5/16/2026 – As the Grand Chess Tour (GCT) enters its 11th edition, it has become a cornerstone of the professional chess world. With a $2 million prize fund and a reach spanning four continents, the tour is often described as a "well-oiled machine". In an exclusive look at the tour's history, CEO and Executive Director Michael Khodarkovsky shares the philosophy that has sustained this elite circuit for over a decade. | Photo: Grand Chess Tour
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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.
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The 2014 brainstorming session
Michael Khodarkovsky and Garry Kasparov have been friends for many years. He has, among other things, worked for Garry for his World Championship Matches in 1995 and 2000
The GCT began as a shared vision between Kasparov and Khodarkovsky, who said:
The beginning actually started in 2014 when Garry and I went to Saint Louis and shared our idea with Rex Sinquefield and his team. It was basically brainstorming and Rex liked the idea, and we started to prepare.
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! Bent Larsen (1935–2010) was the greatest chess player in Danish history, and for a time, the second-strongest player in the Western world behind Bobby Fischer. Between 1954 and 1971, he won the Danish Championship six times, and achieved numerous international tournament victories throughout his career.
Free video sample: Introduction to Bent Larsen by Peter Heine Nielsen
Free video sample: Introduction to the Opening Section
One of the driving forces behind the Grand Chess Tour was US Billionaire Rex Sinquefield Launched in 2015, the tour initially featured three classical legs in Norway, Saint Louis and London. When the format shifted to include rapid and blitz chess in 2016 to accommodate new European organizers, the GCT found its modern, dynamic identity.
Michael Khodarkovsky and Garry Kasparov | Photo: Grand Chess Tour
A global mission: Uniting minds
While the elite competition draws headlines, the GCT is fundamentally a non-profit endeavour driven by the St. Louis Chess Club and the Superbet Foundation.
The actual goal is outreach... to bring awareness of chess and chess in education. Of the importance of chess as a cognitive tool in education - as as socially important tool for people to get together from different parts of the world.
This mission has taken the tour to diverse locations, from Cote d'Ivoire to Kolkata. By incorporating side events like simuls and youth tournaments at every stop, the tour ensures that "the chess culture of that place also grows".
The Grand Chess Tour event of 2019 saw Magnus Carlsen and Vishy Anand inaugurated India's first pink ball test match at the Eden Gardens! | Photo: Grand Chess Tour
The secret to longevity: Respect and stability
In a field where many tournaments struggle to maintain consistency, Khodarkovsky attributes the GCT's success to professional standards and a deep understanding of the players. The Grand Chess Tour has an amazing prize fund for the players. This year, the fund has increased to US$ 2 million. While the money is impressive, Michael knows that it is not the only element.
First and foremost, we treat players with respect... I know what is required on one hand. And money not always bring happiness, as you know. Money comes and goes, but you need to have stability.
This stability is built on transparency. Unlike events announced at the last minute, the GCT plans years in advance. "We are already planning everything for 2027", Michael reveals, noting that they work to avoid collisions with other major organizers like FIDE or Norway Chess.
The leadership philosophy: Passion and delegation
Michael Khodarkovsky's own career - spanning roles as a coach, author, and official - is fuelled by a singular drive. "The secret is passion", he explains. "If you are not giving your 100% to this project, nothing will come out".
You will learn how Black's dynamic piece activity and structural counterplay more than compensate for White's extra tempo in the colour-reversed setups. The Benoni family of openings has toppled world champions, decided match games under the highest pressure, and rewarded those brave enough to play them with some of the most electrifying chess imaginable. In this Fritztrainer, Grandmaster Ivan Sokolov - continuing his successful series "Understanding Middlegame Structures" - takes you deep inside the complexities of the Colour-Reversed Benoni, the Colour-Reversed Benko Gambit, and the Colour-Reversed Blumenfeld Gambit.
Free sample video: Introduction
Free sample video: Colour Reversed Banoni - Game 1
A look at Michael's Wikipedia page shows the tremendous number of things he has achieved in his career. Here are a few:
Vice President of the FIDE Presidential Board
Founder and Director of International Chess School, which conducts programs at public and private schools in New Jersey and New York
President of the Kasparov Chess Foundation
Chair of International Affairs Committee of the US Chess Federation
US Chess Delegate to FIDE
Councillor of the FIDE Trainers Commission from 2004-2014
Member of Kasparov's coaching team for World Championships in 1995 and 2000 and during the matches with IBM in 1996 and 1997
Head coach of the US Women's Team in 2004
Coach of several state, national, continental and world medallist students.
