Russian Superfinal begins

8/9/2015 – On 8th August the Russian Superfinals began in Chita. Men and women play in two groups of 12 players each. All players in the men's group have a rating of 2600 or more, five of them have 2700 or more. Elo-favorite is Dmitry Jakovenko. Elo-favorite in the women's group is Valentina Gunina. But she began the tournament with a loss against Aleksandra Goryachkina.

Breaking records in blindfold tandem chess

8/8/2015 – In 1934 Alexander Alekhine and George Koltanowski set this world record for Tandem Blindfold Chess, playing six opponents with a score of +3 =2 –1. Last week in Germany two blindfold experts, GM Timur Gareev and Marc Lang broke this 80-year record by playing seven opponents. Together they won five games and drew two,making them the new wonder twins. Report by Jennifer Vallens.

Turkish League starts with stars

8/8/2015 – The Turkish league is currently underway in Kocaeli, Turkey, and will run from August 4-15 with thirteen rounds of action in the eclectic team event. Though the ratings and players range from Top Ten to weak amateur, there are a good number of elite players such as Wesley So, Harikrishna, Mamedyarov, and Moiseenko to cite a few. There has been plenty of action so far.

Chess adventures in Luanda (2/2)

8/7/2015 – As a result of the quickly evolving city of Luanda, the tournament is often a contrast in what some might expect of an event on the African continent, but the top prizes are more than enough to attract players from abroad, and will no doubt bring more in the years to come. This transition period also brings enormous contrasts seen everywhere and captured in this pictorial.

Markus Ragger wins Politiken Cup

8/7/2015 – The Politiken Cup in Helsingor, Denmark, was a strong open. Very strong. 431 players started, among them a number of grandmasters. The decision was close: after ten rounds ten grandmasters shared first place with a score of 8.0/10 each. Markus Ragger, Austria's number one, had the best tie-break of this group and became official tournament winner.

Dynamic trade

8/7/2015 – 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.

Lake Sevan 2015: A player’s perspective (1)

8/6/2015 – In our previous report this event we brought to you analysis, pictures and an interview of the winner Jan Krzysztof Duda. Now we have the talented Indian GM Vidit Gujrathi (2643) tells us what it was like being a defending champion, how he prepared for the event – and how he blundered into a shocking mate in one in a better position, but came back to win the next round!

Chess adventures in Luanda (1/2)

8/6/2015 – Already in its thirteenth edition, the Luanda Open took place once more in the heart of Angola, a country growing very quickly thanks to oil-properity. This is seen in business and streets (and prices!), as well as the modernizing skyline that expands every year. The tournament held both a men's and women's event, won by GM Adly Ahmed and IM Alina L'Ami, who brings her colorful report.

Dinara Saduakassova – the Kazakh prodigy

8/5/2015 – Sometimes life makes it easy by making it clear to a person where their biggest talent lies, and sometimes it does not. Imagine being gifted with skills to compete in artistic gymnastics meets, musical talent to aspire to be an artist, or chess, and no doubt others that were never explored. Here is a portrait of the lovely multi-talented prodigy from Kazakhstan.

Aravindh and Vaishali Indian Junior Champions

8/5/2015 – In its 45th edition the Indian Junior and Girls Chess Championship 2015 was open to the Indian juniors younger than nineteen years of age. The open section was won by GM Aravindh Chithambaram with 9.5/11, a full point ahead of the field, and the Girls section by R. Vaishali, with 8.5/11. Aravindh is fifteen and Vaishali is fourteen! She has annotated one of her games for us.

2015 Czech Open: chess and games bonanza

8/5/2015 – Although often referred to as Pardubice for the main chess event and locale, the Pardubice Open is but one cog in the large and extremely entertaining Czech Open, a massive games festival in which chess is the star but hardly the only game celebrated there. This year there were shogi, go, bridge, Mankala, Zatre, to name a few, and of course chess in all shapes and form.

US Junior Championship: winner's impressions (2)

8/4/2015 – In part one of his article 15-year-old Akshat Chandra described the course of the first first seven rounds of the Championship. He was undefeated but had drawn his last three games, while his closest rival, Arthur Shen, had reeled off four straight wins to join him in the lead, both players with 5.0/7. In part two Akshat tells us how he defeated Shen and went on to win the title.

