Bobby Fischer: five days in solitary confinement

3/8/2005 – We had just reported about Fischer's new passport, which an Icelandic delegation had carried to Japan. A minor mystery was why it had not been handed over to him last Wednesday, as planned. Now we learn that Japanese authorities had put the former world champion into solitary confinement. For five days. Over a hard-boiled egg. We are not joking.

Linares R12: Kasparov, Topalov win

3/8/2005 – Garry Kasparov continued his rampage, winning a very dangerous game with black against Michael Adams today to practically decide the winner of Linares 2005. His current performance is an incredible 2915. Topalov demolished Kasimdzhanov and Anand had a narrow escape against Vallejo. We bring you a full updated illustrated report.

Viktor Kortchnoi: My Life for Chess

3/7/2005 – At 73 the former double world championship challenger is still going strong, playing active and attractive chess in top tournaments. Now he has spoken about a career that spans more than five decades and six generations of opponents, in his own electrifying style. Two fascinating DVDs on a life devoted to chess – we bring you the story and sample videos.

Linares R11: Anand in hot pursuit

3/6/2005 – Today Vishy Anand proved that he is not taking Kasparov's victory in Linares for granted. With a convincing black victory over FIDE world champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov the world's number two player came within striking distance. Tomorrow we travel to Linares, from Tuesday on we bring you live reports from Spain.

The Art of Chess

3/6/2005 – From February 19 to June 5 the Fuller Craft Museum is exhibiting chess pieces made by 90 metalsmiths. It includes pelican bishops, two-faced queens, oil can kings and bean bag knights, with a total of over two hundred individual pieces. If you live within a hundred miles you will want to catch it. Sample photos.

The Prime Minister vs the World Champion

3/6/2005 – The German state of Nordrhein-Westphalia has a political leader who is also an avid chess player. On March 5 he played an exhibition match against classical chess world champion Vladimir Kramnik. To everybody's amazement the game lasted 37 moves.

Monokroussos: back to tactics

3/6/2005 – After a calm game in last week's lectures Monday night Playchess.com lecturer Dennis Monokroussos returns to what the audience wants: a tactical melee. He analyses an exciting game between Levon Aronian and Valery Popov at the Aeroflot Open. Enjoy!

Happy birthday Bent!

3/5/2005 – Bent Larsen is one of the most interesting players of the 20th century. He came to light at the age of 19, then developed into the strongest Western player and one of the most serious threats to Soviet hegemony in chess. On March 4th he completed his 70th year. We bring you a short biography and an indepth interview.

Linares R10: Kasparov on the rampage

3/5/2005 – He has four wins in nine games, with a 2889 performance so far. Garry Kasparov is well on the way to yet another – his ninth – victory in Linares. Today he beat Francisco Vallejo to take a two-point, three-win lead over the rest of the field. Who can stop this relentless victory machine? Full report.

Linares R9: Kasparov beats Kasimdzhanov in mini-match

3/4/2005 – They were supposed to play a reunification world championship against each other. Today their mini-match in Linares ended in a 1½:½ for Kasparov, who defeated the FIDE world champion with black. Anand was under pressure from Topalov but held, Leko vs Adams was also drawn. Report and analysis.

Linares R8: Vallejo chalks up first win

3/3/2005 – Underdog Francisco Vallejo Pons today scored his first victory in the tournament, defeating reigning FIDE world champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov in convincing style. Garry Kasparov was unable to score a full point against the precision of Peter Leko, Adams drew against Topalov. Flash report.

Alexandra Kosteniuk, Chessdarts world champion

3/3/2005 – It is a team event, with two players each competing in their own discipline: chess the one and darts the other. It was staged in the magnificent Krasnapolsky Hotel, in exactly the location Max Euwe beat Alexander Alekhine in 1935. GM Alexandra Kosteniuk teamed up with darts champion Andy Fordham to take the title. Illustrated report.

Zhu Chen wins Accoona Women's Championship

3/2/2005 – Former women's world champion Zhu Chen defeated former US champion Irina Krush to take the Accoona Women's Championship at the ABC Times Square Studios, NYC, yesterday. The top Chinese player used the occasion to end her "maternity leave" with a suitable bang. Here's a picture report by Paul Truong.

Linares R7: Kasparov leads at half-time

3/2/2005 – In every round so far in Linares two games were drawn and one decided, today the pattern was broken and all games were drawn. There was mild pressure in Kasparov vs Topalov and Adams vs Anand, while Peter Leko played a 13-mover against Vallejo. We bring you a full report with some interesting factoids.

FIDE to boycott Spain, Spanish Federation replies

3/2/2005 – In a terse press release FIDE has expressed dissatisfaction with the Spanish Chess Federation and announced that it will no longer award official FIDE events to Spain under the current leadership. To this the Federation, one of the most active in the world, has replied, accusing FIDE officials of extravagant wishes and misconduct. Information and background...

Chess Champion Talks Boxing

3/1/2005 – We have always known that the two have a lot in common. Kasparov, Anand, Kramnik and co., they are so very close to Lewis, Spinks, De La Hoya, the Klitschkos. Brain and brawn, the perfect match. An article in the Black Athlete Sports Network confirms our views. Here's the story and some philosophical musings on chess and boxing.

Shredder 9 on top of the world

3/1/2005 – It is one of the most successful chess programs of all time, winning countless computer chess tournaments and topping the computer rating lists. Now a brand-new version of Shredder is out, even more powerful than its predecessor. It has a beautiful 3D glass chess set and an interesting retroanalytical feature.

FIDE's latest unification plan

2/28/2005 – Word has come out from FIDE's recent Presidential Council in Tbilsi, Georgia. FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov is now calling for a unification tournament to be held in Elista, Kalmykia. FIDE also appointed a new General Secretary and criticized the Spanish federation. Available details.

Linares R6: Anand pressures Kasparov, Topalov wins

2/28/2005 – Garry Kasparov was put under heavy pressure by the world's number two Vishy Anand, who was very close to winning his first classical chess game against his nemesis since 1995. But Kasparov defended well and the game was drawn. Francisco Vallejo lost a tactical melee against Veselin Topalov. Full report.

Linares R5: Kasparov defeats Adams, takes lead

2/28/2005 – Garry Kasparov outplayed Michael Adams, seemed to lose the thread and head for a draw a pawn up in a queen and rook ending. But the world's strongest player proved what that adage means, using grim determination to grind down his British opponent. We bring you games, results and pictures in our round five report.

Monokroussos: a respite into sanity

2/27/2005 – After several weeks of crazy games, our Monday night Playchess lecturer Dennis Monokroussos takes a look at a masterpiece of the aggressive, positional chess. It is the style that made Anatoly Karpov the World Champion for years. Enjoy!

The future of Internet chess revisited

2/27/2005 – The recent ChessBase Workshop column "The Future of Internet Chess?" has generated a large batch of e-mail from our readers. Columnist Steve Lopez dips into the mailbag for a look at the responses. You can read our readers' comments (and Steve's replies) in the latest ChessBase Workshop.

My Aeroflot – a personal report

2/26/2005 – The Aeroflot Open is over, but its effects can still be felt. Hundreds of player attended, and new sponsors are coming in to continue the tradition in the coming years. Misha Savinov, who visited the event in Moschow, tells us the secret of its success and gives us his personal impressions of this great Russian tournament.

Accoona and women's chess

2/26/2005 – On Tuesday Accoona is staging a women's chess in NYC. In a new press release they give some background on women's chess, which has come a long way from the times when people thought the gentler sex may have trouble lifting the leaded, wooden chess pieces. No longer today...