Niemann convincingly beats Giri in Utrecht match

8/12/2024 – The 5-day match featuring Hans Niemann and Anish Giri came to an end on Sunday. The final day of action saw the players trading wins (3 per side) in the rapid section of the confrontation, which meant Niemann kept the 6-point lead he had obtained in the blitz and classical sections - Niemann won the match by a 24-18 score. The US grandmaster is set to face Nikita Vitiugov (in London) and Etienne Bacrot (in Paris) in similar matches later this month. | Photo: De Pion
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St. Louis Rapid & Blitz: Caruana, Firouzja and Pragg start as GCT frontrunners

8/11/2024 – The last two events of the 2024 Grand Chess Tour will take place in Saint Louis on 12-29 August. First, the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz will be played on 12-16 August, with the three frontrunners in the race to win the yearly series participating: Fabiano Caruana, Alireza Firouzja and R Praggnanandhaa. Joining them will be four tour 'regulars' and three wildcards: Levon Aronian, Hikaru Nakamura and Leinier Dominguez. | Photo: Lennart Ootes
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Understanding before Moving 190: Chess history in a nutshell (71)

8/11/2024 – Herman Grooten is an International Master, a renowned trainer and the author of several highly acclaimed books on chess training and strategy. In the 188th episode of his ChessBase show "Understanding before moving" Herman continues his series "Chess history in a nutshell" and continues to look at the career of Jan Timman, world class player, study composer, renowned author and bohemian. | Photo: Pascal Simon
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Hans Niemann vs Anish Giri, Rapid section - Live!

8/11/2024 – After 12 blitz and 6 classical games, Hans Niemann leads 18-12 in his match against Anigh Giri - wins in classical games count 3 points. After Niemann won the blitz section 7½-4½, the 6 classical games ended with a 3½-2½ score (or 10½-7½). The final section, featuring 6 rapid games (with 2 points for a win), starts at 11.00 local time on Sunday. | Photo: Hans Niemann, Tata 2024 | Photo: De Pion
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Robert Ris: The flexible Taimanov Sicilian + A Complete Guide for Black against the Anti-Sicilian

8/11/2024 – The Taimanov Sicilian offers Black a flexible and reliable system against 1.e4, allowing for realistic winning chances without unnecessary risks. This comprehensive video course provides a complete repertoire, covering both the main lines and Anti-Sicilian variations, with more than 16 hours of instruction, interactive training, and over 400 model games. Ideal for players looking to solidify their understanding and confidently face any challenge in the Sicilian Defence.
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Dortmund: A successful start

8/11/2024 – The 51st edition of the Dortmund Chess Festival kicked off on Saturday, with the start of the A-Open and the B-Open tournaments. Most favourites prevailed, though a few of them only managed a draw. Sunday will see the start of the 6-game match between Elisabeth Paehtz and Dinara Wagner, the two highest-rated women players in Germany. | Pictured: Luc Zimmermann from the Netherlands | Photos: Official website
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Hungarian Post releases stamp for 45th Chess Olympiad

8/10/2024 – Hungary has played a significant role in chess for hundreds of years, and has produced many world-famous chess players. The names Lajos Portisch, Péter Lékó, Zoltán Almási, Ildikó Mádl, Richárd Rapport, and the Polgár family are known worldwide. The European country will host the 45th Chess Olympiad next month. The Hungarian Post pays tribute to the Olympiad with a commemorative stamp.
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Carlsen to face Niemann next month in Paris

8/10/2024 – Magnus Carlsen and Hans Niemann are paired up against each other in the semifinals of the Speed Chess Championship, set to take place as an in-person event in Paris - though games will be played on computers. In the other semifinal, Hikaru Nakamura will play against Alireza Firouzja. The semis, the finals and the match for third place will take place on 6-8 September. | Photo: Crystal Fuller / Saint Louis Chess Club
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Thirsting for action?

8/10/2024 – In the diagram position it was Black to move and he played 25...Rc4!, which creates a powerful threat. However, curiously, in the game Black took his time before he executed the threat. Enjoy and relax!

Three stars from India

8/10/2024 – Normally, the three Fritztrainers by the Indian Super-Grandmasters individually add up to €169.70. Bought together the bundle costs €94.90. But this week in our Summer Special you can get all three for €59.90! That is a massive saving. They are products that will directly add to your playing strength, and entertain you at the same time. Don't miss this opportunity – the special offer extends from August 5–11.
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Niemann beats Giri twice in classical chess, grabs 6-point lead

8/10/2024 – Hans Niemann scored back-to-back classical victories over Anish Giri to get a 6-point lead in their match in Utrecht. Giri came from tying the score on Thursday, and despite the consecutive losses still has chances of winning the match as 18 points are still up for grabs in the remaining 8 games (2 in classical chess and 6 in rapid). Niemann's pair of wins allowed him to climb to the 24th spot in the live ratings list. | Photo: Harry Gielen
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Speed Chess Championship: Nakamura v. Nepomniachtchi - Live!

