1/1/2025 – The chess world is awash with resources for players looking to up their game, from countless articles and books to videos. Although relatively scarcer, a wealth of instructional material also exists for those interested in chess solving. But few have ventured to teach how to compose a chess study or a problem - no definitive course or authoritative guide for this aspect of chess. Yet, like playing and solving, composing, too, is a teachable skill — or at least that is what Gady Costeff, the writer of the present article, believes. To put his notion to the test, he demonstrates how to craft an endgame study by starting with an attractive mate position and then working backwards, guided by a series of straightforward questions.

12/31/2024 – The World Blitz Championships are taking place in New York on 30-31 December. Over 300 elite players, including Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana and Ju Wenjun, compete in iconic Wall Street venues. The tournaments, open and women's, are played with a time control of 3 minutes for the game plus 2-second increments per move. | Follow the games live with expert commentary starting at 20.00 CET (14.00 ET, 0.30 IST)

12/26/2024 – New York City, a dazzling collision of ambition, culture and history, is also a vibrant chess hub. From Washington Square's hustlers to iconic clubs like the Marshall Chess Club, chess weaves through the city's fabric, blending art, history and community. The game thrives in museums, cafés and parks, drawing enthusiasts of all levels. As NYC prepares to host the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships, the city's rich chess legacy takes centre stage, reaffirming its role as a global chess powerhouse.

12/24/2024 – The chess world is abuzz as New York's financial district gears up to host the 2024 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships, marking a thrilling finale to a historic year in chess. From December 26 to 31, over 300 elite players, including Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana and Ju Wenjun, will compete in iconic Wall Street venues. With a $1.5 million prize fund and a two-stage Blitz knockout finale, this event promises unparalleled excitement.

12/23/2024 – The greatest chess player of this era, Magnus Carlsen, has been announced as the Global Ambassador of chess at the Esports World Cup. The world's top online chess players will compete in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for a US$ 1.5 million prize pool. The event will take place from 31 July to 3 August 2025. The time control will be 10 minutes for the game, with no increments. Twelve players hoping to compete at the EWC will qualify through the Champions Chess Tour, which will host two online tour events in February and May. A final Last Chance Qualifier will take place in Riyadh to select the final four competitors. That competition will be open to amateur and professional players alike.

12/21/2024 – CM Robert Mcligeyo and WFM Sasha Mongeli shone brightly at the 2024 Kenya National Chess Championship, held in Nairobi. Mcligeyo, aged 18, clinched the Open title with eight points, earning a brand-new Nissan Note, while dethroning defending champion Joseph Methu in a stellar performance. In the women's section, Mongeli defended her title, triumphing after a tiebreak with a score of 7/9. The event, organised by Chess Kenya, showcased remarkable talent and continues to inspire the nation's youth. | Photo: Chess Kenya

12/21/2024 – FIDE has announced plans to update the 2025 FIDE Circuit Regulations, aiming to enhance fairness and competitiveness based on feedback from the 2024 Circuit. Key proposals include adjusting the number of players eligible for points in round-robin tournaments, recognising double round-robin super tournaments with high Elo averages, and reducing points for events with multiple rounds in a single day. These changes seek to better reflect the value of high-quality tournaments and are set for final approval by December 31, 2024.

12/21/2024 – The 2024 Champions Chess Tour Finals are set to crown the year's champion at Screen Studios in Oslo, Norway, from December 17 to 21. Featuring eight elite players, including Magnus Carlsen, Alireza Firouzja and Ian Nepomniachtchi, the tournament promises high-stakes battles for a $500,000 prize fund. | Follow the action live with expert commentary starting at 18.00 CET (12.00 ET, 22.30 IST)

12/21/2024 – Daniil Yuffa and Sabrina Vega triumphed in the 2024 Spanish Chess Championship, held in Marbella from December 11-19. Yuffa claimed his maiden national title with a stellar performance, securing decisive victories in critical rounds and holding off top-seeded GM David Antón in the final game. In the women's rankings, Vega clinched her ninth championship title with 6½/9, continuing her legacy. | Photo: Patricia Claros

