9/25/2025 – Norway's GM Johan-Sebastian Christiansen emerged victorious at the inaugural Sahel Chess Festival, held in Monastir, Tunisia, from 1 to 9 September 2025. Scoring 8½/9 in the main Open, Christiansen also won the blitz event, highlighting the high level of play at a tournament that attracted 263 participants from 11 federations. The festival, hosted at the Amir Palace Hotel, showcased Tunisia's vibrant chess scene and signalled the start of a promising new tradition in the Sahel region. | All photos: Diana Mihajlova

9/24/2025 – As is well known, chess not only offers the opportunity to play games, but also opens up further possibilities for intellectual engagement. These include composing and solving chess problems. The World Federation for Chess Composition has now published the FIDE Album 2019–2021, featuring the finest compositions and studies from this period.

9/24/2025 – Educators and enthusiasts will gather at London's Mindsports Centre on 11–12 October for a weekend dedicated to exploring chess as a tool for learning and development. Supported by FIDE and the International Olympic Committee, the event features interactive masterclasses, practical teaching resources and opportunities to connect with peers. With only 60 places available, this initiative highlights chess' role in fostering critical thinking, creativity and confidence in the classroom. No prior experience required.

9/24/2025 – The chess world is no stranger to scandals. A prominent recent controversy erupted in November 2023, when Vladimir Kramnik insinuated on his chess.com blog and in a YouTube video that Hikaru Nakamura cheated - when he scored 45.5/50 in a blitz tournament. Kramnik pointed out the statistical improbability of Nakamura's streak. But a research team, using Bayesian analysis and historical performance data, has found a 99.6% probability that Nakamura did not cheat.

9/23/2025 – Argentina's 11-year-old Faustino Oro is leading the Legends & Prodigies tournament in Madrid after scoring 6 points from his first 7 games. His victories included a crucial win over former co-leader Alan Pichot, and his performance has already secured him a first grandmaster norm. With his rating now above 2500, Oro has moved closer to becoming the youngest grandmaster in history. The event also saw Lu Miaoyi withdraw due to health issues. | Photo: Raúl Martínez

9/23/2025 – The legendary world champion and political activist has issued a warning regarding the current media crackdown in the US, comparing it to the early days of Putin's rule in Russia. Kasparov appeared for an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper, and on MSNBC with Jen Psaki. You can read his article and watch the videos of his eloquent admonitions here.

9/23/2025 – The diagram position is one of those endgame positions you should know. It might help you gain valuable points — and, maybe more importantly, it is part of chess culture. It is White to move and win — how?

9/23/2025 – In the Endgame Magic Show #311, Karsten Müller shows two recent endgames from Praggnanandhaa. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

9/22/2025 – The development of chess is deeply entwined with the history of human civilisation, and its journey along the Silk Road helped transform it into a cultural treasure that transcends borders. From its early forms in India and China to its adaptations in Persia, the Islamic world and medieval Europe, chess evolved as a mirror of thought and philosophy. This account retraces its millennial path, highlighting how every move carries memory, creativity and a universal human legacy.

9/22/2025 – When the strongest pieces disappear from the board, a whole new game often emerges. In the current ChessBase Magazine #227, Mihail Marin highlights a wide variety of scenarios from practice. His article begins with a video introduction, and in the following text, he divides the illustrative material into three themes and provides a small collection of training exercises for each. Moreover, you can test your skills in two interactive training videos with our author. You can now view all analyses, exercises and videos in the new CBM reading sample – on your iPad, tablet, Mac or PC. Enjoy!

9/22/2025 – "How to think like a chess player and win at life" is the latest book by three-time US national chess champion, Jennifer Shahade. It offers essential life lessons from the world of chess - from making smarter choices to building focus and confidence. Chess players are experts in considering their options, allowing them to seize an opportunity, idea, or make a move that no one else saw. Shahade calls this "thinking sideways".

9/21/2025 – Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton share a common interest in chess, often playing against each other and discussing the game publicly. Their rivalry has included light-hearted stories about online matches and mutual "cheating". Ahead of the recent Baku Grand Prix, the two met Azerbaijani grandmaster Teimour Radjabov, who observed their play and presented them with a chess-themed gift, highlighting the cultural and strategic links between motorsport and chess. | Photo: Racing News 365