Elista R12: Kasimdzhanov beats Cheparinov, all other games drawn

12/27/2008 – Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan, one of Vishy Anand's trusted seconds (at the World Championship in Bonn) had a very spotty start to this event. But today he scored his second victory in succession, this time against Ivan Cheparinov of Bulgaria, one of former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov's trusted seconds. All other games were drawn, the table remains essentially the same.

A plethora of Rybka engines

12/26/2008 – Rybka has joined the stable of ChessBase engines! In the start of a multi-part series on this amazing chess engine's new features, our ChessBase Workshop columnist tackles the plethora of engines which ship with the two Rybka versions. Read more about this host of new engines in the latest Workshop.

Hugh Myers (1930-2008), opening theoretician

12/25/2008 – The chess world has lost a particularly creative player and prominent exponent of unorthodox openings. Hugh Myers was a true chess lover: an author, theoretician and magazine editor who wrote a gripping autobiography and made a memorable contribution to chess politics. Four of his entertaining games are presented here. In memoriam.

Elista R10: White Christmas at the Grand Prix

12/25/2008 – It was not a peaceful festival day in Elista: five decisive games out of seven, with White winning them all. That put three players in the joint lead: Dmitry Jakovenko, Teimour Radjabov and Alexander Grischuk, with yesterday's leader Vugar Gashimov half a point behind. With three rounds to go these four are in contention. Round ten report.

Elista R9: Gashimov catches Grischuk

12/24/2008 – Alexander Grischuk drew against Vladimir Akopain, while Vugar Gashimov ensnared Shakhriyar Mamedyarov's queen to take the full point and join him in the lead. Dmitry Jakovenko played a great attacking game against Rustam Kasimdzhanov, Teimour Radjabov defeated Pavel Eljanov with black, and Wang Yue outplayed Ivan Cheparinov. Report and questionnaire on how to cope with failures.

ACP, Carlsen on the FIDE Grand Prix problems

12/24/2008 – The Association of Chess Professionals thinks that FIDE failed to demand sufficient bank guarantees from the Grand Prix bidders, and that players who were deprived of their participation should be compensated. Meanwhile, Nick Faulks evaluates the previous ACP report, and Magnus Carlsen provides further background information on his withdrawal from the Grand Prix. Info and opinions.

AMD in India: Vishy Anand's media blitz

12/23/2008 – Advanced Micro Devices is the second-largest global supplier of microprocessors and the third-largest supplier of graphics processing units. World Chess Champion Vishwanathan Anand is the brand model for AMD, which is driving large ad campaigns with him in India. On his current trip to his birth country Anand took part in a media blitz in the "Silicon City" of Bangalore. Press clippings.

Elista R7: Grischuk, Inarkiev, Eljanov win, Grischuk now leads

12/22/2008 – Alexander Grischuk won his second consecutive game today, with a well-played Benko/Volga Gambit as black against Evgeny Alekseev. Teimour Radjabov spoilt a perfectly good position against Ernesto Inarkiev, losing for the first time in this event. Pavel Eljanov played a 125-mover to grind out a win against Ivan Cheparinov in a queen ending. Report with an interview with Teimour Radjabov.

Mikhail Tal – the all-time winner

12/22/2008 – "Fischer and Kasparov might head the polls for 'greatest player ever'", says Dennis Monokroussos, "but when it comes to favorites Tal might be the all-time winner." In his Playchess lecture – this time on Monday night at 9 p.m. ET (early Tuesday for those of you in Europe) he shows us why, using the 1957 game Tal-Koblentz to illustrate the point.

Carsten Hensel and Vladimir Kramnik – no longer a team

12/22/2008 – "We would like to inform you that we will not extend our contract," says the terse statement put out by the many-year manager of Vladimir Kramnik. Carsten Hensel, who was directly responsible for the organisation of World Championship matches (Kramnik-Leko, Kramnik-Anand) and the computer match Kramnik-Deep Fritz, parts company with his main client on December 31st. Press release.

Elista R8: Grischuk does it again: wins and leads

12/22/2008 – Today Alexander Grischuk won his third game in succession (we're counting, Sasha!), against the "undefeatable" Chinese GM Wang Yue. Rustam Kasimdzhanov won his first game in this event, beating Vladimir Akopian, while Ivan Cheparinov played a stunner against Evgeny Alekseev to take the full point. Grischuk leads alone, by half a point. Round eight report.

Elista R6: Grischuk, Alekseev win, marathon games in Elista

12/21/2008 – Alexander Grischuk had to work for 79 moves to win his pawn-up ending against Pavel Eljanov. Evgeny Alexseev outplayed the Armenian GM Vladimir Akopian on the black side of a Ruy Lopez Breyer which lasted 61 moves. Cheparinov-Gashimov concluded with bare kings on move 68. Mamedyarov-Leko was a titanic 110-move struggle which ended in a draw. Round six report.

