Andrew Martin – Lights, Camera, Action

2/20/2007 – This week's Radio ChessBase Show on Playchess.com comes from Davenport, Iowa, where the temperatures are freezing but the chess action red hot. Using modern technology IM Andrew Martin will bring you pictures, whether you want them or not...

Morelia R2: Ivanchuk beats Topalov

2/19/2007 – The shock of the day came at the end of the first time control. Veselin Topalov, a pawn down against Ivanchuk, played a colossal blunder that lost instantaneously. Carlsen pressed against Levon Aronian with black, Leko was unable to overcome Morozevich. Anand drew Svidler after overcoming technical difficulties. Full report with analysis and video.

Snowflakes are fallin' on the Aeroflot Open 2007

2/19/2007 – After months of temperate climate the traditional Russian winter has returned to Moscow, where the Sixth Aeroflot Festival is taking place in Moscow from February 13th to 23rd. The prize fund for all tournament groups is $200,000. After six of nine rounds GM Stanislav Novikov leads. Games, results and impressions from Moscow by Misha Savinov.

Morelia first round pictorial report

2/18/2007 – After struggling with such mundane things as jet lag and instable Internet connections your ChessBase team has finally settled down in Morelia and will be resuming normal reporting from now on. We start by supplying you with visual impressions of the first round, of the players taking up battle at the highest levels of chess. Pictures and videos.

Morelia R1: Carlsen beats Morozevich

2/18/2007 – Magnus Carlsen beat Alexander Morozevich in a game lasting five and a quarter hours. Anand held Topalov to an effortless draw with the black pieces. Svidler and Aronian drew in 39 moves. Ivanchuk had Leko on the ropes but ran into deadly time trouble, and the game ended in a dramatic draw. Full analysis by GM Mihail Marin.

Super-GM Morelia-Linares begins today

2/17/2007 – Ready for another top event? The traditional Linares tournament, which since 2006 has been split in two halves, is starting its first leg today (Saturday). The venue is the state theatre in Morelia, Mexico, and participants Topalov, Ivanchuk, Leko, Morozevich, Svidler, Carlsen, Anand and Aronian. We bring you pictures and the pairing.

Zurab Azmaparashvili replies to Nigel Short

2/17/2007 – In an Indian newspaper the British GM called the FIDE Vice President a "dunderhead" who, as a member of the Appeals Committee during the world championship 2005 in Argentina, had spent most of his time away from the playing venue and was therefore singularly unsuited for the job. Now Zurab Azmaiparashvili fires back and Nigel short replies.

Teimour Radjabov withdraws from Morelia-Linares

2/16/2007 – The Mexican leg of this Super-GM is starting on Friday, with Topalov, Anand, Leko, Svidler, Aronian and others participating. But after a burglary of the hotel room of his father and trainer, and what he perceives as lack of support by the organisers, Teimour Radjabov has withdrawn his participation. He will be replaced by Vassily Ivanchuk. Breaking news.

Antalya – an invitation to Chess Part II

2/16/2007 – During our recent visit to Antalya we had an opportunity to witness a very moving spectacle: 1,300 children taking part in the Turkish Youth Championship, in age groups between 8 and 18. The venue, a five-star hotel resort, was swamped by chess playing kids, some showing remarkable talent, all showing great enthusiasm. Pictorial report.

Putting fire into the Petroff

2/15/2007 – Many players look on the Petroff or Russian Defence with the suspicion that it is a drawish and often boring opening. Who could be better suited for countering this view than Alexei Shirov? On his Petroff DVD he reveals the depths of this opening in no less than five hours of entertaining, instructive lessons. Buy it now or read more.

How Short defused the Advance Variation

2/14/2007 – Of the Caro-Kann, that is, which was considered an attacking system. But in the early 1990s British GM and 1993 World Championship finalist Nigel Short devised a system that starts off quietly. The fireworks come later, with quiet moves following unexpected violent ones. Let our Playchess lecturer Dennis Monokroussos show you the key game.

The Cables of Elista

2/14/2007 – Some time ago pictures surfaced, purporting to show computer cables hidden in the ceiling of a toilet used by Vladimir Kramnik during the world championship match in Elista last October. They were, we were told, reported to the authorities, who were keen to hush things up. In fact the Topalov team was put under considerable pressure (Silvio Danailov: "I was in fear for my life"). Pictures and story.

