Ilyumzhinov proposes chess center at Ground Zero

9/17/2010 – There's a new player in the controversy over the plan to build an Islamic community center (a "Ground Zero mosque") just two blocks away from the location of the World Trade Center. The ever flamboyant Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has offered to buy the plot for ten million dollars – outbidding Donald Trump, who offered $7.5 million – and build a king-shaped chess center there instead. Press stories.

BBC lecture: Armenia, the cleverest nation on earth

9/17/2010 – Next Tuesday the 39th Chess Olympiad begins in Khanty Mansiysk, with Russia is the favourite in all categories. But wait – who won the last two? It was Armenia, a tiny country with a total population less than a third that of Moscow. How is that possible – is it something in the water? Gabriel Gatehouse of the BBC tries to answer this question in a wonderfully interesting BBC World Service broadcast.

To be reopened? Fischer paternity suit

9/16/2010 – It seems all fairly conclusive, but Jinky and Marilyn Young's Philippine lawyer Samuel Estimo continues to fight on – despite some fairly compelling DNA evidence, provided by a University Clinic in Germany, against the plaintiffs. Estimo cites circumstantial evidence, including an expensive house Fischer bought for his "daughter" in an exclusive suburb of Manila. Evidence and arguments.

Women's World Chess Blitz Championship: semifinal

9/16/2010 – The semifinals of the first Women's World Chess Blitz Championship took place from which six qualify to the final where they will rejoin ten other players awaiting them. The clear winner was American IM Irina Krush, 1.5 points ahead of 2nd place, WGM Nebolsina. Zhukova, Skripchenko, Gaponenko, and Muzychuk also made the final. Report by WGM Yana Melnikova with many beautiful pictures.

G-Star RAW Challenge with Magnus Carlsen – in videos

9/15/2010 – Last weekend we brought a report describing how Magnus pounded the world in the RAW Chess Challenge. It was staged in New York and had a sparkling row of guests in attendence. The hosts, jeans manufacturer G-Star, had a professional video team capturing it all. Spend some time watching these HD impressions of what can plausibly claim to be the chess spectacle of the year.

Chinese Chess League Division A: Rounds 10-12

9/14/2010 – The monumental 18-round Chinese League Division A, which spans over eight months, played in each team's hometown, pursued its course with three rounds played this weekend. Shangdong continues to dominate with eleven wins, led by Bu Xiangzhi and Hou Yifan. Alexander Motylev is on a seven-win streak and 2848 performance. Here is the pictorial coverage with tactical highlights.

Odessa City Chess Birthday Celebrations

9/14/2010 – The city was founded 216 years ago, and commemorated this with annually with a colorful birthday spectacular. Since it is Ukraine chess plays a prominent role, and this year again there were simuls, a living chess match and many other activities around the nation's favourite passtime. A lot of prominence was present, as you will see in this beautiful pictorial report by GM Mikhail Golubev.

Playchess.com – and now we are nine

9/14/2010 – My, how time flies. It seems like just yesterday we launched our chess game server, with dozens of people waiting at the virtual door when we switched it on. That was September 14, 2001. Today Playchess has grown into the biggest professional chess server in the world, with hundreds of thousands of members and hundreds of millions of games played. Here are some birthday statistics.

Müller: The Beauty of Rook Endings

9/13/2010 – Rook endings occur very frequently, so John Nunn’s latest work, Chess Endings Vol. 2, is particularly useful for the tournament player. Nunn is ideally qualified as an author owing to his vast experience in the field, as Dr Karsten Müller explains in his review. We use it to return to the subject of astronomy and explain how the Orion Nebula made it to the cover of a chess book.

Kasparov beats Short in London fund-raiser

9/13/2010 – "The guest list included over 100 millionaires and three billionaires," says our awestricken reporter Steve Giddins about the Gala fund-raiser in London. It was in benefit of Anatoly Karpov's campaign for the FIDE presidency and included a consultation game between Garry Kasparov and Nigel Short, which Steve managed to broadcast to Playchess directly from Simpson's-in-the-Strand. Here's his report.

Magnus pounds The World in RAW Chess Challenge

9/12/2010 – It was the chess spectacle of the year. Tens of thousands of spectators joined three strong grandmasters to play the world's highest ranked player Magnus Carlsen. The event took place in a penthouse overlooking New York City, with GMs Maurice Ashley and Garry Kasparov commenting, and Hollywood actress Liv Tyler dropping in. We bring you pictures and the annotated game.

BBC lecture: Seeking the Endgame

9/12/2010 – Got a minute? Actually 25. Simon Terrington has done a lively review of the current state of chess in the world, with special attention to computers intruding into the erstwhile exclusively human game. Some of the program was recorded during the Sofia World Championship earlier this year, and you hear the voices of Anand and Cheparinov. Part one of the report.

