WCTC – China loses but retains the lead

11/10/2005 – It had to happen: the Chinese men's team ended their seven match winning streak with a loss to Armenia. But with a lead of 2.5 points they remain the hot favourites. High points in the last two rounds were the defeat of Russian GM Sergei Rublevsky by 16-year-old Shen Yang, and Vassily Ivanchuk's remarkable 'iron king' victory.

The draw problem – a simple solution

11/10/2005 – Recently Ignatius Leong and Leung Weiwen made a very radical solution to the problem of too many draws in chess. This led to a vigorous debate amongst our readers – we bring you a selection of their often very interesting letters. But we start off with the voice of reason: John Nunn analyses the problem and proposes a much simpler solution.

Searching for Bobby Fetcher

11/9/2005 – We must confess: we haven't a clue what this one is about. Apparently a film production company is planning or is in the process of shooting a satirical movie on chess. There is a trailer on the web site, and the Internet Movie Database lists the project as "in production". Figure it out yourself.

FIDE, ACP on the Team and World Championships

11/9/2005 – The debate continues, here on the ChessBase news pages. We have received messages for publication by FIDE General Secretary Ignatius Leong, on the World Team Championship selections, and from ACP President Joel Lautier, on the change of World Championship cycle rules. Also blitz interviews with top players.

It's... Andrew Martin's Radio ChessBase Show

11/8/2005 – The NiC Yearbook 76 paints a very poor portrait of Black's chances after 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 a6 6.g3. In his Wednesday night Playchess lecture our chess trainer offers improvements that no Scandinavian player should miss.

WCTC – China still in the lead

11/7/2005 – "They haven't faced the strongest teams yet," protested some of our readers, when we said China was poised for victory. Today the Far Easteners defeated Ukraine and remained half a point ahead of the Russians, with a match to spare. On the free day all the participants went on an excursion to Jerusalem.

It doesn't take a genius to blunder

11/6/2005 – Contrary to what some of our readers might think, it is not necessary to be a grandmaster or even a world champion in order to blunder – even mere masters are capable of the most horrific mistakes. Dennis Monokroussos proves this in his Monday night Playchess lecture, looking at his own games. Here we find fallen humanity on center stage.

Opening of the Lasker Exhibition in Berlin

11/5/2005 – On the weekend from 20. October to 23. October the Lasker Society organized a big exhibition in honour of the only German World Champion. There were a lot of eminent guests, including one who had actually played against Lasker in 1935. The evening was rounded up by an Internet game Berlin-New York, two places where Lasker had celebrated great successes. Illustrated report.

World Team Championships – the Chinese are coming

11/5/2005 – The Russians have relinquished their lead. After playing only four of the first five rounds the Chinese men's team has overtaken them and looks poised for victory in Beer Sheva, Israel. Host Israel is in third place, followed by Armenia and Ukraine. Illustrated report.

Into the mailbag again

11/4/2005 – Columnist Steve Lopez serves up another batch of reader suggestions, comments, and observations in the latest ChessBase Workshop. Have a look and discover what the electronic postman has deposited in the mailbox.

Russia leads in the World Team Championships

11/3/2005 – Peter Svidler and Alexander Morozevich, both fresh from the world championship in Argentina, won their first two games at the World Team Championship, which has started in the Beer Sheva City, Israel. Nine teams are present, and they include eight players rated over 2700. Illustrated report.

A Cure for SAD (Severe Acute Drawitis)?

11/3/2005 – Draws, draws, draws – the problem has always faced chess, and it seems that there is no clear way to solve it. However, Ignatius Leong and Leung Weiwen, both of Singapore, offer a radical new proposal that would decide every game of chess in a sporting fashion. Will it catch on?

Harikrishna wins Essent Crown Group

11/2/2005 – One of India's brightest young talents, Pentala Harikrishna, won the Ninth Essent Chess Tournament last weekend. "Hari" had a full point lead before the last game in this four-player double round robin event, which included Ivan Sokolov, Emil Sutovsky and women's world champion Antoaneta Stefanova. Illustrated report.

