From 1971 to 1980, FIDE issued just one rating list per year. This gradually increased to the current standard of monthly updates—a change driven by obvious practical needs. Yet frequent rating lists can sometimes obscure the broader picture of yearly progress. In this piece, the FIDE highlights players who achieved significant rating gains over the […]
Monthly Archives: January 2026
Harshit Raja’s course teaches a complete and practical 1.e4 repertoire, showing how to get comfortable, easy-to-play positions against all major Black defences including …e5, Sicilian, Caro-Kann, French, Scandinavian, Alekhine, and rare sidelines. Instead of heavy theory, he focuses on simple plans, strong central control, and clear piece development, often recommending slightly offbeat but very effective […]
Vladislav Artemiev had an impressive run at the FIDE World Rapid Championship 2025. He finished the tournament unbeaten, defeated Magnus Carlsen, survived severe time pressure against Arjun Erigaisi, and eventually claimed the silver medal. In this exclusive interview with Sagar Shah, Artemiev speaks openly about his approach to the tournament, his struggles with time management, […]
Maurice Ashley appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” alongside organisational psychologist Adam Grant in a conversation about learning, character and long-term development. Drawing on his experience as a player, coach and teacher, Ashley reflects on discovering chess in Brooklyn, guiding the Raging Rooks from Harlem, and the broader life lessons the game offers about resilience, […]
Your chance to train and talk with Garry Kasparov, LIVE! On January 18, 2026, you are in for something special. Chess legend Garry Kasparov, former World Champion and one of the greatest players of all time, will host an exclusive live lecture. This one-of-a-kind event provides chess enthusiasts and competitive players with a rare opportunity […]
The Tata Steel Masters is the youngest Masters tournament in Wijk aan Zee history. With Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, a 14-year-old has even qualified as a participant. And in the Challengers, twelve-year-old Faustino Oro (pictured) is hoping to follow in his footsteps. Which of the young guns from ten years ago have made it to the […]
Javokhir Sindarov’s 2025 season marked a turning point in his career. Focusing exclusively on classical chess, this analysis examines how the young Uzbek combined a selective tournament schedule with exceptional results in high-pressure events, culminating in victory at the FIDE World Cup and qualification for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, despite a relatively modest rating climb […]
The Marshall Attack has long been one of the most important systems against the Ruy Lopez, and it is one of the sharpest. With the advance 8…d5, Black sacrifices their e-pawn and then attempts to launch an attack against the White’s king, making use of the open diagonals and lines. Until now, after 9.exd5 Nxd5 […]
A little girl in Jaipur picked up a chess piece at age four, simply because she was curious. Three years later, that same child is winning State, National and International titles! This is the story of seven-year-old Shreyanshi Jain. She is a fearless player who does not hesitate to take risks on the board. Her […]
The former fishing village of Wijk aan Zee is world-famous, at least in the chess world. Virtually all world-class players, including almost all world champions, have passed through here. The long-standing sponsor has always been the steelworks in IJmuiden. The chess tradition is very old. Fifty years ago, some things were different from today, but […]