Gashimov R6: Back on Track

4/26/2014 – The World Champion has recovered quickly from his two consecutive losses by demolishing Mamedyarov. A combination of questionable opening play from the Azeri and very powerful chess from Carlsen resulted in a quick 25-move victory for the Norwegian. The other two games were hard fought draws in endgames; in both,the chances for either side winning were slim. But we did get a Stalemate!

Kasparov – a chess legend visits Jamaica

4/26/2014 – As you probably know Garry Kasparov is running for FIDE President, and in this capacity touring the globe. Early in April he visited Jamaica, accepting an invitation by JCF President Ian G. Wilkinson, who considered it a miracle that the former World Champion actually came. The visit was not just a campaign trip – Kasparov used the opportunity to get to know the Caribbean chess scene. Big pictorial report.

Magnus Carlsen is shock player at club meet

4/26/2014 – Picture a club, which has an important chess match against a rival in the first division. The rival team has spent a considerable sum by bringing in heavy artillery to ensure it is the one to that comes out on top: GM Vladimir Georgiev. His opponent is undecided yet, but on a spur of the moment decision, an unexpected club member decides to take up the challenge.

Lagno new World Rapid Champion

4/25/2014 – The Women's World Rapid Championship has concluded in Khanty-Mansiysk. Many of the strong players stayed after the Grand Prix and they were joined by other grandmasters from around the World, from America to India. It was truly a photo-finish, which could have left any of five women at the very top, but luck favored the Ukrainian Kateryna Lagno and she is the new World Champion.

Gashimov Memorial: Bacrot leads Group B

4/25/2014 – With all the excitement with Carlsen and Co. in the Super-GM tournament we have been neglecting the second event that is taking place in Shamkir: the B Group with ten players: the top five seeds are from various countries and the bottom five are all from Azerbaijan. Average rating 2662 (= Category 17). At the end of halftime we bring you games, analysis and player portraits.

Retrospect: Khanty-Mansiysk Women's Grand Prix

4/25/2014 – The event ended on Monday – we reported extensively on it. The closing ceremony followed, and currently there is a Women's Rapid + Blitz running in Shamkir, on which we will report shortly. For today we bring you a special pictorial by adventure photographer Nikolai Bochkarev, who supplied us with photos during the Grand Prix: extraordinary images by a talented professional.

Gashimov R5: New Leader Emerges!

4/24/2014 – In something that has not been seen since 2010, Magnus Carlsen has lost two games in a row. Today his loss against Teimour Radjabov allows the Azeri to catapult himself to first place as Fabiano Caruana also lost to another Azeri, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. This is Radjabov's first win of the event, the first black victory of the tournament, and at half time an Azeri leads in Shamkir.

World Champions – reclaiming a lost century (2)

4/24/2014 – In part one of his article Paul Lillebo claimed that the list of “official” world champions of chess, which begins in 1886 with the Steinitz-Zukertort match, does not do justice to the several earlier masters who were acclaimed by their contemporaries as the champion of chess. To the two masters from part one, Philidor and La Bourdonnais, he adds three more who were supreme in their time.

Gashimov R4: Out-Carlsened

4/23/2014 – White held a small edge from the opening, he put his pieces in such a way that his opponent felt slightly uncomfortable until Black eventuatlly made a mistake and the white player finished him off with precision. A typical Carlsen game, but this time it was the World Champion that was on the receiving end. Caruana wins, catches up with Carlsen and they share the lead with 2.5/4

Recommended: ChessBase Magazine #159

4/23/2014 – "I was delighted to see Jan Timman on the cover of this issue," writes Nagesh Havanur, who was not only pleased with the tournament reports – Wijk aan Zee and Zurich – but also with the 13 opening, and especially with Martin Breutigam’s King’s Gambit treatment, which Prof. Havanur calls "the icing on the cake." Even if you have other preferences there is bound to be something for you.

13th Asian Continental with exciting battles

4/23/2014 – At the midway point, some of the players have already begun to stake their claim to fame, and a qualifying spot into grander events yet. Though the road is long, it is one of the lower rungs toward the world championship, but so far the Elo leaders have been unable to assert their dominance. Nevertheless the players are all showing grit with exciting battles and imaginative chess.

Gashimov R3: Nakamura Retaliates

4/22/2014 – The American took out his loss yesterday to Carlsen on Mamedyarov, whom he proceeded to crush swiftly. A pawn hunting expedition turned sour for the Azeri as too many lines were opened against his exposed king, and Nakamura simply did not forgive. Carlsen was better the entire game, but was unable to convert against Karjakin while Radjabov and Caruana tested each other's Gruenfeld.

