1/7/2026 – The Rapid and Blitz World Championships had barely finished when Faustino Oro and Magnus Carlsen were already playing their next tournament. Both took part in the first Titled Tuesday of 2026 and commented on and streamed their games live from the Take Take Take Studio in Oslo. After the tournament, they stayed on in the studio, chatting about chess, football, the Norwegian weather, and what it is like to be so young and already so good at chess.

1/7/2026 – Welcome to The Initiative – a show dedicated to the relentless battle for momentum in chess! In every game, players fight to seize control, dictate the pace, and keep their opponent on the back foot. But what does it really mean to have the initiative? How do the world’s best players maintain pressure and transform small advantages into crushing attacks?

1/7/2026 – In the final sections of our Christmas Puzzle Week we brought you a variety of famous and less well-known puzzles. Among them a mate problem that solves itself – literally. And one that looks deceptively simple, but requires a very subtle strategy to find the win. In no less than 46 moves! Can computers solve it?

1/7/2026 – Zhu Jiner's 2025 season marked a decisive shift in her standing within women's chess. Focusing exclusively on classical chess, this analysis traces her rise from the edge of the top ten to world number two, examining her breakthrough performances in the Women's Grand Prix, a brief mid-year dip in form and a strong finish - which included a remarkable showing at the Fujairah Superstars tournament. | Photo: Abhilash Shinde

1/6/2026 – The seventh edition of the Tata Steel Chess India tournament will take place in Kolkata on 7-11 January, featuring separate rapid and blitz tournaments in both the Open and Women's sections. The event is highlighted by the return of five-time world champion and Indian chess icon Viswanathan Anand, alongside a strong mix of domestic and international players. | Image: Official site

1/6/2026 – Lilit Mkrtchian analyzes a complex and instructive game she played against 17-year-old Georgian rising star Anastasia Gad at the European Women’s Championship, showing how deep opening preparation and understanding of pawn structures gave her an early, lasting advantage. She explains her use of ChessBase to study her opponent’s tendencies, deliberately steering the game into a Slav-type structure with colours reversed, where her opponent made subtle inaccuracies that allowed Lilit to build pressure and play comfortably. Despite time trouble and a tense middlegame with aggressive counterplay, Lilit kept control, found precise tactical solutions, and ultimately converted her advantage, highlighting how opening knowledge, planning, and calm decision-making decide high-level games.

1/4/2026 – The Kenya National Chess Championship 2025 concluded in Nairobi with new champions crowned after six demanding days of classical play. Thirteen-year-old Jadon Simiyu claimed the open title, becoming the youngest national champion in the country's history, while Jully Mutisya secured the women's crown with a decisive final-round victory. Beyond the results, the event marked a significant step forward for Kenyan chess, combining strong organisation, equal prizes and qualification places for the 2026 Chess Olympiad. | Photos: Chess Kenya

1/4/2026 – The Hastings International Chess Congress ended with a decisive final round that reshaped the standings. Marius Deuer entered the last day as sole leader and needing only a draw to secure at least a share of first place, but his defeat on the top board opened the door for his closest rivals. As a result, Alexander Kovchan and Alex Golding (pictured) finished level on points and were declared joint winners. | Photo: West Wales Chess Congress (2022)

1/3/2026 – The 2025 Hong Kong International Open Chess Championship, organized by the Hong Kong China Chess Federation, concluded successfully at Wan Chai's Queen Elizabeth Stadium. The event attracted over 400 players from 30 regions, including Australia, the United States, Germany, Korea, India and Southeast Asia. The total prize fund was boosted by nearly 20% from the previous edition, with over 80 titled players competing for the title.

1/2/2026 – The Kakuma Chess Club continued its steady growth in 2025, reaching more than 2,300 children and young people across the Kakuma and Kalobeyei refugee camps. Supported by FIDE and international partners, the programme combined structured chess training, girls' empowerment initiatives and competitive opportunities, while focusing on life skills, wellbeing and social cohesion. This report outlines the year's activities, achievements and partnerships, highlighting how chess is being used as an educational and protective tool in challenging environments. | Photos: FIDE

1/2/2026 – The world elite were particularly active at the World Championships in blitz and rapid chess. There were not many changes at the top of the Top 100 and the Women's Top 100 in classical chess. Magnus Carlsen continues to lead the Top 100, and Hou Yifan remains at the top of the women's world rankings. At the top of the junior and girls' world rankings, in addition to changes in position due to tournament participation, there were also changes caused by players dropping out as a result of the age limit (under 20). The juniors are currently led by Gukesh Dommaraju, and the girls by the Chinese player Lu Miaoyi.

1/2/2026 – The year 2026 will once again be a major year for chess, with a wide range of top-class tournaments. Here is a list of the dates of the major tournaments, as far as they have already been confirmed. The list will be continuously updated as new dates are announced.