Brain builders

11/7/2004 – If you find yourself jumping from diagram to diagram in your antiquated printed chess books and magazines, these exercises are definitely for you. Even if you have joined the 21st century with ChessBase 9 and our training videos, your skills will definitely benefit from this workout.

Kasimdzhanov-Kasparov is a go

11/6/2004 – According to an interview with FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov in the Russian paper Sport Express, the sponsorship of the K-K unification match in Dubai has been confirmed. The bank guarantees are in place and the match is scheduled for Jan. 14-Feb. 1. We now have a translation of the interview and a comment from Garry Kasparov.

The chess continues – for a thousand years

11/5/2004 – The 36th Chess Olympiad ended on the 31st of October, and hundreds of players left Mallorca. But 122 players from 34 different countries remained to take part in the International Open of Calvià – the first, we are told, of a thousand. Here's another look at the ruggedly beautiful Mediterranean island, including fledgling pictures by a world champion

Vishy Anand repeats in Corsica

11/5/2004 – You didn't need to be Nostradamus to see this one coming. Indian star Viswanathan Anand demolished Sergei Rublevsky in the final match of the Corsica Masters. That makes five Corsica titles in five years for Anand. One more and they should just rename the event the "Anand Masters" and get it over with. Is Anand unstoppable?

George Renko's new ChessBase training CD

11/5/2004 – ChessBase's accomplished tactics trainer George Renko has done it again! In the latest ChessBase Workshop, get a first glimpse of his newest tactics training CD Intensive Course Tactics 2. Workshop...

Zurab Azmaiparashvili's two days in prison

11/4/2004 – FIDE vice president Zurab Azmaiparashvili was attacked by security guards. Two days later he was released by a Spanish judge and was able to return to his native Georgia. We spoke to the battered GM immediately after his release. Let us know your opinion or express your support. Here is Zurab's harrowing story.

Anand rolls on in Corsica

11/3/2004 – Vishy Anand rolled over Etienne Bacrot to reach the final of the Corsica Masters. He will face Sergei Rublevsky, who beat his countryman Motylev with the aid of a little luck. Rublevsky is eager to change the course of history by denying Anand yet another Corsica title. Semifinal report and games.

ChessBase 9.0 – a matter of history (3)

11/3/2004 – A really useful feature of ChessBase 9 is "History". When you look for something you recently saw you don't need to search in a million game database. Just check the games you loaded in the last days or months. You will also find the new threat animation and 3D graphics of ChessBase 9 fascinating. Part three.

Exclusive! Bush vs Kerry on the chessboard

11/2/2004 – You've seen them debate, you've seen the commercials, you've heard all the exhortations, fabrications, and exaggerations. Now we can bring you what really counts, George W. Bush versus John Kerry on the 64 squares. From preemptive attacks to flip-flopping knights, this game has it all.

Corsican rules

11/2/2004 – India's Viswanathan Anand has won yet anoth.. oh, wait, the event's not over yet, sorry. The 8th Corsica Masters rapid tournament has reached the semifinals and Anand is positioned to renew his title yet again. He'll face Bacrot in the semis while Rublevsky and Motylev duel for the other finals spot. Report, games, and analysis.

Boo! Terrifying blunders at Playchess.com

11/1/2004 – Tonight's Playchess lecture by Dennis Monokroussos covers some scary blunders. You can learn from their mistakes or just feel comforted that they make them too. The lecture begins at 9pm EST. Read on for how you can watch the lecture and the starting time in your area. Don't be afraid!

Azmaiparashvili in the news; released from jail

11/1/2004 – The bizarre scuffle during the closing ceremony of the Calvià Olympiad made various mainstream reports. We have press releases from the organizers and FIDE. Azmai has been released and an interview is forthcoming. For now we have some alarming pictures.

