Category Archives: News

Maurice Ashley appears on the Oprah Winfrey Show: “To become a GM, one must first be a GM”

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, […]

Garry Kasparov live lecture

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 […]

2025: A breakthrough year for Javokhir Sindarov

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 […]

Wijk aan Zee Fifty Years Ago

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 […]

Online Qualification for the Freestyle World Championship in Weissenhaus

From February 13 to 15, 2026, the first official Freestyle World Championship will take place in Weissenhaus, Germany. One spot is still open, and it will be decided in an online qualification tournament organised by FIDE on chess.com. The two-day event, which will determine the coveted final available place, begins on January 14 at 16:00 […]

Batsiashvili beats Kosteniuk to win European Women’s Rapid title

The European Women’s Rapid Championship, held over the weekend in Monte-Carlo, brought together 143 players from 30 countries for an 11-round Swiss at a 15+10 time control. After leading for much of the tournament, Alexandra Kosteniuk was overtaken in the final round by Nino Batsiashvili, who secured the title on tiebreaks. The event also featured […]