5/12/2026 – About a month ago, the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament concluded in the picturesque village of Pegia, near Paphos, Cyprus. Yevgeny Levanzov had the privilege of spending an extended time at the event and delivering three lectures there. In the following review, he covers the tournament both from a professional chess perspective and by describing the surrounding atmosphere, including the various activities offered to spectators, notable figures who came to visit and some touching human stories. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

5/2/2026 – With the results of the Candidates Tournament and several other tournaments, there was some movement in the top of the FIDE world rankings. Javokhir Sindarov is the rising star in the overall list. Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus also gained many points and extended his lead in the juniors list.

4/28/2026 – The fourth edition of the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships will take place from 16 to 22 June in Hong Kong, marking the event’s first appearance in East Asia. Top teams have already confirmed their participation, featuring some of the biggest names in the game, including world number one Magnus Carlsen, alongside the most recent FIDE Candidates and Women’s Candidates winners, Javokhir Sindarov and Vaishali Rameshbabu. | Photos: Rafal Oleksiewicz and Michal Walusza

4/21/2026 – In the world of Indian chess, few stories are as cinematic as the rise of Vaishali Rameshbabu. While the world watches her exploits, the man who has spent a decade moulding her talent, GM R.B. Ramesh, provides an intimate look at the sacrifice, ethics and the psychological sides of India's newest Women's World Championship challenger. Read the article to know more about not just the professional but also the personal side of this amazing champion. | Photo: ChessBase India

4/16/2026 – Vaishali Rameshbabu won the Women's Candidates Tournament by defeating Kateryna Lagno in the final round, finishing clear first on 8½/14 and earning the right to challenge Ju Wenjun in the match for the world title. In this interview, Vaishali looks back on the months of preparation that followed her Grand Swiss victory, discusses the support of her family and team, and explains how she coped with the pressure of a tense and closely contested tournament. | Photo: ChessBase / Nils Rohde

4/16/2026 – Vaishali Rameshbabu won the Women's Candidates Tournament by defeating Kateryna Lagno in the final round, finishing clear first on 8½/14 and earning the right to challenge Ju Wenjun for the world title. Bibisara Assaubayeva drew with Divya Deshmukh and finished in sole second place, while Zhu Jiner and Aleksandra Goryachkina shared third. Arne Kähler caught first impressions from the players. | Photo: ChessBase / Nils Rohde

4/15/2026 – The Candidates Tournaments form the final qualifying stage of the FIDE World Championship cycle. Each tournament features eight of the world's strongest players competing in a double round-robin format over fourteen rounds of classical chess. No fewer than six players (out of eight) enter the final round with mathematical chances of winning the Women's Candidates Tournament. | Follow the games live with expert commentary starting at 14.30 CEST (8.30 ET, 18.00 IST) | Photo: Michal Walusza

4/3/2026 – At the top three places in the world rankings, nothing has changed: Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana. Vincent Keymer has lost a few points and swapped places with Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Hou Yifan is the highest-rated female chess player in the world, and world champion Gukesh Dommaraju is the best under-20 player. Alua Nurman is the new number one in the girls' youth category.

3/30/2026 – The Women's Candidates began in Pegeia with four draws in round one, though the games featured a number of missed chances. The event, held alongside the open section for a second time, brings together five returning players from 2024 and three young talents. Early pairings included two all-national encounters, while late changes following Humpy Koneru's withdrawal altered the draw. Time pressure and opening surprises marked the first day of action. | Pictured: Aleksandra Goryachkina | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

3/11/2026 – The FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament 2026 will take place from 28 March to 16 April in Cap St. Georges Hotel & Resort, Cyprus, where eight leading players will compete in a double round-robin to decide the challenger to the reigning champion, Ju Wenjun. The field combines experienced Candidates participants such as Humpy Koneru and Tan Zhongyi with younger contenders including Zhu Jiner and Divya Deshmukh. | Image: FIDE

3/3/2026 – The new FIDE world ranking for March includes the tournaments played in Wijk aan Zee. Among the biggest gainers are Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov, as well as Matthias Bluebaum. The top of the women's world ranking remains firmly in Chinese hands. World Champion Gukesh, in his final year as a junior, is still number one on the U20 list. The (temporary) return of Sergey Karjakin caused some irritation.

2/5/2026 – The chess world has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. From a game on the fringes of public interest, it has become part of the media mainstream. This year will see several major events and developments that promise to have a profound impact on the future of chess. Milan Dinić, editor of The British Chess Magazine, has described the main driving factors and what we can expect in 2026.

