The internet has profoundly transformed the traditional magazine landscape. While print magazines were among the most important sources of information for decades, they have lost reach and influence in the digital age. At the same time, digital platforms are rapidly gaining users. Online platforms, news websites, and social media have become established information channels – and the world of chess is no exception. Yet New in Chess Magazine defies this trend.
Published eight times a year, each issue impresses with a mix of reports on current tournaments and timeless content from the chess world. The cover of Issue #3/2025 features a beaming and clearly cheerful Hikaru Nakamura, winner of the prestigious 2025 American Cup. Kostya Kavutskiy reports on the tournament and explores how Nakamura manages to balance life as both a successful tournament player and a popular streamer.
Another major article, titled Grave Matters, takes a reflective look at former World Champion Boris Spassky. Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam examines whether Spassky, who passed away in Moscow on February 27, 2025, and was buried there, might have preferred to be laid to rest in Iceland beside Bobby Fischer. This question serves as a starting point for a broader reflection on Spassky’s life, career, and personality.
Jan Timman also pays tribute to Spassky, noting: "He should be remembered for much more than his loss to Bobby Fischer in Reykjavik in 1972. He had a long and illustrious career, and from 1968 to 1971, he was the strongest chess player in the world."
Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam also conducted a long interview with Aravindh Chithambaram, winner of the 2025 Prague Chess Festival. Aravindh first made headlines in 2013 when, at just 14 years old and seeded 53rd, he won the strong Chennai Open. After a long period of stagnation, he now seems to have found a way to unlock his tremendous potential. With a live rating of 2757.8, he currently ranks 9th in the world. In conversation with ten Geuzendam, Aravindh talks about his development, his aversion to publicity, and his passion for motorcycles.
A particular strength of New in Chess Magazine lies in its many columns, which share fascinating stories about chess players and offer valuable training suggestions. In Fair & Square, readers learn what Magnus Carlsen currently thinks of Hans Niemann; the Celeb 64 column explores Albert Einstein’s relationship with chess; and in Just Checking, German grandmaster Frederik Svane talks about his love for art and music. Matthew Sadler shares book recommendations, and columns like How to Improve, The Model Game, and The Killer Blow offer targeted training content.
A fine and entertaining mix – and if you believe that chess is indeed "The Best Game Ever," the New in Chess Magazine offers plenty of material to support that claim.
New in Chess, 03/2025, USA $18.99, Europe €17.99
New in Chess...
