1/19/2016 – This famous phrase by Yogi Berra has defined the last couple of rounds in many ways, as surprise reversals took place with dramatic effect. Yet at the last possible moment, when the losing side had already accepted his fate, a miracle happened. Today lightning struck Caruana, who let Giri off in a won endgame. Tied for second place is… Hou Yifan(!) who beat Navara. Report with GM analysis.

1/19/2016 – Things are heating up in Wijk aan Zee. Caruana is leading the tournament with 2,5 out of 3 beating Adams and Eljanov. The game of the day for Daniel King was Navara vs Giri which he analysed in his highlight video. Navara sacrificed a whole rook for the attack. If he could manage to convert into a win you can see in this video...

1/19/2016 – 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!

1/18/2016 – After winning against Michael Adams in round three of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament Fabiano Caruana now has 2.5/3 and emerged as sole leader of the tournament. Pavel Eljanov won the second game decisive game of the round when Shakhriyar Mamedyarov blundered a rook in one move in a winning position. The five other games were tense but ended in a draw. Report and games.

1/18/2016 – In an interview with Oleg Bogatov for the Russian magazine "R-Sport" Andrey Filatov, the President of the Russian Chess Federation, revealed Russia's goals for 2016: winning the Candidates and the Chess Olympiad. Filatov also spoke about the US sanctions against FIDE-President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and proposed to modify the rules for World Championship matches.

1/18/2016 – The Tata Steel Masters started over the weekend and a lot of top players show their best at the first super tournament of the year. In round 2 we saw the top clash between Carlsen and Caruana where Carlsen tried to avoid preparations by playing 1.g3. Daniel King analysed this game in his highlight video. Click here for the video...

1/17/2016 – In the key encounter Caruana held Carlsen to a 32-move draw with the black pieces after an unorthodox opening. Giri vs Ding was one move longer, also drawn. Hou fought So for 54 moves, but that game too ended in a draw. In the Challengers there were no less than five decisive games, with Batsiashvili remarkably beating van Foreest with black. Report, pictures, video.

1/17/2016 – No need to google: after the Australian Championship the 150-year celebrations of the Melborne Chess Club continue with the 2016 Australian Women's Masters, a ten-player WIM-norm round robin which lasts from January 14-22. After three rounds Gu Xiaobing is outright leader with 3.0/3, with Deimante Daulyte snapping at her heels with 2.5/3. Illustrated report from Melbourne.

1/16/2016 – The Brazilian Championship, held in the traditional Guanabara Chess Club, seemed set to establish a new record at its onset, or so the numbers appeared to dictate. The competition has instead been a two-man show, led by GM Krikor Mekhitarian and IM Evandro Barbosa right behind, and has not been short of entertainment. An illustrated report.

1/16/2016 – The first round of the Tata Steel Tournament 2016 in Wijk aan Zee saw interesting games and three wins in the Masters group: Wesley So outplayed Anish Giri, Ding Liren showed good opening knowledge, inspired ideas in the middlegame, and technical skills in the endgame to win against Michael Adams. Fabiano Caruana won a fine attacking game against Pavel Eljanov. The other four games were drawn. The players in the Challengers were less peaceful - they did not play a single draw.

1/16/2016 – The top players are there, in the Masters at Wijk. But it is worthwhile taking a look at the Challengers, where traditionally plenty of exciting chess battles take place. Of the 14 players in this group, five are from the host nation, while Russia and Azerbaijan have two players each, and USA, Germany, Georgia, India and China one player. Three women will be seen in action. Here's an overview.

1/15/2016 – The first New Zealand Chess Championship was played in 1879. The 123rd edition took place from 2nd to 10th January in Devonport, an idyllic town close to Auckland. After nine rounds English GM Gawain Jones emerged as sole winner with 7.5/9, half a point ahead of Ju Wenjun, Ma Qun, and Nigel Short. IM Deimante Daulyte sends a large pictorial report.