2017 Tata R12 Express: Playing for all the marbles

1/28/2017 – In yet another dramatic round, the only thing that can be said now about the leaders is that while So is favorite as the sole leader in the Masters, if he is caught by any of his rivals, such as Carlsen who defeated Eljanov (and faces Karjakin in the last round), or Aronian, or Wei Yi, all half a point behind, there will be a playoff. Xiong lost to Tari, and is in a tougher position as the Challengers will be decided by TB scores. Ragger, Smirin, and Jones lead. Express report.

A Man and A Woman

1/28/2017 – After four rounds of the Tradewise Gibraltar Masters 2017, we have only two players on 4.0/4: ACP President and Israeli grandmaster Emil Sutovsky and Women's World Championship Challenger Ju Wenjun. Emil beat Nikita Vitiugov in a complex Ruy Lopez Breyer, while Wenjun got the better of Sam Shankland in a Benoni. There are 14 players with a score of 3.5/4 including MVL, Adams, Nakamura and Gelfand. We have an illustrated report with photos, videos and analysis sent to us by John Saunders.

2017 Tata Rd11: Wei Yi! Jeffery Xiong!

1/28/2017 – Again, despite only one decisive game in the top section, it was a day in which much more blood should have been spilled. Giri was clearly winning against Harikrishna, while Adhiban had a winning shot against Carlsen, but it was Wei Yi that simply demolished Karjakin, putting him just half a point behind So. In the Challenger's section, the Texan Jeffery Xiong is unstoppable. Full report with GM commentary.

2017 Tata R11 Express: Carpe Diem

1/27/2017 – One might argue that Carpe Diem, or 'seize the day' applies to all games and events, but round eleven was defined more than most by those who did and those who didn't. While leader So drew quickly with Andreikin, 17-year-old Wei Yi defeated Karjakin, moving to half a point behind So, whom he plays in round 12. Adhiban almost pulled off a miracle when he had a chance to beat Carlsen, but missed it and drew. Jeffery Xiong defeated co-leader Smirin and is now sole leader in the Challengers. Express report.

A fine difference

1/27/2017 – Tactics can seem deceptively simple, particularly when seeing an engine analysing grandmaster games. Strange, however, how difficult it is to find the right move and to calculate variations properly when playing yourself. It is easier if you solve tactical puzzles regularly. In the ChessBase Magazine and his tactics column Oliver Reeh helps you to do so.

Gibraltar Rd03: Only two 2700+ with 3.0/3!

1/27/2017 – Michael Adams and Nikita Vitiugov are the only 2700+ player with a perfect score at the end of the third round of the Gibraltar Masters 2017. All the elite players who had drawn their games yesterday including Caruana, MVL and Gelfand were able to win. However, Svidler had to once again split the point and on the top board Nakamura was surprised by an excellent exchange sacrifice by G. N. Gopal. We have the full illustrated report from round four rich with analysis, pictures, videos and also information about the team blitz and Governor's visit to the event.

Bobby Fischer Master Class Vol. 1 review

1/27/2017 – Studying and learning from Bobby Fischer's games is an arduous and laborious affair. Although Fischer quit playing chess when he was just 29 years old, the number of high quality games that he had played was already quite high. The Master Class Vol. 1 on the life of Bobby Fischer is a boon for players who would like to delve deeper into the life of the eleventh World Champion. Three grandmasters and an International Master dissect the play of one of the greatest players that the game of chess has ever seen. A review by Aditya Pai.

Wesley So partners with Tukmakov

1/27/2017 – The coach-player relationship is one that goes back in time and has marked almost every great sportsman. It allows (hopefully) a player to achieve their goals and fulfill their potential. Wesley So has been on a tremendous streak, but has never worked with a coach. With his success, he now has the means to bring in a top coach, and he has partnered with veteran player and coach Vladimir Tukmakov. They explain how this came about and what a coach brings to a top player.

Speelman's Agony #38: The truth or reality

1/26/2017 – Using a computer to analyze, while important, needs to be balanced with understanding our limits. A solution or choice that demands we be able to calculate like a computer, in both speed and precision, can lead us to place unrealistic expectations on ourselves. In the following column, Jon Speelman examines the game by Tom Harley, who sends his analysis and computer results, and balances them with choices with what he would play regardless of the 'absolute truth'.

Gibraltar: when the lights go out on the island

1/26/2017 – We mentioned it in our full Round Two report: 2752 rated Vassily Ivanchuk thought he had made the 40th move time control his white game against Israeli IM Ori Kobo, 2482, and let his clock run out – only to discover that he had left out a move on his scoresheet. A blackout on the part of the Ukrainian Super-GM that reflected the general power blackout that struck the island before play. John Saunders gives us his take of the fateful round two in Gibraltar.

Gibraltar Rd02: Top players face tough resistance

1/26/2017 – There was some high voltage drama in the second round of the Gibraltar Masters 2017. Four super-GMs: Caruana, MVL, Topalov and Svidler were held to a draw. Meanwhile, Vassily Ivanchuk lost in a completely better position against IM Ori Kobo. 37 players including Hikaru Nakamura, Mickey Adams, Yu Yangyi, Nikita Vitiugov and Arkadij Naiditsch are on 2.0/2. In this report we bring to you didactic analysis, Topalov's instructive Masterclass and some lively video interviews by Tania Sachdev.

2017 Tata Rd10: Aronian brilliant, So clear leader

1/26/2017 – Three decisive games, all white victories, make Wesley So's lead in Tata Steel quite comfortable. He is now a point ahead of a large pack as the American dispatched Poland's Radoslaw Wojtaszek in a very nice technical game. Levon Aronian took some vengeance from his recent loss against Richard Rapport, and he did so in spectacular fashion. Alexander Yermolinsky analyzes the fireworks!

