Bobby Fischer applies for Icelandic Citizenship

1/25/2005 – After the Japanese authorities last week refused Fischer's request to be extradited to Iceland the chess legend, who is being held in a Japanese detention facility, has today written to the President of the Icelandic Althingi (picture), applying for Icelandic citizenship. A special law would have to be passed to grant Fischer's request.

Corus 09: Striking with the Albin Counter Gambit

1/25/2005 – For a second day in a row "out-of-form" Alexander Morozevich struck out, this time with the most provocative reply to the Queen's Gambit – the 120-year-old Albin Counter Gambit. Peter Svidler faced the even older Sicilian Rossolimo and beat Grischuk in 57 moves. Peter Leko outplayed Nigel Short and now leads with Topalov. Full report.

Shirov wins Paul Keres Memorial

1/25/2005 – The International Chess Tournament in Tallinn, Estonia, has a tradition that goes back to 1969. In the past it was won by Leonid Stein, Mikhail Tal (five times!) and Paul Keres, who has given it the present-day name. This year Alexei Shirov triumphed (over Anatoly Karpov and Boris Gelfand) and won it for the second year in succession. Illustrated report.

Vladimir Kramnik: A painter simply paints

1/23/2005 – Following his classical chess world championship match and successful defence of his title against Peter Leko in Brissage, Vladimir Kramnik sat down with the editor of New in Chess magazine for an indepth interview. Kramnik spoke candidly and expressed opinions that have become relevant in view of the current situation in world chess. NIC interview.

Corus 08: Short, Morozevich, Topalov win

1/23/2005 – The key game of the day, Anand vs Kramnik, was an interesting 27-move draw. Nigel Short and Alexander Morozevich won with white, Topalov succeeded with black. And there was plenty of action in the other groups. Topalov now has the sole lead, with Leko, Adams and Anand in hot pursuit. Full illustrated report.

Corus 07: Tense battles, Anand and Svidler win

1/23/2005 – This is a tournament completely to the taste of the spectators. Seven hard-fought games, with Peter Svidler "miniaturing" Loek van Wely, and a third victory in succession by Vishy Anand (with black against Bruzon). The most exciting game was between Ponomariov and Kramnik, which has just ended in a draw. Full illustrated report.

Learning from an ooooooold game

1/22/2005 – In his Playchess.com lecture Monday night Dennis Monkroussos shows us an exciting game from the early 1800s, between Louis Charles de la Bourdonnais and Alexander McDonnell. It's a chance to learn something new about the Sicilian Defense...

Bobby Fischer – immigration plans on ice

1/22/2005 – His supporters filed a petition that Fischer might be released from detention in a Tokyo jail and allowed to travel to Iceland, where he has been granted refuge. But Japanese Justice Ministry lawyers said they were not prepared to change Fischer's deportation destination to Iceland, and that he would have to remain in detention. A harsh blow for the chess legend.

ChessBase Database tricks - part two

1/21/2005 – In the last installment of ChessBase Workshop we unearthed a treasure trove of useful new ChessBase 9 features. In the latest edition we've uncovered more of them -- including one that just might knock your socks off. Can you say "mouse rollover"? Strap on your garters and read all about it...

Corus 06: The sands are red in Wijk aan Zee

1/21/2005 – The Dutch holiday resort saw four decided games today in round six. Anand and Kramnik both won their games with white, Topalov and Bruzon were victorious with the black pieces. The Cuban grandmaster was lucky when Morozevich committed a fatal inaccuracy in winning position. Full illustrated report.

Corus 05: Bruzon and Anand win

1/20/2005 – Round five ended with a first win for Cuban grandmaster Lazaro Bruzon (picture), at the cost of a first loss by British GM Nigel Short. Vishy Anand defeated Alexander Morozevich in a very exciting, fighting game. Peter Leko and Vladimir Kramnik continued their Queen's Indian debate from Brissago. Full illustrated report.

FIDE to Kasparov: one more week

1/20/2005 – The world chess organisation has reacted to Garry Kasparov's withdrawal from the reunification cycle, stating that the bank guarantees Kasparov had demanded would have been in place on January 25. It is impossible, says FIDE, to secure high prize funds without the necessary time, and when the participants demand excessive financial guarantees.

