In memoriam: Bobby Fischer's 1956 debut

1/23/2008 – With the passing of the legendary Robert James Fischer, our Playchess lecturer Dennis Monokroussos finds it appropriate to commemorate his great career and contributions to the game. Dennis starts with the game that launched him on the world stage, his win as a 13-year-old over the very strong master Donald Byrne, from the 1956 Rosenwald tournament. Wednesday night, 9 p.m. ET.

Wijk round nine: the tournament spectacular

1/23/2008 – Topalov vs Kramnik in round nine was pure spectacle, with a stunning novelty which had been kept a secret for three years, complicated middlegame fight and mutual missed opportunities. And with a kibitzing Garry Kasparov offering special insights. Adams gradually squeezed van Wely in a static position, managed to win a pawn with a simple trick and then the game. Mihail Marin comments.

Wijk R10: Magnus Carlsen wins, takes sole lead

1/23/2008 – Yesterday the Norwegian was very unlucky to blunder one move before the time control. Today he was in dire time pressure again, and forced to blitz it out against Dutch GM Loek van Wely. But this time Magnus turned a completely lost position into a win, and with it regained the sole lead in this tournament. Ivanchuk beat Eljanov with black. Express report.

Short-Cheparinov handshake game ends 1-0

1/22/2008 – After his opponent had refused to shake hands at the start of their round eight game Nigel Short was awarded the full point by the arbiter. The Appeals Committee decided to give Ivan Cheparinov a chance to repair the damage with an apology, and the game was rescheduled for the free day. Would Nigel accept? In the end he did and proved that 'there is a God, and he is not Bulgarian!'

Bobby Fischer buried in Iceland

1/22/2008 – Chess legend Robert James Fischer, eleventh world champion, was laid to rest in the cemetery of Laugardalur Church outside the town of Selfoss, 60 km south of Reykjavik. Fischer, who died of kidney failure, had requested that only a handful of people be present at the funeral – amongst them Fischer's companion, Miyoko Watai. We bring you the wire reports and a statement by Garry Kasparov.

Wijk aan Zee round eight annotated

1/21/2008 – Sunday saw only three real fights and just one decisive game. Topalov employed a strategically ambitious, but rather time consuming plan against Anand, who reacted with great precision and Black soon found himself under pressure on both wings. Polgar sacrificed a pawn against Kramnik in order to annihilate White's pressure and get some initiative in exchange. GM Mihail Marin comments.

Wijk R08: Cheparinov forfeits on handshake, appeals

1/21/2008 – In the B Group Nigel Short offered his opponent Ivan Cheparinov the traditional handshake, which was twice refused. Short protested, the arbiters defaulted Cheparinov, whose manager Silvio Danailov lodged a protest. The Appeals Committee decided the game should be replayed after an apology. But Tuesday's game Topalov-Kramnik may exacerbate the situation. Documents and video.

Wijk R08: Anand beats Topalov, Carlsen leads

1/21/2008 – Amid the turbulences around the Short-Cheparinov game the Wijk aan Zee tournament saw Vishy Anand score a key victory against Veselin Topalov. Magnus Carlsen leads alone in Group A. In Group B Sergei Movsesian is also alone in pole position, as is the amazing Fabiano Caruana in Group C. Express report with results, tables and games.

Mihail Marin on Wijk round seven

1/20/2008 – "A very interesting round," writes our GM commentator, "with only two decisive games, but a surprisngly high average of moves per game." Judit Polgar obtained a stable advantage out of the opening, but lost control of the position and lost. Aronian beat Radjabov with accurate play and a small material advantage. In a joyless position, Radjabov blundered. Annotated games.

Edward Winter presents: Unsolved Chess Mysteries (23)

1/20/2008 – We present a special Fischer edition of items from Chess Notes, with discussion of games, photographs, quotes and publications. An obscure match played in Belgrade in 1958, a three-word note by Fischer which has perplexed commentators, and a collection of his 52 (not 60) Memorable Games. On these and many other matters readers are invited to join in the hunt for clues.

Another endgame lesson from the masters

1/19/2008 – Despite three short draws, round six in Wijk aan Zee was very interesting, with many spectacular moments. The longest battle (110 moves!) was Kramnik-Aronian. It offered us an interesting theoretical duel, culminating with a spectacular innovation by Kramnik, a complex (but rather short) middlegame phase and another "tablebases" drawn ending. Explanations by Mihail Marin.

Wijk R07: Aronian, Anand win, Carlsen leads

1/19/2008 – Levon Aronian bounced back from yesterday's loss to score a fine victory over Teimour Radjabov. World Champion Vishy Anand defeated Judit Polgar from a position he had had against her in the same place ten years earlier. Movsesian and Bacrot lead Group B,. In Group C GM Efstratios Grivas brought down the leader Arik Braun and sent us his annotations of the game.

