9/24/2025 – Educators and enthusiasts will gather at London's Mindsports Centre on 11–12 October for a weekend dedicated to exploring chess as a tool for learning and development. Supported by FIDE and the International Olympic Committee, the event features interactive masterclasses, practical teaching resources and opportunities to connect with peers. With only 60 places available, this initiative highlights chess' role in fostering critical thinking, creativity and confidence in the classroom. No prior experience required.

9/24/2025 – The chess world is no stranger to scandals. A prominent recent controversy erupted in November 2023, when Vladimir Kramnik insinuated on his chess.com blog and in a YouTube video that Hikaru Nakamura cheated - when he scored 45.5/50 in a blitz tournament. Kramnik pointed out the statistical improbability of Nakamura's streak. But a research team, using Bayesian analysis and historical performance data, has found a 99.6% probability that Nakamura did not cheat.

9/23/2025 – Argentina's 11-year-old Faustino Oro is leading the Legends & Prodigies tournament in Madrid after scoring 6 points from his first 7 games. His victories included a crucial win over former co-leader Alan Pichot, and his performance has already secured him a first grandmaster norm. With his rating now above 2500, Oro has moved closer to becoming the youngest grandmaster in history. The event also saw Lu Miaoyi withdraw due to health issues. | Photo: Raúl Martínez

9/23/2025 – The legendary world champion and political activist has issued a warning regarding the current media crackdown in the US, comparing it to the early days of Putin's rule in Russia. Kasparov appeared for an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper, and on MSNBC with Jen Psaki. You can read his article and watch the videos of his eloquent admonitions here.

9/23/2025 – The diagram position is one of those endgame positions you should know. It might help you gain valuable points — and, maybe more importantly, it is part of chess culture. It is White to move and win — how?

9/23/2025 – In the Endgame Magic Show #311, Karsten Müller shows two recent endgames from Praggnanandhaa. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

9/19/2025 – Vincent Keymer needed a win in the final round of the FIDE Grand Swiss to get a spot in next year's Candidates Tournament, and faced second seed Arjun Erigaisi with black. The German star obtained a promising advantage but failed to find the precise continuation on several key moments, allowing Arjun to hold a draw. Below, Wolfram Schön analyses the critical points where Keymer could have pressed for more. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

9/18/2025 – Victor Bologan’s Chess Academy Vol. 3 & 4 offers a complete, low-maintenance repertoire for both White and Black, built on the philosophy of his legendary coach Chebanenko: focus on understanding typical pawn structures and recurring piece setups rather than memorising endless theory. For Black, Bologan recommends the universal 1…d6 system, leading to flexible Philidor-style positions against 1.e4 and solid setups against 1.d4, emphasizing resilience and strategic clarity. For White, the repertoire begins with 1.e4 followed by d3, using quiet but powerful systems like the King’s Indian Attack, Closed Sicilian ideas, and anti-Caro-Kann setups—practical approaches that avoid heavy theory while still being played successfully at the highest level.

9/18/2025 – On October 12, the U.S. Championship begins in St. Louis. Twelve of the country’s top players will compete, nine of whom also played in the Grand Swiss, which concluded on September 15 in Samarkand. Their performances there point to an interesting championship, with Abhimanyu Mishra and Andy Woodward delivering particularly notable results. | Photo: Michal Walusza/FIDE

9/18/2025 – On Friday, the FIDE Cadet World Championships will begin in Almaty (Kazakhstan) with the first round. Almost 90 countries have registered players who will compete in six age groups — U8, U10, and U12 — each with an open section and a girls’ tournament for the titles.

9/17/2025 – Sally Hamadeh from Lebanon faced the “Mouse” (Strong Club Player) of Fritz 20. Things looked grim after an early blunder cost her a piece within just a few moves. Many players might have resigned on the spot, but not Sally. True to her attacking style, she seized the initiative with a bold pawn push on the kingside. Fritz 20 gives the player a chance to find some smooth tactics, luckily. The timid mouse faltered one last time, and suddenly the tables had turned: what began with a setback ended in a sparkling checkmate!

9/17/2025 – What chessplayer hasn't, when staring down disaster, dreamed of moving not their own pieces but the adversary's, swapping defeat for a sudden delicious triumph? Ever generous with impossible wishes, fairy composers have conjured just that: All-in-Chess! Here, either side may move either colour, within a few carefully chosen limits, of course. While it's possible to play entire games this way, problemists summon AIC to craft zany puzzles that twist expectations and delight the imagination. If you've got a taste for the bizarre, the brain-twisting, and the exquisitely tricky, pull up a chair — you've arrived at just the right place!