1/12/2020 – It is hard to call a win by Alireza Firouzja a surprise after his stellar performance at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships — and his general good form from last year — but it is still noteworthy that he won his first ever game in Wijk aan Zee. He is joined in the lead in the Masters by Jorden van Foreest, who beat Yu Yangyi. In the Challengers, Pavel Eljanov, Surya Ganguly and Erwin l'Ami kicked off with victories. GM ALEX YERMOLINSKY reports. Round-up show by IM LAWRENCE TRENT. | Photo: Official site
new: Fritz 20
Your personal chess trainer. Your toughest opponent. Your strongest ally. FRITZ 20 is more than just a chess engine – it is a training revolution for ambitious players and professionals. Whether you are taking your first steps into the world of serious chess training, or already playing at tournament level, FRITZ 20 will help you train more efficiently, intelligently and individually than ever before.
Your personal chess trainer. Your toughest opponent. Your strongest ally. FRITZ 20 is more than just a chess engine – it is a training revolution for ambitious players and professionals. Whether you are taking your first steps into the world of serious chess training, or already playing at tournament level, FRITZ 20 will help you train more efficiently, intelligently and individually than ever before.
The Black Sniper is back – sharper and deadlier than ever! This dynamic system (1...g6, 2...Bg7, 3...c5 against 1.e4, 1.d4 and 1.c4) creates unpredictable, high-pressure positions, leaving opponents struggling to adapt.
€39.90
Another slow start for Carlsen
The 82nd edition of the chess festival in Wijk aan Zee takes place from January 11th to 26th. The Masters and the Challengers are both 14-player single round robins. Rounds start at 12:30 UTC, except January 16th in Eindhoven, when it starts 30 minutes later.
The 82nd edition of traditional Tata Steel tournaments kicks off the 2020 season of never-stop chess entertainment. It hasn't even been two full weeks since the end of the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Moscow and our chess gladiators gather round again to give us more games to watch and study.
This year's field is shorter on world's elite representation, due to the last moment withdrawal of Nepomniachtchi, and Grischuk's famous “I don't want to play in Wijk aan Zee anymore” quip. No doubt, both Russians are doing the right thing by focusing on the upcoming Candidates tournament, along with Ding Liren and Radjabov, who also are keeping low profile. Of course, the invitations went out before the names of surprising qualifiers, Wang Hao and Alekseenko, were known. These two, I suppose, wouldn't mind getting some practice in Wijk, but they will have to be content with playing in the Gibraltar Masters, which starts ten days from now.
This leaves only Caruana and Giri among the 2020 Candidates present at Tata Steel Chess this year. Of course, World Champion Carlsen is there, along with So and Anand, making the tournament's top rated group. The way the luck of pairing would have it, the four of them faced each other in the opening round.
Anish Giri finished in sole second place last year | Photo: Official site
We are used to Magnus' habit of starting slowly, and today was no exception. Carlsen's experimental treatment of the English Opening with White failed to impress Giri. For a moment it seemed Anish could try for more, but it was no more than an illusion, and soon a draw was agreed.
The World Champion confessed that he was “really embarrassed” by what he did, referring specifically to his decision of going for 10.h3 — a move that quickly left him a pawn down while playing White — after thinking for over twenty minutes. He added:
I definitely liked the idea of playing [Giri] as White, but as I said I'm hugely embarrassed by thinking for twenty minutes and missing a simple tactic. And, truth be told, with that in mind I'm happy with the result.
Scarcely any world champion has managed to captivate chess lovers to the extent Carlsen has. The enormously talented Norwegian hasn't been systematically trained within the structures of a major chess-playing nation such as Russia, the Ukraine or China.
The other battle between rating favourites, Caruana vs So, was a non-theoretical Grunfeld that looked more like a Queen's Gambit. Black seemed very comfortable, and possibly even more, but Wesley's 21st move opened a window to simplifications.
What didn't he like about 21...g5 remains unknown.
Wesley So published two new opening DVDs: 1.b3, the so called Nimzo-Larsen-Attack, for White and his black secrets in the modern Italian. Get them in a package and save money!
Wesley So | Photo: Official site
There are many intriguing names in this year's event, and none more than Alireza Firouzja. The 16-year-old Iranian keeps on making headlines: his refusal to represent Iran in chess competition may mean settling in another country for good. Will it be France, where Alireza is currently residing? Then, there was a controversial incident during the much-anticipated battle with Carlsen at the World Blitz. Did Magnus let out a swear word when he blundered a pawn, and, more importantly, does it represent sufficient grounds for an appeal?
