4/22/2024 – It is not very common to have an article focused solely on one specific square. Today, we will make an exception. We will speak about the d5-square, or rather about the weakness that often forms on this square in various lines of the Sicilian defence.

4/22/2024 – Gukesh D, an incredibly level-headed 17-year-old from Chennai, became the World Chess Championship challenger by winning the very strong 2024 Candidates Tournament in Toronto. Gukesh entered the final round as the sole leader, and safely held a draw with black against direct contender Hikaru Nakamura. Either Fabiano Caruana or Ian Nepomniachtchi could have caught the youngster with a win, but their direct encounter saw Caruana failing to make the most of a number of winning chances before agreeing to a 109-move draw in what turned out to be a titanic struggle. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

4/22/2024 – Tan Zhongyi obtained the draw she needed to claim outright victory at the Women’s Candidates Tournament in Toronto. The Chinese GM grabbed the sole lead from the get-go, as she obtained back-to-back wins in the first two rounds. At some point, Lei Tingjie managed to catch her atop the standings, but Tan turned out to be more consistent than her compatriot in the long run. With her triumph, Tan became Ju Wenjun’s challenger in the next match for the Women’s World Chess Championship. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

4/21/2024 – Grandmaster Adrian Mikhalchishin, a living legend in the chess world, began his journey in the 1960s and launched a serious chess career in the following decades. Renowned not only for winning numerous tournaments, writing several chessbooks, and creating lots of Fritztrainers, but also for coaching chess masters like Karpov, Beliavsky, Ivanchuk, and the Polgar sisters, Mikhalchishin's life is steeped in chess. In our interview with him reveals a treasure trove of anecdotes and insights from his illustrious career.

4/21/2024 – Tan Zhongyi secured outright victory in the Women’s Candidates Tournament after safely drawing her game against Anna Muzychuk with black. Gukesh D, on his part, first drew Hikaru Nakamura and then had to wait for the result of the game between Fabiano Caruana and Ian Nepomniachtchi. Caruana missed a number of winning chances in a memorable encounter that lasted 109 moves, thus granting 17-year-old Gukesh overall victory and the right to face Ding Liren in the next match for the World Chess Championship! | Replay all the games with computer-assisted analysis. Full reports to follow shortly.

4/21/2024 – Herman Grooten is an International Master, a renowned trainer and the author of several highly acclaimed books on chess training and strategy. In the 174th episode of his ChessBase show "Understanding before moving" Herman continues his series "Chess history in a nutshell" and continues to take a look at the chess legacy of Boris Spassky, World Champion from 1969 to 1972. | Photo: Pascal Simon

4/19/2024 – After nine of ten rounds of the Sunway International Open on Formentera, Ukrainian chess legend Vasyl Ivanchuk and German Grandmaster Alexander Donchenko share the lead with 7.0/9 each. Half a point behind follow three players with 6.5/9. Alexandra and Andrea Botez provide additional entertainment because their games are streamed and commented live. The 10th and final round starts at 09:00 CEST (03:00 ET).

4/18/2024 – It came as something of a surprise that Toronto was chosen by FIDE as host of both Candidates Tournaments, but Canada has a rich chess history and has produced some great players over the years. Here's a brief outline:

4/18/2024 – The Sharp Arkhangelsk variation, utilized by chess masters like Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana, emerges from a series of strategic moves beginning with 1.e4 e5. This rich variation offers multiple playstyles, making it a challenging preparation for opponents, with model games highlighting its diverse strategies and concepts for players of all levels.

4/18/2024 – "Eurochess" is the apt name of the European banks' chess tournament. From 11 to 14 April, the tournament was held in Athens with 69 participants and 14 banking institutions. The National Bank of Belgium won the team competition, Radu Liviu the individual tournament. Gerd Densing represented the Bundesbank and reports.

4/18/2024 – Three games ended decisively in round 11 of the Women’s Candidates Tournament, with Tan Zhongyi beating Kateryna Lagno in a key matchup, Vaishali R taking down Aleksandra Goryachkina, and Humpy Koneru defeating Nurgyul Salimova. These results left Tan atop the standings, with a half-point advantage over Lei Tingjie. Goryachkina’s loss left her a whole two points behind Tan with only three rounds to go in Toronto. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

4/18/2024 – An exciting round of chess saw Ian Nepomniachtchi winning a rollercoaster game against Vidit Gujrathi to regain the sole lead at the Candidates Tournament in Toronto. Nepo stands a half point ahead of Gukesh D, the former co-leader, and Hikaru Nakamura, who obtained a remarkable victory over direct contender Praggnanandhaa R. With three rounds to go, we can expect more thrilling games in the fierce fight to become the challenger in the next match for the World Championship. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza