Candidates 2014: Battle of minds

3/17/2014 – A top-level chess game is like a beautiful sculpture, chiseled from rock and polished to perfection. But: the unique thing about this creation is that there were two sculptors working on the same product! The two have two different processes of chiseling and two different conceptual ways of thinking. It makes the final product more complicated and conflicting – as the Rd.3 game Svidler-Kramnik shows.

CBM 158: The Match and the Berlin Defence

3/16/2014 – In this issue of ChessBase Magazine GM Mihail Marin draws an interesting parallel between the Anand-Carlsen match in Chennai and Kasparov-Kramnik, London 2000. It was Kramnik who first used the Berlin Defence that had not been seen at this level since the days of Lasker and Capablanca. Prof Nagesh Havanur tells us what we can learn about it in ChessBase Magazine 158. Review.

Candidates Rd3: Anand grabs early lead with 2.5/3

3/15/2014 – Any pundits and fans still with questions on Anand's chances in the event, saw them answered with his round three win as he beat Mamedyarov handily to take sole lead with 2.5/3. Though other games drew, they were all thrilling battles, with a very special note to Kramnik's incredible defense against Svidler as he produced a timeless masterpiece. Analysis of today's round.

Candidates 2014: Spotlight on round two

3/15/2014 – The Candidates tournament in Khanty-Mansiysk seems to be charged with drama (just 50% draws so far). We have been providing full reports and GM analysis on the evening of the game. We would also like to add some didactic comments by chess trainers and writers, whose views are often helpful for chess fans who are still struggling to understand basic concepts.

2014 Euro-Ch Rd10: Motylev and the teen wonders

3/14/2014 – It has been a fantastic event, and after a a bit of elbowing and shoving at the top, a single leader emerged. Alexander Motylev has not only kept the lead, but brought down every one of his would-be challengers, opening a full point lead once more with 8.5/10 and one round to go. Leading the group behind, is 19-year-old Vladimir Fedoseev followed by Turkish Dragan Solak. Illustrated report.

Candidates Rd2: Three wins and the race is on

3/14/2014 – After a somewhat hesitant opening round, the second round clearly set the race in motion. The only draw of the day was Anand-Topalov, ending in bare kings, while Aronian was winning after 14 moves when Mamedyarov missed a tactic winning his queen. Andreikin lost to Svidler after a miscalculation, but the game of the day was Kramnik's impressive win over Karjakin. Report with GM commentary.

Providing Anand for Anand fans

3/14/2014 – Anand is forename and a surname of Indian origin, derived from the Sanskrit abstract noun (आनन्द) meaning happiness or bliss. That is pretty much what Indian chess fans felt when, after a long dry spell, the former World Champion won a spectacular game against the favourite of the Candidates. Here is some interesting didactic analysis of the game by two ardent Anand fans. Learn and enjoy.

Candidates Rd1: The Madras Tiger breaks Aronian

3/13/2014 – Just when you thought you could almost plan the final crosstable, round one threw all the predictions out the window. While the other games ended in disappointing draws, Vishy Anand, the Madras Tiger, defeated the pundit favorite, Levon Aronian, after neutralizing his opening and then outplaying him for a fantastic first win. Illustrated report with analysis by GM Gilberto Milos.

Li Chao tops Reykjavik

3/13/2014 – After a disappointing first round the Chinese player has managed to to go on a rampage and his 8.5/10 was sufficient to earn him a clear first place. Van Kampen, Hansen, Olafsson and Rozentalis finished only half a point behind while a big pack followed with 7.5/10. We bring you a final report and pictures of the closing ceremony, finishing a very pleasant event!

Candidates 2014: what will it bring?

3/13/2014 – In 1948, two years after the untimely demise of the then world champion Alexander Alekhine, the chess world staged a five-player tournament to determine the new World Champion. There were great games played in The Hague and Moscow, but also a series of "imperfections", caused by the interference of the human mind. Will it be the same in Khanty-Mansiysk, Govindaseshan Srikanth asks.

All systems go for the 2014 Candidates tournament

3/12/2014 – The players have arrived and settled down in Khanty-Mansiysk, the technical meeting and the opening ceremony were conducted on Wednesday, the first round begins on Thursday, at 3 p.m. local time (10 a.m. Europe, 5 a.m. New York). The eight players are vying for the challenger slot to challenge reigning champion Magnus Carlsen later this year. Pictures and full tournament details.

