Topalov-Kramnik on the horizon?

1/24/2006 – FIDE president Ilyumzhinov is back in provocative form with comments supporting a Topalov-Kramnik world championship match. He mentions September as a date and the Kalmykian capital of Elista as the site. Raising the money has been outsourced. Read the article here and decide if it's hope or hype.

Ratmir Kholmov, 'the central defender'

1/23/2006 – This strong Russian GM is famous for repulsing enemy aggression, but he has displayed brilliant attacks as well. In his Monday night Playchess lecture Dennis Monokroussos shows us an example: Kholmov's 1964 USSR championship game against David Bronstein. Deep, creative, explicable!

Alternative method for selecting world championship candidates

1/23/2006 – Can you imagine Mark Paragua playing in the FIDE candidates matches? Or Fischer coming out and losing four games to qualify. These are some of the quirks of the current system. While the world championship format of FIDE is probably the best under the circumstances, the selection process could be reformed. Chess statistician Jeff Sonas has a proposal.

Charity tournament: chess against drugs

1/23/2006 – We all know that chess is good for the development of young minds, training logical thinking and concentration. But the game can also be used for other positive purposes. In Tblisi, Georgia, a 51-player charity tournament was dedicated to combating drug addiction.

Corus R8: Anand catches Topalov

1/22/2006 – While there are still a few other players in range, Corus is shaping up to be the predicted battle between the top two unretired players in the world, FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov and Viswanathan Anand. The Indian star mistreated Bacrot's misguided winning attempt to rejoin the Bulgarian in the lead at +3. Big photo report.

Corus R7: Topalov takes the lead

1/21/2006 – It took seven rounds for FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov to move into clear first place. He beat Sokolov while Anand was held to a draw rather easily by Adams. Karjakin moved up to tie Anand by beating Mamedyarov. With Carlsen well ahead in the B Group, has the next generation already arrived? See all the games and analysis.

Corus R6: Shock defeat of Anand by Kamsky

1/21/2006 – They have an antagonistic past, having played a pair of brutal world championship candidates matches against each other over a decade ago. In Wijk aan Zee, Kamsky, who had paused for many years, was at the bottom of the table. Yet when he played the leader, his erstwhile nemesis, he suddenly found his form and won. Full illustrated report.

Questions...

1/20/2006 – Our ChessBase Workshop columnist loves to get your e-mails. In his latest column he examines some reader mail and answers questions concerning corporate firewalls, how to best learn an opening using ChessBase, Fritz9 installation, and the best (non- playing) chess job in the world. Read more in the latest ChessBase Workshop.

Around the World in 60 days

1/19/2006 – Brana Malobabic-Giancristofaro doesn't just have an interesting name, she is also the mastermind behind an electronic scoresheet device. In her capacity as the CEO of the company MonRoi she has travelled the world – Turkey, Singapore, England, United States, Bulgaria and China. Her report concentrates on chess playing children.

Corus R5: Anand defeats Leko, takes sole lead

1/19/2006 – Vishy Anand defeated Peter Leko in convincing style while Veselin Topalov was unable to overcome the tenacious defense of Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in a fascinating fight. So Anand, with a 2954 performance so far, is once again alone at the top. Ivanchuk also won to join Topalov in second place. Now with photos, games and analysis.

Jim Wants To Be A Millionaire

1/19/2006 – The TV show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" is the most popular quiz show in history. In the UK it has drawn up to 19 million viewers. Last Saturday we caught the first part of a broadcast with a chess grandmaster on the spot: James Plaskett made it all the way to £8,000. Next Saturday he goes for the million. Keep your fingers crossed.

'I will not play chess all my life'

1/18/2006 – Alexander Morozevich is considered one of the most talented and original players since Mikhail Tal. But the current number eleven in the world is having second thoughts about the game. "Chess is not my calling, but only a temporary occupation, one of the methods to develop my intellect," he says, in this revealing Moscow News interview.

