Chess Records – starting a new collection

12/21/2006 – In recent years entries in the Guinness World Records book on chess have shrunk dramatically, replaced by entries like "the most Smarties eaten in three minutes using chopsticks". Chess historian Edward Winter is seeking to rectify the situation by compiling an authoritative list of Chess Records – the earliest, longest, oldest, smallest, youngest... You are invited to join the search.

A library on your computer - part two

12/21/2006 – The latest ChessBase Workshop column continues our ChessBase "library" analogy with some other bookmarking and search tricks, as well as some tips for personalizing your own chess library. Make sure your card's up to date and check in with the latest ChessBase Workshop.

Kateryna holds her lead in Amity Challenge

12/20/2006 – It isn't easy to take on the hottest boy prodigy in the business in his home town of Delhi when he is being trained by one of your own grandmasters. Ukrainian star Kateryna Lahno drew first blood in game two and had to fight hard to maintain her lead in the next two games. This is turning out to be an exciting match. Big pictorial report by Vishal Sareen.

Shakhmatnaya goryachka – Chess Fever

12/19/2006 – In 1925 Chess Fever was made, a film describing the plight of a young man who becomes completely obsessed with the game – in a country where every male appears to be similarly afflicted. When the young man's fiancée can take it no more she meets the immortal Capablanca and is converted to chess. Now thanks to Google you can watch the whole movie.

Kateryna leads in Amity Grandmasters Challenge

12/19/2006 – Looking stunning in a dark Indian sari Ukrainian chess star Kateryna Lahno showed that she is more than a pretty face. In the first game she had Indian chess prodigy GM Parimarjan Negi (13) on the ropes, but let him escape with a draw. In the second game Katya drew first blood with a fine black-pieces victory. Big pictorial report by Vishal Sareen.

Ilyumzhinov: Kramnik will play in Mexico

12/19/2006 – We broke the news recently that Vladimir Kramnik would be playing in the next world championship in Mexico (September 2007). In a big interview with the newspaper Sport Express, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has confirmed that this is indeed the case, and has also revealed many details about this and future cycles. Must read.

India wins Gold at Asian Games chess

12/19/2006 – Chess was officially included as a medal sport in the 15th Asian Games, a magnificent spectacle that was staged in Doha, Qatar. The top seeded Indian team took Gold quite easily, with China taking Silver and, here's the surprise: a strong Iranian team securing Bronze. Big illustrated report by Chief Arbiter Casto Abundo.

Topalov: Kramnik will never admit that he cheated...

12/19/2006 – "... or the Kremlin that they killed the Russian spy." In a startling interview with a Spanish daily Veselin Topalov (not Silvio Danailov, Topalov!) has launched a fresh wave of attacks against the winner of the Elista world championship Vladimir Kramnik, claiming that it was orchestrated by the KGB, which also threatened him and his team physically. Read and be amazed.

Andrew Martin – Merry Christmas!

12/18/2006 – It has been a very good year for the Radio Show and our Playchess lecturer Andrew Martin thanks all visitors for their support. "The feedback has been excellent and we look forward eagerly to 2007. On behalf of all associated with the show I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year." See you on Wednesday night.

Dennis Monokroussos: Bronstein continued

12/18/2006 – Last week our Playchess lecturer started to commemorate the life and chess career of the late, great David Bronstein. This week he’ll continue his look back at some of the career highlights of this extremely strong and wonderfully creative player. Inspiring stuff.

A library on your computer - part one

12/18/2006 – If you're a ChessBase user, you don't need to go to the library; you have one on your computer right now. Steve Lopez runs with the library analogy, riding the bookmobile until the wheels come off, in his latest Workshop column.

Chess Champion Kasparov's oppositional gambit

12/17/2006 – Garry Kasparov led a coalition of Russian politicians Saturday in an anti-government rally in Moscow. Hundreds of police turned out to surround about 2,000 demonstrators, opposition activists were pulled off buses and trains and detained without explanation. European and international news if full of the story. Excerpts, videos and links.

