Will Kübra checkmate the volleyball star?

12/28/2006 – It would be a first in chess. 15-year-old Kübra Öztürk, Gold medal winner at the European U16 Championship, has been nominated for Sportsperson of the Year by the Turkish newspaper Milliyet – and is now in second place behind an international volleyball star. A few more votes and the chess hopeful will take first place. Voting ends on December 29.

India: player gets ten year ban for cheating

12/28/2006 – Umakant Sharma is an Indian chess player who had performed at a steady 1900 level for many years. Then suddenly his rating climbed to 2484, after a series of spectacular tournament successes. A spot search revealed: he was using a bluetooth device stitched into his cap to receive external computer assistance. Now all players are being scanned for hidden devices.

A library on your computer - part three

12/28/2006 – In the continuing series on using a database as your personal chess library, we examine some legal issues regarding fair use of an author's work, as well as how to create a new database in both ChessBase and Fritz. Read all about it in the latest ChessBase Workshop.

With Andrew Martin it's chess 24/7

12/27/2006 – In family life, the days between Christmas and New Year are often rather quiet. Energy is regained. But at ChessBase we work round the clock, relentlessly, to keep up with the latest developments. And so our Playchess Radio Show, packed full of goodies, is back on air this Wednesday, albeit at the slightly earlier time of 15:00h GMT / 16:00h CET. See you on the server.

Lilienthal and the world champions

12/27/2006 – He is too young to have met Steinitz, but at 95 Andor Lilienthal has met every world champion since than, and chalked up wins against a number of them. In his Playchess lecture, which will take place on Thursdays in the future, Dennis Monokroussos takes a look at three key games of the nonagenarian's illustrious career.

A Junior 10 Christmas Present

12/25/2006 – Christmas morning. Did Sinterklaas, the altruistic gentleman contemporarily known as Kris Kringle or Saint Nick, bring you everything you wanted? Just in case, here's a little gift from our Israeli colleagues, Amir Ban and Shay Bushinsky: a new, improved version of the Junior 10 engine, free of charge. Merry Christmas – come and get it!

Kateryna Lahno wins Amity Challenge

12/25/2006 – It was the European Women's Champion vs Indian boy wonder grandmaster, 16 years vs 13, from December 17-25 in New Delhi. And contrary to most expectations it was the Ukrainian girl who won all three sections, classical, rapid and blitz, to clinch an overall 11:7 victory on Christmas day. Final illustrated report by Vishal Sareen.

Lahno sweeps Negi in rapid games

12/24/2006 – After finishing the Classical Chess section of their match in New Delhi with a narrow 3.5:2.5 victory Ukraine star Kateryna Lahno started the rapid section with a 3:0 sweep over the world's youngest grandmaster Parimarjan Negi. Katya now needs three points from the remaining three rapid and six blitz games to take the Rs. 300,000 prize fund. Report by Vishal Sareen.

'Topalov can be disqualified for three years'

12/23/2006 – Recently we published the translation of an interview given by Veselin Topalov to the Spanish newspaper ABC. In it the former FIDE world champion made serious accusations that Vladimir Kramnik may have cheated in their recent title match. Now Kramnik's manager has complained to the FIDE Ethics Committee. If upheld the protest could result in a three-year ban for Topalov.

John Watson: Mastering Chess Openings

12/23/2006 – Most openings books contain copious amounts of variations and analysis, but here is one that takes a radically new approach: John Watson's book, published by Gambit, is aimed to familiarise chess players with the ideas that underlie the opening, with detailed descriptions of the plans and emphasising the the interrelation between one system and another. Review with sampler.

Fear and trembling on the chessboard

12/23/2006 – In the decades after WWII 1.d4 players were torn out of their peaceful lives and forced to confront the dangerous King's Indian Defence, as practiced by Bronstein, Tal, Fischer and Kasparov. Then Kasparov stopped playing it and the fashion-conscious chess world stopped playing it – an unjustified decision, as a former world champion explains.

Ilyumzhinov and Kok found Global Chess

12/22/2006 – They ran against each other in the last FIDE election. But Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, the eventual winner, was so impressed by his rival's program that he has launched a ten-million dollar company, Global Chess, with Bessel Kok. It will be responsible for all major FIDE events, and for chess related projects. A new direction for the chess world.

