Candidates – round eight postmortems

3/25/2013 – As you probably know and have seen, at the London Candidates, in addition to the live commentary during the entire round, the players have agreed to give live interviews immediately after each round, and actually analyse the games they have just completed. This often provides fascinating insights to their thinking, as well as many interesting factoids around the game.

Candidates R8 – Kramnik, Gelfand, Grischuk win

3/24/2013 – One of the wonderful things about chess is its unpredictability, and after two rounds of all draws where wins had been expected, today saw three wins where at most one was expected. While Carlsen and Aronian drew, Radjabov fell prey to a battling Gelfand, Kramnik squeezed Svidler until he choked, and Grischuk beat Ivanchuk in his first Candidates win in six years. Round eight report.

ChessCasting – making the invisible visible!

3/24/2013 – At the London Candidates Tournament we can see an ambitious project by the organisers FIDE and AGON: the innovative display of the games in progress, on mobile tablets for the audience and on computer screens for people at home. The goal is to make this software platform the standard for chess entertainment broadcasting and turn chess into an exciting spectator sport. Press release.

Candidates R7 – Mercy was the constant

3/23/2013 – Four draws, but the round could easily have had three decisive results. Ivanchuk-Svidler was a lifeless draw. Aronian couldn’t convert a pleasant position against Grischuk. But the highlights of the day were clearly the missed opportunities by Gelfand and Radjabov against Kramnik and Carlsen – one could’ve smashed his opponent’s kingside, the other was simply up an exchange. Round seven report.

A Game of Chicken: Ivanov rides again

3/23/2013 – In the last weeks of 2012 he wowed the chess world with a 2700 performance. Two months later the new Bulgarian star FM Borislav Ivanov finished 88th in the Plovdiv, this time with a performance of 1970. Then came another enviable achievement, a clear win at the Villava rapid (again with a 2700 performance). What is going on? Alex Karaivanov speculates, with new video analysis by Valeri Lilov.

Candidates – postmortem of round six

3/22/2013 – The first game to end was Svidler vs Carlsen, a smooth win for the Norwegian in a more or less standard Ruy Lopez position. Levon Aronian beat Teimour Radjabov on the black side of another relatively quiet Ruy. Vladimir Kramnik had good chances against Vassily Ivanchuk, but once again couldn't get the ball into the net. Carlsen and Aronian now have a 1.5 lead over the field. Video postgame discussions and analysis by IM Zura Javakhadze.

Candidates R6 – Carlsen, Aronian win, lead

3/21/2013 – Joseph "the Black Death" Blackburne – famous for his prowess with the Black pieces - must be smiling as he sees today’s games in the Candidates! As the second player, Carlsen and Aronian dismantled Svidler’s and Radjabov’s early d3 Spanish. Gelfand couldn’t punish Grischuk’s blunder, and Kramnik and Ivanchuk drew in a wild game. Analysis to follow. Express report.

1st Chess & Science Festival for girls

3/21/2013 – Many parents still believe that science, business and mathematics are for men and their daughters should not compete in these areas. It’s sad, but it is true – girls are encouraged to go into music, art, teaching… and stay away from the areas currently dominated by men. Three-time US Women's Champion WGM Anjelina Belakovskaia wants to do something about this – with a Kickstarter project.

Candidates – postmortem of round five

3/21/2013 – One of the fascinating innovations of top-level chess tournaments is that players have now agreed to give live interviews immediately after each round, and actually analyse the games they have just completed. Take a look at round five, where all eight players appeared to discuss their games  with press officer Anastasiya Karlovich.

Candidates R5 – all four games drawn

3/20/2013 – Both Peter Svidler and Vassily Ivanchuk had winning chances today, against Boris Gelfand and Magnus Carlsen respectively. Svilder mysteriously missed it, as did Ivanchuk in his usual time trouble. Vladimir Kramnik outplayed Levon Aronian, who however found some very resourceful moves to draw the game.  Round five report with pictures and videos.

Nunn on the Candidates – decision at the end

3/20/2013 – Dr John Nunn is one of England's strongest chess players and once was in the world's top ten. He is no longer active as a competition player but works mainly in writing and publishing chess books. During round four of the Candidates Tournament in London he appeared at the press-center for the first time, keeping a low profile. He predicted: the winner will be determined in the last round. Interview.

Candidates – Carlsen and Paulson in BBC News

3/20/2013 – On the free day, Monday, the national British TV channel BBC News interviewed the organiser of the Candidates Tournament Andrew Paulson, and the highest-ranking chess player in the world Magnus Carlsen. During the discussion the presenter Ros Atkins played a game against Magnus, in which he was proud to give a check on move eight. Watch it on BBC News.

