Candidates R5 – all four games drawn

3/20/2013 – Both Peter Svidler and Vassily Ivanchuk had winning chances today, against Boris Gelfand and Magnus Carlsen respectively. Svilder mysteriously missed it, as did Ivanchuk in his usual time trouble. Vladimir Kramnik outplayed Levon Aronian, who however found some very resourceful moves to draw the game.  Round five report with pictures and videos.

Nunn on the Candidates – decision at the end

3/20/2013 – Dr John Nunn is one of England's strongest chess players and once was in the world's top ten. He is no longer active as a competition player but works mainly in writing and publishing chess books. During round four of the Candidates Tournament in London he appeared at the press-center for the first time, keeping a low profile. He predicted: the winner will be determined in the last round. Interview.

Candidates – Carlsen and Paulson in BBC News

3/20/2013 – On the free day, Monday, the national British TV channel BBC News interviewed the organiser of the Candidates Tournament Andrew Paulson, and the highest-ranking chess player in the world Magnus Carlsen. During the discussion the presenter Ros Atkins played a game against Magnus, in which he was proud to give a check on move eight. Watch it on BBC News.

Candidates R4 – Carlsen joins Aronian in the lead

3/19/2013 – The World #1 proves again that he can win any type of position. A powerful dark squared blockade enabled Magnus Carlsen to be safe in the kingside while his knights tore apart the weakened structure on Alexander Grischuk’s queenside. The other three games of the round were drawn, which meant that Carlsen and Aronian are now tied in the lead with 3.0/4 points. Full report with GM commentary.

Candidates – expert commentary on round three

3/18/2013 – It was easily the most exciting day of the Candidates Tournament so far: three decisive games, two of which saw Black taking home the full point. In our report yesterday we brought you express analysis of one game, Ivanchuk vs Aronian, and today we have GM/IM commentary of the other two (and more on Ivanchuk-Aronian) in our illustrated round 3+ report.

Candidates – Boris Gelfand (2740 – World #18)

3/18/2013 – The Israeli GM is theoretically the top seed in this event, due to his his status as the incumbent challenger – he took Anand to the brink in the 2012 World Championship match. But he is eighth on FIDE ratings in this tournament, while a certain Norwegian is the world's number one (we are saving him for our final portrait). Boris Gelfand is the subject of today's portrait by Michael von Keitz.

A bodycheck, a Krushing attack, a rook retreat...

3/18/2013 – The London Candidates Tournament is great, but something's missing: not a single female player. For those of you suffering withdrawal our  ChessBaseMagazine columnist GM Karsten Müller has taken a look back at the Women's World Team Championship and some of the instructive and entertaining endgames it produced. Learn and enjoy.

Candidates R3 – Three decisive games

3/17/2013 – Peter Svidler won an excellent game against Teimour Radjabov; Levon Aronian beat Vassily Ivanchuk, with the black pieces, in what was certainly the most gripping game of the round; and Magnus Carlsen outplayed Boris Gelfand, also with black, in the last game to end. Aronian leads with 2.5/3 and a 3069 performance, followed by Peter Svidler and Magnus Carlsen. Full report with GM analysis.

Martin: The Modern Slav Modernized

3/17/2013 – 'Andrew Martin has been a fixture in the DVD market for many years now,' writes Colin Potts in Chess Cafe. 'His easy delivery makes him a particular favorite among junior players. He does not talk down to his audience, but he is plain-spoken and enjoyable company. Do not let the cheeky chappy cockney demeanor fool you, though; he is eloquent, knowledgeable, and intelligently incisive'.

Candidates R2 – Radjabov, Aronian draw first blood

3/16/2013 – With the ghost of a drawfest from the previous Candidates cycle, and the sedate first round, Carlsen’s quick draw with Kramnik caused some consternation. This was soon dissipated as Gelfand missed a deadly Bh6+ and succumbed to Aronian, while Radjabov concluded a deadly vice against Ivanchuk for the second point. The Candidates is certainly heating up. Now with GM analyis.

4th Tata Steel Studies Composing tourney

3/16/2013 – During the Tata Steel Chess Tournament this January there was a special study composing tourney, which produced 89 entries, of which 20 received awards. Tournament judge Yochanan Afek has been showing us the prize-winning studies, with explanations of their solutions. After parts one and two here is part three.

Candidates R1 – all games drawn

3/15/2013 – Peter Svidler vs Vladimir Kramnik finished as a draw in 23 moves. Levon Aronian vs Magnus Carlsen lasted 31 moves before a draw was agreed. Gelfand-Radjabov lasted 36 moves and Ivanchuk-Grischuk 44. Anyone hoping for major upsets or heroic wins will have to wait until the players shrug off their caution. Full report with pictures, video and GM analysis.