Looking back at Dubai 2014: winner's comments

4/22/2014 – The 2014 Dubai Open turned oout to be a battle between former Junior World Champion Abhijeet Gupta and the very talented French GM Romain Edouard. Abhijeet was leading 4.0/4 when he was stopped by Romain in round five. Romain went on to with the tournament alone, a full point ahead of his nearest rival. He has kindly sent us some pictures and notes on two key games.

Gashimov R2: Clear leader already

4/22/2014 – Only two rounds have been played in the Gashimov Memorial, but already Carlsen has taken a full point lead. He played like a machine against Nakamura despite the American's stiff resistance. Karjakin and Caruana drew, as did Radjabov and Mamedyarov, leaving three players with 1.0/2. Carlsen used his two whites to begin the tournament perfectly, and is now 2889 in the live rating list.

Khanty Final: Leaders intact

4/21/2014 – Much fighting spirit was seen in the last round of Khanty-Mansiysk, but no changes were seen in the top spots. Hou Yifan had already clinched her tournament victory, and a draw with Kosteniuk allowed the Russian to retain her third place. Second went to Girya who held down two pawns against Tuvshintugs. However the other games were almost all decisive with quite a few surprises.

Gashimov R01: Opening ceremony, B-Group

4/21/2014 – The Gashimov Memorial tournament began with a visit to the beautiful marble grave of the great Vugar Gashimov. At the opening ceremony many people spoke about their friend, who very tragically passed away in January this year at the age of 27. We have reported already on the A-Group. The first round of the B section saw five fighting draws. Big pictorial with game summaries.

Khanty 10: Hou Yifan clinches

4/21/2014 – With an easy draw against Anna Muzychuk, Hou Yifan was able to secure her win at the Grand Prix in Khanty-Mansiysk. Girya retains her second place by beating Kosintseva but Kosteniuk is right on her heels as she also won, this time against Muminova. Many Grand Prix points are still at stake, but the World Champion was simply untouchable except in egg tapping.

Gashimov R1: Carlsen with a flying start

4/21/2014 – The Gashimov Memorial has started in Shamkir, Azerbaijan, with six very strong players, all under 30 years of age. The average Elo is 2780, making it a category 22. In the first round Magnus Carlsen not surprisingly won his game, the other two were drawn. The B group, with ten players, is a category 17 with an average 2662 (more on it later). We bring you extensive analysis of the three Group A games.

Khanty 09: Hou Yifan leads by two points

4/20/2014 – "Girya in hot pursuit" was the title of our previous report. The Russian WGM had beaten the second seed and was aiming at the leader, Women's World Champion Hou Yifan. The two met in round nine, Chinese GM launched a devastating kingside attack, won the game and took a two-point lead over the field. Her her performance: 2750. With just two rounds to go we have a winner!

Spring starts with chess in Budapest

4/20/2014 – During the 80s and 90s, the Budapest Spring Chess Festival was one of the largest chess events in the world with over 450 participants among whom were some of the greatest names of the day. Largely funded by the government, it died off with the political changes when funds dried up. After a long absence, it is back, hoping in time to relive its former prestige and glory.

13th Asian Continental – a two-nation battle

4/19/2014 – The Open Section has 64 players, including 32 GMs and 11 IMs, and a 2398 average rating. There are 32 prizes, with the winner receiving US $6000. The Women's section has 32 players and a decent rating average of 2141, with the first prize being $3000. The event is essentially a powerhouse confrontation of the two big chess nations: India and China. Three rounds have been played.

Magnus Carlsen explains his approach to chess

4/19/2014 – In an interview he gave to Le Monde, Magnus Carlsen looks back on winning the supreme title against Viswanathan Anand and talks about his vision and approach to the game. He elaborates on his work with Garry Kasparov and what he learned. He emphasizes one of Garry's strongest and least-appreciated abilities: his psychological understanding of his opponents. A must-read interview.

Chess Social Initiative of the Year in Ukraine

4/18/2014 – "When I look back at my childhood I realize how bright it was – because of chess." Ukrainian WIM Olena Boytsun decided it was her mission to help children to discover the game and experience the same emotions and feelings. She founded an Ukrainian Foundation called “Chess for Children”, which has been named "Social Initiative of the Year". A really outstanding chess initiative.

Khanty 08: Girya in hot pursuit

4/18/2014 – The big news of the day from Khanty-Mansiysk is Girya's victory against Muzychuk. This allows her to leapfrog over the Slovenian and she is now at striking distance from Hou Yifan; only one point away. This point can be quite decisive for the tournament as tomorrow is a rest day, but afterwards the battle between the leaders will take place. Report of an exciting round eight.