6/14/2023 – More than 30 years since its inception, ‘First Saturday’ is still going strong. Constantly reinventing itself, it has been kicking and running against all odds. Most of today’s top professionals have succumbed to the attraction of this ingenious concept that aims at providing chess players with the opportunity to earn norms and subsequently further their chess career. The model has been adopted by many organisers at various corners of the globe, but the credit for the original set up goes to Laszlo Nagy, known as Mr First Saturday.

10/26/2018 – Earlier this month, Judit Polgar showcased chess for the fourth time in the Hungarian capital Budapest, presenting her Global Chess Festival with the theme "chess connects us". ALINA L'AMI was an official photographer on behalf of the festival and sent us this recollection replete with visual highlights of the day — interspersed with her typical whimsical prose — for a colourful jaunt through this annual chess celebration. | Photos: Alina l'Ami

10/18/2018 – The last half year went well for the young Uzbek Javokhir Sindarov: In June he got his first GM norm in Voronezh, Russia. In September, at the World Junior Championships in Turkey, he scored a second and elevated his Elo rating to 2500. Now, less than a month later, Sindarov has reportedly earned his third and final GM norm, making him the second youngest GM ever, at the age of 12 years, 10 months and 8 days. | Photo: Sagar Shah

10/15/2018 – Last weekend, Judit Polgar's big, colourful annual Global Chess Festival took place. A full 24 hours revolved around chess — and not only in Budapest; about 100 places around the world were involved in one way or another. | Photos: Global Chess Festival

4/8/2018 – 75 years ago, March 9, 1943, Robert James Fischer was born in Chicago. He was genius and madman. In 1972 he became World Champion after winning a dramatic match against Boris Spassky in Reykjavik, and he is still considered as one of the greatest players of all time. Vlastimil Hort knew the 11th World Champion personally and shares memories of "Bobby". If you haven't already, read Part 1 and Part 2...

10/22/2017 – The 2017 edition of this now well-established chess festival was held last weekend in Budapest, the Hungarian capital. The festival, now in its third year, was held at a new location, and ChessBase contributor Alina l'Ami was invited to serve as an official photographer. We're thrilled to present her unique 'angles'. | Photos and report: Alina l'Ami

10/16/2016 – The chess highlight of the Global Chess festival was the Highlander Cup which was an eight player knockout rapid event. The participants consisted of many of the top Hungarian players versus last year’s winner Rustam Kasimdzhanov and Boris Gelfand. There was the theme “There can only be one”, which was also reflected in the event’s single prize, US$15 thousand at stake so there was plenty of motivation among the players. Illustrated report with games.

10/13/2016 – The Global Chess Festival organised by Judit Polgar can be described in many ways but the main feeling when you enter the glorious venue used, the Castle Garden Bazaar on the Danube in the center of Budapest is “fun”. There is an abundance of colour and music and noise that immediately attacks your senses. As a child you have a huge variety of activities to choose from, that is the idea: to show chess as an enjoyable activity that can be shared around the world as a common language. Enjoy this illustrated report.

10/27/2015 – The first report about the Global Chess Festival in Budapest conveyed a general impression of the Festival and showed how visitors saw the 1000 faces of chess. The second part brings analyses of the games of the Highlander Cup and shows the many different ideas and ways Judit Polgar and her organizing team had to attract children to chess. Pictures, games, analyses .

10/22/2015 – Judit Polgar became a grandmaster in 1992 when she was 15 years and four months old. At that time she was the youngest grandmaster of all time, breaking Bobby Fischer's record from 1958 by one month. She soon developed into the best female player of all time. Now she helps to make chess more popular, for instance, by organising the Global Chess Festival.

10/12/2014 – "The longest time a female player has been consecutively ranked chess world number one is 25 years and 1 month and was achieved by Judit Polgar". That's what the official certificate of the Guinness organisation reads. Thousands of chess lovers filled the Budapest Palace of Arts completely, to honor their queen at the Aquaprofit Polgar Chess Festival 2014. Big pictorial report + video.

4/20/2014 – During the 80s and 90s, the Budapest Spring Chess Festival was one of the largest chess events in the world with over 450 participants among whom were some of the greatest names of the day. Largely funded by the government, it died off with the political changes when funds dried up. After a long absence, it is back, hoping in time to relive its former prestige and glory.

4/7/2014 – The Spring Festival is a yearly event in Budapest, Hungary, with representations of all arts, whether they be performing arts, visual arts, or... chess! In this festival, there are many events for children and adults, all overseen by its Ambassador of Talent, Judit Polgar. It is not a figure of speech, as she is given this role for a five-year tenure. Here is an illustrated report.