Corus 04: Kramnik, Adams, Short win

1/18/2005 – A good day for the Brits: both Michael Adams and Nigel Short won their games, beating Topalov and Morozevich respectively. Vladimir Kramnik also won his game against Ivan Sokolov after the latter lost the thread in the end. The overall drawing statics in Wijk are very positive: this is a fighting tournament.

Kasparov to FIDE: Enough is enough

1/18/2005 – After over two and a half frustrating years and four postponed or cancelled matches, Garry Kasparov announces his exit from the 2005 FIDE world championship. "It is time to reclaim my life," Kasparov said, as he halted negotiations with FIDE over his match with Rustam Kasimdzhanov – after more deadlines had passed. Here is Kasparov's statement.

Taking a closer look at Vishy

1/17/2005 – In his Playchess.com lecture Monday night Dennis Monkroussos appropriatey takes a look at a spectacularly game of last year Wijk aan Zee winner, Vishy Anand. "In it I found one of the most most beautiful variations I have ever seen," writes Dennis. Tune in and be amazed!

Bobby Fischer – six months in jail

1/17/2005 – On July 13, 2004 he was arrested at Narita Airport in Tokyo, for attempting to leave the country on an invalidated. Since then the greatest hero of Western chess has been languishing in a Japanese detention facility, now physically exhausted and suffering from dizzy spells. His Icelandic friends, who are offering him refuge, have launched another appeal to the authorities.

Corus 03: Leko, Ponomariov, Grischuk win

1/17/2005 – Once again there was blood on the sand in Wijk aan Zee, with a second victory in succession for Peter Leko (against Peter Svidler), and wins for Alexander Grischuk against Alexander Morozevich and Ruslan Ponomariov against Ivan Sokolov (both with black). We bring you an updated illustrated report.

Corus 02: Shocker in Wijk – top seeds in trouble

1/16/2005 – GM Teimour Radjabov, watching the games on the Playchess.com server, speculated that the massive sunspots might be responsible. Both favourites in Group A in Wijk aan Zee lost their games, Kramnik to Topalov, who now leads (picture), and Anand to Leko. Judit Polgar lost to Ponomariov, and Morozevich to Adams. Full report.

Corus 01: Judit Polgar, Topalov win first round games

1/15/2005 – The world's strongest female player, who took a 15-month maternity leave, returned to the tournament scene today with a bang, defeating Russian GM Peter Svidler in 30 moves. Bulgarian GM Veselin Topalov outplayed former world champion Ruslan Ponomariov. Anand and Kramnik drew pragmatically with black, Peter Leko fought hard but failed to win. Updated report.

Menashe is no longer in Gambit

1/15/2005 – The New Year started sadly for the chess community in the Netherlands. Within a short period it lost four prominent and colourful figures. FM Micha Leuw, 36, died in a diving accidend in Thailand; chess talent Roy Dieks and trainer Rob Brunia passed away, as did Menashe Goldberg (picture) of the famous Gambit Café. Yochanan Afek reports.

Corus 05: Wijk aan Zee Super-GM begins

1/14/2005 – This Saturday, at 13:30 hours European time, the 2005 edition of the Corus Chess Tournament begins. The Super GM Group A has players ranked 2-9 in the world and an Elo average over 14 players of 2721. Group B averages 2564 and 23 years of age. Here's your ChessBase guide to Wijk.

Why Judit Polgar was not on the ratings list

1/14/2005 – Our report on the FIDE rankings of January 1st 2005 brought consternation and distress to a large number of readers. Where was Judit Polgar, the strongest female player in the history of the game? Should she not have been in the top ten of all players? We did a bit of research and can, with great pleasure, tell you the full reason.

Kasparov IV opens in London

1/13/2005 – Volume four of Garry Kasparov's My Great Predecessors, which concentrates on Bobby Fischer, has sold 9000 copies in its first three weeks – and that's just the English edition. Last weekend the author visited the London Chess Centre to lecture and sign copies for his fans. We bring you a report, pictures and videos.

Chess in the Times

1/13/2005 – When chess makes it to an extended article in the venerable New York Times, that is news. Dylan Loeb McClain summarizes the state of chess in an age of computers, making Garry Kasparov "responsible for the widespread adoption of electronic aids by chess players". Excerpts...