4/2/2023 – Herman Grooten is an International Master, a renowned trainer and the author of several highly acclaimed books about chess training and chess strategy. In the 119th instalment of his ChessBase show "Understanding before Moving", Herman starts a new series: "Chess history in a nutshell". | Photo: Pascal Simon

4/2/2023 – The United Nations recognizes April 2 as the Autism Awareness Day. The Infinite Chess Project, which aims to help children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by teaching them chess, started in 2019 as a small pilot project. In three years, it has gained momentum and expanded to ten countries: Albania, France, Gibraltar, Latvia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Morocco, South Africa, Spain, and Turkey.

4/1/2023 – Chess is set to move forward to a fresh new experience. At the New Delhi Women's Grand Prix FIDE's secretive Game Division has finally announced a sequel, Chess 2, built on brand-new mechanics, with new pieces and abilities. The intention is to bring an all-new chess angle to the competitive E-Sports scene and provide fans with a game that builds on ideas that make it more active and dynamic. More information can be found in this ChessBase India article below.

4/1/2023 – In a unique and exciting matchup, Grandmasters Iniyan and Praggnanandhaa recently played a blitz game in our ChessBase studio, using an old mechanical Garde chess clock. This was the first time that the two players had used such a clock, adding an element of unpredictability and challenge to the game. As they faced off in stormy Hamburg, the sound of thunder could be heard rolling in the background, adding to the intensity of the match. The game showcased the players' skill and adaptability in the face of unfamiliar circumstances, and provided a thrilling spectacle.

4/1/2023 – There was only one change in the top ten places in the world rankings in March: Hikaru Nakamura climbed to fifth place after his success in the American Cup. Nakamura now has a 7-point lead over Anish Giri in sixth place. Vincent Keymer has risen from 2699 points to 2700 thanks to two games played in the German Bundesliga and now occupies the 38th place in the world ranking.

4/1/2023 – “Armageddon Championship Series: Asia & Oceania”, the second event of the cycle developed by World Chess, will take place on April 3-9 in Berlin. Daniil Dubov, Yu Yangyi, Vladimir Kramnik, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Vidit Gujrathi, Parham Maghsoodloo, Gukesh D and Murali Karthikeyan will play a double-elimination blitz knockout, as they battle for €50,000 in prize money and two spots in the series’ Grand Finale.

4/1/2023 – Grandmaster (GM) Leon Mendonca is a rising star in the chess world and one of India's most promising young talents. Recently, he won the HIT Open 2023 in Slovenia, with an insane 9 out of 9 points. In this ChessBase article, Leon provides an in-depth analysis of three of his games from the tournament, offering insights into his decision-making process and the strategies he employed to secure victory. By sharing his experiences and expertise, Leon offers valuable lessons for chess players of all levels looking to improve their game.

4/1/2023 – In today's episode, we will delve into an astonishing upset from the first round of the Reykjavík Open 2023, where a relatively unknown Norwegian with the Black pieces defied all odds by defeating an opponent with a staggering 400 Elo rating advantage. IM Robert Ris will expertly dissect the game, revealing the critical moments and ingenious strategies that led to this David versus Goliath victory. Get ready to be inspired by the power of perseverance and the beauty of the unexpected as we explore this thrilling upset together.

4/1/2023 – In the diagram position White seems to have his back to the wall in the face of Black's threats ...Bxf2 and ...Rg1 . You have to keep a cool head and skilfully go on the counterattack - you're good at that, aren't you?

3/31/2023 – When they hear ‘Reykjavik Open’, many chess players spontaneously express the wish to be there. Our author Gerd Densing belongs to this group: he is currently in the Icelandic capital, playing in the tournament, writing and taking photographs. In the first three rounds, he has met not only the rating favourite, Vasyl Ivanchuk (photo), but also many other interesting personalities.

3/31/2023 – In his “Game of the Week” show #561, Merijn van Delft focuses his attention on Leon Luke Mendonca, who recently scored a perfect 9 out of 9 in Slovenia. In one of his wins, against Sabino Brunello, the youngster successfully combined his positional approach with tactical alertness. | Merijn’s show is available on-demand with a ChessBase Premium Account. You can register a Premium account here.

3/31/2023 – I had the incredible opportunity to interview R.B. Ramesh, one of the world's most renowned and accomplished chess coaches. Ramesh has trained many of India's top players, including former World Champion Vishwanathan Anand, and has helped mold the country into a chess powerhouse. In our interview, Ramesh shared his insights on a range of topics, from his early days in chess to his coaching philosophy and techniques. He also discussed the challenges of coaching at the highest level and the importance of mental preparation in chess. With his vast knowledge and experience, Ramesh provided invaluable insights into what it takes to become a successful chess player, both on and off the board. Overall, the interview provided a fascinating glimpse into the mind of one of the greatest chess coaches of our time.