1/8/2026 – The opening day of Tata Steel Chess India in Kolkata delivered an entertaining start in both sections of the rapid tournament. In the open, Viswanathan Anand and Hans Niemann (pictured) share the lead with 2½ points after three rounds marked by a high number of decisive games. The women's event produced a sole leader in Carissa Yip, who also scored 2½ points. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

1/7/2026 – Zhu Jiner's 2025 season marked a decisive shift in her standing within women's chess. Focusing exclusively on classical chess, this analysis traces her rise from the edge of the top ten to world number two, examining her breakthrough performances in the Women's Grand Prix, a brief mid-year dip in form and a strong finish - which included a remarkable showing at the Fujairah Superstars tournament. | Photo: Abhilash Shinde

1/6/2026 – The seventh edition of the Tata Steel Chess India tournament will take place in Kolkata on 7-11 January, featuring separate rapid and blitz tournaments in both the Open and Women's sections. The event is highlighted by the return of five-time world champion and Indian chess icon Viswanathan Anand, alongside a strong mix of domestic and international players. | Image: Official site

1/4/2026 – Vincent Keymer's 2025 season marked a decisive step forward in his development as an elite player. Focusing exclusively on classical chess, this analysis reviews how the young German recovered from a modest start to the year, produced a series of standout results in the second half, and translated them into a major rating climb and a place among the world’s top four by year's end.

1/4/2026 – One of the standout moments of 2025 came from 14-year-old Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, whose rapid rise has marked him out as one of the most intriguing young players in the game. This article revisits his breakthrough season, focusing on a remarkable attacking win at the FIDE Grand Swiss that caught the attention of GM Daniel King, who described it as "The Turkish Immortal". | Photo: FIDE/ Michal Walusza

1/4/2026 – The Hastings International Chess Congress ended with a decisive final round that reshaped the standings. Marius Deuer entered the last day as sole leader and needing only a draw to secure at least a share of first place, but his defeat on the top board opened the door for his closest rivals. As a result, Alexander Kovchan and Alex Golding (pictured) finished level on points and were declared joint winners. | Photo: West Wales Chess Congress (2022)

12/31/2025 – The Hastings International Chess Congress remains one of the most enduring fixtures in the chess calendar, combining deep historical roots with a competitive modern format. From its famous 1895 origins to the current 2025/26 edition in East Sussex, the Congress continues to attract an international field. With six rounds completed, a tight race has developed at the top, with German IM Marius Deur as sole leader and ten players standing merely a half point back. | Pictured: Mr Dominic Lawson, President of the English Chess Federation, makes the first move on Harry Bryant's board in the first round. | Photo: Hastings Chess Congress

12/31/2025 – The World Blitz Championships in Doha closed with repeat champions in both sections. In the Open event, Magnus Carlsen completed a strong comeback to win his ninth World Blitz title and his twentieth world title overall. The women's championship was claimed by Bibisara Assaubayeva, who added a third Women's World Blitz crown after advancing from a crowded Swiss stage and prevailing in the knockout matches. | Photo: FIDE / Lennart Ootes

12/30/2025 – The World Blitz Championship got under way in Doha with 13 rounds played in the open section and 10 in the women's event. Fabiano Caruana, Arjun Erigaisi and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (pictured) share the lead in the Open tournament, while 19-year-old Eline Roebers heads the women's standings after the first day. With several rounds still remaining and only four knockout places available, the early standings leave plenty unresolved. | Photo: FIDE / Lennart Ootes

12/29/2025 – The concluding day in Doha saw the World Rapid Championship take final shape after thirteen rounds in the open and eleven in the women's event. Magnus Carlsen won his sixth world rapid title, finishing a full point ahead of four players. Vladislav Artemiev and Arjun Erigaisi completed the podium on tiebreak scores. In the women's tournament, Aleksandra Goryachkina, Zhu Jiner and Humpy Koneru tied for first place. The title was settled in a blitz playoff, in which Goryachkina defeated Zhu by a 1½-½ score to secure the title. | Photo: FIDE / Lennart Ootes

12/28/2025 – Day two of the World Rapid Championship in Doha reshaped both title races as the standings tightened near the top. In the Open section, Vladislav Artemiev (pictured) and Hans Niemann moved into a shared lead after nine rounds, closely followed by a strong chasing group. The women's event saw Humpy Koneru draw level with Zhu Jiner at the top, with several players still within striking distance ahead of the final day. | Photo: FIDE / Anna Shtourman

12/27/2025 – The World Rapid Championship began in Doha with five rounds in the open and four in the women's event, producing clear early reference points without deciding the race. Magnus Carlsen, Gukesh Dommaraju, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Arjun Erigaisi and Vladislav Artemiev share the lead in the open section, while Zhu Jiner (pictured) emerged as the sole leader in the women's tournament. | Photo: FIDE / Lennart Ootes

12/25/2025 – The FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships 2025 will be held in Doha from 26 to 30 December, bringing together leading players from across the world in Open and Women's events. Played at Qatar University, the championships feature Swiss tournaments in Rapid and multi-stage competition in Blitz, with over €1,000,000 in prize money. The event marks Doha's return as host after nine years and concludes the international chess calendar. | Pictured: Classical chess world champion Gukesh Dommaraju | Photo: FIDE / Anna Shtourman

12/24/2025 – The 12th Sunway Sitges Chess Festival concluded with a closely contested open tournament in the Catalonian seaside town. After ten rounds, first place was shared before a blitz play-off decided the title, while an additional knockout determined third place. Iranian GM Mahdi Gholami Orimi emerged as overall winner, ahead of Spanish GM Josep Manuel López, with French GM Jules Moussard completing the podium. | Photo: David Llada / Sunway Sitges Chess Festival (2024)

12/24/2025 – The Global Chess League came to an end in Mumbai with Alpine SG Pipers, led by Fabiano Caruana, claiming overall victory after beating the two-time champions Triveni Continental Kings, captained by Alireza Firouzja. The Continental Kings failed to win the final after a dominant round-robin showing. Third place was claimed by PBG Alaskan Knights, under the leadership of Gukesh Dommaraju, after winning a blitz playoff against Vishy Anand's Ganges Grandmasters. | Photo: Vivek Sohani

12/23/2025 – David Antón Guijarro and Marta García Martín claimed the Absolute and Women's titles at the Spanish Chess Championship 2025 in Marbella. Played as a nine-round Swiss with a 100-player field, the event saw Antón decide the open standings early with a strong start, while the women's title went down to the final round and was settled on tiebreaks after a late swing in fortunes.

12/23/2025 – The round-robin phase of the Global Chess League concluded with the finalists confirmed after a closely contested final day. Triveni Continental Kings finished well clear at the top, while Alpine SG Pipers claimed the second finals place on tiebreaks despite losing their last match. Narrow margins elsewhere shaped the final standings, with the Ganges Grandmasters and the PBG Alaskan Knights now set to contest the match for third place. | Pictured: Gukesh Dommaraju (Alaskan Knights) facing Fabiano Caruana (SG Pipers). | Photo: Official website

12/22/2025 – The round-robin phase of the Global Chess League has been decided at the top, with Triveni Continental Kings finishing first and securing a place in the Final with one round to go. The remaining berth in the final match will be determined on Monday, with the Alpine SG Pipers now the frontrunners in this battle - two wins by women's world number one Hou Yifan helped them climb to second place in the standings. | Photo: ChessBase India