2017 Tata R10 Express: So takes full point lead

1/25/2017 – It's all about taking advantage of your opportunities, and this was very much the tale of the day. Wesley So turned in a powerful display against Radoslaw Wojtaszek to ensure he would at least share the lead. Magnus Carlsen was unable to crack Harikrishna, while Pavel Eljanov vs Wei Yi had its pivotal moment when the Chinese player missed a win and chance to stay in gold contention. Levon Aronian played a brilliant game against Rapport. In the Challengers, Xiong joined the leaders. Express report.

Proven: Performance-enhancing drugs for chess

1/25/2017 – It is the first time that drugs have been found under rigorous scientific conditions to improve chess performance. The results of the ground-breaking study have been published in a leading scientific journal. The drugs are methylphenidate, which is most commonly marketed as Ritalin, and modafinil, which is sold as Alertec, Modavigil and Provigil. They improved the players’ performances by an average of 13 and 15 percent, while caffeine, which also has an ameliorative impact, improved it by around nine percent. Report in WorldChess.com.

Chess in Africa: the Miracle

1/25/2017 – After visiting Africa on a tour, GM Maurice Ashley was deeply moved by the extreme poverty, underlying beauty, and promise of hope. Instead of just writing about all this, he decided to take action, and together with Graham Jurgensen, they enlisted the help and patronage of the Paul Allen Foundation, as well as the Kasparov Chess Foundation in the USA and Africa, to take three grandmasters on a training tour for 18 weeks in Africa. Join Maurice Ashley, the KCF, and ChessBase, and get involved!

Gibraltar Rd01: Top seeds have it easy

1/25/2017 – The Gibraltar Chess Festival started with the top seeds playing against opponents with a rating difference of 450 Elo points. Being the start of the event, tiredness due to travelling, jet lag and other things it is quite possible that we would see many upsets. However, the top seeds were up to the task and the biggest casualty was tenth seed Boris Gelfand's draw against Robert Bellin. There were also a few other 2600+ players losing their games. We have an illustrated report rich with pictures, videos and chess analysis.

2017 Tata Rd9: More excitement, only one result

1/24/2017 – There is something about Wijk aan Zee, it just never fails to provide exciting and thrilling encounters! Despite today's abundance of draws, the way the players reached these "peaceful" results were incredibly wild. Andreikin-Eljanov takes the cake, a game that saw passed pawns, kings in the center, two exchange sacrifices, but it was Carlsen took the chance to gain some ground.

2017 Tata R9 Express: Great battles and missed chances

1/24/2017 – It is ironic that this was by far the most exciting round yet in the Masters, and yet there was only one decisive game, the efficient win by Carlsen over Van Wely. Yet, there could have been so many others. Nepo was dead won against Harikrishna but drew, while Eljanov missed his chance in an absolutely fantastic wild game against Andreikin. Finally, Wei Yi missed one of his own to join the lead in a botched endgame against Adhiban. In the Challengers, Xiong overpowered co-leader Jones. Express report.

Elo average of the top ten at Gibraltar Masters is 2758!

1/24/2017 – One of the most exciting open events in the world of chess is back: The Gibraltar Masters 2017. With 248 players from 53 countries in the Masters section, 71 of them being grandmasters, this is an extremely strong tournament. Eight players are the favourites to win the tournament. They include Caruana, MVL, Nakamura, Ivanchuk, Adams, Topalov, Svidler and Gelfand. Here, you can find all the action from the opening ceremony, as well as the live commentary and games embed to follow when the round begins at 15.00h Gibraltar time.

Bodychecks

1/24/2017 – Every week ChessBase magazine author and renowned endgame expert Karsten Müller presents a remarkable or particularly instructive endgame in his blog. A click on the diagram opens a larger board. Test your endgame skills, improve and have fun!

In Conversation with Neil deGrasse Tyson

1/24/2017 – The famous astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, a tireless promoter of science, and considered by many as the spiritual successor of Carl Sagan, opened Game Eight of the World Championship Match. He accepted to sit down with a few journalists for a casual conversation where he talked about his connection with chess and what he finds interesting about chess and chessplayers, as well as how he sees it relative to education. A revealing piece.

Trump, Kramnik, Botvinnik, Junge, Benko

1/23/2017 – "Don’t you think I could also be a GM if put in one or two year on chess?" Donald Trump wanted to know, when he met Pal Benko back in 1994. "You need to be born again," Benko replied. "I have never known anyone who started with chess after the age of 20 and became a grandmaster." It happened at the World Championship Candidates match, held in the Trump Plaza. In his article Pal Benko tells us some interesting things about the Botvinnik Variation.

2017 Tata Rd8: Excitement up and down!

1/23/2017 – It was the turn for the Master's section to provide an incredible amount of entertainment, and they did so in every kind of fashion! We saw some brilliant attacks (Adhiban 1-0 Andreikin), cunning topsy-turvy fights (Eljanov 1/2 Wojtaszek), Carlsen's seppuku, a missed brilliancy by Van Wely, and much more! We bring you four games fully annotated for your deep enjoyment!

2017 Tata R8 Express: Carlsen commits seppuku

1/22/2017 – It is hard to explain what happened in round eight, and to speculate seems an exercise in futility. The game between Richard Rapport and Magnus Carlsen had been quite balanced, with no real edge going to either, yet in the space of five moves, the world no.1 made one error after another, losing a piece at the end. And that was all she wrote. Aronian defeated Giri in record time, while Adhiban beat Andreikin. The Challengers saw a surprising six draws. What a day. Express report.