9/27/2026 – The inaugural FIDE Excellence Awards were presented in Samarkand during the 46th Chess Olympiad, recognising achievements across the chess world during the 2024–2026 cycle. Honours went to players, teams, tournaments, federations, creators and social initiatives, with recipients including Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, Levon Aronian, India’s Open and Women’s teams and ChessBase India. The remaining Best Chess Player awards will be presented separately at the Olympiad closing ceremony. | Photos: KNZO Photography

9/27/2026 – The Olympiad in Samarkand is such an amazingly large and diverse event, that it is nearly impossible to decide between so many interesting games. Last week we selected an upset from the first round, this week we picked a hidden jewel from the middle of the tournament and next week we will probably focus on the top boards in their fight for the medals. Today's Game of the Week features good old Baduur Jobava, creating fireworks from a French exchange variation against Toivo Keinanen. Merijn's show is available on-demand with a ChessBase Premium Account. You can register a Premium account here.

9/27/2026 – Our database program – used by everyone, from the World Champion to lowly club players – will now be available for Mac users. The new version has been developed from the ground up: modern, built for fast access to what matters. The official release is November 2026. Register now to make sure you don’t miss the launch of a new era in chess study.

9/27/2026 – The 46th edition of the Chess Olympiad is taking place on 16-27 September at the Silk Road EXPO in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. A record 208 teams in the open and 191 in the women's category are fighting for collective and individual medals. | Follow the games live with expert commentary starting at 12.00 CEST (6.00 ET, 15.30 IST) | Pictured: Alexandra Kosteniuk from Switzerland by Michal Walusza / FIDE

9/27/2026 – In the penultimate round, China and Kazakhstan ensured that there will still be plenty at stake on the final day of the Women's Chess Olympiad in Samarkand. China drew with India, while Kazakhstan defeated France 2½–1½. China remain in sole first place, but their lead over Kazakhstan has been reduced to a single point. China have 18/20 match points, while Kazakhstan are on 17. India, Poland and Vietnam (on 16/20) still have a chance to win the event. | Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE

9/26/2026 – Uzbekistan will enter the final round of the Chess Olympiad with a one-point lead after beating Armenia 3½–½ in round ten. India remain their closest challengers following a clear victory over Uzbekistan 2, while Germany, Ukraine and Hungary are two points back. Ukraine will face the hosts directly on Sunday, with India meeting Hungary and Germany taking on the Netherlands. The decisive round will begin four hours earlier than usual, at 8.00 CEST. | Photo: Rafal Oleksiewicz / FIDE

9/26/2026 – Welcome to The Initiative – a show dedicated to the relentless battle for momentum in chess! In every game, players fight to seize control, dictate the pace and keep their opponent on the back foot. But what does it really mean to have the initiative? How do the world's best players maintain pressure and transform small advantages into crushing attacks?

9/26/2026 – Timur Turlov, President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, was elected President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). The elections were held on 26 September at the FIDE General Assembly, alongside the 46th Chess Olympiad, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Turlov won in the second round, with 110 votes. At 38, he becomes the second youngest FIDE President ever elected. | Picture: ChessBase

9/26/2026 – In the endgame, the king is considered a powerful piece and often joins the action to support his side. In the opening and middlegame, however, it rarely moves unless under attack. In a nice game from round 9 of the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, GM Alexei Sarana, European Champion 2025, showed that there is an exception to every rule and went walkabout with his king. | Picture: Alexei Sarana (left, with White) shares ideas with Bahne Fuhrmann (right)

9/26/2026 – The Olympiad in Samarkand has started and basically everyone is playing, including Gukesh and Sindarov. The Olympiad remains a most impressive event, with all these countries participating. In the first round there are many 4-0 results, but also the usual upsets. It looked like Erigaisi was going to easily beat IM Prin Laohawirapap from Thailand, but the position remained more tricky then you would think at first view and eventually turned into a complete mess, which is our Game of the Week.Merijn's show is available on-demand with a ChessBase Premium Account. You can register a Premium account here.

9/26/2026 – Eleven rounds, 206 teams in the Open, 185 in the Women's event – thousands of games are played at the Chess Olympiad. Most attention goes to the games on the top boards, while many entertaining and interesting games go unnoticed. But at the ChessBase booth in Samarkand, ChessBase invites Olympiad players to show us their best games. Colin Pace from Malta (right in the photo) used the chance. | Left in the photo: ChessBase author Bahne Fuhrmann

9/26/2026 – China moved two match points clear at the top of the Women's Chess Olympiad after beating Armenia 3–1 in round nine. India kept pace with a 3–1 victory over Uzbekistan, while Kazakhstan recovered from a 2–0 deficit to draw Mongolia. With two rounds remaining, China lead on 17/18, followed by India, Kazakhstan and Mongolia on 15/18. | Photo: Rafal Oleksiewicz / FIDE