3/3/2023 – Yochanan Afek (Hebrew: יוחנן אפק), born 1952 in Tel Aviv, is an Israeli chess player, composer, trainer and arbiter. He is the only person to possess international titles at five different facets of chess: International Master, International Grandmaster of chess composition, International Arbiter, FIDE master in problem solving, and International Judge for chess compositions. CHESS Magazine did a 60-second portrait of Afek. | Photo: Alina L'Ami

4/6/2019 – Recently a new book on endgame studies was published, written by IM Yochanan Afek. He belongs to that very rare breed of composition grandmasters, with more studies to his name than we have seen elsewhere. His book is a treasure trove that provides insights into how, on occasion, the games Afek or others have played gave him the ideas for his study compositions. Review by Frederic Friedel.

7/7/2017 – German Grandmaster Georg Meier is an early leader in Jerusalem after three rounds. Yochanan Afek sent us this report of early highlights, including a "Greek gift". Dutch GM David Klein (pictured in his Maccabiah t-shirt) is also in the top group. | Photo: Ritvo Photography

12/12/2016 – Tiberias is an ancient city with a rich history. Founded by the Romans it is mentioned in the New Testament and considered to be one of the four holy Cities of Judaism. Currently, chess is also an attraction of Tiberias. The city is host to the Championships of Israel and used the opportunity to show how much it supports chess.

2/16/2014 – The contest, which is organised by the World Federation for Chess Composition, awards the prizes to chess studies that were aesthetically pleasing, that appeal to chess players of various levels and encourage them to pay more attention to the subject. 24 entries were received for 2012, and Israeli composer Jochanan Afek won first prize. Enjoy his work and the top eight studies of the year.

4/6/2013 – During the Tata Steel Chess Tournament this January there was a special study composing tourney, which produced 89 entries, of which 20 received awards. Tournament judge Yochanan Afek has been showing us the prize-winning studies, with with wonderfully lucid explanations of their solutions. After parts one to three here are the solutions to the final five studies.

3/16/2013 – During the Tata Steel Chess Tournament this January there was a special study composing tourney, which produced 89 entries, of which 20 received awards. Tournament judge Yochanan Afek has been showing us the prize-winning studies, with explanations of their solutions. After parts one and two here is part three.

3/7/2013 – Among the festivities there was a special study composing tourney at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament in Wijk aan Zee. A total of 89 studies were submitted, and 20 of them received prizes. Tournament judge Yochanan Afek recently shows us the solutions of the first five. Here are the next batch of award-winning studies.