2/4/2026 – FIDE traces the history of the Candidates Tournament, the event that determines who earns the right to challenge for the world chess title. Established in 1950 to replace earlier informal arrangements, the Candidates has evolved through different formats and eras, reflecting changes in the championship cycle. From Budapest to recent editions in major cities, the tournament has remained the decisive stage in the path to a world title match, with Cyprus set to host the next chapter. | Image: FIDE

2/3/2026 – The results of this year’s Tata Steel tournament could not yet be taken into account in the FIDE rating list of 1 February. There was, however, some movement in the women’s world ranking. With her results in the Chinese League, Hou Yifan has fallen below 2600 for the first time since 2013, but remains number one ahead of four other Chinese players. World Champion Gukesh is the top junior, ahead of Erdogmus. In the girls’ junior ranking, 15-year-old Lu Miaoyi leads.

1/9/2026 – FIDE and Norway Chess are pleased to announce the first 16 players who have earned the right to receive an invitation to the 2026 Total Chess World Championship Tour pilot tournament (“Total Chess 2026 Pilot”), the new combined competition across Fast Classic, Rapid, and Blitz.

1/7/2026 – Zhu Jiner's 2025 season marked a decisive shift in her standing within women's chess. Focusing exclusively on classical chess, this analysis traces her rise from the edge of the top ten to world number two, examining her breakthrough performances in the Women's Grand Prix, a brief mid-year dip in form and a strong finish - which included a remarkable showing at the Fujairah Superstars tournament. | Photo: Abhilash Shinde

1/2/2026 – The world elite were particularly active at the World Championships in blitz and rapid chess. There were not many changes at the top of the Top 100 and the Women's Top 100 in classical chess. Magnus Carlsen continues to lead the Top 100, and Hou Yifan remains at the top of the women's world rankings. At the top of the junior and girls' world rankings, in addition to changes in position due to tournament participation, there were also changes caused by players dropping out as a result of the age limit (under 20). The juniors are currently led by Gukesh Dommaraju, and the girls by the Chinese player Lu Miaoyi.

12/31/2025 – The World Blitz Championships in Doha closed with repeat champions in both sections. In the Open event, Magnus Carlsen completed a strong comeback to win his ninth World Blitz title and his twentieth world title overall. The women's championship was claimed by Bibisara Assaubayeva, who added a third Women's World Blitz crown after advancing from a crowded Swiss stage and prevailing in the knockout matches. | Photo: FIDE / Lennart Ootes

12/28/2025 – Day two of the World Rapid Championship in Doha reshaped both title races as the standings tightened near the top. In the Open section, Vladislav Artemiev (pictured) and Hans Niemann moved into a shared lead after nine rounds, closely followed by a strong chasing group. The women's event saw Humpy Koneru draw level with Zhu Jiner at the top, with several players still within striking distance ahead of the final day. | Photo: FIDE / Anna Shtourman

12/27/2025 – The World Rapid Championship began in Doha with five rounds in the open and four in the women's event, producing clear early reference points without deciding the race. Magnus Carlsen, Gukesh Dommaraju, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Arjun Erigaisi and Vladislav Artemiev share the lead in the open section, while Zhu Jiner (pictured) emerged as the sole leader in the women's tournament. | Photo: FIDE / Lennart Ootes

12/25/2025 – The FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships 2025 will be held in Doha from 26 to 30 December, bringing together leading players from across the world in Open and Women's events. Played at Qatar University, the championships feature Swiss tournaments in Rapid and multi-stage competition in Blitz, with over €1,000,000 in prize money. The event marks Doha's return as host after nine years and concludes the international chess calendar. | Pictured: Classical chess world champion Gukesh Dommaraju | Photo: FIDE / Anna Shtourman

12/22/2025 – As the World Rapid and Blitz Championships approach, Doha will host the leading figures of women's chess alongside the wider elite. From established world champions to Grand Prix winners and fast-time-control specialists, the women's field reflects both depth and continuity at the top of the game. This article outlines the key contenders arriving in Qatar, tracing recent results, rivalries and form, and setting the context for how women's chess has developed ahead of one of the season's flagship events. | All photos: FIDE

12/19/2025 – Alongside the established elite, the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Doha will feature a remarkable group of rising talents from around the world. Teenagers and even younger players will compete on equal terms with the game's biggest names, many already boasting grandmaster titles and major international results. This article highlights the most promising young contenders in both the Open and Women's events, offering a snapshot of the next generation set to test itself on the world stage in Qatar.

12/13/2025 – FIDE and Norway Chess have confirmed the qualification routes for the Total Chess Tour 2026, the pilot event of a new world championship concept combining Fast Classic, Rapid and Blitz. The initiative, approved by FIDE, aims to identify the most versatile elite players and will lead into a full championship cycle from 2027. With places allocated through world titles, major championships and rating lists, the new Tour is set to add a distinctive pathway to the top level of competitive chess.