Candidates R4 – Carlsen joins Aronian in the lead

3/19/2013 – The World #1 proves again that he can win any type of position. A powerful dark squared blockade enabled Magnus Carlsen to be safe in the kingside while his knights tore apart the weakened structure on Alexander Grischuk’s queenside. The other three games of the round were drawn, which meant that Carlsen and Aronian are now tied in the lead with 3.0/4 points. Full report with GM commentary.

Candidates – expert commentary on round three

3/18/2013 – It was easily the most exciting day of the Candidates Tournament so far: three decisive games, two of which saw Black taking home the full point. In our report yesterday we brought you express analysis of one game, Ivanchuk vs Aronian, and today we have GM/IM commentary of the other two (and more on Ivanchuk-Aronian) in our illustrated round 3+ report.

Candidates – Boris Gelfand (2740 – World #18)

3/18/2013 – The Israeli GM is theoretically the top seed in this event, due to his his status as the incumbent challenger – he took Anand to the brink in the 2012 World Championship match. But he is eighth on FIDE ratings in this tournament, while a certain Norwegian is the world's number one (we are saving him for our final portrait). Boris Gelfand is the subject of today's portrait by Michael von Keitz.

A bodycheck, a Krushing attack, a rook retreat...

3/18/2013 – The London Candidates Tournament is great, but something's missing: not a single female player. For those of you suffering withdrawal our  ChessBaseMagazine columnist GM Karsten Müller has taken a look back at the Women's World Team Championship and some of the instructive and entertaining endgames it produced. Learn and enjoy.

Candidates R3 – Three decisive games

3/17/2013 – Peter Svidler won an excellent game against Teimour Radjabov; Levon Aronian beat Vassily Ivanchuk, with the black pieces, in what was certainly the most gripping game of the round; and Magnus Carlsen outplayed Boris Gelfand, also with black, in the last game to end. Aronian leads with 2.5/3 and a 3069 performance, followed by Peter Svidler and Magnus Carlsen. Full report with GM analysis.

Martin: The Modern Slav Modernized

3/17/2013 – 'Andrew Martin has been a fixture in the DVD market for many years now,' writes Colin Potts in Chess Cafe. 'His easy delivery makes him a particular favorite among junior players. He does not talk down to his audience, but he is plain-spoken and enjoyable company. Do not let the cheeky chappy cockney demeanor fool you, though; he is eloquent, knowledgeable, and intelligently incisive'.

Candidates R2 – Radjabov, Aronian draw first blood

3/16/2013 – With the ghost of a drawfest from the previous Candidates cycle, and the sedate first round, Carlsen’s quick draw with Kramnik caused some consternation. This was soon dissipated as Gelfand missed a deadly Bh6+ and succumbed to Aronian, while Radjabov concluded a deadly vice against Ivanchuk for the second point. The Candidates is certainly heating up. Now with GM analyis.

4th Tata Steel Studies Composing tourney

3/16/2013 – During the Tata Steel Chess Tournament this January there was a special study composing tourney, which produced 89 entries, of which 20 received awards. Tournament judge Yochanan Afek has been showing us the prize-winning studies, with explanations of their solutions. After parts one and two here is part three.

Candidates R1 – all games drawn

3/15/2013 – Peter Svidler vs Vladimir Kramnik finished as a draw in 23 moves. Levon Aronian vs Magnus Carlsen lasted 31 moves before a draw was agreed. Gelfand-Radjabov lasted 36 moves and Ivanchuk-Grischuk 44. Anyone hoping for major upsets or heroic wins will have to wait until the players shrug off their caution. Full report with pictures, video and GM analysis.

Nancy 2013 - Grand Prix of France won by Tkachiev

3/15/2013 – On March 9-10, the Nancy stage of the French Rapid Grand Prix was held, bringing in several elite players, as well as a platoon of enthusiasts. Of the 210 players who came, only sixteen would qualify for the Sunday knockout stage. The surprise of the event was Vladimir Dobrov, who beat several 2700s to make it to the final, but ultimately lost to Vladislav Tkachiev in a powerful attack.

Candidates – players in London, opening ceremony

3/15/2013 – The Candidates Tournament for the World Championship 2013 starts on Friday. The main sponsor is the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic SOCAR, which has sponsored elite events chess in the past. The players are all in London, and on Thursday there was a brief ceremony at which FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov official opened the event. Ray Morris-Hill sent us pictures.

Team events: beating the bookmakers?!

3/15/2013 – "Many of you must have heard about sports betting and odds offered by bookmakers," writes Peter Zhdanov. While he is in no way interested in making money by placing bets, the analytical aspect of the problem seemed to him to be worth researching. His article is a lesson in how to precisely work out the odds in a team tournaments.