4/23/2024 – During the endgame, stalemate is a resource that can enable the player with the inferior position to draw the game rather than lose. In more complex positions, stalemate is much rarer, usually taking the form of a swindle that succeeds only if the superior side is inattentive. Chess Trainer GM Efstratios Grivas shows us how a "mad rook" can complicate matters for the superior side.

4/23/2024 – The FIDE Candidates Tournament, which captivated audiences for three weeks, is in the books. The closing ceremony was held at 1 Hotel Toronto, the residence of the players for almost a month. The champions, Gukesh D and Tan Zhongyi, were honored with unique trophies crafted from reclaimed Toronto wood, symbolizing their achievement and the enduring connection with the city they’ll carry home. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

4/22/2024 – In the Endgame Magic Show #264 Karsten Müller and Arne Kähler look at endgames from the Candidates Tournament in Toronto. They were particularly fascinated by a game, in which Praggnanandhaa showed his endgame skills. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

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

4/19/2024 – The Greek Chess Federation will host the European Women's Individual Championship this year. The tournament will take place from 18th (arrival) to 30th (departure) April 2024 at the 5 star conference hotel "Rodos Palace" in Rhodes, Greece. The hotel is also the official ECU hotel for this competition. | Photos: Offcial website

4/19/2024 – In his new Game of the Week show, Merijn van Delft takes a look at the game Vidit Gujrathi vs Gukesh D from the Candidates Tournament in Toronto, a fine game and an impressive comeback by Gukesh. | Merijn’s show is available on-demand with a ChessBase Premium Account. You can register a Premium account here.

4/19/2024 – Three out of four games ended drawn in round 12 of the Women’s Candidates Tournament, as Vaishali R scored her third win in a row in her encounter with black against Anna Muzychuk. The games that featured Tan Zhongyi and Lei Tingjie could have easily ended with decisive results — Tan escaped with a draw from a losing position against Nurgyul Salimova, while Lei failed to make the most of clear winning chances against Kateryna Lagno. Thus, Tan kept her half-point lead over Lei. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

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.