1/13/2025 – The 2024 European Women's Rapid Championship saw four players finish tied for first place with 8½/11 points, with Ukrainian GM Anna Ushenina securing the gold medal on tiebreaks. The former women's world champion remained undefeated throughout the event, climbing to the top with crucial wins in rounds 7 and 8. Yuliia Osmak and Sarasadat Khademalsharieh grabbed silver and bronze, while Eline Roebers finished just outside the podium spots. | Photo: Patricia Claros

1/12/2025 – Rounds 5 and 6 of the 2024/25 Chess Bundesliga saw significant developments, including Magnus Carlsen's return to the league after many years, helping St. Pauli secure their first win of the season before losing to leaders from Düsseldorf. Viernheim defeated perennial favourites Baden-Baden in round 5 and then overcame Deizisau, who entered round 6 as sole leaders. Baden-Baden recovered with a narrow win, leaving them tied with Düsseldorf at the top of the standings. The next rounds are set for 1-2 February. | Photo: André Schulz

1/11/2025 – The 2024 European Women's Blitz Championship brought high-octane chess action to the luxurious backdrop of Monte Carlo, Monaco. Featuring 126 players from 28 countries, the event saw Polish IM Aleksandra Maltsevskaya claim a stunning victory with 10½/13 points, defeating top talents including former world champions Anna Ushenina and Alexandra Kosteniuk. Rising star Eline Roebers also impressed but narrowly missed the podium. | Photo: Patricia Claros

1/9/2025 – The Weissenhaus Freestyle Chess Tournament is set to kick off the inaugural Freestyle Chess Grand Slam with an exciting lineup of top players, including Magnus Carlsen, Gukesh Dommaraju and Vishy Anand. However, it was a gripping online play-in stage that determined the final spot in the elite 10-player field. Javokhir Sindarov and Vladimir Fedoseev battled through a fierce knockout bracket to reach the dramatic final. Fedoseev emerged victorious following a sensational Armageddon decider.

1/6/2025 – Egyptian GM Bassem Amin emerged victorious in the 52nd Rilton Cup, held from 27 December to 5 January in Stockholm, Sweden. The prestigious tournament, established in 1971 thanks to the visionary support of Dr Tore Rilton, attracted 115 players from 35 countries this year. Despite an early upset loss, Amin showcased his resilience by winning six consecutive games and secured the title with 7½ points. | Photo: Lars OA Hedlund

1/2/2025 – Magnus Carlsen is set to marry Ella Victoria Malone this weekend, just days after securing his eighth World Blitz Championship title. The couple, who confirmed the news to Verdens Gang (VG), plan to keep the ceremony private. Malone, who has an American father and a Norwegian mother, grew up in Oslo and now lives with Carlsen, as she has taken on an increasingly vital role in his support team. | Photo: Amruta Mokal

1/1/2025 – The second day of the World Blitz Chess Championships, held in New York, provided thrilling action as the knockout stages decided the champions in both the open and women's sections. Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi decided to share the open title after an epic 7-game final, marking Carlsen's eighth blitz crown and Nepo's first. Meanwhile, Ju Wenjun claimed her maiden women's blitz title with an overtime victory against Lei Tingjie. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

12/31/2024 – Victor Wembanyama, the 20-year-old basketball sensation and unanimous NBA Rookie of the Year, recently turned heads off the court during a visit to New York City. Known as "Wemby", the San Antonio Spurs star revealed his passion for chess, taking to Washington Square Park to play in its famous open-air chess scene. Amid chilly weather and enthusiastic fans, Wemby's appearance captured widespread attention. | Photo: Wemby's X account

12/31/2024 – The opening day of the World Blitz Chess Championships in New York brought electrifying action, with top players battling for a spot in the knockout stages. In the open section, 10 players tied for first place with 9½/13, but only 8 advanced, including Magnus Carlsen, Hans Niemann (pictured) and newly crowned rapid champion Volodar Murzin. Meanwhile, in the women's event, Vaishali Rameshbabu delivered a commanding performance, scoring an unbeaten 9½/11 to finish a full point ahead of her closest rival. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

12/29/2024 – The World Rapid Chess Championships concluded with outright victories in both the open and women's sections. In the open category, 18-year-old Russian GM Volodar Murzin stunned a star-studded field to claim the title with an unbeaten 10/13 score, becoming the second-youngest champion in the event's history. Meanwhile, India’s Humpy Koneru clinched her second women's world rapid title with a clutch final-round victory, finishing with 8½/11 points. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

