FIDE World Cup 2017: And then there were two!

9/22/2017 – What an exciting day of chess at the semifinal tiebreaks! The match between Levon Aronian and MVL went all the way to the Armageddon. At the end it was the Armenian legend who struck the last blow and advanced to the final. The other semifinal was perhaps less exciting, but not without drama. Wesley So could not solve the Chinese conundrum. Ding Liren played a great match to beat his American opponent. Aronian and Ding have now booked their berths to Candidates 2018, the latter being the first Chinese player ever to reach the Candidates. A detailed report on the semifinal tiebreaks. | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Chess shorts: Anna vs. Astronaut

9/21/2017 – Films that is! The first in a series of short posts on short films about chess that have come our way from various corners of the world. This one is a bit of a tribute film, and very short indeed — less than four minutes — but featuring an unlikely pair of contestants simply spreading their own joy of playing "the best game in the world".

World Cup 2017 Semifinals, Game 2: Round-up show

9/21/2017 – Every evening at 9 pm CEST we offer you a round-up show of the games played at the World Cup in Tbilisi. Yesterday Daniel King showed the highlights and upsets of game 2 of the semifinals. Who will go through to the final and qualify for the candidates? Have a look...

FIDE World Cup 2017: Ding Liren returns the favour

9/21/2017 – In the semifinals of the World Cup 2017 we are witnessing two extremely different kind of matches. While Wesley So and Ding Liren fought until their very last drop of blood was left, Levon Aronian and MVL have hardly sat beyond an hour in their two games combined. In the end the result of both the matches was same: two draws and the action shifts to the tiebreaks. Today, however, Ding Liren missed a clear opportunity to win the game and the match and advance to the finals. We bring you detailed coverage.

Review: Powerplay 25 – 1.d4 sidelines decoded

9/20/2017 – In an attempt to sidestep mainline opening theory, a lot of today’s 1.d4 players have switched to systems like the Trompowsky or the London. Therefore players — whether amateur or professional GMs — can no longer rely on their Nimzo-Indians or Queens Gambits and have had to look for antidotes to these systems. One such club player, Davide Nastasio, got his hands on Daniel King's Powerplay 25. Going through the contents of the DVD, he found that King's work not only provides an easy-to-learn remedy against these systems but also helps amateurs get a better understanding of themes like pawn breaks, destroying opponent's centre, opening and closing lines, etc.

FIDE World Cup 2017: Why didn't So sacrifice an exchange?

9/20/2017 – Wesley So showed some excellent technique in the queenless middlegame to completely outplay his Chinese opponent Ding Liren. On the 40th move Ding made a mistake which gave Wesley an opportunity to sacrifice the exchange and torture his opponent for the rest of the game. Wesley had seen the move, yet did not play it. We try to find the reason why the American GM missed this opportunity. Aronian could not show anything concrete against MVL's Grunfeld and the players quickly agreed to a draw. Game analysis, pictures and exciting videos from Tbilisi. | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Fools rush in…

9/19/2017 – ... where angels fear to tread. This little pearl of practical wisdom is a reminder that it is hardly ever good to rush things. Particularly so when you are in a hurry. For instance, in a race of passed pawns.

World Cup: the odds of making the final

9/19/2017 – With a staggering share of the world’s elite playing in the World Cup, vying for a spot in the forthcoming Candidates in Berlin, it was a surprise to see so many of the biggest names falling like flies by the midway point, such as Carlsen, Kramnik, Caruana and more. However, the truth is Magnus Carlsen only had a 36% chance to even make the final! Here are some eye-opening stats and numbers. | Photo: ChessBase India YouTube

So in the semis and out of Isle of Man

9/18/2017 – Grandmaster Wesley So is in the semifinals where he faces Ding Liren. That puts him one match away from qualification to the Candidates. In the extended video interview, he explains how he beat Fedoseev, why he turns his chair sideways, how he tracks the average rating qualification for the Candidates, the role of his foster mother Lotis Key, and why his fans give him hope. So is unique among the remaining World Cup participants in that he can also qualify by rating, should he lose to Ding. We take a look at the interesting scenarios. | Photo: Macauley Peterson

Grivas teaches: Rook vs Bishop (3)

9/18/2017 – The FIDE World Cup in Tbilisi is turning into a master class for the endgame rook vs bishop: Last week French GM Maxime Vachier Lagrave held a theoretically lost tiebreak game against Russian GM Alexander Grischuk and thus qualified for the next round. Where did Grischuk go wrong and how could he have won? World-class trainer Efstratios Grivas show you how — and gives you the chance to win rating points in the process.

Yermo's Travels: the 63rd Iowa Open

9/18/2017 – The next stop in GM Alex Yermolinsky summer chess journey took him to the mighty State of Iowa where the 63rd edition of the Iowa Open was held. The number alone commands respect for longevity and tradition, and as he explains, there are good reasons. Instead of focusing on seeing it as an example of growing suburbia, we are shown the scenic views, and reasons why players return year after year | Photos: Alex Yermolinsky

Simon says: The Chigorin

9/18/2017 – In this Simon Says we take a look at one of the most exciting replies to 1.d4. Join Simon Williams for an overview of this opening which arises after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6. Watch live from 18:00 CEST (12 Noon EDT):

FIDE World Cup 2017: Nasty 21...Kc7!! seals Svidler's fate

9/18/2017 – The quarterfinal tiebreak was a short affair as Maxime Vachier-Lagrave managed to show some excellent bit of chess in the second 25'+10" rapid game with the black pieces. He beat Peter Svidler with an overall score of 2.5-1.5 and advanced to the semifinals. He will now face Aronian in the final hurdle for the qualification to the Candidates tournament. Wesley So will be pitted against Ding Liren. We bring you all the analysis of today's tiebreak and also what you can expect in the matches that begin on Tuesday.

