5/1/2020 – The lockdowns prompted by the coronavirus outbreak have created a sense of timelessness for those staying at home day in and day out. Time does go on, however, and FIDE continues to update the ratings lists every first day of the month. We will keep sharing the lists as they are published.

5/1/2020 – In the middle of the 20th century Alexander Tolush was one of the best Soviet players but was rarely allowed to play abroad. He was famous for his combinations and his brilliant attacking play but he is best remembered as a coach. He was trainer of Paul Keres and Boris Spassky and helped Spassky to become World Champion. Today, May 1, 2020, Tolush would have celebrated his 110th birthday. | Photo: Alexander Tolusch, right, in a game against Fridrik Olafsson

5/1/2020 – The pandemic has posed the greatest threat to mankind in this century. Who can resist the dance of death? Surely, doctors, nurses and health workers who form the first line of defence. However, civil society also has to rally round and support them. It should appreciate their sense of duty and commitment to the cause. Recently Vladislav Tarasiuk paid them a unique tribute and our columnist learnt from him how it all happened.

5/1/2020 – A week after his 44th birthday, Nigel Short added yet another accolade to his illustrious career. And he did it in style, scoring 4½ out of 5 at the Sigeman & Co Tournament, a six-player single round-robin. A 15-year-old Nils Grandelius arrived in Malmö as the clear underdog and nevertheless finished in clear second place, already showing his tremendous chess strength. Ivan Sokolov and Tomi Nyback shared third place. | Photos: Official site

4/30/2020 – The seventh round of the Magnus Carlsen Invitational saw world numbers one and two, Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana, losing to Ding Liren and Anish Giri respectively. Carlsen played some dicey openings against Ding and, despite equalizing in the middlegame, made critical mistakes in three of the four rapid games. Ian Nepomniachtchi and Hikaru Nakamura also won. The first semi-final between Caruana and Nakamura will be played on Friday. Round-up show by IM Lawrence Trent. | Photo: Official site

4/30/2020 – The white king in the diagram position is weak and vulnerable, particularly on the dark squares. Black only needs to activate his queen to get a decisive attack. But how about scoring a point with an elegant flourish?

4/28/2020 – After Carlsen's loss on Sunday, two players joined him in the lead the very next day. Ding Liren defeated Ian Nepomniachtchi 2½:1½ to catch up with the world champion, while Hikaru Nakamura got one point in his match against Fabiano Caruana after losing on tiebreaks to also reach Carlsen's mark of eleven points. With two rounds to go in the round-robin section, there are four clear favourites to reach the semis. Round-up show by GM Daniel King. | Photo: Official site

4/27/2020 – In a follow up to last week's show Simon Williams will test your ability at solving some amazing endgame problems. Come and see how you get on! | Watch for free and on-demand (for a limited time, or forever with a ChessBase Premium account). (Normally 16:00 UTC (18:00 CEST / 12 Noon EST).

4/27/2020 – Bobby Fischer won the 2. Tournament of Peace in Rovinj/Zagreb 1970 convincingly with a two point margin. Vlastimil Hort shared second place but felt that he and the other players "were more or less reduced to the role of spectators".

4/27/2020 – On Saturday, Germany's grandmasters won an online team match against Romania on playchess.com 36½:27½. Germany's top scorer was Elisabeth Pähtz who finished with 6½/8. However, Romania won the junior match 9½:6½.

4/27/2020 – Last month Edward Winter announced his decision, due to other commitments, to curtail his Chess Notes column, which began in 1982. Additions are now made only occasionally, but thousands of C.N. items and hundreds of feature articles remain online. It is a body of work unlike any other, covering a vast array of topics and spawning four anthologies. Edward Winter is also the author of one of the most acclaimed books in chess history: his monograph on Capablanca.

4/27/2020 – As the world goes through a global health crisis, chess stands out as a unique sport that has successfully resurfaced online to bring together professionals, amateurs, and fans around the world. Besides, chess can serve as an excellent platform for charity and collaboration. At the initiative of the tournament participants, the Chess Federation of Russia and the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation will co-support the first charity online tournament that will feature the country's strongest grandmasters. The event is scheduled to take place in mid-May. | Photo: Photo: Lennart Ootes