4/12/2026 – Four draws in round eleven of the Candidates Open chiefly benefitted Javokhir Sindarov, who thus continues to lead the field, two points ahead of Anish Giri. With only three rounds remaining, it is becoming increasingly difficult for Giri to catch the Uzbek grandmaster. There was drama on the board in Matthias Bluebaum's game against Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, but in the end the encounter concluded in a draw. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

4/12/2026 – ChessBase´26 also impresses with its clarity: Analysing with multiple menu windows without losing the overview is no problem. Are you familiar with the six standard layouts or do you prefer your own? Explore the options and try them all out. You will be amazed at how you can use this ChessBase feature to visually organise your analysis in a meaningful and effective way.

4/11/2026 – At the Menorca Chess Festival, one player is naturally in the spotlight: reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju. While on another, more easterly Mediterranean island his World Championship match opponent is being determined, the 19-year-old is taking part in a small but highly competitive rapid chess tournament. Following a series of disappointing results and his decision to significantly reduce his tournament schedule, he announced that he would forgo his place in this year's Grand Chess Tour. | Photo: Saji Mathew

4/11/2026 – Head-to-head records between the participants of the Candidates Tournaments provide useful context for each pairing. Drawing on data compiled via Mega Database 2026, the key statistics from past encounters highlight imbalances and trends. While such figures are not decisive, they offer an additional perspective on how rivalries have developed before a tournament that will determine the next challenger for the world title.

4/10/2026 – Bodhana Sivanandan comes across as an exceptionally calm, self-driven young talent whose love for chess seems to grow naturally from curiosity, beauty, and enjoyment rather than pressure or ego. In the interview, she talks about her admiration for Capablanca, her instinctive feel for endgames, and her practical approach to improvement, often learning simply by playing, spotting mistakes, and correcting them for next time. She also reflects with striking maturity on losses, fame, expectations, and long-term goals, showing that she prefers to focus on steady progress instead of forcing milestones or assumptions about the future. Overall, the conversation paints a picture of a rare chess prodigy who is already highly accomplished, yet remains grounded, thoughtful, and fully focused on becoming the best player she can be.

4/10/2026 – 40th move In the diagram position Black wins through passed pawn power and not least good nerves - enjoy!

4/10/2026 – Vaishali Rameshbabu moved into sole first place in round ten of the Women's Candidates Tournament after drawing with Anna Muzychuk, as former co-leader Zhu Jiner was defeated by Bibisara Assaubayeva (pictured). Aleksandra Goryachkina also scored an important win, as she got the better of Divya Deshmukh. With four rounds to go, the standings remain closely packed and several players still have realistic chances. | Photo: FIDE / Niki Riga

4/10/2026 – Javokhir Sindarov extended his lead at the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus by defeating Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu in a sharp game to reach six wins in ten rounds (with no losses). Anish Giri, who remains in sole second place, was held to a draw by Hikaru Nakamura, while Fabiano Caruana also drew. With four rounds remaining, Sindarov now leads by two points. | Photo: FIDE / Niki Riga

4/9/2026 – Following the hugely successful miniseries "The Queen's Gambit" and the documentary on Judit Polgar "The Queen of Chess", Netflix is bringing another chess-themed story to the screen. The documentary "Untold: Chess Mates" focuses on the controversy involving Magnus Carlsen and Hans Niemann. It premiered this week. | Photo: Screenshots from the series / Netflix

4/9/2026 – In the course “Mastering the London System,” Grandmaster Elisabeth Pähtz presents the classical London System with an early Bf4 and explains the dynamic structures and ideas that arise from it. She systematically covers Black’s main responses and compares the classical London with the Neo London to build a complete and modern repertoire. The focus is on practical understanding, enabling players of all levels to use the London System confidently and flexibly in tournament play.

4/9/2026 – Head-to-head records between the participants of the Candidates Tournaments provide useful context for each pairing. Drawing on data compiled via Mega Database 2026, the key statistics from past encounters highlight imbalances and trends. While such figures are not decisive, they offer an additional perspective on how rivalries have developed before a tournament that will determine the next challenger for the world title.

4/9/2026 – Vaishali Rameshbabu and Zhu Jiner are sharing the lead after round nine of the Women's Candidates Tournament, following wins over Divya Deshmukh and Kateryna Lagno, respectively. Anna Muzychuk drew her game against Tan Zhongyi despite holding a positional advantage and now stands in sole third place, half a point behind. Deshmukh and Lagno trail by another half point, with five rounds remaining and the contest for first place still closely contested. | Photo: FIDE / Niki Riga