Chess Records – starting a new collection

12/21/2006 – In recent years entries in the Guinness World Records book on chess have shrunk dramatically, replaced by entries like "the most Smarties eaten in three minutes using chopsticks". Chess historian Edward Winter is seeking to rectify the situation by compiling an authoritative list of Chess Records – the earliest, longest, oldest, smallest, youngest... You are invited to join the search.

A library on your computer - part two

12/21/2006 – The latest ChessBase Workshop column continues our ChessBase "library" analogy with some other bookmarking and search tricks, as well as some tips for personalizing your own chess library. Make sure your card's up to date and check in with the latest ChessBase Workshop.

Kateryna holds her lead in Amity Challenge

12/20/2006 – It isn't easy to take on the hottest boy prodigy in the business in his home town of Delhi when he is being trained by one of your own grandmasters. Ukrainian star Kateryna Lahno drew first blood in game two and had to fight hard to maintain her lead in the next two games. This is turning out to be an exciting match. Big pictorial report by Vishal Sareen.

Shakhmatnaya goryachka – Chess Fever

12/19/2006 – In 1925 Chess Fever was made, a film describing the plight of a young man who becomes completely obsessed with the game – in a country where every male appears to be similarly afflicted. When the young man's fiancée can take it no more she meets the immortal Capablanca and is converted to chess. Now thanks to Google you can watch the whole movie.

Kateryna leads in Amity Grandmasters Challenge

12/19/2006 – Looking stunning in a dark Indian sari Ukrainian chess star Kateryna Lahno showed that she is more than a pretty face. In the first game she had Indian chess prodigy GM Parimarjan Negi (13) on the ropes, but let him escape with a draw. In the second game Katya drew first blood with a fine black-pieces victory. Big pictorial report by Vishal Sareen.

Ilyumzhinov: Kramnik will play in Mexico

12/19/2006 – We broke the news recently that Vladimir Kramnik would be playing in the next world championship in Mexico (September 2007). In a big interview with the newspaper Sport Express, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has confirmed that this is indeed the case, and has also revealed many details about this and future cycles. Must read.

India wins Gold at Asian Games chess

12/19/2006 – Chess was officially included as a medal sport in the 15th Asian Games, a magnificent spectacle that was staged in Doha, Qatar. The top seeded Indian team took Gold quite easily, with China taking Silver and, here's the surprise: a strong Iranian team securing Bronze. Big illustrated report by Chief Arbiter Casto Abundo.

Topalov: Kramnik will never admit that he cheated...

12/19/2006 – "... or the Kremlin that they killed the Russian spy." In a startling interview with a Spanish daily Veselin Topalov (not Silvio Danailov, Topalov!) has launched a fresh wave of attacks against the winner of the Elista world championship Vladimir Kramnik, claiming that it was orchestrated by the KGB, which also threatened him and his team physically. Read and be amazed.

Andrew Martin – Merry Christmas!

12/18/2006 – It has been a very good year for the Radio Show and our Playchess lecturer Andrew Martin thanks all visitors for their support. "The feedback has been excellent and we look forward eagerly to 2007. On behalf of all associated with the show I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year." See you on Wednesday night.

Dennis Monokroussos: Bronstein continued

12/18/2006 – Last week our Playchess lecturer started to commemorate the life and chess career of the late, great David Bronstein. This week he’ll continue his look back at some of the career highlights of this extremely strong and wonderfully creative player. Inspiring stuff.

A library on your computer - part one

12/18/2006 – If you're a ChessBase user, you don't need to go to the library; you have one on your computer right now. Steve Lopez runs with the library analogy, riding the bookmobile until the wheels come off, in his latest Workshop column.

Chess Champion Kasparov's oppositional gambit

12/17/2006 – Garry Kasparov led a coalition of Russian politicians Saturday in an anti-government rally in Moscow. Hundreds of police turned out to surround about 2,000 demonstrators, opposition activists were pulled off buses and trains and detained without explanation. European and international news if full of the story. Excerpts, videos and links.