8/11/2026 – Fabiano Caruana was the only winner in the opening round of the Sinquefield Cup, defeating Jorden van Foreest to take the early sole lead in Saint Louis. The remaining four games were drawn, though Javokhir Sindarov missed chances to convert a favourable endgame against Levon Aronian. | Photo: Austin Fuller / Grand Chess Tour
new: ChessBase Magazine 225
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. ChessBase Magazine offers first-class training material for club players and professionals! World-class players analyse their brilliant games and explain the ideas behind the moves. Opening specialists present the latest trends in opening theory and exciting ideas for your repertoire. Master trainers in tactics, strategy and endgames show you the tricks and techniques you need to be a successful tournament player! Available as a direct download (incl. booklet as pdf file) or booklet with download key by post. Included in delivery: ChessBase Magazine #225 as “ChessBase Book” for iPad, tablet, Mac etc.!
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.
GM Blohberger presents a complete two-part repertoire for Black: practical, clear, and flexible – instead of endless theory, you’ll get straightforward concepts and strategies that are easy to learn and apply.
€49.90
Caruana scores, Aronian escapes
Fabiano Caruana emerged as the sole leader after the opening round of the Sinquefield Cup, defeating Jorden van Foreest with white while the other four games finished drawn.
The tournament, which carries a $475,000 prize fund, is also the final event of the Grand Chess Tour before the season-ending Finals, also set to take place in Saint Louis. The four qualifiers for that event will be confirmed by the result of the ten-player single round-robin.
Round 1 results
Among the drawn encounters, Javokhir Sindarov came closest to joining Caruana in the lead. Facing Levon Aronian, the World Championship challenger reached an opposite-coloured bishop endgame with rooks still on the board and established a sizeable advantage.
Sindarov was two pawns ahead at one stage and believed the position should be winning (as he later told Maurice Ashley in the post-game interview).
Commentators, including GMs Peter Svidler and Yasser Seirawan, pointed out that 32.f3?! by Sindarov was a crucial mistake while he tried to convert his two-pawn advantage. The pawn push allowed Black to gain a couple of key tempi with 32...Be6 33.Re4 Bd5. Aronian continued showing good defensive technique until obtaining what might turn out to be a very valuable half point.
The Leningrad Dutch Defence is a dynamic and aggressive opening choice for Black, perfect for players who want to add some adventure and spice to their repertoire.
Video produced by the Saint Louis Chess Club
Javokhir Sindarov facing Levon Aronian | Photo: Lennart Ootes
The round's only decisive game followed a theoretical variation of the Italian, an opening often seen in elite classical tournaments. Caruana and Van Foreest moved quickly through the early stages before the American adopted an unusual-looking arrangement in which his queen sat on f1, boxed in behind rooks on e1 and e2.
Caruana used more time than his opponent in the early middlegame, but the balance on the clock shifted when Van Foreest was forced into a lengthy think on move 18, spending close to 15 minutes from the roughly 50 he had remaining.
A knight move by the Dutchman soon after, on move 20, proved inaccurate and allowed Caruana to take control. He gained a pawn a bit later and steadily increased the pressure thereafter. Van Foreest resisted, but Caruana converted the extra material with precise technique to secure victory after 55 moves.
Round two will see Caruana take the black pieces against Anish Giri. Van Foreest, meanwhile, will have Black for a second consecutive round when he faces Wesley So on Tuesday.
The recent winner of the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz event, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, turned 21 years old on Monday | Photo: Lennart Ootes
This compact course is designed specifically for practical play. Instead of overwhelming you with endless theory, it focuses on the critical lines, typical plans, and recurring tactical ideas. Looking for an opening that gets your opponents thinking on move one? Grandmaster Andy Woodward has relied on 1.b3 for years in blitz and bullet, using it to defeat strong masters and grandmasters who underestimated its hidden venom. While many players dismiss the opening as harmless, they often find themselves caught in unfamiliar positions, tactical traps, and uncomfortable middlegames. This compact course is designed specifically for practical play. Instead of overwhelming you with endless theory, it focuses on the critical lines, typical plans, and recurring tactical ideas that matter most when the clock is ticking.
Free video sample: Introduction
Free video sample: King's Indian Setup
Happy birthday, Pragg! | Photo: Lennart Ootes
What it takes to produce a top-notch online broadcast experience | Photo: Austin Fuller
Carlos Alberto ColodroCarlos Colodro is a Hispanic Philologist from Bolivia. He works as a freelance translator and writer since 2012. A lot of his work is done in chess-related texts, as the game is one of his biggest interests, along with literature and music.
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.
2026 Chess Olympiad with analyses by Abdusattorov, Donchenko, Duda, So and many more – ‘Rooks love open files’: Tactics training with Oliver Reeh – ‘Don’t underestimate it’: Caruana’s blitz weapon 1.e4 e5 2.d3 – Total Video playing time: over 6 hours!
Keep it simple. Stay objective. Watch the clock. Sometimes take the risk. GM Loek van Wely explains the ten principles that decide real games. They aren’t about theory. They’re about what you do at the board when it counts.
Most players don’t lack the urge to attack, they just strike at the wrong moment, and GM Sipke Ernst shows you which signals tell you to go for the king and which tell you to choose another plan.
How grandmasters win without fireworks: GM Jan Markos shows you 11 very practical tips from "How to play in a lost position" to "Be patient like Carlsen" that will improve your tournament chess.
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.
€39.90
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.