Winner of 2008 Scholastic Service Award by US Chess Federation
Author of chess books, manuals and articles
Central to his management style is the ability to empower his team rather than micromanaging every detail.
I select the best people in their field and bring them together. I trust people with different skills who can deliver. And I am not micromanaging them.
This philosophy is evident in the inclusion of figures like Deputy Director Alexander Onischuk. Michael notes, "I always would like to bring new people", and describes Onischuk as "the right person to be with us on the Grand Chess Tour for many more years".
The new Deputy Director of the Grand Chess Tour, Alexander Onischuk, with his better half, Natalia Zhukova | Photo: Grand Chess Tour
The driving force of Garry Kasparov
The tour’s existence is inextricably linked to the involvement of the 13th World Champion. "Garry is one of the co-founders... and without Garry this Tour wouldn't be possible", Michael states. Kasparov remains a "driving force" who actively secures sponsorship and remains involved in the tour's day-to-day trajectory.
The Grand Chess Tour celebrated its first decade with finals in Brazil. Now the 11th edition has begun! Michael is confident in the foundation they have built: "We are in good shape to continue for the next decade," he says.
It's amazing what Garry has managed to create with Grand Chess Tour - it is benefitting so many players and gives the world of chess something to look forward to each year! | Photo: Grand Chess Tour
Garry Kasparov's rise to the top was meteoric and at his very first attempt he managed to become World Champion, the youngest of all time. In over six hours of video, he gives a first hand account of crucial events from recent chess history, you can improve your chess understanding and enjoy explanations and comments from a unique and outstanding personality on and off the chess board.
Sagar ShahSagar is an International Master from India with two GM norms. He loves to cover chess tournaments, as that helps him understand and improve at the game he loves so much. He is the co-founder and CEO of ChessBase India, the biggest chess news portal in the country. His YouTube channel has over a million subscribers, and to date close to a billion views. ChessBase India is the sole distributor of ChessBase products in India and seven adjoining countries, where the software is available at a 60% discount. compared to International prices.
5/15/2026 – All five games ended drawn in the first round of the Super Chess Classic Romania, though several players had chances to grab full points. Alireza Firouzja missed the clearest opportunity against defending champion Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu (pictured), while Fabiano Caruana failed to make the most of an extra pawn against Jorden van Foreest. Wesley So v. Vincent Keymer was a double-edged, remarkable battle. | Photo: Lennart Ootes
5/6/2026 – The Super Rapid & Blitz Poland tournament opened in Warsaw, with the three first rounds of rapid chess leaving a five-way tie for first place in the standings. Fabiano Caruana, Javokhir Sindarov, Wesley So (pictured), Vladimir Fedoseev and Hans Niemann all scored 4/6, with Sindarov and Niemann the only unbeaten players among them. Gukesh Dommaraju finished one point behind, ahead of Wednesday's round-five clash with Sindarov, his future World Championship challenger. | Photo: Lennart Ootes
For a long time the Scotch opening was considered harmless and rarely played. This changed in 1990 when Garry Kasparov successfully employed the Scotch opening in his World Championship match against Anatoly Karpov. But that was 25 years ago. Now, there is no need to panic if you want to play 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 and need a line against the Scotch. On this 60 Minutes renowned and successful coach Adrian Mikhalchishin gives simple practical tips how to neutralize and counter the Scotch.
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.
You will learn how Black's dynamic piece activity and structural counterplay more than compensate for White's extra tempo in the colour-reversed setups.
In this course, you’ll learn how to take the initiative against the London and prevent White from comfortably playing their usual system by playing 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 Nh5.
London System Powerbase 2026 is a database and contains in all 11 285 games from Mega 2026 and the Correspondence Database 2026, of which 282 are annotated.
The London System Powerbook 2026 is based on more than 410 000 games or game fragments from different opening moves and ECO codes; what they all have in common is that White plays d4 and Bf4 but does not play c4.
In this course, Grandmaster Elisabeth Pähtz presents the London System, a structured and ambitious approach based on the immediate Bf4, leading to rich and dynamic positions.
€59.90
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