Swiss IM highlights ChessBase as key tool in ambitious Elo climb

by Stefan Liebig
3/25/2026 – Oliver Kurmann wants to become a grandmaster – at the age of 41! In an interview with the Swiss Chess Federation, the international master from Switzerland, who competed for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga last weekend, talks about his career, training and ambitions - with ChessBase playing a key role. | Pictured: Oliver Kurmann drew his game last weekend in the Chess Bundesliga for Bayern Munich - he faced Georg Meier of SC Viernheim | Photo: Angelika Valkova
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Attack!

"Objectively speaking, the timing for an 'Elo attack' is the worst I could possibly have chosen". In an interview with the Swiss Chess Federation, IM Oliver Kurmann speaks about his plans, his career path, training methods using tools such as ChessBase, as well as his appearances as a national team player and as a Bundesliga player for Bayern Munich.

In the current Interview of the Month published by the Swiss Chess Federation, IM Oliver Kurmann is fully aware of the scale of the mission he has set himself: "It seems impossible, but…" is the title of the detailed and engaging conversation. It quickly becomes clear what it is about: he wants to become a grandmaster.

Knowing that Kurmann has already secured the three required norms (Politiken Cup in Copenhagen 2008, Swiss Team Championships 2012 and 2021), attention naturally turns to his rating. He is currently 118 points short of the magical 2500 mark. Aware of the challenges on the path to the title, Kurmann is focusing entirely on the task.

Professionally, the lawyer, whose favourite player is Garry Kasparov, is taking a sabbatical:

Due to Elo deflation, it is currently more difficult than ever to achieve major rating gains at this level. Moreover, I am at an age when performance levels tend to decline for most players. Nevertheless, I am optimistic and will see where I stand at the end of the sabbatical.

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ChessBase as the most important tool

The Swiss international, who won the Swiss Team Championship with Lucerne in 2018, 2021 and 2022 and plays in the Bundesliga for FC Bayern Munich, offers detailed insights in the interview into his approach to competitive chess, his development and the challenges of an increasingly professional environment.

Kurmann explains how essential it is to work on oneself consistently and to learn from practical experience:

You have to keep going and draw the right conclusions from your own games.

In modern chess, which is heavily shaped by preparation, digital tools also play an important role. At the same time, he remains realistic:

Tools such as ChessBase are indispensable in today's training, but the result is decided at the board.

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Topics: ChessBase´26, Oliver Kurmann, Switzerland
Stefan Liebig, born in 1974, is a journalist and co-owner of a marketing agency. He now lives in Barterode near Göttingen. At the age of five, strange pieces on his neighbour’s shelf aroused his curiosity. Since then, the game of chess has cast a spell over him. Flying high in the NRW youth league with his home club SV Bad Laasphe and several appearances in the second division team of Tempo Göttingen were highlights for the former youth South Westphalia champion.
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