Bobby Fischer and the missed combination

12/17/2006 – Iceland. A week ago. The TV station Ríkisútvarpið RUV broadcasts two hours of live chess. At the end of the game Icelandic master Arnar Gunnarson commits a blunder that allows his opponent Bragi Thorfinsson to mate him in one move. Nothing remarkable so far. But then comes a call from a viewer to suggest a spectacular win for Arnar. A voice from the past.

Evgeny Alekseev, 21, wins Russian Superfinal

12/16/2006 – Dimitry Jakovenko, 23, and Evgeny Alekseev, 21, tied for first in the Russian Super Final, with 7.5/11 points each. The title of Russian Champion was decided in two rapid games, played with the time control of 15 minutes + 10 seconds per move. Alekseev, the young grandmaster from St. Petersburg, won the nerve-racking tiebreak 1.5-0.5. Final report.

It's Pari vs Katya in the Amity Grandmasters Challenge

12/16/2006 – From December 16–25 the world's youngest Grandmaster, Parimarjan Negi will play against the world's youngest girl grandmaster and reigning European Women's champion Kateryna Lahno of Ukraine. The event is being held in New Delhi from 17-25 December 2006 and will consist of six long games, six rapid and six blitz games. Preview.

Danailov, Topalov challenge Kramnik

12/15/2006 – There is a FIDE regulation that states that any player with a rating of 2700 or higher can issue a challenge for a match of 12 games for the World Championship title against the incumbent World Champion. Condition: the challenger's side has to provide the prize fund of one million dollars. Now Silvio Danailov, the manager of former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov has issued the challenge.

Mega 2007: the biggest top class annotated database

12/14/2006 – The starting point for any serious study of chess is a first-class, impeccably edited and maintained database of games – 3.5 million of them, 60,000 including analysis and commentary. With a giant opening key driven by 100,000 classification positions, and a 180,000 player encyclopedia with 27,000 pictures. That about sums up what you get with Mega Database 2007.

Kramnik to play in Mexican World Championship

12/14/2006 – It was not a foregone conclusion but up for debate: would Vladimir Kramnik, who had just won the reunification tournament in Elista, really be willing to put his title up for grabs just ten months later in an eight-player tournament? Yes he is, as we learn from FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov in this breaking news story.

Garry Kasparov: 'We will march!'

12/14/2006 – A Russian anti-terror hit team raided the offices of the oppositional "United Civil Front" in Moscow. It's founder, Garry Kasparov, was removed from a German TV news discussion, at the behest of Russian authorities. Things are looking dangerous for the former world chess champion, who will participate in a "March of the Dissidents" on Saturday. Spiegel Online.

Embracing Risk in Tournaments

12/14/2006 – The issue of playing style is not normally given much consideration in chess. In an interesting article computer scientist Darse Billings maintains that it is an important factor in the probability of winning. A player who tends to win or lose games has a significantly better chance of success in a tournament than a player who draws a lot of games. Read and consider.

The kick boxing women's chess champion

12/13/2006 – The winner of the Ukrainian Women's Championship 2006 was not one of the very strong top seeds, but WGM Oksana Vozovic, a law student who is also a kick boxer and karate champion. Oksana, who won the women's chess title on tiebreak points, is still trying to decide which area of expertise she will pursue professionally. Illustrated report by GM Mikhail Golubev.

Andrew Martin – the Sherlock Holmes appeal

12/12/2006 – In his Wednesday night Playchess lecture Andrew Martin delves into the swashbuckling King's Gambit, watches the blind lead the blind, shows us a humdinger from the Russian superfinal and a good way of meeting the insidious London System. He also has a chess puzzle for budding detectives.

Young Stars at the Russian Super Final

12/12/2006 – The players who did not qualify could make up a sterling tournament. This year's Super Final is full of bright young players, many unknown to chess fans in the West. Like Ian Nepomniachtchi, who may soon be challenging Karjakin and Carlsen. Meanwhile Jakovenko is in the lead in Moscow. Report my Misha Savinov.

Kübra for Sports Person of the Year

12/12/2006 – She has just turned fifteen and is the reigning European under 16 champion. Kübra Öztürk has just been nominated for the "Sportsman of the Year" award in her native Turkey, competing with weightlifters, boxers and volleyball players. If you think it would be nice for a chess player to win the award you can go to the newspaper site and cast a vote for Kübra.