By coincidence, ChessBase conducted an interview with Loek van Wely just one day before the passing of Jan Timman. Their Dutch rivalry at the board defined an era, yet beyond the battles they also shared memorable moments, such as representing their country together at the 1992 Olympiad in Manila. Although Van Wely’s peak years are […]
Monthly Archives: February 2026
Dutch grandmaster Jan Timman, an elite player from the 1970s, a nine-time national champion and former world number two, has passed away at the age of 74. He was known for his imaginative and attacking style of play, and his creative writings as a chess author. Timman was twice married and had two children. He […]
Following a review of applications, a panel appointed by the FIDE Council has selected seventeen players, coaches and organisers for inclusion in the 2026 support programme for chess veterans. A total of €37,000 will be distributed among the beneficiaries. Since its launch twelve years ago, the programme has provided nearly €500,000 in assistance, recognising long-standing […]
A 12-game match between Ediz Gürel and Jorden van Foreest was held in Ankara from 11 to 17 February under the auspices of the Turkish Chess Federation and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Combining classical, Freestyle and blitz formats with a weighted scoring system, the encounter tested versatility across time controls. Van Foreest established […]
The 15th Women’s Grandmaster Chess Festival – Krystyna Hołuj-Radzikowska Memorial – has brought leading female players to Poland for a team match between Poland and the Rest of the World. After three rounds, the hosts hold a narrow lead, while Austria’s Olga Badelka tops the individual standings. The event honours nine-time Polish champion Krystyna Hołuj-Radzikowska […]
FIDE has confirmed the qualification routes for the 2026 FIDE Women’s Freestyle Chess World Championship, establishing a structured pathway into the 8-player event. Bibisara Assaubayeva (pictured) has already secured her place after winning an exhibition match in Weissenhaus. The remaining spots will be decided through the Grenke Freestyle Open, rating-based invitations, an online qualifier for […]
Chess has long been treated as more than a game. With its fixed rules and opposing sides, it offers a compact model of conflict, balance and choice. The board becomes a space where order and unpredictability meet, and where every move carries consequence. This article considers chess not simply as strategy, but as a reflection […]
US grandmaster Awonder Liang travelled to Sharjah to face Saleh Salem in the 12-game “Battle of the Minds”, a mixed-format match held from 7 to 12 February. Combining rapid, classical and blitz chess, the contest remained closely balanced throughout. An early lead in the rapid segment ultimately enabled Liang to secure a narrow 8½–7½ victory. […]
Deep Blue was the first computer to win a match against the reigning World Champion. In May 1997, Deep Blue defeated Garry Kasparov in a six-game match by 3½–2½. Deep Blue was also the first computer ever to win a game under classical time control against a reigning World Champion – the first game of […]
Were you able to solve the challenge positions we gave you last week? Were you able to defeat the diagrams, which defended tenatiously? Today we bring you all solutions, with very instructive video explanations by Jared Modica, a chess content creator from Austin, Texas. He shows us how to solve tatical lines of play, and […]