Wei Yi beats Levon Aronian in classical and rapid chess match

Chinese grandmaster Wei Yi secured a convincing victory over US representative Levon Aronian in the 2025 Yanwu Cup Grandmaster Match, held in Yancheng, China. Originally scheduled for eight games, the match concluded early after Wei Yi built an unassailable lead. Featuring both classical and rapid formats, the event highlighted Wei’s consistent form and boosted his […]

Svitlana’s Smart Moves – Attacking the English with …h5!?

Svitlana presents an unconventional yet effective way to combat the English Opening by responding with 1…e5 and then an early …h5, aiming to unsettle White’s typical kingside fianchetto plans. The line offers dynamic attacking potential with ideas like …h4, or even …g5, depending on how White responds, and even top blitz players have experimented with […]

Werner Keym: Problem Chess Art

“Chess problems demand from the composer the same virtues that characterize all worthwhile art: originality, invention, conciseness, harmony, complexity and splendid insincerity,” wrote Vladimir Nabokov. Problem expert Werner Keym illustrates this in a new book which he makes available, as an eBook, to everyone, free of charge. Here are some excerpts to give you a […]

Jon Speelman: Defeat and redemption

In today’s competitive chess landscape, even legends would struggle to maintain spotless records. This reflective piece contrasts the rare losses of Capablanca with the regular defeats modern players face, particularly in rapid formats. From Nodirbek Abdusattorov’s heartbreaking loss in Tashkent to Richard Rapport’s brilliant comeback, the article explores the psychological toll of losing – and […]

The Fritz 20 Duel: Robert Ris vs. Mikhail Tal!

Robert Ris faces off against the legendary Mikhail Tal in Fritz 20’s grandmaster-level mode. With playful banter and strategic reflections, he navigates a tense middlegame filled with attacking chances, tactical bluffs and surprising defences. Despite some miscalculations and a critical blunder that nearly costs him the game, Robert defends resiliently, showcasing both fighting spirit and […]

Magnus Carlsen plays “alright” on final day of blitz, wins SuperUnited Croatia tournament

Magnus Carlsen won the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia tournament after finishing first in both the blitz and overall standings. Despite a quieter second day of blitz, his combined performance was enough to secure the title ahead of Wesley So and Gukesh Dommaraju. Gukesh, who had led after the rapid section, struggled in the blitz […]

This week’s Summer Special: Sokolov’s complete strategy bundle!

This week only (7–14 July), take advantage of ChessBase’s Summer Special with major discounts on top training material. Ivan Sokolov’s full “Understanding Middlegame Strategies series (Vol. 1–11)” is available for €209.90, down from €299.90. Also on offer: Martin Breutigam’s German-language “1.d4! A Modern Repertoire (Vol. 1 & 2)”, now €49.90 instead of €69.90. Ideal resources […]