9/21/2002 – Last night the Russian junior champion Petr Kiriakov lost the first of two games against Deep Shredder on the Playchess server. The event is being conducted by Martin Müller ("Smurskie" to the Playchess crowd), who has been playing his dual PIII 2 x 1 GHz computer (Diversimex, 1.5 GB RAM, 500 GB hard disk, Windows XP) against a whole pride of GMs. More

9/17/2002 – After the first leg of the match ended with a depressing 3.5:0.5 loss for the German players, they were able to strike back on home territory, winning with a 2.5:1.5 margin. Playing 120 meters above the famous Alexanderplatz Christopher Lutz won his first game against Viktor Kortschnoj. All other games were drawn. Here's an illustrated report.

9/17/2002 – We have just learned that the Kasparov-Deep Junior match has been postponed. It was scheduled to begin in Jerusalem on October 1, one day before the start of the Kramnik-Deep Fritz match in Bahrain. The new starting date is December 1 and the match is still set for six games and to take place in Jerusalem. More

9/13/2002 – Chess prodigy Koneru Humpy has become the first woman chess player from India to receive the Men's Grandmaster title. There is some debate about whether she is the youngest ever woman in the world achieve this – at 15 years, one month and 27 days (three months less than Judit Polgar's previous record). The Indian press are ecstatic. You will find links to the articles here.

9/12/2002 – She is there in the Russian capital, covering the chess tournament. Our roving correspondent Anna Dergatscheva has sent us another batch of pictures that give you a nice impression of the match Russia vs the Rest of the World. They include Alexander Motylev with chess groupies, Alexandra Kosteniuk with a pushy admirer and an exclusive first-time shot of Kramnik with his wife (left). More

9/11/2002 – The Russians are playing against the Rest of the World – and although they fielded a "dream team" they are not doing well at all. Elsewhere we have reported on the abysmal performance, after eight rounds, of the four Ks. Now our very special correspondent Anna Dergatscheva, who is in Moscow, has sent us a special illustrated report with her impressions of the tournament. Find out why Peter Svidler was hobbling around on crutches or what exactly Judit Polgar is preparing for (psst – motherhood?). You will find Anna's personal report here.

9/11/2002 – Amazing, isn't it? The regular media will ignore big chess events, but if Russia, and especially Garry Kasparov, loses, then it is all over the news. "Russia falls behind in chess", reported ABC, and "Shock defeat for chess tsars" the Sydney Morning Herald. And just listen to this phone-in discussion in 720 ABC Perth. Results, games and statistics are on our special Moscow report page.

9/10/2002 – Viktor Kortschnoj easily outplayed Arkadi Naiditsch, 56 years his junior, while Yannick Pelletier turned a very precarious position into a stunning victory with his opponent's rook hopelessly trapped on a8. So after the first leg of the match the Germans return from Switzerland with a meagre 0.5 points and have their work cut out for them next weekend in Berlin. You will find an illustrated report here.

9/10/2002 – They have all been world champions, they are all playing for Russia against the Rest of the World. But their performance are all well under par. Karpov and Khalifman have played 40 and 92 points below their expected scores, Kramnik is struggling at minus 161 and Garry Kasparov lost to Ivanchuk, Judit Polgar and Vladimir Akopian (in 25 moves!) to chalk up an incredible minus 242. Results and games are available here.

9/9/2002 – If Viktor Kortschnoj had had his stubborn way it would in fact have been 2-0. The maximalist dominated in his game against Lutz, had a tremendous passed pawn on e6, but had to conceed a draw because of opposite coloured bishops. On the other board Yannick Pelletier of Switzerland defeated Germany's Arkadi Naiditsch in a very exciting encounter. More

9/5/2002 – This weekend we will see an interesting match between the top Swiss and German GMs Kortschnoj and Lutz, and the brightest young stars of both countries Pelletier and Naiditsch. The games are being held in the world-famous Savoy hotel (admittance free). You can also watch the action on the Fritz7 Playchess server. You will find further details here

9/3/2002 – In September Russia will play against the "Rest of the World" in Moscow, at the chess Olympiad in Bled (October 25) they will field Kasparov, Bareev, Morozevich, Grischuk, Khalifman and Svidler. In a Moscow park some of the players could be seen doing battle in an open-air blitz tournament. Guess who won. Eugeny Ataov has sent us a spectacular picture report.