Today, all that was put on hold, as Firouzja went down to business, efficiently dispatching the rating underdog Vladislav Kovalev, who seemed strangely confused in a well-known opening line.
Pavel Eljanov explains in depth what Gyula Breyer already saw in 1911 and what became an opening choice of the likes of Kasparov, Kramnik, Anand or Carlsen. The Breyer Variation, which is characterised by the knight retreat to b8.
A confident start for Alireza. All eyes are on him, will he manage to handle the pressure? When asked about his expectation at the post-game interview, the youngster responded:
As I said before, I'm not the favourite here of course, but I'm trying to get some good results with some top players, and we'll see what is gonna happen.
Is he afraid of any other participants? Firouzja laughed and confidently said:
I've played almost all of them, so I'm experienced, and we will see.
A future World Champion? — Alireza Firouzja | Photo: Official site
From the youngest to the oldest. Vishy Anand celebrated his 50th birthday, and here he is, playing more chess! For his battle against the talented Russian Vladislav Artemiev, Vishy prepared a less-known path in an Advanced Caro, 12. ♘a3, instead of the common 12.♘♘c3, which goes all the way back to Gelfand vs Karpov, 1995. Vlad replied in style, playing actively in the centre (15...f6!?) and soon sacrificed a pawn. Anand wisely (what else is new?) returned the material and offered an exchange sac to take the game into a drawn endgame. Very correctly played, indeed.
Another Russian participant, Nikita Vitiugov, came to replace his compatriot, Ian Nepomniachtchi. As it goes, look out for a last-minute entrant. Nikita proved a dangerous opponent for another aspiring youngster, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, by tricking him into a seemingly innocent line of the old Boleslavsky Classical Sicilian. Suddenly problems began to emerge, and it took a miracle for Duda to survive.
Xiong vs Dubov was a great effort from both. Jeffery pushed hard, but couldn't break down Daniil's active defences.
The game that finished last produced another decisive result, as Jorden Van Foreest was able to take advantage of Yu Yangyi's error in a deep rook endgame.
Rules of thumb are the key to everything when you are having to set the correct course in a complex endgame. In this final DVD of his series on the endgame, our endgame specialist introduces you to the most important of these rules of thumb.
The Challengers group started with more experienced players dominating their youthful opposition, as Eljanov, Ganguly and l'Ami all scored endgame victories.
Surya Shekhar Ganguly kicked off with a win | Photo: Official site
Alex YermolinskyYermo is enjoying his fifties. Lives in South Dakota, 600 miles way from the nearest grandmaster. Between his chess work online he plays snooker and spends time outdoors - happy as a clam.
GM Blohberger presents a complete two-part repertoire for Black: practical, clear, and flexible – instead of endless theory, you’ll get straightforward concepts and strategies that are easy to learn and apply.
GM Blohberger presents a complete two-part repertoire for Black: practical, clear, and flexible – instead of endless theory, you’ll get straightforward concepts and strategies that are easy to learn and apply.
GM Blohberger presents a complete two-part repertoire for Black: practical, clear, and flexible – instead of endless theory, you’ll get straightforward concepts and strategies that are easy to learn and apply.
Opening videos: Sipke Ernst brings the Ulvestad Variation up to date + Part II of ‘Mikhalchishin's Miniatures’. Special: Jan Werle shows highlights from the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 in the video. ‘Lucky bag’ with 40 analyses by Ganguly, Illingworth et al.
In this video course, Grandmaster Ivan Sokolov explores the fascinating world of King’s Indian and Pirc structures with colours reversed, often arising from the French or Sicilian.
EXPAND YOUR CHESS HORIZONS
It doesn't get any better than this: the premium equipment perfect for tournament players and professionals: with ChessBase program '26, Mega Database, CORR-Database and much more.
€499.90
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.
Pop-up for detailed settings
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies, analysis cookies and marketing cookies. You can decide which cookies to use by selecting the appropriate options below. Please note that your selection may affect the functionality of the service. Further information can be found in our privacy policy.
Technically required cookies
Technically required cookies: so that you can navigate and use the basic functions and store preferences.
Analysis Cookies
To help us determine how visitors interact with our website to improve the user experience.
Marketing-Cookies
To help us offer and evaluate relevant content and interesting and appropriate advertisement.
The 82nd edition of the chess festival in Wijk aan Zee takes place from January 11th to 26th. The Masters and the Challengers are both 14-player single round robins. Rounds start at 12:30 UTC, except January 16th in Eindhoven, when it starts 30 minutes later.
