Elista R03: Leko, Kamsky, Carlsen and Rublevsky score

5/29/2007 – Peter Leko beat Mikhail Gurevich in a second consecutive game, Gata Kamsky did the same to France's Etienne Bacrot. Rublevsky beat Ponomarionv with black, Magnus Carlsen struck back against Levon Aronian to equalise their score with a fine white-game win. Judit Polgar failed to win a promising position. Leko and Kamsky have a comfortable lead at the half-way mark. Full report.

Andrew Martin: 'Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war'

5/28/2007 – William Shakespeare never fails to attract attention and his famous quote could well apply to our first game this week in our Playchess lecture, which comes to you directly from Hamburg on Wednesday at the ungodly hour of 11:00 a.m. Central European Time, in order not to clash with Yasser Seirawan's commentary on the Candidates in Elista. See you on the server.

Women's Team Championship: China two points ahead

5/27/2007 – The Chinese team seems to be unstoppable. After six rounds they lead the World Women's Team Championship in Yekaterinburg with 11/12 points. They are followed by Russia with 9/12 and Georgia and Ukraine with eight points each. But it is the team from Botswana, with zero points, that seems to be having the most fun. Big illustrated report by WGM Elmira Mirzoeva.

Candidates Matches – the adventure of arriving in Elista

5/27/2007 – The participants of the qualifying event for the World Championship arrived in Elista on Friday, to take part in an openings ceremony, where white and black sheep determined the colours of the first game. It was a fairly adventurous trip involving a mad rush between airports in Moscow, and a minor bus accident in Elista which left the players shaken but not stirred. Big picture report.

Who are the favourites for the Candidates in Elista?

5/27/2007 – There are 16 participants in the first round of play at the Candidates Matches. They range from 16-year-old Magnus Carlsen to 48-year-old Mikhail Gurevich. Who has the best chances, who are the hot favourites? We asked Yasser Seirawan, who will be doing live commentary on the Playchess server. Read his take on the participants, visit his lectures and if necessary make him eat his words.

Elista R01: Aronian, Grischuk draw first blood

5/27/2007 – A great start for Armenian star and top seed Levon Aronian, who was able to take a full point from Norway's Magnus Carlsen with the black pieces. Alexander Grischuk won the other decided game, against compatriot Vladimir Malakhov. Judit Polgar was close to a traumatic first-round loss with white against Evgeny Bareev, but managed to save the day. Illustrated report.

Shirov in top form

5/25/2007 – Many chess friends will cross their fingers for Alexei Shirov at the Candidates' Matches in Elista in the next days. Lately he has shown ever-improving form, in Cañada de Calatrava and in the Russian Team Championship. On his recent DVD on the Slav and Semi-Slav you can already watch him in top form, says IM Steingrimsson. Buy it now or read this review with sampler.

Sixth PAL/CSS Freestyle Tournament with $16,000 prize

5/25/2007 – A "Freestyle tournament" is one in which computer assistance – or help in any conceivable form – during the game is allowed and encouraged. The Sixth PAL/CSS Freestyle tournament takes place from June 1st-3rd, with the finals being held three weeks later. The main sponsor, the PAL Group in Abu Dhabi (UAE), has provided a $16,000 dollar prize fund. Join the fun.

Candidates Matches and Computer Challenge to begin in Elista

5/25/2007 – Sunday's the big day. In Elista, Kalmykia, the Candidates Matches begin, with 16 players vying for four places available in the September World Championship in Mexico. During the final phase of the Candidates there will also be a Computer Challenge match between the top programs Deep Junior and Deep Fritz. GM Yasser Seirawan will provide live commentary.

Alex Shabalov wins US Championship – with Q-Link?

5/24/2007 – America's sixth highest rated player, GM Alexander Shabalov, won clear first in this year's US Championship, scoring 7/9 points and picking up a $12,000 purse. In a time when people are worried about electronic assistance during chess games Shabalov pinned his hopes on a more mystical device, a Q-Link pendant. Read all about it before you get yourself one in our illustrated report.

An important lesson in an unorthodox French

5/24/2007 – Vadim Zvjaginsev is one of the most original players on the chess scene, a man who introduced the improbable 1.e4 c5 2.Na3 into grandmaster praxis. Tonight our Playchess trainer Dennis Monokroussos takes a look at an attractive, picturesque, thematic and instructive Zvjaginsev game that started 1.e4 e6 2.f4. French and anti-French aficionados should check it out.

China and Ukraine lead in Women's Team Championship

5/24/2007 – After the traumatic 0:4 drubbing at the hands of the Chinese the main question of round three was whether the Russian team would be able to recover. They were, and the 3.5-0.5 victory over Vietnam set them back on track for the medals. In the meantime China and Ukrain conceded a draw each in round four, but still lead the field. Big illustrated report by WGM Elmira Mirzoeva.

