3/28/2026 – The Reykjavík Open is taking place from 25 to 31 March at the Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre, once again bringing together a large international field for its traditional nine-round Swiss competition. Led by top seed Amin Tabatabaei and featuring a mix of experienced contenders - such as Vasyl Ivanchuk - and young stars, the event continues a tradition that dates back to Mikhail Tal's victory in the inaugural 1964 edition. | Follow the action live starting at 17.00 CET (12.00 ET, 21.30 IST) | Photo: Skáksamband Íslands

3/28/2026 – With the first round of the Candidates Tournament set to begin on Sunday, we are just hours away from the start of one of chess' most demanding events. In a series of videos, GM Daniel King profiles all eight participants, offering a clear and concise overview of their strengths, weaknesses and prospects ahead of the competition!

3/27/2026 – An overview of the Opening Encyclopaedia 2026 highlights its role as a structured resource for studying modern opening theory. Combining articles, annotated games and video content, it offers both broad coverage and practical guidance. With contributions from authors such as Daniel King and Dorian Rogozenco, the material spans introductory tutorials and detailed analysis, alongside an extensive, searchable games' database.

3/27/2026 – The exhibition "Chess Variants: Transforming Tradition" explores the evolution of chess across cultures, from its early forms in Asia to modern reinterpretations of the game. Hosted by the World Chess Hall of Fame, it brings together historical artefacts, rare sets and interactive displays, alongside examples of variants such as Shogi and Xiangqi. The show highlights how communities have continually reshaped chess over more than fifteen centuries. | Photos: World Chess Hall of Fame

3/26/2026 – A life between political pressure, sporting rivalry and unshakeable ambition: Viktor Korchnoi is one of the most fascinating figures in chess history. On 23 March, the chess legend would have turned 95. ChessBase is taking this as an opportunity to provide you with a feature package on the influential figure in the history of chess. | Pictured: Petra and Viktor Korchnoi enjoying a meal aboard the Hamburg Alster steamer at the ChessBase Christmas celebration. | Photos: ChessBase

3/15/2026 – Hikaru Nakamura is playing a training match against Awonder Liang in Saint Louis as he fine-tunes his form ahead of the Candidates Tournament, which begins in two weeks' time. The three-day encounter, running from 13 to 15 March, combines classical, rapid and blitz games. Liang, ranked 25th in the world, provides strong opposition in a match broadcast live on Nakamura's Kick channel. | Follow the games live starting at 18.00 CET (13.00 ET, 22.30 IST)

3/12/2026 – The American Cup, one of the United States' premier chess tournaments, returns to Saint Louis. Now in its fifth year, the event runs on March 3-12 at the Saint Louis Chess Club, featuring sixteen of America's top chess talents. The event concludes on Thursday with the Grand Final Reset of the women's competition, where Alice Lee and Carissa Yip battle for the title. | Follow the games live with expert commentary starting at 18.00 CET (13.00 ET, 22.30 IST) | Pictured: Alice Lee | Photo: Lennart Ootes

3/12/2026 – Weeks before the first move is played, the grenke Chess Festival 2026 is surpassing all previous dimensions. More than 3,000 registrations mark a new record for the world’s largest open chess festival. With Magnus Carlsen and Vincent Keymer among the participants, and the chance to qualify for the next Freestyle World Championship, Karlsruhe will become the central meeting point of the international chess scene over Easter. | Photos: Darius Gorzinski

3/10/2026 – Success in world-class chess is built long before the game begins. With the "Federation Package", developed specifically for national federations, players and coaches gain access to the complete professional ChessBase software, the world's largest chess database, and powerful cloud analysis – at a price that provides up to five times more computing power than individual solutions! A long-term investment that will measurably enhance the performance of the entire team.

3/6/2026 – From 25 February to 6 March 2026, the eighth Prague International Chess Festival is taking place at the Don Giovanni Hotel, bringing together elite competition and a wide programme of side events. Going into the final round, Nodirbek Abdusattorov is the sole leader in the Masters section and stands a half point ahead of Jorden van Foreest. Abdusattorov plays white against Hans Niemann, while Van Foreest plays black against Parham Maghsoodloo. | Follow the action live starting at 15.00 CET (9.00 ET, 19.30 IST) | Pictured: Divya Deshmukh | Photo: Petr Vrabec / Prague Chess Festival

3/5/2026 – The Prague Chess Festival has become a fixture on the tournament calendar and is now in its eighth edition. In an interview with ChessBase, organiser Petr Boleslav explains how the idea was born, why Prague was the natural home for the event, and what it takes to run such a top tournament with a rich programme of side events.

3/4/2026 – Together with Keti Tsataslashvili, Alojzije Jankovic works as a commentator at the Prague Chess Festival – a role that suits him well. The Croatian grandmaster (peak Elo 2593) had his own chess show on Croatian television for many years and runs a YouTube channel. He was editor-in-chief of the magazine ‘Sahovski Glasnik’, has written chess books, studied economics and is vice-president of the European Chess Union. In an interview with ChessBase, he talks about his passion for chess, his career, his favourite player, chess in film, and explains how systematic thinking can help you play better and be more successful in life.

2/26/2026 – Mahammad Muradli and Ulviyya Fataliyeva have been crowned champions at the Azerbaijan Chess Championships, held in Baku from 6 to 22 February. Muradli secured his third national title by defeating Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in the open final, while Ulviyya Fataliyeva claimed her first women's crown after a tiebreak victory over Ayan Allahverdiyeva. | Photo: Azerbaijani Chess Federation

2/26/2026 – FIDE has introduced a revised championship cycle for the Under-8, Under-10 and Under-12 categories, clarifying the pathway in global youth chess. The newly named FIDE World Cadets Cup U8-U12 will act as the qualifying stage, with world titles decided later at the World Cadets Championships, in which only 48 contenders will participate. The inaugural Cup will be held in Batumi from 15 to 28 June 2026.

2/25/2026 – The eighth edition of the Prague International Chess Festival was officially opened at the Don Giovanni Hotel in Prague, launching the Masters, Challengers and Futures tournaments. The event features the reigning World Champion, Gukesh Dommaraju, who played a symbolic opening duel with Czech beach volleyball world champion Ondřej Perušič. The game was part of the festival's ceremonial start ahead of play through 6 March. | Photo: Petr Vrabec

2/23/2026 – Grandmaster Denis Kadrić has won his first national title at the Montenegrin Chess Championship, scoring 9/11 in a closely contested event decided in the final round. Held in Podgorica and organised by the Chess Federation of Montenegro, the championship saw Nikola Đukić take silver and Jovan Milović bronze. | Photos: Chess Federation of Montenegro

2/21/2026 – The pairings for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 and the FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament 2026 have been confirmed following the official Drawing of Lots ceremony in Paphos. Scheduled from 28 March to 16 April 2026, both events will determine the challengers for the World Championship titles, with round-one matchups now set and preparations entering their final phase.

2/19/2026 – Following a review of applications, a panel appointed by the FIDE Council has selected seventeen players, coaches and organisers for inclusion in the 2026 support programme for chess veterans. A total of €37,000 will be distributed among the beneficiaries. Since its launch twelve years ago, the programme has provided nearly €500,000 in assistance, recognising long-standing contributions to the game through individual profiles and career summaries.