Nancy 2013 - Grand Prix of France won by Tkachiev

3/15/2013 – On March 9-10, the Nancy stage of the French Rapid Grand Prix was held, bringing in several elite players, as well as a platoon of enthusiasts. Of the 210 players who came, only sixteen would qualify for the Sunday knockout stage. The surprise of the event was Vladimir Dobrov, who beat several 2700s to make it to the final, but ultimately lost to Vladislav Tkachiev in a powerful attack.

Candidates – players in London, opening ceremony

3/15/2013 – The Candidates Tournament for the World Championship 2013 starts on Friday. The main sponsor is the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic SOCAR, which has sponsored elite events chess in the past. The players are all in London, and on Thursday there was a brief ceremony at which FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov official opened the event. Ray Morris-Hill sent us pictures.

Team events: beating the bookmakers?!

3/15/2013 – "Many of you must have heard about sports betting and odds offered by bookmakers," writes Peter Zhdanov. While he is in no way interested in making money by placing bets, the analytical aspect of the problem seemed to him to be worth researching. His article is a lesson in how to precisely work out the odds in a team tournaments.

Candidates – Vladimir Kramnik (2810 – World #2)

3/14/2013 – He broke onto the world chess scene at the Manila Olympiad 1992, a 16-year-old protégé of Garry Kasparov, whom he defeated in the World Championship match 2000 in London. He was dethroned by Vishy Anand in 2008, where he stated that he was only "loaning the title to Anand". The London Candidates is a first step in retrieving it. Michael von Keitz provides a portrait and full statistics.

Chess comes to East Village London

3/14/2013 – The UK registered charity Chess in Schools and Communities has announced a project to deliver chess to all 64 primary schools in Newham and teach 20,000 children how to play the game. This was celebrated with an educational morning of chess in a library in East Village – and then with a glamorous launch party at Morton's Club in Mayfair. Take a look at who was there.

Astana wrap up: thoughts of a participant

3/14/2013 – Alina L'Ami was part of the Romanian team at the FIDE Women's World Team Championship, and also our reporter and photographer. In her closing report the 2353 rated WGM searches for explanations for the inconsistency of play in women's chess – which also provides the main ingredient for a very exciting events. Here are Alina's musing and pictorial impressions from the closing day.

Candidates – Levon Aronian (2809 – World #3)

3/13/2013 – He is the top concern – the "main rival" – for the tournament favourite Magnus Carlsen. Armenian GM Levon Aronian, whose encounters with the Norwegian superstar are many and memorable, started his international career as the World Under-12 Champion in 1994. A steady climb took him to a permanent slot as number two or three place on the FIDE world rankings. Three days before the upcoming Candidates Tournament, where he will face Carlsen in round one, Michael von Keitz provides an Aronian portrait with full statistics.

Chavennes: Chess for Novices

3/13/2013 – "In my review of Chess for Novices, Vol. 1 I enjoyed the presentation," writes Steve Goldberg in his Chess Cafereview. "It a nice introduction to chess for a player who knows nothing more than how the pieces move. I titled the review "First Chess Steps." Now I have had the chance to review Chess for Novices, Vol. 2 and I am very impressed." The new review is called 'Bigger Chess Steps'

Astana R9: Gold for Ukraine, China Silver

3/12/2013 – China defeated India and was poised to take Gold, if only Russia would beat Ukraine. But it was not to be – that match ended 2-2, and Ukraine was first with 16 match points, followed by China and Russia with 15 and 13 match points respectively. France beat Turkey 3½-½ to overtake them at the bottom of the table. Final illustrated report.

Candidates – pairings and commentary schedule

3/12/2013 – Friday March 15, 14:00h London time: Levon Aronian will play  Magnus Carlsen in the first round of the Candidates Tournament for the World Championship 2013. On Playchess, starting at around 15:00h GM Daniel King will be commenting. In this  preview of the event we bring you a charming anecdote by Malcolm Pein, some interesting statistics and predictions, and  full pairings of all rounds.

Astana R7+8: Ukraine poised to take Gold

3/12/2013 – A surprise win by the US over Russia in round seven, and two clean victories by Ukraine and China, has put the Ukrainian women in pole position to win the Women's World Team Championship. But if they lose to Russia in the final round on Tuesday, and China beats India, it could be the Chinese girls on the top pedestal.  Report after round eight.

Candidates – Teimour Radjabov (2793 – World #4)

3/11/2013 – This Friday the erstwhile child prodigy from Baku will face former World Championship candidate Boris Gelfand in the first round of the Candidates Tournament for the 2013 World Championship. What are his chances? "We all have our favourite marks – Radjabov’s is Gelfand," writes Michael von Keitz in his  latest Candidate portrait.