Anand: 'I see a bright future for India'

5/24/2007 – And chess in general. The world's highest ranked player is currently in India, in his native Chennai. Vishy Anand is slowly starting his preparations for the World Championship in Mexico, and enjoying some of the best food in the world (South Indian vegetarian). He also took time to talk to Sportstar, a publication of one of India's largest newspapers, The Hindu. We bring you excerpts.

Andrew Martin: Secret Weapons

5/22/2007 – Clubs players are always on the lookout for ambush opening systems which will catch an unsuspecting opponent squarely on the nose. Our Playchess trainer shows us an unusual French that fits the bill. Also two GM games flesh out proceedings, and a chess puzzle for your enjoyment. Lecture at 22:00h CEST.

Young Stars of the World 2007

5/22/2007 – The tournament is being held in Kirishi, near St Petersburg in Russia. It brings together young talents, most 16 years or younger, from all over the world – Russia, India, Germany, Bielorussia, Armenia, Azerbajan and Ukraine. After five rounds of play 14-year-old Parimarjan Negi of India is in the lead, together with Andriasian Zaven of Armenia. Picture report.

China drubs Russia 4-0 in Women's Team Championship

5/22/2007 – It was certainly not on the agenda of the First World Women's Team Championship, which is taking place from May 19 to 30 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. After a festive opening, and an uneventful first round, the key pairing took place in round two. It was there that the unprecedented whitewash occurred. We bring you a big picture report by WGM Elmira Mirzoeva.

Alexander Borisovich Roshal dies at 71

5/22/2007 – He was a renowned chess trainer and one of the most famous and influential chess journalists of the Soviet Union. After its collapse he took over his magazine, "64 – Chess Review", and after a brief crisis, returned it to its old glory. Alik Roshal was a welcome visitor at chess events all over the world, entertaining us with his wisdom and humour. He will be sadly missed.

Edward Winter presents: Unsolved Chess Mysteries (6)

5/21/2007 – A further miscellany of mysteries from Chess Notes includes an alleged tournament game in which Black was mated at move three, the unclear circumstances of a master’s suicide, a chess figure who was apparently unaware of his year of birth, the book allegedly found beside Alekhine’s body in 1946, and the chess notes of the poet Rupert Brooke. Join in the hunt for clues.

Visualize search in Fritz 10

5/21/2007 – Planning is an important ingredient of chess -- possibly the most important one. A new Fritz10 feature focuses on this aspect of the game and lets you see what Fritz is "planning" in a given position. Learn more about the "Visualize search" feature in the latest installment of ChessBase Workshop.

Sofia 2007: All games drawn, Sasikiran leads

5/20/2007 – One round before the end nothing changed in the tables, with all three games ending in draws. Sunday is the final round, with the tournament leader Krishnan Sasikiran facing national hero Veselin Topalov with black. Topalov will do everything in his power to win the game and the M-Tel event. He has managed in the past – will he pull it off again?

Garry Kasparov detained, world leaders protest

5/20/2007 – The former world chess champion and current leader of the Other Russia opposition group, together with dozens of journalists and activists, was prevented from attending the European Union-Russia summit in Samara, Russia. The incident has dominated the international press, and led to protests by amongst others German Chancellor Angela Merkel and, yes, M-Tel organiser Silvio Danailov.

Sofia 2007: Topalov wins Third M-Tel Masters in Sofia

5/20/2007 – Our words were justified: after his disastrous start we cautioned our readers not to wager large sums on Topalov not winning the event. And the Bulgarian superstar pulled it off yet again. He defeated the tournament leader in the final round to take sole victory in the M-Tel Masters. Four players shared 2nd-5th, with Adams bringing up the rear, just a point behind the winner. Games and final standings.

Sofia 2007: Kamsky beats Sasikiran with black

5/19/2007 – He may not have his notebook, but he is in fighting spirit. Top US grandmaster Gata Kamsky defeated the tournament leader Krishnan Sasikiran to move into joint second place, together with Topalov, Mamedyarov and Nisipeanu. On the free day there was a soccer match between the chess players and a selection of the Bulgarian champions. Pictures and videos.

Radjabov wins 'Match of the Hopes' in Corsica

5/19/2007 – Having staged “The Match of the Legends” in May 2006 between Karpov and Spassky, the Corsican Chess League today organized "Le Match des Espoirs" between the two top juniors of the world – 20-year-old GM Teimur Radjabov of Azerbaijan and 16-year-old GM Magnus Carlsen of Norway. After tying two rapid and two blitz tie-break games Radjabov won the match in the Armageddon playoff.