Kavalek at Huffington: Chess Great Bent Larsen

9/12/2010 – "I was fortunate to witness Larsen's many victorious drives in tournaments and matches," writes GM Lubos Kavalek in his Huffington Post chess column. "From 1963 till 1986, we played 30 games against each other all over the world." Kavalek show us a game in which Larsen destroys him but wrote "To Lubos, who allowed me to believe in chess beauty." Must read.

Edward Winter's Chess Explorations (47)

9/12/2010 – The Editor of Chess Notes turns his attention to the Fédération Internationale des Echecs (FIDE), the chess world’s governing body, from the historical standpoint. When, for instance, did the FIDE motto Gens una sumus first appear? There are also references to the Federation’s anthem and to various other administrative and political activities of FIDE since its foundation in 1924.

The enigma of the Lewis chessmen

9/11/2010 – In 1831, in Edinburgh, Scotland, a collection of chessmen found on the Isle of Lewis was displayed for the first time. These 12th century handcrafted pieces made from walrus tusks and whale teeth have since become iconic examples of our lasting love for wargames. Their origins, however, is one of theory and controversy. Here is an illustrated article on the world's most famous chess set.

Chess legend Bent Larsen dies at 75

9/10/2010 – The best Danish chess player of all time, Bent Larsen, died yesterday, Thursday September 9th, 2010, after a short illness. He had suffered for a number of years from diabetes, but it is not yet known whether this was the cause of his death. In the latter part of his life Larsen resided in Buenos Aires with his Argentinian wife Marta. He will always be remembered.

Shanghai Masters: Kramnik joins Shirov for Grand Slam final

9/9/2010 – The last round had promised to be a tense affair with both Kramnik and Aronian tied for second/third, and only one spot in the final up for grabs. On paper, Kramnik's chances seemed preferable, but neither he nor Aronian were able to break the deadlock. This left it to a two-game blitz playoff, which also went the distance, and only after the Armageddon, did Kramnik prevail. Final report.

Tomorrow in New York: Magnus vs the World

9/9/2010 – The countdown is under way: on September 10th, at 12:00 noon, in New York City, the current number one ranked chess player in the world – will take on the world. The match will take place online, and you can watch it on the special RAW World Chess site and on Playchess.com. The drawing of colours gave Magnus white. Yesterday he stopped in Amsterdam for an appearance on Dutch TV.

Ilyumzhinov resigns as President of Kalmykia

9/7/2010 – We informed our readers in a July report that this could happen. Now Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has, in his own words, "requested not to be considered for another term as head of the Republic of Kalmykia" – where he has served as President since 1993. From now on he wants to devote his attention fully to FIDE, which he has served since 1995. Statements and press reports.

Formula One: the Abu Dhabi Chess Festival

9/7/2010 – This annual Festival of mind sports is held as a Ramadan event, with the games starting at 10 p.m. at night, in keeping with the traditions of the holy month where Muslims fast from sunrise until sunset. The venue is Abu Dhabi with its super-luxury buildings, hotels, and the most expensive Formula One racing track in the world. Which the participants visited. Big pictorial report.

Shanghai Masters: Kramnik, Shirov win with black

9/7/2010 – The fifth round was one of decision and indecision. Shirov managed yet another miracle win against Wang Hao, sealing both their fates, and a ticket to the grand final in October, while Kramnik pulled off a flawless technical win against Aronian, tying him for second/third, leaving the last spot to be decided in the last round. Though the draw favours Kramnik, their fates are in their hands.

FIDE Election: Anatoly Karpov on the campaign trail

9/6/2010 – In our previous report we brought you up-to-date on the activities of the incumbent Kirsan Ilyumzhinov in the FIDE Presidential election. Today we turn our attention to the challenger, 12th World Champion Anatoly Karpov, whose campaign site has many very critical articles. We have also received a travelogue. In addition there is some potentially explosive breaking news.

Shanghai Masters: Shirov beats Kramnik to take the lead

9/6/2010 – After seven dry years, Shirov beat Kramnik in a serious game, and in style. Their Nimzo-Indian with four deeply advanced pawns was certainly odd. Kramnik took so much time preparing his perfect moment, that it had passed before he or even any chess engine realized. He kept it a fight, but succumbed in the end. Aronian pressed against Hao for 50 moves, but drew. Impressions from Shanghai.

Chess and Astronomy – live discussion tonight

9/6/2010 – One of the most ardent users of Global Rent-a-Scope, a network of remotely operated astronomical telescopes, is chess grandmaster Dr John Nunn. On August 8th a live interview on AFM chat was planned – but had to be postponed due to illness. You can listen in tonight at 18:00 UTC/GMT. Visitor participation is welcome and you have a chance to win telescope time.