12/28/2024 – Day 2 of the World Rapid Chess Championships in New York delivered high drama. Magnus Carlsen's withdrawal following a dress code dispute dominated headlines, leaving the open section without its defending champion. Meanwhile, Alireza Firouzja, Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Volodar Murzin emerged as co-leaders in the open. In the women's section, Ju Wenjun, Humpy Koneru and Harika Dronavalli now share the lead after impressive performances. With one day remaining, the race for the prestigious world titles heats up. | Photo: FIDE / Lennart Ootes

12/27/2024 – The 2024 World Rapid Chess Championships kicked off on Thursday, with thrilling action unfolding in both the open and women's sections. In the open, Volodar Murzin, Shant Sargsyan, Daniel Naroditsky and Leinier Dominguez (pictured) lead with 4½/5, while defending champion Magnus Carlsen trails by 2 points after a tough start. Meanwhile, 15-year-old Alice Lee stunned the women's field, finishing day 1 with a perfect 4/4 score to take sole leadership. | Photo: FIDE / Lennart Ootes

12/23/2024 – The 11th Sunway Sitges Chess Festival wrapped up in style, delivering a lively atmosphere in the picturesque town near Barcelona. Savva Vetokhin, aged 15, stole the show, winning the title after beating Ido Gorshtein in a blitz playoff. The event saw fierce competition, with Chinese GM Li Di taking third place and Iranian WGM Mobina Alinasab finishing as the top-scoring woman. Living legend Vasyl Ivanchuk added flair, ending his campaign with a remarkable final-round win. | Photo: Official website

12/22/2024 – Magnus Carlsen has once again proven his supremacy in the world of chess, claiming his fourth consecutive Champions Chess Tour title with a commanding 4-1 victory over Ian Nepomniachtchi in the final. Dominating the series since its inception, Carlsen's brilliance shone through in critical moments. With the World Rapid and Blitz Championships just around the corner, the Norwegian superstar shows no signs of slowing down as he continues to redefine excellence in the game. | Photo: Maria Emelianova / chess.com

12/21/2024 – The stage is set for a thrilling final encounter at the Champions Chess Tour Finals in Oslo, as Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi stormed into the title match with commanding semifinal wins. Carlsen defeated Maxime Vachier-Lagrave 3½-1½, showcasing his trademark composure in critical moments. Nepomniachtchi delivered an even more dominant performance, crushing Alireza Firouzja with two games to spare. The two rivals, who contested the 2021 World Chess Championship, are set to clash again on Saturday in what promises to be a hard-fought battle for the title. | Photo: Maria Emelianova / chess.com

12/20/2024 – The Champions Chess Tour Finals in Oslo are heading into the semifinals after an action-packed Thursday that saw the conclusion of the round-robin and the intense survival stage. Magnus Carlsen dominated the all-play-all phase to secure first place, with Alireza Firouzja taking the second direct semifinal spot. Ian Nepomniachtchi (pictured) and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave emerged victorious in the survival stage, completing the final four. Carlsen has chosen to face Vachier-Lagrave in the semis, while Firouzja will battle Nepomniachtchi. | Photo: Maria Emelianova / chess.com

12/19/2024 – Day 2 of the Champions Chess Tour Finals saw Magnus Carlsen take the sole lead, but the spotlight was on Alireza Firouzja, who won all three of his matches to join Ian Nepomniachtchi and Denis Lazavik in shared second place. As the battle for direct semifinal spots heats up, the fight to avoid elimination is just as fierce. With one round of the round-robin left, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Vincent Keymer and Levon Aronian are all vying for survival. | Photo: Maria Emelianova / chess.com

12/18/2024 – The 2024 Champions Chess Tour Finals kicked off in Oslo, featuring eight of the world's top players battling it out over-the-board. With noise-cancelling headphones allowing the audience to react freely, the first day saw three rounds of round-robin action. Magnus Carlsen and rising star Denis Lazavik shone brightest, finishing undefeated to share the lead. Meanwhile, Levon Aronian endured a tough day, losing all three of his games. | Pictured: Levon Aronian and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Photo: Maria Emelianova / chess.com