6/4/2010 – Although only just out, Yasser Seirawan’s book Chess Duels (subtitled My Games with the World Champions) is already receiving rave reviews. It is choc-full of deeply-annotated games against the title-holders, with a wealth of stories and reflections. Learn more about Chess Duels from Seirawan himself, read an extensive excerpt, and find out how to obtain a personally inscribed copy.

6/3/2010 – The action on the chessboard is in the moves and chess players are eager to make them. But sometimes they would rather stay put, skip a move, go for a walk and never come back. The dreaded word "zugzwang" crosses their mind and they know they are in trouble. GM Lubomir Kavalek demonstrates three beautiful examples of zugzwang in chess problems. Solutions next week.

6/3/2010 – Everyone is well aware of the division of a game of chess into three phases: opening, middlegame and endgame. But there is also a so-called fourth phase, which occurs when both sides have promoted a passed pawn. In the rapid game Gurevich-Ivanchuk, played in the World Cup in Odessa, Ivanchuk chose after 58.Ke6 the continuation 58...Rxf6+, and the promotion of both pawns was imminent. What do you think? Was Ivanchuk's decision the correct one or was there a better continuation available to him?  As always, you will find the solution and the analysis by GM Karsten Müller on ChessBase Magazine Online.

6/3/2010 – Last week we published an article, submitted by the Corsican chess organiser Léo Battesti, which drew far-reaching conclusions from the statistics of rated players in different countries. The article was strongly criticised on the Ilyumzhinov campaign site. Now the French Chess Federation sent us its reply to this piece. Here are both articles and the feedback from our readers.

6/2/2010 – It was conducted before his successful World Championship defence, and affords some new insights into the life of India's sporting hero Viswanathan Anand, who touches on the important milestones in his chess career. The most enchanting bit: when Anand is joined by wife Aruna, who asks some of the questions. Like whether it was good for his career always being Mr Nice Guy...

6/2/2010 – With spectator numbers and gate receipts that would turn any chess organiser green with envy, with centers in Los Angeles, London, Berlin and Siberia, chess boxing is becoming a real success story. Recently in London a super-fit boxer managed to knock out his opponent just when he was about to be mated. You'll never guess whom director Iepe Rubingh has been trying to recruit.

5/28/2010 – This event is taking place from May 27th-29th, 2010 in Ukraine. The matches are two rapid games, followed by blitz tiebreak games if required, and then the dreaded Armageddon blitz to decided the winner. Shocker in round one: veteran Mikhail Gurevich knocked out Vassily Ivanchuk, who played down to a bare knight in the second game. Day one report.

5/27/2010 – He was a wonderful artist and the kindest of men. Bill Hook played the top board for the British Virgin Islands team at 17 Chess Olympiads. In 1970 in Siegen, Germany, he used his beloved queen maneuver against Bobby Fischer and easily equalized the game. Bill Hook died on May 10, in his home in Silver Spring, Maryland. He would have turned 85 tomorrow. Eulogy by GM Lubomir Kavalek.

5/27/2010 – The 18th annual Sigeman & Co Chess Tournament, organised by the Limhamn Chess Club, is taking place in the classical Hipp Theater in central Malmo. As in the previous year, six players face each other in a round-robin tournament. Two of the youngest players, top seeds Anish Giri (15, 2642) and Jon Ludvig Hammer (19, 2610) were the first to draw blood. Round one report.

5/27/2010 – "Anand shouldn't be proud of his K links", said Topalov in the Times of India, "I would never accept help from people who humiliated me. But it seems Anand is different." To which Anand has replied in the Indian press: "'Topolov's allegations are baseless. It is a lame excuse, I took more of an emotional support from them." Statements, replies and some interesting video reports.

5/27/2010 – Watch out 1.e4 players! How do you continue after 1...e5? IM Lawrence Trent suggests the rediscovered Two Knights Defence with 4.Ng5 instead of the often dull lines of the Ruy Lopez. In nearly five hours he shows you both the general ideas and the latest trends. Lance Martin from chesscafe.com checked his recommendations and regards it a "sure-fire alternative". Buy his DVD now or read this review with sampler.

5/26/2010 – It is an unusual system: the two players tied for first each secretly bid for the amount of time they would be willing to accept. The player with the lower bid gets that, the choice of colour and draw odds, the opponent has 60 minutes. Gata Kamsky bid 25 minutes and took black. He held Yury Shulman to a draw and with that took the title of US Champion. Final report.