FIDE Deputy President Makropoulos weighs in

11/2/2005 – The controversies over the regulations of the World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk, as well as the qualification rules for the next FIDE world championship continue. After protests by top players and a letters from FIDE officials and the ACP, here's a message we received from FIDE's Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos.

Radio ChessBase: from Aagaard & Shaw to Andrew Martin

11/2/2005 – Our popular Glasgow 3rd Floor Chess Radio is airing the last show of its existence. This is not only because the flat itself has been sold and must be vacated, but also because IMs Jacob Aagaard and John Shaw want to use more time for their own chess enterprises. Taking over is IM Andrew Martin, one of the most entertaining chess teachers around.

Chess for Peace – with Mikhail Gorbachev

11/2/2005 – Last Friday the city of Lindsborg in Kansas played host to former world champions Susan Polgar and Anatoly Karpov. And to the former President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev. This warm, humorous gentleman prepared tea for Susan and caused Karpov grief by playing 1.g4 for him in the match against Susan Polgar. Illustrated report.

French bid for FIDE President

11/1/2005 – Leo Battesti, the organiser of the Corsican Circuit and Vice-President of the French Chess Federation, has just announced that he is running for FIDE President at the Turin elections May next year. Meanwhile the incumbent Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has been reinstated as President of Kalmykia and is bidding $1 million for the mummy of Lenin. Here are the details.

World Championships and wedding ceremony in Istanbul

10/31/2005 – On November 9th, at 15:30h, the Turkish Chess Federation will stage the opening ceremony of the World Junior Championships, with 160 players from 56 countries. At 17:00h it will host the wedding ceremony of their strongest GM and a Russian WGM. The two will play a blitz match to decide who is the boss in this marriage.

'Chess Bitch' – an eye-opener by Jennifer Shahade

10/31/2005 – This new, interesting and unusual chess book, written by the 2004 U.S. Woman’s Chess Champion, is an eye-opening account of how today’s young female chess players are successfully knocking down the doors to this traditionally male game, infiltrating the male-owned sporting subculture of international chess, and giving the phrase "play like a girl" a whole new meaning.

Open letters from van Wely and the ACP

10/31/2005 – The debate on the FIDE World Cup continues, with GM Loek van Wely (picture) sending us an open letter. In it Holland's top joins Gata Kamsky in his criticism of the way the qualification for the next world championship cycle is being handled. GM Bartlomiej Macieja of Poland joins in and gives the ACP's take on this matter. Food for thought.

'Topalov is better adapted to modern chess'

10/30/2005 – When former world champion Garry Kasparov speaks about his colleagues, one does well to listen. After the San Luis championship, which he admits following with interest and pleasure, Kasparov gave the ChessPro news site an extensive interview, evaluating the performances of Topalov, Anand and Leko, and explaining what Topalov's victory means for the chess world.

Playchess lecture: Halloween feast of fright

10/30/2005 – Monday is Halloween, and the Monday night Playchess lecture will tune into with the spirit of the occasion with opening blunders, chokes, draws agreed in won positions, falling for unethical bluffs. Dennis Monokroussos puts fallen humanity on center stage. Not for the faint-hearted.

Jobava wins the Samba Cup in Denmark

10/29/2005 – The Second Samba Cup in Skanderborg, Denmark, saw a very strong field that included Ivanchuk and Nisipeanu being won by young Baadur Jobava from Georgia. The "cream puff" event was a great success and the sponsors are already planning a third tournament in 2007. Big illustrated report with annotated games.

Veselin Topalov – the homecoming

10/28/2005 – The newly crowned FIDE world chess champion Veselin Topalov has returned to Bulgaria, to an ecstatic reception by the media, chess fans and the indeed the President of his country. Georgi Parvanov even took over the patronage of the next M-Tel Masters, to which the retired Garry Kasparov has been invited. Details and an interesting NYT article.