8/9/2024 – The main event of the Speed Chess Championship is taking place from 25 July to 9 September. The quarterfinals are being played on 6-9 August, with 8 elite GMs fighting to reach the in-person final stages set to take place in Paris on 6-8 September. | Follow the quarterfinal match between Hikaru Nakamura and Ian Nepomniachtchi live, starting at 21.00 CEST (15.00 ET, 0.30 IST)
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Svitlana's Smart Moves - Lovely World Rapid & Blitz Team Championship Tactics

8/9/2024 – Episode 101 has launched, and Svitlana is testing our tactical skills! She found some lovely games of the World Rapid & Blitz Team Championship Tactics 2024, including Magnus Carlsen, Richard Rapport, Ding Liren, and more. Some tactics can be solved rather easily, while others require some critical thinking. Daniil Dubov, for example, couldn't find a decisive tactic. But maybe you can?
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Sparkassen Chess Trophy: Who's the number one?

8/9/2024 – From 10 to 18 August Dortmund will once again be the summer chess capital of Germany. As well as a highly competitive Open, Elisabeth Pähtz and Dinara Wagner will be competing in a match to see who is number one women player in Germany.

Giri ties the score in match against Niemann

8/8/2024 – In the match between Hans Niemann and Anish Giri, Niemann took a 7½-4½ lead after the blitz games that took place on the first day. Two classical games were played on the second day. Giri won the first game and the second game ended in a draw. Since wins in classical chess are worth 3 points, the score is now tied 9-9. | Photo: Harry Gielen
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The Marshall Chess Club: Chess Heaven in New York City

8/8/2024 – Frank Marshall (pictured), born on 10 August 1877, was one of the best and most influential American players. He was a witty chess romantic who immortalised himself with many brilliant combinations and enriched opening theory with some dangerous gambit variations. In 1915 he founded the Marshall Chess Club in New York and this may have been his most lasting contribution to American chess. The club has a rich history and continues to promote chess in America. Vladimir Lionter sends a portrait of this chess heaven in New York City.
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Niemann starts with a victory in blitz against Giri

8/8/2024 – Hans Niemann has started a series of matches against world-class players. Within a short period of time in August, he will play matches in the blitz, classical and rapid disciplines against Anish Giri, Nikita Vitiugov and Etienne Bacrot. The competition against Anish Giri began with 12 blitz games - and a convincing victory for Hans Niemann.
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Player accused of poisoning opponent with mercury

8/7/2024 – This is really taking thing too far. At the Dagestan Chess Championship one participant tried to poison a specific opponent by smearing mercury on her board. The substance was noticed and the arbiter called the police. The placing of the poison was caught on surveillance video, and the perpetrator has admitted to the deed. She said she had acted to get revenge on the player, whom she has known since childhood, bur who had "seriously offended her."

Best of chili chess and looong moves

8/7/2024 – IM Oliver Reeh continues to inspire with the third edition of his Master Class Tactics. Once again he has selected some real gems to put your brain to the test.
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Speed Chess: Firouzja gets clear victory over Caruana

8/7/2024 – Alireza Firouzja obtained a clear 14½-8½ victory over Fabiano Caruana to reach the semifinals of the Speed Chess Championship, set to take place in Paris next month. In a lopsided match, Firouzja prevailed in all three segments (5+1, 3+1 and 1+1). The youngster will face the winner of the match between Hikaru Nakamura and Ian Nepomniachtchi in the semifinals.
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The Monthly Dragon - Breaking, parking and driving down the c-file!

8/6/2024 – Chris Ward gathered not one, not two, but three beautiful Dragon examples for us. The key features in this episode are the d5 break, the Rook on the c-file, and the explosive c4 square! In typical fashion, Chris explains his thoughts, plans, ideas and more about the most recent Sicilian games. | Photo: John Upham
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An underdog? 1400-rated Chinese player Pang Bo scores 11 out of 11! - The Underdog

8/6/2024 – During the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships in Astana, a player from the all-Chinese team, Decade China, made headlines: Pang Bo! The 26-year-old dominated the amateur board, winning every single Rapid game and excelling in the Blitz section. His official FIDE rating is 1400, but he has yet to play an international tournament and is virtually unrated. However, he has successfully played strong tournaments and opponents in China and is much stronger than players with a real rating of 1400. No wonder, his pawn-pushing style gave his opponents in Astana a hard time. Robert Ris shows an interesting example of how Pang Bo tackles the London System!
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RTU Open in Riga has started

8/6/2024 – On Saturday, the traditional Riga Tech University Chess Festival, organised to mark FIDE's 100 year anniversary, began in the Latvian capital Riga with a blitz tournament. Indian Grandmaster Iniyan Pa won with 10.0/11, half a point ahead of German IM Jakob Pajeken. The main tournament began on Monday with almost 300 players.
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Endgame Magic #278: Two endgames by Pragg

8/6/2024 – In the Endgame Magic Show #278 Karsten Müller presents two fascinating endgames by Indian star Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, currently the world's number 12. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.