5/18/2026 – Aram Hakobyan speaks about his journey from a passionate chess obsessed child in Armenia to becoming a world under 12 champion, studying at Webster University in the United States, and eventually returning home to continue pursuing professional chess. He reflects on the importance of passion over pressure, explains how mentors like Levon Aronian shaped his mindset, and shares honest thoughts about sponsorship struggles, modern chess preparation, and why enjoying the process matters more than chasing rating goals. Aram also discusses his upcoming ChessBase training course on the Ruy Lopez Opening from Black’s perspective, while offering practical advice on studying openings, experimenting with different training methods, and developing genuine curiosity for chess.
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EXPAND YOUR CHESS HORIZONS Data, plans, practice – the new Opening Report In ChessBase there are always attempts to show the typical plans of an opening variation. In the age of engines, chess is much more concrete than previously thought. But amateurs in particular love openings with clear plans, see the London System. In ChessBase ’26, three functions deal with the display of plans. The new opening report examines which piece moves or pawn advances are significant for each important variation. In the reference search you can now see on the board where the pieces usually go. If you start the new Monte Carlo analysis, the board also shows the most common figure paths.
In this volume, we dive into core aspects of chess technique. Smyslov taught the principle of tactical hierarchy, “checks, double attacks, and unprotected pieces”, and Mikhalchishin demonstrates how this method of calculation is vital.
€34.90
“Nowadays it’s still fun for me to work on chess, but it’s not the same as it used to be.”
Aram Hakobyan visited the ChessBase studio in Hamburg during the Bundesliga finals to record his very first ChessBase training course, dedicated to the Ruy Lopez Opening and Marshall related structures from Black’s perspective. The Armenian grandmaster explained that he aims to recommend fresh and practical ideas which help players surprise their opponents rather than simply following the most heavily analyzed main lines.
In the interview, Hakobyan reflected on his chess journey from a passionate child in Yerevan to becoming Under 12 World Champion and later studying at Webster University alongside several elite grandmasters. He spoke candidly about growing up in Armenia’s rich chess culture, working with legendary coaches and players such as Levon Aronian and Vladimir Akopian, and how pure fascination for the game shaped his early development far more than external pressure or ambition.
Hakobyan also shared honest thoughts about the realities of professional chess today, including sponsorship difficulties, modern opening preparation, and the psychological side of improvement. One of the central themes of the conversation was his evolving mindset toward competition. Rather than obsessing over ratings and results, Hakobyan explained how learning to simply enjoy playing good chess has helped him produce stronger performances in recent years. The interview offers a fascinating look into the life, philosophy, and working methods of one of Armenia’s leading grandmasters.
EXPAND YOUR CHESS HORIZONS Data, plans, practice – the new Opening Report In ChessBase there are always attempts to show the typical plans of an opening variation. In the age of engines, chess is much more concrete than previously thought. But amateurs in particular love openings with clear plans, see the London System. In ChessBase ’26, three functions deal with the display of plans. The new opening report examines which piece moves or pawn advances are significant for each important variation. In the reference search you can now see on the board where the pieces usually go. If you start the new Monte Carlo analysis, the board also shows the most common figure paths.
Arne KaehlerArne Kaehler, a creative mind who is passionate about board games in general, was born in Hamburg and learned to play chess at a young age. By teaching chess to youth teams and creating chess-related videos on YouTube, Arne was able to expand this passion and has even created an online course for anyone who wants to learn how to play chess. Arne writes for the English and German news sites, but focuses mainly on content for the ChessBase media channels.
4/10/2026 – Bodhana Sivanandan comes across as an exceptionally calm, self-driven young talent whose love for chess seems to grow naturally from curiosity, beauty, and enjoyment rather than pressure or ego. In the interview, she talks about her admiration for Capablanca, her instinctive feel for endgames, and her practical approach to improvement, often learning simply by playing, spotting mistakes, and correcting them for next time. She also reflects with striking maturity on losses, fame, expectations, and long-term goals, showing that she prefers to focus on steady progress instead of forcing milestones or assumptions about the future. Overall, the conversation paints a picture of a rare chess prodigy who is already highly accomplished, yet remains grounded, thoughtful, and fully focused on becoming the best player she can be.
2/19/2026 – By coincidence, ChessBase conducted an interview with Loek van Wely just a day after the passing of Jan Timman. Their Dutch rivalry at the board defined an era, yet beyond the battles they also shared memorable moments, such as representing their country together at the 1992 Olympiad in Manila. Although Van Wely’s peak years are behind him, he has remarkably maintained a 2600+ level and remains fiercely competitive. In the interview, he reveals how he sustains his strength, and reflects on politics, poker, and his work as a coach.
King’s Indian fans who choose the Mar del Plata attack (7...Nc6) against White’s classical system (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0) usually aim for a complex position with mutual attacks on open wings, requiring long-term strategic planning and tactical sharpness in critical moments. Computers often do not know how to handle the arising complex strategic positions, which suits players who like to think on their own instead of memorizing long variations. However, the fashionable Bayonet Attack (9.b4) interferes with Black’s ideas. After Black’s main move 9...Nh5 the positions opens, the lines get forced and computer analysis is important again. But this DVD offers an antidote against White’s Bayonet Attack, namely 9...a5! This move leads to sound positions with very few concrete lines, in which the focus is on strategy not on tactics. Objectively chances are equal but if Black knows what to do things might quickly become dangerous for White.
YOUR PERSONAL CHESS COACH - Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.
In this volume, we dive into core aspects of chess technique. Smyslov taught the principle of tactical hierarchy, “checks, double attacks, and unprotected pieces”, and Mikhalchishin demonstrates how this method of calculation is vital.
Videos: Nico Zwirs examines two Petroffs from the 2026 Candidates. Robert Ris has a tip against the Caro-Kann Advance Variation with 3…c5. Fiona Sieber reveals a surprise weapon against the Najdorf. ‘Lucky Bag’ with 40 analyses by Ganguly, L'Ami et al.
YOUR PERSONAL CHESS COACH - Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.
In this powerful new course, endgame expert Karsten Müller teams up with rising star Leon Mendonca to deliver what truly matters: 10 essential rules that every player must know.
In this video course experts examine the games of Bent Larsen. Let them show you which openings Larsen chose, where his strength in middlegames were, how he outplayed his opponents in the endgame & you’ll get a glimpse of his tactical abilities!
From the 2026 Candidates Tournament, featuring a video review by Dorian Rogozenco, to Jan Werle’s opening video on the French Tarrasch Defence, and Oliver Reeh’s tactical column ‘Top Grandmasters at Work’. Analyses by Giri, So, Wei Yi and many others.
€21.90
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