Scandal in Calvià, FIDE vice president arrested

10/31/2004 – The 36th Chess Olympiad ended with a bang. But not the fireworks we displayed in our previous report, but with the arrest of FIDE vice president Zurab Azmaiparashvili, who tried to get the attention of the organisers on the stage and was wrestled to the floor and dragged to jail by a group of security agents. Hard to believe, but unfortunately true.

Ukraine and China (and Professor Elo) win in Calvià

10/30/2004 – The underdogs will have to wait for another day. The exact order wasn't perfect, but the favorites followed through. Ukraine and China took gold. In a thrilling final round scramble the Russian men finished ahead of Armenia by a single tiebreak point. The American women nipped Russia for the silver by a half point. Flash report with results and standings.

The Turkish Federation wants the match

10/30/2004 – Yesterday we published an open letter by Garry Kasparov, demanding that the FIDE leadership show guarantees for his reunification match against Kasimdzhanov, announced for January in Dubai, or to ask the General Assembly for authority to quickly seek a new bidder. Now the alternate is on the table, presented for the Turkish Chess Federation by its president Ali Nihat Yazici.

The Olympiad ends with a bang

10/30/2004 – The 36th Chess Olympiad is over, the players are departing, some with medals, all with interesting memories and many exciting games. Before the players all leave Calvià, the beautiful island of Mallorca and the gigantic tournament staged there, we bring you pictorial impressions of the participants at work and at play.

Going for the silver in Calvià

10/29/2004 – Heading into the final round on Friday Ukraine has locked up the men's gold and China has done the same in the women's event. But the battle for the less precious medals is at fever pitch. Russia, USA, Armenia, and Israel are in the hunt and nothing is certain. A big win in the final round will mean glory. Who can pull it off?

Kasparov's letter to FIDE

10/29/2004 – The reunification match between Garry Kasparov and Rustam Kasimdzhanov is scheduled for January 7 – 24 in Dubai. However at the FIDE Congress in Calvià nothing concrete was announced. The funding of the match and many other details appear to be in doubt. In an open letter to the FIDE General Assembly Garry Kasparov delivers firm ultimatums.

Dresden to host the 2008 Olympiad

10/29/2004 – At the FIDE General Assembly there were two countries bidding for the 2008 Chess Olympiad: Estonia, represented by the Minister of Interior and super-model Carmen Kass; and Germany, who put up the Lord Mayor of Dresden and the Prince of Saxony. The latter won 69:29. Picture and video report.

Calvià: Double defeat for Chinese women

10/28/2004 – After twelve (of fourteen) rounds the gold medals look pretty safe in the hands of the Ukraine men and the Chinese women, even though the latter lost two rounds, against the US and Georgia. In the men's section Russia and Armenia are striving for Silver. Here are the games and results, and a video report with impressions of Calvià.

ChessBase 9.0 – on players and openings (2)

10/28/2004 – Sometimes it is important to find out everything about a specific player or opening, and to do it quickly! ChessBase 9 has a number of new functions that support exactly that: fast searches and superb presentation of information retrieved from millions of games in a database. Part two.

What did Vladimir say?

10/27/2004 – The remarks we published recently by Vladimir Kramnik, in which the classical chess world champion expressed serious doubt about the reunification process as it is, have stirred up a vigorous international debate. Before this gets out of hand we thought it expedient to publish the full text of the original interview in Sport Express. Here is a translation by Ilya Krasik.

'It was a very painful decision for me'

10/27/2004 – At the Chess Olympiad in Calvià, Spain, the US "Dream Team" is poised to take a medal in the Women's section, which would be a great boost for chess in USA. But team leader Susan Polgar is in distress. Today she must fight it out against the Hungarian team. Susan is originally from Hungary and tells us her feelings in an exclusive interview.

Keeping the kids in line

10/27/2004 – It was veterans vs whippersnappers at the Essent tournament in Hoogeveen. Young stars Carlsen and Stellwagen were tossed in with experienced internationals Sokolov and Short. The old guys managed to hold off the youngsters, but no one could hold back Sokolov. There was also a draw scandal you'll find out about in our report.