Behind the scenes in Samarkand: The playing hall

by ChessBase
9/23/2026 – The ChessBase crew continues its coverage from the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, moving from the exhibition stand to the playing hall and capturing some of the atmosphere around the event. The latest vlog features reactions to the forthcoming ChessBase for Mac, behind-the-scenes work by the team, new guests in the "Off the Board" interview series and the celebrations that follow a victory by the Uzbek team.
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The world's largest team chess event!

The ChessBase team continues its coverage from the 2026 Chess Olympiad in Samarkand. After the first vlog followed the crew's journey to Uzbekistan, encounters with players along the way and the opening ceremony, the latest instalment moves inside the tournament venue, offering a closer look at the daily activity surrounding the world's largest team chess event.

One of the main attractions at the ChessBase stand is the forthcoming ChessBase for Mac. Visitors in Samarkand can already test the programme and explore its features ahead of the official release in November. The video captures some of the reactions from players discovering that ChessBase will soon be available natively on Mac.

The cameras then follow the route from the stand to the playing hall, where Arne Kaehler, Benjamin Bartels and Veronika Exler are producing content and meeting participants from around the world. The team's Off the Board interview series is also expanding, with Laura Unuk and Anna Cramling among the latest guests.

The vlog also conveys some of the atmosphere away from the boards, including the response of the home crowd when Uzbekistan win a match. From product demonstrations and interviews to scenes inside the playing hall, the video offers another behind-the-scenes view of ChessBase's work at the Olympiad.

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