12/19/2024 – The World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships for boys and girls in the U14, U16 and U18 age groups were held over three days at Terme Čatež (Slovenia). The most successful nation was Vietnam. | Photos: Luka Rifelj

12/18/2024 – Despite the ongoing war with Russia, the Ukrainian Chess Federation is holding its 92nd national championship and 82nd women's championship in Lviv. Around 150 Ukrainian players are taking part. The venue in Lviv is the Dnister Premier Hotel. | Photos: Lana Chess Photography

12/18/2024 – This Christmas, New York City transforms into a chess battleground as nearly 300 players, including the world's best, compete in the World Rapid and Blitz Championships. Magnus Carlsen leads a star-studded Open field, joined by Fabiano Caruana, Ian Nepomniachtchi and a host of top grandmasters. The women's competition is equally dazzling, headlined by reigning champion Ju Wenjun and former titleholders.

12/17/2024 – Fabiano Caruana has taken pole position in the 2024 FIDE Circuit race after a crucial victory at the Saint Louis Masters, edging ahead of Arjun Erigaisi by 6 points. Despite Arjun's strong second-place finish at the Qatar Masters, the Indian GM now faces an uphill climb in the year's final showdown: the World Rapid and Blitz Championships. With both players having completed seven counting tournaments, the race to claim the title will come down to the wire on New Year's Eve.

12/16/2024 – The 2024 Champions Chess Tour Finals are set to crown the year's champion in an electrifying showdown at Screen Studios in Oslo, Norway, from December 17 to 21. Featuring eight elite players, including Magnus Carlsen, Alireza Firouzja and Ian Nepomniachtchi, the tournament promises high-stakes battles for a $500,000 prize fund. This year, a live audience will have the chance to follow the action up close in Oslo.

12/12/2024 – From December 7 to 10, the European Chess Union, together with the Chess Federation of North Macedonia, organised this year's European Rapid and Blitz Championships in Skopje, for the first time also together with the European Fischer Chess Championships. Vladimir Fedoseev won two titles. Jorden van Foreest became European Blitz Champion. | Photos: ECU

12/8/2024 – Sandro Mareco triumphed in the 99th Argentine Championship, held in Buenos Aires from November 26 to December 6. Mareco secured his second national title, finishing with a commanding 8½/11 after defeating Pablo Ismael Acosta in the final round. Top-seeded Mareco edged out defending champion Fernando Peralta, who claimed second place with 8/11, while Diego Flores finished third. Notably, 11-year-old prodigy Faustino Oro impressed on his debut, scoring 6½/11 and finishing fourth. | Photos: Argentine Chess Federation

12/6/2024 – The London Chess Classic elite section is an 8-player all-play-all tournament taking place from 29 November to 7 December at the Emirates Stadium, home to Arsenal Football Club. Four English players and four international representatives make up the lineup, which includes Azerbaijani star Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, living legend Michael Adams and women's world champion Ju Wenjun. | Follow the games live and with commentary by Peter Svidler and Lawrence Trent, starting at 17.00 CET (11.00 ET, 21.30 IST)

12/1/2024 – The 2024 World Senior Chess Championship concluded on the picturesque island of Porto Santo, with thrilling battles across 11 rounds crowning four champions. Alexander Shabalov (USA) triumphed in the fiercely competitive 50+ open section, edging out Poland's Michal Krasenkow on tiebreaks. Germany’s Rainer Knaak claimed the 65+ open title, while Israel's Masha Klinova secured the 50+ women’s crown, and Brigitte Burchardt (Germany) took the 65+ women’s title. This prestigious event, hosted by the Portuguese Chess Federation, combined top-level play with the idyllic charm of the "Golden Island", drawing participants from around the globe. | Photos: Portuguese Chess Federation