Chess and Music – the Conservatory Open

1/18/2006 – The interest of musicians for chess is not new – the strongest player in Europe durint the 18th century was also a famous composer. But that the members of a famous music Conservatory take place in a serious yearly chess tournament does sway from the normal. Anvar Tourdyev of the Moscow State Conservatory tells us all about it.

QGD – Queen's Gambit Demolished?

1/17/2006 – The Queens Gambit Accepted has been very popular in recent years, with Kasparov, Kramnik and Anand happy to take black at the highest level. This Wednesday night's Playchess lecture by Andrew Martin offers no solutions, but we can show you a recent novelty of Indian GM Sashikiran.

Who will win Wijk aan Zee?

1/17/2006 – We asked for your predictions, to test the precognitive powers of our readers. We got over 2500 replies, with expectations for the three top players in the A Group, and their exact scores. Most stuck with the seedings, but there were those who favoured Kamsky and Karjakin. We also got full statistical analyst from an expert. Here are names and numbers.

Corus R4: Topalov wins, joins Anand in the lead

1/17/2006 – Veselin Topalov, FIDE world champion, has yet to play an undecided game in Wijk aan Zee. Today he chalked up a third win to catch leader Vishy Anand, who drew with black against Ivan Sokolov. Only 50% of the games so far were drawn, with seven wins each for the white and the black pieces. We bring you games, results, statistics and a big report with game highlights.

Fritz 9 3D boards -- part 2

1/17/2006 – Fritz9 contains some amazing new animated characters for you to test your skills against. In the last ChessBase Workshop we introduced you to Mia, the chessplaying robot. Learn more about how to change some of her numerous settings in the latest edition of ChessBase Workshop.

Monokroussos lecture rescheduled

1/16/2006 – This week's Monday night Playchess lecture has to be delayed until Friday (same time) due to illness. Dennis Monokroussos will tell us about 15-year-old GM Maxime Lagrave's encount with GM Anatoli Vaisser, 56, and the brilliant zugzwang idea it produced. Get well soon Dennis, see you on the server!

Corus R3: Anand in the lead, Yasser's video tour

1/16/2006 – Of the four decided games, Anand beating the leading Ivanchuk with black was key one which put the Indian grandmaster at the top of the score table. Topalov beat Bacrot, Gelfand and Karjakin also won their games. Akardij Naditsch leads Group B with a dry 3/3 score. As a special treat we bring you Yasser Seirawan's video tour of the tournament site.

Corus R2: Adams beats Topalov

1/15/2006 – Another exciting day, with all eyes on the game in which England's top GM Michael Adams convincingly outplayed the FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov. In Group B wonderboy Magnus Carlsen won another fine game. We bring you a big updated report with games, commentary and pictures.

Keres, Kortschnoi, Karpov – revisiting Tallinn

1/15/2006 – A week ago we reported on a Rapid Chess tournament in Estonia, dedicated to the memory of Paul Keres. Today we return to Tallinn, putting the spotlight on the famous guests, the historical ambiance – and the previously neglected women's section of the event. Spectacular pictorial report.

Corus R1: Shock-and-awe victories by Anand and Topalov

1/15/2006 – The top seeds in Wijk aan Zee started with a bang. Anand demolished youngster Sergey Karjakin out of the opening and with the black pieces; and Veselin Topalov showed no mercy with the still-a-bit-rusty Gata Kamsky. We bring you a big illustrated report, with annotations and games. Garry Kasparov was watching.

Corus Wijk aan Zee starts today

1/14/2006 – At long last, the first mega-tournament of 2006 is about to begin. We have pictures of the opening ceremony and the pairings of all three groups. The first moves will be played on Saturday at 13:30h CEST in the De Moriaan hall. The games will be broadcast on the official site and on Playchess.com, with live video commentary by Yasser Seirawan.

'The pieces are like my children'

1/13/2006 – Look what found: a four-page pictorial interview with world chess champion Veselin Topalov – in Playboy Bulgaria. The December issue features the national sports hero answering twenty questions on the burdens of the title, the Bulgarian phenomenon, superstition, and the future of the game. We told you we bought it for the interviews.