Marin on round five: After the rest day draws and blunders

1/18/2008 – The free day seems to have had a relaxing effect over most of the players. Three draws were agreed in 25 moves or less, while in the decisive games unexpected mistakes could be seen. Especially poignant: Boris Gelfand, 2nd/3rd in the World Championship in Mexico, blundered his queen in one. And that a round after he missed a great chance against Judit Polgar. Mihail Marin comments.

Bobby Fischer dies in Iceland

1/18/2008 – One of the world's greatest chess geniuses, Bobby Fischer, has died at the age of 64. A spokesman for Fischer said the former world chess champion passed away in a Reykjavik hospital yesterday. The US-born former world chess champion, who became famous around the world for beating the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky in 1972, had been seriously ill for some time. Rest in Peace, Bobby.

Wijk R06: Topalov, Kramnik, Carlsen win

1/18/2008 – Magnus Øen Carlsen was not even two when Bobby Fischer played his second match against Spassky. Today the 17-year-old Norwegian is dominating the Super-GM in Wijk aan Zee, where a victory over Judit Polgar kept him on top of the table. Alone, since Aronian lost to Kramnik, who advanced to second. Veselin Topalov continues his comeback with a victory over Peter Leko. Express report.

Problem finding positions? A five-minute fix

1/18/2008 – Big or Mega Database 2008, with over 3.7 million games, are now installed in computers all over the world. Some users have encountered problems when searching for positions. This can be caused by a damaged or incomplete search booster. Luckily there is a quick fix that takes just a few minutes and cures all related problems. Here's how you go about it.

Wijk R05: Topalov draws first blood, Radjabov joins leaders

1/17/2008 – The predicted comeback has been initiated: Veselin Topalov put Boris Gelfand under pressure until the latter broke on move 26. Shak Mamedyarov defeated Loek van Wely to level at 50%, while Teimour Radjabov beat Pavel Eljanov to join the leaders. Bacrot leads Group B, IM Arik Braun Group C. Tomorrow there will be live commentary by Yasser Seirawan. Express report.

An hour and a half in the life of Garry Kasparov

1/17/2008 – "Winter guests" is the name of a Dutch TV program in which international personalities are visited and shown their favourite moments from famous movies. After David Lynch, Naomi Klein and Desmond Tutu presenter Joris Luyendijk visited Garry Kasparov in Moscow and now presents a relaxed 90-minute conversation with the legendary World Champion. Do not miss.

Fridrik Olafsson: the creative genius of a septuagenarian

1/16/2008 – In his hayday he beat Tartakower, Larsen, Fischer, Petrosian, Keres, Tal, Karpov, Korchnoi and contemporaries like Timman and Seirawan. Last August Fridrik Olafsson played Dutch prodigy Vincent Rothuis, whom he spotted 55 years, and surprised everyone with a novelty on move – three! Our Playchess.com lecturer Dennis Monokroussos looks at this amazing game.

Wijk R04: A spectacular round, with three decisive games

1/16/2008 – And with several hard-fought draws. Judit Polgar beat Boris Gelfand with the black pieces, using a far advanced d-pawn combined with a kingside attack; Topalov's opening experiment with black against Van Wely ended in a total fiasco and, although he put up tough resistance until the 81st move; Kramnik's win over Eljanov was a characteristic squeeze. GM Mihail Marin comments.

Wijk R03: All games drawn, excitement in the lower groups

1/15/2008 – After the furious start today the A-Group took a break, with draws in 17 moves (Eljanov-Anand), 22 (Ivanchuk-Gelfand), 23 (Mamedyarov-Kramnik) and 27 (Aronian-Leko). Other games lasted 38, 45 and 85 moves. We will focus our attention on that last in tomorrow's analysis. Today we concentrate on the B and C Groups. In one there is a 13-year-old GM killer on the loose.

A great moment in chess (Part 2)

1/15/2008 – Reykjavik, July 11, 1972. Of the 3000 spectators at the "Match of the Century" 500 have already left, since the position on the board has no winning chances for either side. But then Bobby Fischer plays 29...Bxh2. Gudmundur Thorarinsson, President of the Icelandic Chess Federation, says: "One move and we hit every front page everywhere in the world." Prof. Christian Hesse narrates.

Wijk R03: A highly intstructive endgame struggle

1/15/2008 – All games of round three drawn – but one was a tense 85-move battle from which there is a lot to learn. Watching the tournament on Playchess.com Russian politician Garry Kasparov tried to explain its complexities – without the use of the computer. Our commentator Mihail Marin did have tablebases and attempts to do just that, in an endgame training session you cannot afford to miss.

Wijk R04: Judit, Kramnik win, Topalov loses to van Wely

1/15/2008 – When is the last time you saw Veselin Topalov languishing at the bottom of a table with minus two? A second loss, to Dutch local Loek van Wely, in round four of the Wijk aan Zee Super-GM left the former FIDE world champion at the bottom of the table. Judit Polgar scored a victory over luckless Boris Gelfand. After a draw against each other Carlsen and Aronian remain in the lead. Express report.