3/25/2026 – Oliver Kurmann wants to become a grandmaster – at the age of 41! In an interview with the Swiss Chess Federation, the international master from Switzerland, who competed for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga last weekend, talks about his career, training and ambitions - with ChessBase playing a key role. | Pictured: Oliver Kurmann drew his game last weekend in the Chess Bundesliga for Bayern Munich - he faced Georg Meier of SC Viernheim | Photo: Angelika Valkova

3/25/2026 – A classical match between Hans Niemann and Awonder Liang will take place in Paris from 10 to 15 April, as the US grandmasters contest a 12-game showdown at the Blitz Society. Played at a 60+30 time control with two games per day, the encounter combines sporting stakes with a charitable pledge from the loser. Both players arrive with recent match experience, adding competitive context to a fixture unfolding alongside the Candidates cycle. | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Saint Louis Chess Club (US Championship 2025)

3/24/2026 – Across Latin America, chess leaders and public institutions are prioritising education initiatives over elite tournaments, aiming to expand the game's social impact and long-term growth. A memorandum signed in San José by government bodies, FIDE and regional organisers sets the stage for pilot school programmes in Costa Rica. The article explores the strategy behind this approach and the key figures promoting chess as a tool for development. | Photos: FIDE

3/24/2026 – International Master Tania Sachdev visited RP Goenka School in Kolkata for what turned out to be a truly memorable interaction. What stood out wasn't just the questions - but the confidence, clarity and leadership shown by children as young as eight. In this heartwarming account, Tania reflects on young minds, the role of sport and the moments from school that stay with us forever. It's wonderful to see what Tania is doing apart from playing chess and commentating - inspiring the next generation!

3/24/2026 – The new Opening Encyclopaedia 2026 offers comprehensive and easy access to modern opening theory, helping players build, expand, and refine their repertoire with clarity and confidence. With 1,586 in-depth articles, over 40,000 games, and 100 expert video lessons from leading grandmasters, it combines cutting-edge ideas with practical explanations and annotated examples. Designed for players of all levels, it is an essential all-in-one resource to stay up to date with the latest trends and gain a decisive edge in the opening.

3/24/2026 – Double check the check: Rook endings have a large drawish tendency, but Black's last check was a fatal mistake: White to move and win.

3/21/2026 – The Kasparov Chess Foundation Academy is delighted to announce an upcoming live lecture by GM Dragan Šolak on March 22, 2026, 17:00 CET. This special session will focus on "The Power of the King," a topic of utmost importance for players looking to elevate their strategic understanding and improve their competitive results. Participants will have the unique opportunity to learn from GM Šolak’s extensive experience, gaining invaluable insights into king safety, king activity, and the art of using it as a powerful piece in both the middlegame and the endgame at the highest level.

3/21/2026 – In this second part of Svitlana’s Smart Moves: Candidates Special, Svitlana and Arne go through tactical highlights from the remaining four Candidates players, giving viewers both easier and harder puzzles to solve along with them. The episode especially showcases Fabiano Caruana’s astonishing calculation depth, several brilliant attacking ideas by Praggnanandhaa, and a series of creative tactical shots that underline why these players are so dangerous.

3/21/2026 – ChessBase´26 offers many possibilities for organising databases so that they contain all the important information, while remaining clear and user-friendly. In this episode, learn how to use ChessBase features to improve your game.

3/21/2026 – The 144th Varsity Chess Match between Oxford and Cambridge, played on 7 March 2026 at London's Royal Automobile Club, ended in a closely contested 4–4 draw. Cambridge struck on the top boards through IM Rajat Makkar and Remy Rushbrooke, while Oxford responded with wins by Andrea Henderson and Savin Dias further down the lineup. With four games drawn, the balanced result preserved Cambridge's narrow historical lead. | Pictured: Connor Clarke (Oxford captain), Henry McWatters (Royal Automobile Club), Remy Rushbrooke (Cambridge captain) | Photo: John Saunders

3/20/2026 – Bruno Parma passed away on 6 February this year. Born in Ljubljana, he was one of Slovenia's strongest chess players. Parma competed in eight Chess Olympiads for Yugoslavia, winning four silver medals and two bronze medals with the team. | Photo: Dutch National Archive

3/20/2026 – After the Prague International Chess Festival, the top players didn't want to stop playing, so they set up three boards for 6-player bughouse. World Champion Gukesh, Keymer, Maghsoodloo, and Ganguly were joined by rising "futures" stars Clio Alessi and Lilian Schirmbeck to create absolute chaos. Keymer was basically overpowered the entire game, while Ganguly held on with everything he had. The highlight? A ridiculous loophole battery where they sacrificed 10 knights and bishops in a row. Finally, no engines, no prep. Just pure fun between some of the best chess players in the world.