9/22/2026 – Bobby Fischer remains one of the most fascinating and enigmatic figures in chess history. IM John Donaldson, captain of the US team at the Chess Olympiad and the author of numerous books on famous and lesser-known chess personalities, is one of the leading experts on Fischer. He recently published a new book on the 1972 World Champion, "Inside the Mind of Bobby Fischer". In the interview, Donaldson talks about his research, previously unknown material and how he views Fischer after years of studying his life and work.
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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. FRITZ is more than just a chess engine – it’s a training revolution! 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.
Michael Kotyk presents a complete repertoire after 1.e4 e5, built around creative ideas, surprising move orders, and practical weapons designed to catch your opponents off guard.
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The Chess Olympiad is more than just a tournament, it is also a meeting place for the chess world. At the ChessBase booth in Samarkand, we welcomed John Donaldson, captain of the US team and one of the leading experts on Bobby Fischer.
For his latest book, "Inside the Mind of Bobby Fischer", Donaldson was able to draw on previously unpublished material collected by Fischer's mother Regina and stored in an attic for decades. Among these documents were games that had been thought lost, as well as revealing letters and telegrams from Fischer's youth.
John Donaldson, Inside the Mind of Bobby Fischer, Revisiting His Writing and Annotations, Siles Press 2025, 402 pages
In the interview, Donaldson reveals what surprised him most during his research, tells the story of the 16-year-old Fischer travelling alone through Europe for months in 1959, and discusses Fischer's relationship with his mother, his withdrawal from tournament chess and the darker sides of his later years.
Towards the end of the interview, the focus shifts to Donaldson's other role in Samarkand. He is captaining the US Olympiad team in person for the 17th time and explains what it takes to build a successful team.
No other World Champion was more infamous both inside and outside the chess world than Bobby Fischer. On this DVD, a team of experts shows you the winning techniques and strategies employed by the 11th World Champion.
Grandmaster Dorian Rogozenco delves into Fischer’s openings, and retraces the development of his repertoire. What variations did Fischer play, and what sources did he use to arm himself against the best Soviet players? Mihail Marin explains Fischer’s particular style and his special strategic talent in annotated games against Spassky, Taimanov and other greats. Karsten Müller is not just a leading international endgame expert, but also a true Fischer connoisseur.
9/21/2026 – In one of the key matches of the Women's Chess Olympiad, defending champions India faced Poland in Sunday's round five. The Indian team went into the match as favourites, but suffered a setback in the end. Aleksandra Maltsevskaya defeated Vaishali on board two to secure victory for the Polish side. | Photo: Rafal Oleksiewicz / FIDE
9/21/2026 – India, Uzbekistan and Germany emerged from round five with perfect 10/10 match scores after winning their clashes against fellow co-leaders. Germany defeated top seeds United States 2½–1½, with Frederik Svane (pictured) scoring the decisive win over Hans Niemann, while India beat the Netherlands and Uzbekistan swept Hungary 4–0. China and Armenia drew 2–2 and now stand one match point behind the leading group. | Photo: Rafal Oleksiewicz / FIDE
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.
The Nimzo-Indian has stood the test of time for over a century: Still a top choice for elite players today, from Magnus Carlsen to Praggnanandhaa, it remains one of Black's most reliable ways to fight for real chances against 1.d4 2.c4 3.Nc3.
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4!? is an opening idea well worth considering. Black immediately threatens to double the pawns on c3 in the style of the Trompowski or Sicilian Grand Prix attack.
Italian Game Powerbase 2026 is a database and contains 8571 top class games from Mega 2026 and the Correspondence Database 2026, of which 479 are annotated.
Videos: Nico Zwirs discusses the Sicilian with 2…e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Qe3 Nf6 6.Nc3. Mihail Marin examines Sindarov’s 6.Ne5 in the Queen’s Pawn Defence. Plus the ‘Lucky bag’ featuring 41 analyses by Berg, Ftacnik, Gupta and many others.
If you're looking for a dynamic alternative to the Slav, Queen's Gambit Declined, or other mainstream systems, the Chigorin Defence offers exactly what modern tournament players need.
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