5/2/2023 – The final phase of the Astana World Championship brought us unparalleled drama. You saw Ding pull it off with tenacious defence in game 14, and then continue with extraordinary defensive skills in the first three playoff game. In the fourth game the Chinese GM took a very brave decision in the ending, to reject a draw and play for a win – a decision that paid off handsomely. Once again we have deep, instructive commentary for you to study, kindly provided to us by grandmaster Efstratios Grivas. We include pictures and the closing ceremony video.
Fritz has fascinated the chess world for 30 years. And the success story continues. In Vienna, the most popular chess program ever was once again able to underline its premier position: the newly developed neural engine with NNUE technology won the official Chess Software World Championship!
Winning starts with what you know The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.
Chess Festival Prague 2025 with analyses by Aravindh, Giri, Gurel, Navara and others. ‘Special’: 27 highly entertaining miniatures. Opening videos by Werle, King and Ris. 10 opening articles with new repertoire ideas and much more.
€21.90
In the following games you can click (or tap) on any move or any diagram to get a special replayer, where you can start an engine and explore the moves even further – and get answers to all residual "What if?" and "Why not?" questions you might have.
Note that on your notebook or tablet screen you can adjust the size of the replay window and move it to the most convenient place. On your mobile phone you can adjust the size of the notation and engine windows.
The aim of this DVD is to provide you with the practical skills and knowledge that you will need to play a rook and pawn endgame. Based on his own playing experience, Grandmaster Daniel King reveals what is essential knowledge, saving you time in your studies. The Power Play series is suitable for anyone looking to improve their chess, but also provides ready-made lessons and exercises for a trainer. Running time: 5 hours
Playoff
Here are all the games of the playoff. You can maximize the replay app and start an engine to help you follow the analysis – to answer all residual "what if" and "why not" questions.
New ...
New Game
Edit Game
Setup Position
Open...
PGN
FEN
Share...
Share Board (.png)
Share Board (configure)
Share playable board
Share game as GIF
Notation (PGN)
QR Code
Layout...
Use splitters
Swipe notation/lists
Reading mode
Flip Board
Settings
Move
N
Result
Elo
Players
Replay and check the LiveBook here
Please, wait...
1.d4Nf62.Nf3d53.c3(D)
3...c5Quite OK for Black is3...c64.Bf4Bf5, but Black is an active player...4.dxc5e65.Be3Be76.g3Nc67.Bg20-08.b4Ng49.Bd4(D)
14...Bf6!14...Qxc5?15.Na415.axb4?Qxc316.Qxd5Rd815...Qd616.axb4+-.15.Rc1Forced.15.Nxd5?Nxd516.Qxd5Bxa117.Rxa1Bxg4, is simply bad for White.15...Bxc316.Rxc3Nc617.Qxd5Bxg4(D)
White maintained a small advantage, but Black has regained his pawn and has no real weaknesses.18.Ng5!Heading for d6, via e4.18.Qe4!?Bh519.e3, could be played.18...h619.Ne4Rae819...Bxe220.Re1Bg421.Nd6Be622.Qe4, looks nice for White.20.e3Re521.Qd2(D)
21...Rd8?!Black should think of21...Bh322.Nf6+gxf623.Bxh3Rd8∞.22.Nd6Rh523.Rb1?23.Qc2±, was forced and good!23...Ne5!24.e4(D)
24.Rxb7?Nf3+-+, or24.Bxb7?Qxb7!, are out of the question.24...b6!Black is now out of danger, while it is White who has to be careful...25.cxb6axb6(D)
26.Nb5!Maintaining the balance. White would be lost after the naive26.Rxc7?Nf3+27.Bxf327.Kf1Nxd2+28.Kg1Nxb1-+27...Bxf3-+.26...Rxd227.Nxc7The position is equal.Bh328.Bxh3Rxh329.Kg2Rh530.Rb5!Rd131.Nd5(D)
Aiming for Nf4.31.Rxb6?, perishes:Rdh132.g432.Rb8+Kh7-+32...R5h2+33.Kg3Rh3+34.Kg2R1h2+35.Kg1Rxc3-+.31...Rdh1!32.Ne7+The last careful move. White rightly avoids32.Rxb6?R5h2#, or32.Rc8+?Kh7-+.32...Kh7(D)
Watch the two players in the final playoff game, which ended in...
Ding winning the trophy!
All pictures on this page by Stev Bonhage, an international freelance photographer who has been published and working in over 55 countries and counting.
Born in the former German Democratic Republic Stev later grew up in Sweden during his teenage years and fell in love with photography shortly after he dropped out of school at the age of 17. With over 15 years of experience and taking great pride in his journey and work, Stev has somehow accomplished to work for some of the biggest brands and magazines in the world. Specialised in portrait, action-sport, editorial, reportage, travel and event photography he has created the work you look at today.
And now watch the spectacular closing ceremony in Astana:
Efstratios GrivasEfstratios (30.03.1966) is a highly experienced chess trainer and chess author. He has been awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) the titles of International Chess Grandmaster, FIDE Senior Trainer, International Chess Arbiter and International Chess Organiser.
Chess Festival Prague 2025 with analyses by Aravindh, Giri, Gurel, Navara and others. ‘Special’: 27 highly entertaining miniatures. Opening videos by Werle, King and Ris. 10 opening articles with new repertoire ideas and much more.
Experts examine the games of Max Euwe. Let them show you which openings Euwe chose to play, where his strength in middlegames were, which tactical abilities he had or how he outplayed his opponents in the endgame.
This interactive video course of over 8 hours, provides an in-depth exploration of the Pirc Defence, a favoured opening for people looking to play for the win with the black pieces.
Pirc Defence Powerbase 2025 is a database and contains a total of 10027 games from Mega 2025 or the Correspondence Database 2024; of these 874 are annotated.
The Pirc Defence Powerbook 2025 consists for a greater part of engine games (168 000), to which has been added high value material from Mega and the Correspondence Database (115 000).
The free app from ChessBase! ChessBase Mobile has everything you need as a chess player on the go:
access your chess data in cloud databases - and 13 million games.
€0.00
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.
All pictures on this page by Stev Bonhage, an international freelance photographer who has been published and working in over 55 countries and counting.
