Armenian grandmaster Tigran Nalbandian passed away in Yerevan on Saturday. In his youth, he was one of Armenia’s greatest talents, later enjoying success as a professional player and then as a coach. For a while, he worked on Vladimir Kramnik’s coaching team. He then went on to win several medals with the Armenian national team. […]
Monthly Archives: June 2025
GM Chris Ward dissects a high-level Dragon game between Hikaru Nakamura and Frederik Svane, showcasing a sharp variation known as the h5 Dragadorf. Alongside detailed tactical motifs – like knight sacrifices, queen traps and pawn breaks – Chris emphasizes how even small imprecisions can lead to brutal consequences in this complex opening. He also revisits […]
In 1986 the award-winning musical Chess, written by lyricist Tim Rice, with the music composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (both formerly of ABBA), premiered in London’s West End. This autumn, we are told, it is going to revived on Broadway, with a new updated book. Ready for a truly great musical treat? Then […]
FIDE has announced the formation of a task force to evaluate anti-cheating methods proposed by GM Vladimir Kramnik, inviting him to present his approach for official review. However, FIDE has also expressed deep concern over the damaging tone of Kramnik’s public statements, particularly their impact on GM David Navara, a respected figure with a long-standing […]
This week only, get your hands on the ultimate chess bundle! ChessBase 18 and Fritz 20, normally priced at €269.90, are available for just €209.90 in our exclusive Summer Special. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, this powerful combination will elevate your game with advanced tools like playing style analysis, opponent simulations, and […]
Norway Chess was one of the most exciting tournaments this year. Whether due to the games or due to Magnus Carlsen banging the table after his defeat against the World Champion, the event caught the attention of spectators all around the world. After coming back from the tournament, Gukesh had a candid conversation with Sagar […]
In today’s chess world, an ideal opening should be practical, easy to remember, aggressive, and force the opponent to think early—rather than aiming for small advantages. IM Robert Ris presents such a repertoire for White with 1.d4 followed by 2.Bg5, fulfilling all these criteria. The Trompowsky Attack, now revived by top grandmasters, is especially effective […]
Discover a powerful tool in ChessBase 18: Medals! With just a few clicks, you can highlight tactical brilliancies, strategic masterpieces, or typical mistakes—and find them again at any time. Medals help you analyze your games more effectively, organize them, and build up valuable training material. This turns your database into a personal success coach. Learn […]
International Chess Day 2025 will be celebrated on 20 July under the theme “Every Move Counts”, as FIDE continues its Year of Social Chess. This global initiative highlights the power of chess for inclusion, education and well-being. Celebrations include a 24-hour online blitz tournament, creative chess challenges and inclusive over-the-board events worldwide. Players of all […]
Born in 1994, Anish Giri turns 31 years old today, on 28 June 2025. Anish is a player whom we have known for almost a decade now. In this article, we go down memory lane with some selected images that tell the story of what a gem of an individual Anish is. Amruta and I […]