The Cables of Elista

2/14/2007 – Some time ago pictures surfaced, purporting to show cables in the ceiling of a toilet used by Kramnik during the WCh match in Elista. They were, we were told, reported to the authorities, who were keen to hush things up. In fact the Topalov team was put under considerable pressure (Silvio Danailov: "I was in fear for my life"). Pictures and story.

Edward Winter presents: Unsolved Chess Mysteries

2/14/2007 – Since Chess Notes began, over 25 years ago, hundreds of mysteries and puzzles have been discussed, with many of them being settled satisfactorily, often thanks to readers. Some matters, though, have remained stubbornly unsolvable – at least so far – and a selection of these is presented here. Readers are invited to join in the hunt for clues.

Andrew Martin – The Chess Clinic

2/13/2007 – Next week our Radio ChessBase Show on Playchess.com will pause while showmaster IM Andrew Martin travels to the United States to open a "Chess Clinic". This Wednesday he shows us that Black is more than OK, if our featured games are anything to go by. See you on the server.

The truly universal simultaneous master

2/12/2007 – Got a minute to spare? Here's a tiny but highly enjoyable video clip of a simultaneous master with a difference. Actually there have been players who could give simuls in different games, even blindfold, for instance Harry Nelson Pillsbury, who could play chess, checkers and whist at the same time. But this master takes it to a new level.

Dreev triumphs at Parsvnath International Open

2/11/2007 – Players came in heavy woolen clothing, braving "freezing temperatures" that went down to +10° Celsius. In the end it was seasoned Russian GM Alexey Dreev who took clean first in a field that included 345 players including 13 grandmasters. We bring you results, as many games as could be scratched up, and lots of pictures in this illustrated report.

ACP Survey: What do you think about draws?

2/11/2007 – Short, unfought draws are the bane of chess fans. That at least is the public perception. The Association of Chess Professionals (ACP), which has 227 members, has launched a questionnaire to find a remedy.

Kommersant: new cheating accusations against Topalov

2/11/2007 – It just won't go away. On Friday the Russian newspaper Kommersant published a lead story on what it claims is new evidence for assistance given to the world's top-rated player Veselin Topalov during his games. A three-minute video by a Dutch fan is presented as evidence. The ACP and FIDE have vowed to investigate. Report and video footage.

Morokhovsky: 'We will surprise the world of chess'

2/10/2007 – Vadim Morokhovsky is the Chairman of a large Ukrainian bank. He is also the man of the recent ACP World Rapid Cup in Odessa. And possibly one of the hottest chess sponsors around. Looking into the future Morokhovsky will be supporting the professional player's organisation ACP, big time. Interview with Misha Savinov.

The King's Indian reloaded

2/9/2007 – When Kasparov dropped the King's Indian nearly ten years ago it became a rare guest on the top level. Now, at last with Radjabov's spectacular score in Wijk the situation has changed. On his new DVD ex-FIDE world champion Kasimdhzanov gives you many good reasons why to return to the King's Indian. Buy it now or read more.

Yuri Averbakh turns 85

2/8/2007 – He is one of the great chess legends. Born in 1922 of Russian-Jewish extraction, Averbakh became a top-ten player in the world, achieving positive scores against the likes of Petrosian and Polugaevsky. He was the president of the Soviet Chess Federation, editor of major chess periodicals and author of major endgame books. Health and happiness, Juri Lvovich!

Antalya – an Invitation to Chess

2/8/2007 – Turkey is fast becoming a hotbed of chess. From January 28 to February 3rd the Turkish Youth Championship with 1300 participants was held in Antalya, the same time and place the FIDE Presidential Board met. It all took place in a beautiful hotel resort on the Mediterranean coast. We bring you part one of our illustrated report.

DVD instruction

2/8/2007 – ChessBase has been developing and releasing video-based training DVDs like a house a-fire in the past few months. In this week's ChessBase Workshop we preview seven of these disks by Alexi Shirov, Jacob Aagaard, Andrew Martin, and more. Workshop...