4/25/2023 – Three games left, and Ding Liren is trailing Ian Nepomniachtchi 5:6. Will the top Chinese be able to catch his Russian opponent? The second-last free day of the Astana World Championship is a good time to take another look at the last two games. Once again we have deep, instructive analyses for you to study, kindly provided to us by grandmaster Efstratios Grivas, trainer and FIDE international organizer. Our replay app makes it very easy to follow the annotations. You can even start an engine to work out the most subtle questions you might have. | Photo: FIDE / Stev Bonhage

4/24/2023 – Playing white, Ian Nepomniachtchi simplified the position on move 19 in game 11 of the World Championship match — a decision which led to a quick draw. Nepo still has a 1-point lead over Ding Liren, who will get three more chances to even the score. Tuesday is a rest day in Astana. | Photo: FIDE / Stev Bonhage

4/24/2023 – An international Go tournament, the Chunlan Cup, with a $200,000 prize fund, has been wrapped in controversy. In the semifinal round, newcomer Li Xuanhao (China) managed to defeat the reigning world champion Shin Jin-seo (South Korea). Li’s own teammate accused him of receiving AI support during the game.

4/24/2023 – In this week's show, Karsten Müller looks at some recent endgame highlights from the German Bundesliga. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

4/24/2023 – The Satty Zhuldyz rapid and blitz tournament is taking place in Astana as a side event of the World Championship match. A number of international chess stars are participating. Karsten Müller has been following the games, looking for endgame highlights. Find here four instructive positions, with on-point analysis by our in-house endgame expert. | Pictured: Hou Yifan | Photo: Anna Shtourman

4/23/2023 – With four games to go, Ian Nepomniachtchi continues to have a 1-point lead at the World Championship match in Astana. Nepo, playing black, surprised Ding Liren out of an English Opening, and had little trouble defending the slightly inferior position that ensued. The Russian GM will get the white pieces in Monday’s game 11. | Photo: FIDE / David Llada

4/20/2023 – The new ChessBase Magazine Extra #212 was just published! And offers a lot: e.g. opening videos with ideas for your repertoire, the "Brilliancy", the "Lucky Bag", and an update service to keep your database up-to-date. A lot of chess, beautiful chess and instructive chess!

4/20/2023 – Drama continues to unfold at the World Championship match in Astana. Following four decisive games, Ding Liren played enterprisingly with the white pieces and gained a decisive advantage. Amid a tactical middlegame, Ian Nepomniachtchi was resourceful in defence, as he also garnered a big lead on the clock. Nepo managed to escape with a draw and continues to have a 1-point lead on the scoreboard. | Photo: FIDE / Stev Bonhage

4/20/2023 – In Astana, in parallel to the World Championship match, a team of the best Kazakh women players played a blitz and rapid match against a team from "The World". "The World" team won both events, the rapid and the blitz match. "The World" team was led by former Women's World Champion Hou Yifan, who is still the world's number on the women's ranking list. In an interview she revealed her thoughts about the development of women's chess. | Photos: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

4/20/2023 – Vladimir Kramnik recently participated at the Armageddon Series organized by World Chess in Berlin. In a 35-minute interview conducted in the German capital, the former world champion talked about his new projects, his work with Indian talents and Alireza Firouzja, and his assessment of Magnus Carlsen’s place in the history of the sport. His conclusion: “He just changed chess. Chess is Magnus Carlsen.” | Photo: World Chess

4/19/2023 – In his “Game of the Week” show #564, Merijn van Delft continues to follow the World Championship match between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren. Merijn takes a close look at game 6, which Ding won. | Merijn’s show is available on-demand with a ChessBase Premium Account. You can register a Premium account here.

4/19/2023 – Włodzimierz Schmidt was the first Polish grandmaster to acquire the title not on an honorary basis, but by fulfilling the norms. For a long time, the native of Poznan was the best Polish player, later a sought-after coach. He died on 1 April, shortly before his 80th birthday. An obituary by Paul Werner Wagner. | Photo: www.piit.org.pl/