Women's Grand Prix starts in Dilijan

17.6.2013 - The second leg of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix cycle 2013-2014 is taking place from June 16 to 28 2013, with twelve top players, two of them reigning or former Women's World Champions (and nine with full GM titles). After a beautiful opening extravagenza there were two decisive games in the first round, and some interesting missed chances. Big illustrated opening report.

Rombaldoni wins 5th Festival Capo d'Orso

16.6.2013 - It is a wonderfully relaxing tournament in Porto Mannu on the northern tip of Sardinia – and the location is beautifully explored by our roving reporter WGM Alina l'Ami, who also found time to play in the event and finish equal 2nd-3rd. The winner was Italian talent IM Axel Rombaldoni, the Tom Cruise of chess, who achieved his final GM norm. Big pictorial report.

Tal 03: A trio of precise wins

15.6.2013 - In an elegant display of endgame precision, Caruana pounced over Carlsen's fatal mistake to transpose into a rook endgame in which Black's h-pawn was unstoppable. Nakamura played a nearly impeccable game himself against Karjakin, while Anand slowly outplayed Morozevich. The other games saw Black getting equality out of the opening and a quick draw. Pictures and games.

Hou Yifan wins CEZ trophy in tiebreak

14.6.2013 - After three very close games, the players went out for blood in their final standard time control confrontation. Navara deviated early in the Scheveningen. Yifan outplayed the Czech for the majority of the game, but misplayed the endgame and was lucky that Navara could not finish her off in time trouble. She won the blitz tiebreak to take the title. Final report with GM analysis of a very interesting game.

Tal 02: Nakamura and Gelfand win with Black

14.6.2013 - In an unusual turn of events, black has won four of the five decisive games played in this tournament. Today Nakamura was able to complicate matters in a terrible position against Kramnik, and then eventually outplay him and take the full point. Gelfand's Najdorf comprehension was simply better than Caruana's. The rest of the games were relatively quiet affairs. Pictures and games.

Chess tournament in Taksim Square

14.6.2013 - For over two weeks now protests and strikes have been staged across Turkey, with people demanding freedom of assembly and expression, and adherence to Turkey's secularism. The protests were sparked by a brutal police eviction of a sit-in at Istanbul's Taksim Gezi Park where. despite government threats, a chess tournament staged in Taksim Square in solidarity with the protesters.

CEZ Prague: Yifan neck and neck with Navara

14.6.2013 - The second round of the match between David Navara and Hou Yifan has not seen either player pulling ahead, and thus far three draws have ensued. Navara has chosen to avoid Yifan’s tactical strength, and attempt to impose his positional skills. but has been unable to break the Chinese teenager’s resistance, and has seen his chances evaporate one after the other. Illustrated report.

Tal 01: Carlsen, Caruana and Mamedyarov strike!

13.6.2013 - The young Italian outplayed the World Champion quite easily, Carlsen exploited some strange endgame decisions by Kramnik to also take the full point. Nakamura had trouble after the opening in finding a plan and Mamedyarov capitalized easily. Morozevich and Karjakin held easy draws with black. Standings, GM commentary and pictures.

Nakamura wins Tal Blitz

13.6.2013 - In a wonderful showing the American dominated the Tal Memorial blitz from beginning to finish. Vishy Anand came second, with Kramnik being third. This tournament determined the starting positions for the players in the standard tournament which begins tomorrow, the highlight game being Carlsen vs. Kramnik. Pictures, standings and schedule.

Six tie for first in Sin City

12.6.2013 - Las Vegas hosted its annual festival, with grandmasters flocking from all over the continent to participate and enjoy the city. Wesley So completed a hat trick by winning the g/10 championship, the main event and the blitz. Among the attractions of the festival was a blitz tournament for grandmasters, were every participant received half a gallon of alcohol. Summary and pictures.