10/23/2025 – After four rounds of the European Club Cup in Batumi, Alkaloid (pictured, right), Novy Bor and SuperChess share the lead in the open section with perfect 8/8 match points. Limhamns from Sweden have emerged as the surprise contenders after defeating MTK Budapest. In the women's event, Cercle d'Echecs Monte Carlo are the sole leaders with a flawless 8/8 record, followed by Tajfun SK Ljubljana, Sirmium Sremska Mitrovica and Crvena Zvezda two match points behind. | Photo: Patricia Claros

10/22/2025 – We take a unique behind-the-scenes look at how top chess masters organize their digital workspace. Grandmasters and trainers like Svitlana Demchenko, Robert Ris, Michael Prusikin, Harald Schneider-Zinner, Frederik Svane, Felix Blohberger, and Dorian Rogozenco share their screens to reveal their personal ChessBase 18 setups — from meticulously clean desktops to chaotic databases full of ideas. They show us their board designs, current projects, and discuss their favourite or most-used ChessBase functions, offering fascinating insights into how great minds prepare, study, and work with chess.

10/22/2025 – Did you find the only move in this very famous study, composed almost exactly a century ago, that allows White to draw? It looks like the stupidest move one could make – move the king to a square that takes it further away from the black pawn and blocks the promotion of his own pawn. Problem expert Werner Keym selected six studies in similar style for you to solve. Here, today, are the solutions.

10/21/2025 – FIDE has created a new world championship, the Total World Chess Championship. The top two players qualify for the World Championship Candidates Tournament. Well, it's complicated. Indian Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi explains.

10/21/2025 – Round eight of the US Chess Championships in Saint Louis began with a moment of silence for Daniel Naroditsky, whose passing cast a shadow over the day's play. Fabiano Caruana and Wesley So retained their joint lead after drawing their games, while Levon Aronian closed the gap by defeating Sam Shankland. In the women's championship, Alice Lee extended her advantage to a full point after outplaying Tatev Abrahamyan with the white pieces. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

10/21/2025 – From the classrooms of Trujillo to the tournament halls of Europe, Patricia Claros Aguilar has built a career defined by purpose, empathy and excellence. The Peruvian-born organiser, now based in Spain, reflects on her 25-year journey in chess - from humble beginnings to international recognition. Honoured with the 2025 Special Prize from the Chess Hall of Fame of the Americas, she shares insights on education, leadership, innovation and the unifying power of chess. | Photos: Patricia Claros' Archive

10/21/2025 – In an endgame often a knight can be sacrificed to create dangerous passed pawns: Black to move and win?

10/20/2025 – Today, his family announced the death of Daniel Naroditsky. The talented American grandmaster was an active online player and streamer, as well as a popular commentator. He would have turned 30 on 9 November. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

10/20/2025 – The European Club Cup continued in Rhodes with the favourites showing no signs of slowing down. After two rounds, all leading teams in both the open and women's sections remain unbeaten, setting the stage for decisive clashes in the coming days. Alkaloid and Paul Keres #1 lead the open standings with strong individual performances, while in the women's competition, Sirmium Sremska Mitrovica's flawless 8/8 start keeps them ahead of Monte Carlo (pictured), Turkish Airlines, SuperChess and Tajfun Ljubljana. | Photo: Patricia Claros

10/20/2025 – Can you imagine writing about rising chess stars who are up to 86 years younger than you? The indefatigable Leonard Barden, who at 96 still fills his weekly London Guardian column, has been keenly following the youngest talents, players between ten and sixteen playing at GM levels. If you want to keep up-to-date on some mind-boggling developments in the game, it is definitely advisable to put Fridays on your schedule to read what Barden has to say.

10/20/2025 – In October and November 2000, the World Championship match between Garry Kasparov and Vladimir Kramnik took place in London under unusual circumstances. With the rediscovered Berlin Defence, Kramnik neutralised Kasparov’s attacking power and became the 14th world champion. A look back. | Photo: Ben Bartels

10/20/2025 – Round seven of the US Chess Championships unfolded like a day of redemption and resolve. Fabiano Caruana struck back with a fierce kingside attack to defeat Hans Niemann, a day after missing a winning blow, while Wesley So calmly ended Andy Woodward's hot streak to stay level with Caruana atop the standings. In the women's Championship, Alice Lee edged ahead by outlasting Atousa Pourkashiyan, while Anna Sargsyan bounced back from two consecutive losses with a win over Thalia Cervantes. | Photo: Lennart Ootes