Nanjing R10: Topalov wins Pearl Spring with 2890 performance

12/21/2008 – Ivanchuk outplayed the Chinese GM Bu Xiangzhi to take a final point in the Pearl Spring Tournament in Nanjing. Aronian-Svidler was drawn in 45 moves, while the Slav between Topalov and Movsesian lasted 32 moves before peace was agreed. In the final standings Veselin Topalov finished a point and a half ahead of the field – another remarkable performance by the Bulgarian Super-GM. Final report.

Edward Winter's Chess Explorations (14)

12/21/2008 – The end-of-year quiz presented by the Editor of Chess Notes is simplicity itself (or almost): decide which move White played in each of six positions. The main prize is a copy of Yasser Seirawan’s fine book Winning Chess Combinations, which the US master will inscribe personally to the winner of the competition. The battle is now on.

Nanjing R9: Topalov defeats Svidler, wins Pearl Spring

12/20/2008 – Is he on his way to becoming the greatest player in the history of chess? Veselin Topalov won the penultimate game of the Super-GM in Nanjing, beating Peter Svidler with the black pieces. That puts him a point and a half ahead of the field and clear the winner of the event. Topalov's "live rating" is now 2810, almost 20 points ahead of World Champion Viswanathan Anand. Full illustrated report.

Updating your ChessBase 10 Database

12/19/2008 – ChessBase 10 allows you to update your database via the Internet with just a mouseclick. But it's important to properly select the target database beforehand. We show you how to do this in the newest ChessBase Workshop.

Nanjing R7: Svidler and Aronian win, Bu-Topalov drawn

12/19/2008 – By far the most attention was given to the game between the leaders of the Pearl Spring Tournament: Bu Xiangzhi vs Topalov ended in a 70-move draw, with the Chinese GM pressing. Meanwhile there was plenty of (black) action in the other two games: Peter Svidler beat Sergei Movsesian, and Levon Aronian beat Vassily Ivanchuk, who had an accident with his chair. Full illustrated report.

Elista R5: Cheparinov, Gashimov win, Gashimov leads

12/19/2008 – Round five of the FIDE Grand Prix in Elista saw Ivan Cheparinov try a novelty against Ernesto Inarkiev, fall into trouble, but then extricate himself and win. Vugar Gashimov too turned around a dangerous position, against Grischuk, and also took the full point. Now two Azeris, Gashimov and Radjabov, are in the lead, with 3.5/5 points. The organisation used the opportunity to poll the players on doping.

Nanjing R8: Topalov defeats Ivanchuk, leads by a full point

12/19/2008 – Veselin Topalov has done it again: in round eight of the Pearl Spring Tournament the former FIDE world champion chalked up another victory, defeating the second seed Vassily Ivanchuk in convincing style to take sole lead in the table, a full point ahead of his colleagues. Peter Svidler put a damper on the ambitions of Bu Xiangzhi, giving the Chinese GM his first loss in the event. Illustrated report.

Feel the age of change in chess

12/19/2008 – Vlastimil Hort was born a year after Bobby Fischer and played no fewer than eight world champions in his career. On his new DVD 'Facing the World Champions' Hort looks back at these encounters, devoting a chapter to each of them. The DVD is packed with personal memories and anecdotes and represents a unique piece of chess history. Buy it now or read more.

Elista R4: Bacrot, Alekseev and Wang Yue win

12/18/2008 – The game of the day was a 31-mover between top French GM Etienne Bacrot and top Hungarian Peter Leko. The latter played a Caro-Kann, had a good position but fell to the amazingly complex tactics that the game produced. Wang Yue won a nice light-piece ending against Pavel Eljanov, and Evgeny Alekseev outplayed the luckless Rustam Kasimdzhanov. Illustrated report from Elista.

Elista R3: Radjabov, Leko, Eljanov win, Radjabov leads

12/17/2008 – Round three of the Third FIDE Grand Prix brought three decisive games: Teimour Radjabov beat Rustam Kasimdzhanov in a very convincing game, to take the sole lead in the tournament with 2.5/3. Peter Leko defeated Topalov second Ivan Cheparinov, and Pavel Eljanov took a full point from Russian GM Evgeny Alekseev. Illustrated report from Elista.

Max Euwe: the Candidate's Swan Song

12/17/2008 – In 1953 the former World Chess Champion was bringing his career as an elite player to a close – at a Candidates' Tournament with two games classic games: a dashing attacking one against Najdorf and a brilliant defensive one against Geller. Both involved a fantastic speculative rook sacrifice. See it unfold in Wednesday's Playchess lecture by Dennis Monokroussos. You're good to go!

Do we want to introduce the title of

12/17/2008 – Are there too many grandmasters, and do we need a new title of "Elite Grandmaster" (EGM) for the very strongest of them? Should the FIDE rating list be published more often? Or would that slow down players too much on the Elo scale? What to do about cellphones, coming late for games, draw offers? GM Bartlomiej Macieja reports for the ACP on the FIDE Congress in Dresden.