Speelman's Agony #61

9/17/2017 – This week's games are by Andreas Niedersberger, pictured playing chess against his very beautiful cat, which apparently has a predilection for the Rubinstein French. Andreas gave up chess — a childhood hobby — at age fourteen, and only when his own children had grown up a bit did he return to the game. His two games feature a Tarrasch (or Semi-Tarrasch) and an open Sicilian.

Grivas teaches: Rook vs Bishop (2)

9/17/2017 – In his previous instalment GM Efstratios Grivas showed us, systematically, how to win rook vs bishop with three paws each on the same side. In Round 4 of the FIDE World Cup, the endgame rook vs bishop occurred again, this time with a pawn each on the same side. The experienced Armenian Levon Aronian, currently number two in the world, decisively defeated the young Russian Daniil Dubov. Grivas tells us exactly how.

FIDE World Cup 2017: Aronian, So, Ding are in the semi-finals

9/17/2017 – Four semi-final spots were at stake. Three of them have been filled. Levon Aronian drew his game against Ivanchuk after beating him yesterday, while Wesley So and Ding Liren beat Vladimir Fedoseev and Richard Rapport respectively. One remaining spot will be filled by the winner of Peter Svidler and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave encounter. The duo will fight it out in the tiebreaks on Sunday and the winner will take on Aronian. We have photos, analysis and video interviews that will give you a complete feel of round five, game two, from Tbilisi, Georgia.

FIDE World Cup 2017: Flawless Aronian crushes Chucky

9/15/2017 – It was a day of three draws and one brilliant game. The two draws between Fedoseev-So and Rapport-Ding were very short. The fight between Svidler and MVL was intense, but at the end they also decided to split the point. It was Levon Aronian who stole the show with a very nice pawn sacrifice in the opening followed by purposeful and dynamic play. Ivanchuk looked completely off-colour and had to resign in 24 moves. We have pictures, Aronian's video explaining his win and in-depth analysis. | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Tune your tactics - Promotion Combinations

9/15/2017 – A solid tactical understanding is sure to help any chess player in critical situations. Whether it is a simple exchange or a mating attack, tactics are ubiquitous. Take advantage of the opportunity to develop your tactical understanding in this series with IM Oliver Reeh and Pascal Simon! Friday at 3.30 pm CEST it's all about pinned f-pawns!

September Stars II

9/15/2017 – 20...Bxg2 21.Kxg2 Qxd4 in the diagram position initiates a long sequence of moves. What do you think, will Black get the advantage or will White end up on top? Much to calculate for you, but I hope also much fun on the way!

FIDE World Cup 2017: MVL's Narikala against Grischuk

9/15/2017 – Round four tiebreaks saw five matches being played. Four of them were finished in the first two 25'+10" encounter.The winners were Svidler, So, Fedoseev and Rapport. The only match that went beyond the first two rapid games was the one between Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Alexander Grischuk. In the first 10'+10" game MVL was able to outwit the Russian super GM. In a must-win scenario Grischuk gave everything that he had, and came so close. But MVL showcased virtuoso defence to qualify to the quarter finals! In-depth coverage from Tbilisi. | Photos: Amruta Mokal

Grivas teaches: Rook vs Bishop (1)

9/15/2017 – Like to earn some extra rating points? Or progress one more round in the World Cup? Last Friday in Tbilisi the young Hungarian GM Richard rapport drew our admiration by flawlessly winning a difficult endgame against Chinese GM Wei Yi. We reported on that fateful game, and now thankfully a top international chess trainer provides systematic instruction on how to play the rook vs bishop ending. First installment from Efstratios Grivas: Modern Endgame Manual.

CHESS Magazine: That missed draw

9/14/2017 – While reading the chess column in The Times, Jonathan Speelman realised that Wolfgang Unzicker might have drawn a famous opposite-coloured bishop endgame. It’s one of a couple of opposite bishop endings ‘The Patriarch’ won by creating passed pawns on both flanks. There's a valuable lesson for you to learn from this article by Jonathan Speelman.

FIDE World Cup 2017: Aronian and Ivanchuk set up round five clash!

9/14/2017 – We have 16 players in Tbilisi playing the fourth round of the World Cup 2017. Three of them (Aronian, Ivanchuk and Ding Liren) advanced to round five, three of them (Dubov, Giri and Wang Hao) got eliminated, and ten players will play in the tiebreaks. Aronian played the longest game of the day, breaking Dubov's fortress after 91 moves. Ivanchuk drew a winning game against Giri, but it was good enough to make it to the quarterfinals and Ding Liren showed technical superiority to down his countryman Wang Hao. | Photos: Amruta Mokal

Li and Dragun divvy up Southwest Open

9/14/2017 – The Southwest Open is an annual held in Dallas, Texas, over Labor Day weekend (USA). This year for the first time, and International section took place with around 30 strong Masters, IMs and GMs. The young American and newly minted Grandmaster Ruifeng Li was among them, and ended up in shared first with Polish GM Kamil Dragun, who is studying in Texas. Ruifeng sent us this personal account of his exploits. | Photos: James Stallings (Below: WIM Mariam Danelia and unknown photo-bomber)