5/21/2017 – In an epic final round, the two leaders went in different directions. While Mamedyarov safely drew in just 16 moves with MVL, also ensuring a round 2800 on the next FIDE Ratings list, Ding Liren, playing black, faced down Boris Gelfand in a massive battle that ended in his victory and sole first place at the Moscow GP. Ex-Women's World Champion Hou Yifan defeated Super-GM Ernesto Inarkiev with black. Here is the illustrated report with analysis by GM Alex Lenderman.

5/21/2017 – This week's single Agony game comes from Richard Bailey, an Englishman in his mid sixties. The British Boys Under 16 champion in 1968, he represented England at junior level in 1970 (Glorney Cup and Glasgow Junior International) and 1971 (Danish Junior Open). Richard sent in a game against Vernon Dilworth (1916-2004), the inventor of the famous Dilworth Variation of the Open Ruy Lopez. There is a lot to learn in this week's instructive column.

5/20/2017 – In terms of results, not a lot happened in round eight, aside from Pentala Harikrishna’s win over Ian Nepomniachtchi, bringing him to the 50% mark. There was indeed a long stream of draws, but not all were made alike. The leaders Ding Liren and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov both played interesting and dynamic games that fit their temperament. Here is the illustrated report with analysis by GM Alex Lenderman.

5/20/2017 – In a country as vast as India, peppered with villages all over, economic prosperity is often the difference between folding in on itself or survival. Many villages suffered from rampant illicit gambling and alcoholism. Marottichal was one such, until one day, a man opened a teashop and began teaching everyone chess, and now chess is seen everywhere. BBC reports.

5/19/2017 – After a period of genuinely exciting chess, the leaders are all playing extremely cagey now, unwilling to take risks, and many times demonstrably so with quick draws. The result is that while Ding and Mamedyarov lead still, they are followed just a half point behind by seven others. Completing the Fellowship's nine is Anish Giri, winning a fine game against Saleh Salem. Hou Yifan also played a gritty win, breaking down Jon Hammer's fortress. Report and analysis by Alex Yermolinsky.

5/19/2017 – It is the second oldest chess event in Europe, and the 50th edition starts on July 22. The ten-player Grandmaster tournament fields experienced players and young stars, the Rapid tournament includes former World Champion Anatoly Karpov and World Championship candidate Vlastimil Hort. You can participate in the Master Tournament. Full details in this press release.

5/19/2017 – 19...Rxc3!? in the diagram position is a typical Sicilian exchange sacrifice: Black splits up the white pawn structure and liquidates the defender of the point e4. Yet after 20.bxc3 he needs the right idea how to follow up. Have you got one?

5/18/2017 – Since the leaders failed to reassert their authority, even the new ones, this opened the way for more to close in and try to stake their claims. It was not for lack of trying as Ding Liren failed to convert a winning advantage against MVL. In the meantime, veteran Gelfand beat Harikrishna in his vintage style, while Nakamura played a fine piece of preparation changing Nepomniachtchi's Najdorf into a Classical Sicilian. Some fantastic analysis by GM Alex Yermolinsky.

5/18/2017 – In 1979 the East Devon Congress was won, with a 4½/5 score, by a young student with long curly hair and a brown corduroy jacket. 38 years later it was won, again with a 4½/5 score, by the same player, now sporting shorter grey hair. We bring you an interesting report from the British chess magazine CHESS, which also contains a piece on a new variant of the game that is gaining popularity: Duck Chess.

5/17/2017 – The Asian Continental Championship 2017 has begun in Chengdu, China with most of the brightest stars of Asia in contention for the five World Cup spots in the Open and the Women's section. China's Wang Hao has managed to edge ahead of the rest of the pack but has a tough task ahead if he plans to maintain the crown. Two Vietnamese players are leading the women's section. Illustrated Report.

5/17/2017 – For the fans hoping for a top board slugfest between Ding Liren and Mamedyarov, they will leave disappointed as a 15-move non-game was shook upon. However, this is not to say that was the tale of the day. Sharing 2nd and 3rd, Peter Svidler and Teimour Radjabov also drew, allowing Alexander Grischuk and MVL both winners in round five against Hou Yifan and Saleh Salem respectively, to draw level, leaving four players just half a point behind the leaders. Report with analysis by GM Tiger Hillarp Persson.

5/16/2017 – It was another great round with tons of fighting chess. No sarcasm or irony in that statement either. All the players came ready to fight, and though the day ended with three decisive games, it could easily have been more since Ding Liren and Grischuk were both winning but drew in the end. Radjabov had not shown much fight for a while beat Vallejo but the game of the day was Mamedyarov's big win over Salem. Illustrated report with analysis by GM TIger Hillarp Persson.

5/16/2017 – Endings with opposite colored bishops often end in a draw even though one side is one or two pawns up. However, these endings often contain hidden tactical surprises. And don't miss: Today on the playchess server, 4 pm, Endgame Magic with Karsten Müller.

5/16/2017 – English Grandmaster Simon Williams is a popular commentator and author who recently published a DVD about the London System with 2.Bf4. In an interview with ChessBase he explains why this seemingly quiet line is dangerous and also talks about effective opening study and reveals why it is sometimes a good idea to break rules.

5/15/2017 – Tepe Sigeman & Co concluded yesterday, with all the final round games ending in draws. But this was a tournament of missed opportunities for the top seed Pavel Eljanov and also Nigel Short. Swedish grandmaster Nils Grandelius and Georgia's Baadur Jobava scored 3.0/6 each making them joint winners of the tournament. Erik Blomqvist and Pavel Eljanov shared the third and fourth places with 2.5/5. Indian star Dronavalli Harika shared the last place with Nigel Short. Report with grandmaster analysis

5/14/2017 – The players came to round three with their fighting spirit reignited. Five decisive results and many hard fought games were seen in today's round in Mocsow. The most important for the standings, Ding Liren beat his compatriot, Hou Yifan, to take the early lead. He is followed by three of today's winners: Svidler, Salem and Mamedyarov. Results, analysis and interviews here...

5/14/2017 – The draw virus is still latent in Moscow, but at least the number of decisive games doubled from yesterday! Nepomniachtchi came back with a vengeance after his loss yesterday to defeat Hammer with the black pieces. Ding Liren played an exemplary game against Ernesto Inarkiev and ties with Hou Yifan at the lead. We have analysis of those games, and of course, the short draws...

5/12/2017 – Round one of the Moscow Grand Prix left spectators with mixed feelings. While Jon Hammer and Harikrishna fought for 92 moves, Salem and Grischuk played an 11-move ‘miniature’. The day’s saving grace was Hou Yifan who scored the only win of the day over Ian Nepomniachtchi. All games with analysis...