TCF on "Armenian Exceptionalism"

3/12/2014 – Last week we published a portrait of Armenian World Championship candidate Levon Aronian. English journalist Dominic Lawson had interviewed him for the British cultural and political monthly "Standpoint". Lawson's article contained a reference to a very sensitive historical issue between Turkey and the Armenian minority in 1915. The Turkish Chess Federation sent us the following statement.
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2014 Euro-Ch Rd8: Unstoppable Motylev

3/12/2014 – It was an important round as Alexander Motylev faced his greatest challenge: second-seed Pavel Eljanov (2723), hoping to swap places with him on the leaderboard. Instead of playing it safe, the Russian attacked with great verve, perhaps deciding that to be a champion, one must play like one. With his win, Motylev increased his lead to a full point with a staggering 2918 performance.

Who will win the 2014 Candidates? (Part 2/2)

3/11/2014 – In this second part, in which top players and coaches were polled by the RCF and 64 Magazine on the Candidates tournament whose play starts on March 13, you can read the opinions by 2010 Russian Champion Ian Nepomniachtchi, Emil Sutovsky, and famed coaches Alexander Nikitin, Garry Kasparov's lifelong trainer, and Igor Zaitsev, who worked with Anatoly Karpov. Fascinating insights.

2014 Euro-Ch Rd7: The new kids on the block

3/11/2014 – After a welcome rest day, in which the players could recharge their batteries before a brutal sprint to the finish, came round seven. At the top, the leaders drew and were joined by three more, leaving Motylev still in the lead, trailed by six others. That said, the news was the young players with huge results, such as 13-year-old Martirosyan (2234) with a grandmaster performance.

Christmas Puzzles 2013 – the prizes

3/10/2014 – Our 2013 Christmas puzzle contest ended with a flood of entries, submitted by readers from around the globe. They were all vying for the valuable prizes: programs signed with a personal dedication by the participants of the strongest tournament in chess history. We bring you a small sample of letters and the names of the three lucky winners. Are you amongst them?

Who will win the 2014 Candidates? (Part 1/2)

3/10/2014 – The 2014 Candidates tournament is just around the corner, and while chess fans all over wait with bated breath, everyone has a favorite. The Russian media asked players and chess pros for their opinions on the Candidates tournament, and who their favorites were. Among those quizzed were Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, and several more. Read what they think before placing your bets.

Ivory Tower – the movie

3/10/2014 – It is a Canadian feature film and the directorial debut of Adam Traynor, a musician from the German based hip-hop group Puppetmastaz. The film was co-written in 2010 by Canadian pianist and rapper Chilly Gonzales, who also plays a lead, and revolves around a sibling rivalry between two brothers as they compete for a woman during a game of chess. Watch the trailer.

Yes2Chess ... with Felix Magath

3/10/2014 – Two weeks ago, as part of the "Yes2Chess" scholastic chess initiative, patron Felix Magath attended a discussion panel evening at a prominent location in Hamburg. Representatives from the fields of sports, education, politics and business talked about the further development of chess in schools in Hamburg. Afterwards, Felix Magath explained why he had chosen not to go to Hamburger SV.

Carlsen keeps smashing

3/9/2014 – The reigning World Champion continues annihilating competition the rapid events in Brazil. First he won a four-player knockout event, where he did concede a single draw (that qualified him to the final) and he was in trouble in just one game. At the end of the day he took the tournament, no questions asked. The open has started, and he is 5/5 but he is not alone.

"Sunny" Reykjavik

3/8/2014 – The sun finally came out for one day in Reykjavik. A nice respite from the cold and harsh weather that has been terrorizing the players. Over the board leaders have emerged: L'ami, Amin Bassem and Van Kampen are all tied for first with 5.5/6. However there are still four rounds left and anything can happen. Overview of the last three rounds.

2014 Euro-Ch: Motylev seizes lead at midway point

3/8/2014 – By now, six rounds out of eleven have been played, the midway point has been reached with a rest day for Sunday. The rankings have shown non-stop swings and changes, and not one player has been able to keep the lead for more than a round. Still, the leading group can now be pointed out as the clear tournament favorites, with Alexander Motylev the sole leader. Report, pictures, and games.

2014 Candidates - Players, event and schedules

3/7/2014 – The time is approaching, and we are on the threshold of a new Candidates tournament. The last one qualified Magnus Carlsen for a shot at the world title, and we know what happened after that. A fresh lineup, with new players and old, promises exciting battles, and we bring you a preview of the players, the tournament, and the schedules for Playchess GM commentary.

Caxias do Sul: Carlsen in form in Brazil

3/7/2014 – Actually the World Champion was stopped: by GM Gilberto Milos, 50, Elo 2583, six times Brazilian Champion, who got the only draw conceded Magnus Carlsen in the six game of the four-player double round robin. Carlsen, who had spent the morning playing blindfold against blind players, scored 5.5/6 in the semifinal stage. Big illustrated report with pictures from the Brazilian venue.