4/4/2026 – Three players share the lead after five rounds at the Women's Candidates Tournament, with Zhu Jiner and Kateryna Lagno joining Anna Muzychuk on 3/5. Both Zhu and Lagno scored their second wins of the event, while Muzychuk agreed a quick draw with Aleksandra Goryachkina, who remains unbeaten with five draws. Tan Zhongyi and Divya Deshmukh also split the point in a balanced game, leaving the standings tightly packed with all eight players separated by just one point. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

4/4/2026 – Javokhir Sindarov's formidable start continued in round five of the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus, as he defeated top seed Hikaru Nakamura with the black pieces to reach a 4½/5 score. Fabiano Caruana also won, beating Matthias Bluebaum to remain one point behind. The decisive games saw Nakamura and Bluebaum faltering in the opening phase. The remaining two encounters ended drawn. | Photo: FIDE / Yoav Nis

4/4/2026 – After three rounds at the grenke Chess Festival in Karlsruhe, 19 players lead the Freestyle Open A on a perfect score. Magnus Carlsen, Hans Niemann and Vincent Keymer belong to the leading group. Early rounds have already produced demanding games and upsets, with qualification stakes and a crowded leaderboard shaping the next stage of the event. | Photo: Jeroen van den Belt / ChessBase

4/3/2026 – The fourth edition of the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships will take place in Hong Kong from 16 to 22 June 2026. These tournaments are popular amongst players and fans alike, offering a unique space for top grandmasters, rising stars, and chess enthusiasts to play together and fight for World titles. Want to take part? The team registration is now open!

4/3/2026 – Head-to-head records between the participants of the Candidates Tournaments provide useful context for each pairing. Drawing on data compiled via Mega Database 2026, the key statistics from past encounters highlight imbalances and trends. While such figures are not decisive, they offer an additional perspective on how rivalries have developed before a tournament that will determine the next challenger for the world title.

4/3/2026 – That is an endgame that is most often seen in chess. And if you can handle it well, you can score well against opponents who falter. So today we provide you with four positions that will test your skills - and perhaps teach you how to better handle the endgame. In two positions you are asked to win against a defending diagram, in two you are all on your own. Full video solutions will be provided in a week.

3/31/2026 – In this episode of The Monthly Dragon, Chris Ward takes a close look at the newest Dragadorf developments and shows why these modern Dragon setups are becoming such a practical weapon for Black. Using fresh blitz examples and clear strategic ideas, he explains how early ...h5, flexible piece play and typical Dragadorf plans can leave White struggling to find a convincing setup. A particularly striking highlight is an unexpected knight retreat that turns out to be a powerful positional idea and perfectly captures the fresh creativity in today's Dragon theory. | Photo: John Upham

3/31/2026 – 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 12.30 CET (6.30 ET, 16.00 IST) | Photo: Skáksamband Íslands

3/31/2026 – Head-to-head records between the participants of the Candidates Tournaments provide useful context for each pairing. Drawing on data compiled via Mega Database 2026, the key statistics from past encounters highlight imbalances and trends. While such figures are not decisive, they offer an additional perspective on how rivalries have developed before a tournament that will determine the next challenger for the world title.

3/31/2026 – Missed opportunities remained a recurring theme in round two of the Women's Candidates, where all four games again ended in draws. Zhu Jiner obtained a clearly superior position against Kateryna Lagno but failed to convert, allowing a perpetual check to save the game. In the all-Indian encounter, Divya Deshmukh (pictured) also let an advantage slip after overlooking a tactical resource by Vaishali Rameshbabu. | Photo: FIDE / Yoav Nis

3/31/2026 – All four games in round two of the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus ended in draws, leaving the standings unchanged. Fabiano Caruana, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu and Javokhir Sindarov remain tied for the lead on 1½/2 points. Pragg and Andrey Esipenko got the best chances to fight for more than a draw on Monday, but saw their opponents successfully keeping things under control. Round three will see a clash of co-leaders, as Pragg is set to play white against Sindarov. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

3/31/2026 – ChessBase Magazine Extra is the ideal complement to ChessBase Magazine. In the new Extra 230, you can look forward to opening videos on the Open Spanish (Sipke Ernst) and Classical Sicilian (Nico Zwirs), an Endgame Special by Igor Stohl: 'Short or long side' – where should the defending king go in rook endgames? Plus the 'Lucky bag' with 35 master analyses!