8/14/2024 – The second day of rapid chess at the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz tournament finished with three players tied atop the standings with 8/12 points. Alireza Firouzja and Ian Nepomniachtchi caught up with former leader Maxime Vachier-Lagrave after each scoring a win and two draws on Tuesday. Levon Aronian stands in sole fourth place, 1 point behind the co-leaders. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

8/13/2024 – The 26th edition of the HZ University of Applied Sciences Chess Tournament 2024 was played in the Dutch city of Vlissingen in the province of Zeeland, from 3 to 10 August. GM Daniel Fernandez (pictured) won with 7½ out of 9 points. There was a player in the event who caused a stir by trying to increase his playing strength with a mobile phone hidden in his sock. Gerd Densing reports.

8/13/2024 – In the diagram position Black is a pawn up, but has to find a way to parry White's attack on the h-pawn. What would you do?

8/13/2024 – An eventful third day of action ended in Dortmund with the second draw between Elisabeth Paehtz and Dinara Wagner. In the A-Open, nine players are sharing the lead with perfect scores. The leading group includes the five highest-rated players in the field: Anton Korobov, Frederik Svane, Christopher Yoo, Krishnan Sasikiran and Luis Quesada. | Pictured: Star commentator Artur Yusupov | Photos: Official website

8/13/2024 – Day 1 of the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz tournament saw Maxime Vachier-Lagrave grabbing the lead after collecting a draw and two wins for a 5/6 score (wins are worth 2 points in the rapid section). Ian Nepomniachtchi, Levon Aronian and Leinier Dominguez stand at a 1-point distance in shared second place. | Photo: Crystal Fuller

8/12/2024 – The FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission announced its decision in the case of alleged postal harassment of female chess players by IM Andrejs Strebkovs. The EDC found the Respondent guilty and sanctioned him to a worldwide ban of five years from participating in any FIDE-rated event as a player, or to be physically present at any such FIDE rated event.

8/10/2024 – Hans Niemann scored back-to-back classical victories over Anish Giri to get a 6-point lead in their match in Utrecht. Giri came from tying the score on Thursday, and despite the consecutive losses still has chances of winning the match as 18 points are still up for grabs in the remaining 8 games (2 in classical chess and 6 in rapid). Niemann's pair of wins allowed him to climb to the 24th spot in the live ratings list. | Photo: Harry Gielen

8/9/2024 – The main event of the Speed Chess Championship is taking place from 25 July to 9 September. The quarterfinals are being played on 6-9 August, with 8 elite GMs fighting to reach the in-person final stages set to take place in Paris on 6-8 September. | Follow the quarterfinal match between Hikaru Nakamura and Ian Nepomniachtchi live, starting at 21.00 CEST (15.00 ET, 0.30 IST)

8/9/2024 – Episode 101 has launched, and Svitlana is testing our tactical skills! She found some lovely games of the World Rapid & Blitz Team Championship Tactics 2024, including Magnus Carlsen, Richard Rapport, Ding Liren, and more. Some tactics can be solved rather easily, while others require some critical thinking. Daniil Dubov, for example, couldn't find a decisive tactic. But maybe you can?

8/9/2024 – From 10 to 18 August Dortmund will once again be the summer chess capital of Germany. As well as a highly competitive Open, Elisabeth Pähtz and Dinara Wagner will be competing in a match to see who is number one women player in Germany.

8/8/2024 – In the match between Hans Niemann and Anish Giri, Niemann took a 7½-4½ lead after the blitz games that took place on the first day. Two classical games were played on the second day. Giri won the first game and the second game ended in a draw. Since wins in classical chess are worth 3 points, the score is now tied 9-9. | Photo: Harry Gielen

8/8/2024 – Frank Marshall (pictured), born on 10 August 1877, was one of the best and most influential American players. He was a witty chess romantic who immortalised himself with many brilliant combinations and enriched opening theory with some dangerous gambit variations. In 1915 he founded the Marshall Chess Club in New York and this may have been his most lasting contribution to American chess. The club has a rich history and continues to promote chess in America. Vladimir Lionter sends a portrait of this chess heaven in New York City.