5/31/2021 – 264 players started in the European Hybrid Qualification Tournament. The first three rounds of this knock-out tournament consisted of 2-game matches (followed by a blitz-tiebreak and an Armageddon game, if necessary) and the 36 players, who were still in the race after the third round, qualified for the World Cup 2021, which will take place in Sochi, Russia, from 10 Juli to 6 August 2021. These 36 also played a 9-round Swiss blitz tournament (10+3) for prizes and placement. After nine rounds Vladislav Artemiev (pictured) and Aleksandar Indjic both had 6.5/9 and shared first place but Artemiev had the better tiebreak and won the tournament. | Photo: Vladimir Barsky

5/31/2021 – Wesley So and Magnus Carlsen traded blows in the first set of the FTX Crypto Cup Finals which will be decided in Monday’s second mini-match — and potential blitz tiebreaker. A draw was also seen in the match for third place, except that Teimour Radjabov and Ian Nepomniachtchi decided to give themselves a rest day, as they signed four quick draws on Sunday. | Photo: Nick Barton

5/30/2021 – Herman Grooten is an International Master, a renowned trainer and the author of several highly acclaimed books about chess training and chess strategy. In the 29th instalment of his ChessBase show "Understanding before Moving", Herman talks about good and bad bishops and wonders which pieces to exchange and which pieces to keep on the board. | Photo: Tommy Grooten

5/29/2021 – In his latest column, Siegfried Hornecker writes about the work of judges in endgame studies tournaments. He first introduces how computers have also made their way into this field, before noting that, however, “it will always be down to an individual judge, or a panel of judges, to finally evaluate a composition”. | Pictured: Clifford E. Berry and the Atanasoff-Berry Computer, or ABC, c. 1942 | Photo: Iowa State University

5/29/2021 – On the first day of the FTX Crypto Cup semifinals, Wesley So beat Ian Nepomniachtchi by winning game 4 after having agreed to three draws. Meanwhile, world champion Magnus Carlsen and Teimour Radjabov traded blows in games 3 and 4, which means their match is tied going into day 2 of the semis.

5/29/2021 – Going into the only rest day at the Women’s Grand Prix event in Gibraltar, Zhansaya Abdumalik and Mariya Muzychuk (pictured) are sharing the lead on 4½/6 points. The co-leaders drew their direct encounter in round 6, much like Kateryna Lagno, who is the only player trailing by a half point. As per the current standings, the Russian is the favourite to get a spot in the Candidates via the Grand Prix. | Photo: FIDE

5/25/2021 – Fritz & Chesster has been around for 20 years! The chess learning software for children is an absolute classic! It shows how digital learning works and is fun. Now the ChessBase merchandising partner LEMI Consulting is redesigning the program and developing physical pieces and boards for children to enhance their online experience. You can support their Kickstarter project.

5/25/2021 – This is a 12-year-old on a mission: to become the youngest chess grandmaster in history. Abhimanyu Mishra has made two norms, but in his latest tournament suffered a setback: in time trouble refused a draw offer by a GM and discovered that this is not such a great idea. Abhi lost the game, and a second one to boot, but staged a remarkable comeback with four back-to-back wins. He gained nine rating points and is currently just eight points from his goal. Read the messages of encouragement the lad from Englishtown, New Jersey, is getting from well-known personalities from all over the world.

5/25/2021 – Simplifying into a pawn ending must always be calculated carefully. In the diagram position Black is a rook up but White has powerful passed pawns. But how and when to advance them?

5/25/2021 – Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura and Teimour Radjabov are sharing the lead on 6½/10 points in the preliminaries of the FTX Crypto Cup after two days of action. Out of the 16 participants, those that finish at the top half of the standings table will move on to the knockout stage. World champion Magnus Carlsen is currently sharing 6th-9th place with a 5½/10 score. | Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit

5/24/2021 – The International Chess Federation has published the qualification criteria that will be used to determine who participates in the next Candidates Tournament, scheduled to take place in 2022. Notably, Teimour Radjabov was granted a spot after the Azerbaijani withdrew from the previous edition, rightfully predicting that the sanitary crisis would become a real obstacle for the normal development of the event. FIDE has also eliminated the chance to qualify by rating. | Photo: FIDE

5/24/2021 – You are a very talented young player taking part in a tournament in Budapest. After it is over you learn that your scheduled flight home to Goa, India, is no longer available – the first one to be cancelled due to the outbreak of the pandemic. So you are stuck in the Hungarian capital, and still are, over a year later. So what do you do, how do you manage? Here's one way Leon Mendonca and his father are coping: with a Pentecostal violin performance!