Wrong timing

8/4/2015 – 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!

Master Class Vol. 04: José Raúl Capablanca

8/4/2015 – Can you learn from the classics? Well, all trainers worth their salt agree that one can and one should. Especially from José Raúl Capablanca, who was known for his clear, apparently simple style, and his endgame skills. The Fritz-Trainer Master Class DVD about the Cuban chess genius offers a good opportunity to take a fresh look at Capablanca and his games.

KCF Africa winners going to Las Vegas

8/4/2015 – The third and final KCF Africa sponsored Millionaire Chess satellite tournament concluded in Johannesburg, South Africa on Sunday 20th July. The series of African satellite tournaments came about as a result of a unique collaboration between the Kasparov Chess Foundation Africa and Millionaire Chess and has had a massive impact as a development initiative on the African continent.

Howell and Gormally lead 2015 British Ch

8/3/2015 – The 102nd British Championships are being held in the University of Warwick, Coventry from the 25th of July to 8th of August 2015. That's right, the tournament is in its 102nd edition! With a rich history and champions from Sultan Khan to Nigel Short, John Nunn, and more, a win here is to join that rarefied roster. Enjoy this midway report chock full of positions, games, and videos.

Adams plays in London Chess Classic 2015

8/3/2015 – In 1999 Michael Adams became England's number one and 16 years later he still is England's number one. Now he gets the wildcard for the London Chess Classic, the top tournament that ends this year's Grand Chess Tour series. The tour began with the Norway Chess tournament and will continue with the Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis in August. Press release...

Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual - ChessBase edition

8/3/2015 – In the ChessBase catalogue, it is understandable to be attracted and curious about the latest and greatest products, but some items, even many years old, just never lose their luster or value. The biggest problem is knowing what those are. Among them, one of the absolute greatest is the ChessBase version of Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual, a book that is rightly considered a modern classic.

Czech king walks into chess history

8/2/2015 – Remember the breathtaking king march executed by Prague-born David Navara in the Biel Chess Tournament recently? The first official world chess champion Wilhelm Steinitz, born in Prague, based his gambit in the 1860s on a magical stroll of his king. Huffington Post columnist Lubomir Kavalek, who was also born in Prague, provides extensive analysis of Navara's incredible game.

US Junior Championship: winner's impressions

8/2/2015 – The US Junior Closed Chess Championship is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the United States – next only to the US Championships. The ten-player round robin event, open to best juniors younger than 21 years, was won by 15-year-old Akshat Chandra – who often writes for our news page. Today he tells us in his captivating style what it is like to play and win such a prestigious event.

August 2015 ratings: Ding Liren in Top Ten

8/1/2015 – After huge successes in his match against Gelfand, and in the Chinese League, Ding Liren became the second Chinese player ever to break into the Top Ten. This was bad for Levon Aronian who is now demoted to world no. 11. August also signaled a welcome return to form for Fabiano Caruana who is once more in the 2800 club. Still, don't miss the results of the amazing John Burke!

China vs Russia: Yu Yangyi cannot stop Karjakin

8/1/2015 – Sergey Karjakin is on a roll. In the China-Russia match in knock-out format, in which one player plays against the other team till he loses, Karjakin eliminated four of the five Chinese. After winning against Wei Yi, Ding Liren, and Ni Hua, he also beat Yu Yangyi, once again showing his skills in blitz. The match will be resumed in December.

FIDE Trainer: a treasure of articles

7/31/2015 – FIDE has certainly undergone a number of changes over the years, some good, and some less so, but certainly one of the best has been the creation and structuring of the FIDE trainer, allowing chess teachers of all levels to earn official accreditation. A separate section exists with the expected information, but did you know there is also a large selection of free chess lectures?

Karjakin vs China: 3-0

7/31/2015 – The knock-out format of the Russia - China match currently underway in Hei Xiazi is a refreshingly new idea. However, maybe some players will have no chance at all to show their skills. In the first three rounds Sergey Karjakin, Russia's board one, eliminated Wei Yi, Ding Liren and Ni Hua. On Saturday Karjakin will play against Yu Yangyi.