 – The Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown event returns to Saint Louis on 27–29 October, with Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu and Javokhir Sindarov (pictured) competing in an 18-game rapid tournament. The four elite GMs will play three double round-robins, with victories worth progressively more points over the three days. A jackpot funded by drawn games further adds entertainment value to the competition. | Photo: Nils Rohde / ChessBase
More...
 5

Messi asks ChatGPT to teach him a chess opening

10/25/2026 – Lionel Messi's appearance in a recent OpenAI advertisement has produced an unexpected crossover between football and chess. After ChatGPT suggested the “GOAT Horns” opening with 1.e4 a6 2.d4 c6, Hikaru Nakamura tried the same setup with black in an online event and went on to win the tournament on tiebreaks. The episode offered a light-hearted example of Messi's growing interest in chess. | Screenshot: OpenAI
More...
 6

A farewell triumph: Capablanca wins gold in Buenos Aires 1939

10/25/2026 – Chess Olympiads produce remarkable stories. The 1939 Chess Olympiad in Buenos Aires was particularly dramatic, as Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939, while the tournament was still taking place, marking the beginning of the Second World War. Against this backdrop, it is easy to overlook the fact that José Raúl Capablanca, world champion from 1921 to 1927, played his final tournament and his final competitive game in Buenos Aires. | Photo: José Raúl Capablanca (Archive)
More...
 7

Bodhana: youngest female IM ever

10/24/2026 – The English Chess Federation hailed her as a ‘generational talent.’ Bodhana Sivanandan, 11, shattered yet another world record, this time becoming the youngest female player in history to qualify for the International Master title. In doing so, she eclipsed a record set 38 years ago by chess great Judit Polgar, widely regarded as the greatest female chess player of all time. | Photo R Oleksiewicz

Bayegan Pendik and Monte-Carlo are 2026 European Club Cup champions

10/24/2026 – Bayegan Pendik and Cercle d'Echecs de Monte-Carlo won the European Club Cup titles in Budva, both finishing level on match points with their closest rivals and prevailing on tiebreaks. Novy Bor took silver in the open section, while Gambit Bonnevoie finished second in the women's competition. Meanwhile, 11-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan completed her final international master norm, becoming the youngest female player to fulfil the requirements for the title. | Photo: Gerd Densing
More...
 5

Review: My favourite FritzTrainer courses

10/24/2026 – For Jochen Schwarz, club player from Bremen, FritzTrainer courses have become an essential part of his hobby. Over the past ten years, he has studied numerous courses and now shares some of the favourites that have impressed him most.
More...
 3

The global impact of the Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners

10/24/2026 – The 6th Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners brought together a record 140 teams from 56 countries, highlighting the continued growth of FIDE's Chess for Freedom initiative. Beyond the competition itself, programmes in Argentina, Romania, Ghana, Australia (pictured), Nigeria and Zimbabwe show how chess is being used in correctional facilities to encourage discipline, critical thinking, emotional control and social reintegration, while giving incarcerated players opportunities for structured learning and international participation. | Photo: FIDE
More...
 4

Wesley So beats Fabiano Caruana in tiebreaks, wins fourth US Chess Championship title

10/23/2026 – In the end, Wesley So did it! Following his bitter defeat to Sam Sevian in the final round of the 2026 US Championship - which ended his 48-game unbeaten run at the event - he defeated Fabiano Caruana 1½–½ in the rapid playoff for the title. It was a thrilling encounter, not without mistakes, but full of interesting moments. | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Saint Louis Chess Club
More...
 8

Jeroen van den Berg to hand over directorship of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament to Erwin l'Ami

10/23/2026 – Jeroen van den Berg will step down as tournament director of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament after the 2027 edition, ending a tenure that began in 1999. Dutch grandmaster Erwin l'Ami will succeed him from 2028, with the pair working together during next year’s event to ensure a gradual transition. Van den Berg will remain involved as an adviser for three further years before leaving the organisation permanently in January 2030. | Photo: Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam
More...
 5

European Club Cup - Live!

10/23/2026 – The European Club Cup is taking place on 17-23 October in Budva, Montenegro, bringing together 108 teams in the open section and 22 teams in the women's competition. The seven-round event features a number of elite players, including Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Wei Yi, Alexandra Goryachkina and Humpy Koneru. | Follow the action of the final round live with expert commentary starting at 14.00 CEST (8.00 ET, 17.30 IST) | Pictured: Anish Giri | Photo: Gerd Densing
More...
 9

Najdorf Poisoned Queen Variation

10/23/2026 – From the diagram position, White checkmates in five moves after 17.Qxb4! Nxb4—can you find them all?
12345...Next