Chess News

AI Cup - Live! September 25, 2023
The AI Cup is the sixth and final ‘regular’ event of the 2023 Champions Chess Tour. The tournament, which takes place on September 25-29, featured three divisions, each a double-elimination knockout, where losing one match drops the player to a lower bracket — from where he/she can still win the tournament. | Follow the games […]
The backstory: Fischer’s poor performance in Buenos Aires September 25, 2023
At the world-class tournament in Buenos Aires in 1960, the then 17-year-old Bobby Fischer — one of the tournament favourites — delivered one of his worst tournament results. Facing Wolfgang Unzicker, an unfortunate touch of the h-pawn led to a quick loss. It was not until many years later that the reason for Fischer’s poor […]
Endgame Magic #250: Highlights from the World Rapid Team Championship September 25, 2023
In the Endgame Magic Show #250 Karsten Müller analyses endgame highlights from the FIDE World Rapid Team Championship, which took place last month at the Düsseldorf Rheinterrassen. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.
Open to all levels: women’s rapid event at the World Chess Club in Berlin September 25, 2023
On September’s last Saturday, the World Chess Club invites all women chess players to a rapid chess tournament at its venue in Berlin (Unter den Linden 22-26). All levels are welcome. The time control is 10 minutes per game, and the entry is free. Saturday, September 30, from 5 pm.
Levitov Chess Week - Live! September 25, 2023
From 22 to 26 September, Ilya Levitov is organising the second edition of the “Chess Week” tournament. Ten strong players compete in a double-round rapid chess tournament, including two former world champions, Vishy Anand and Vladimir Kramnik. | Follow the games live with computer-assisted analysis, starting from 14.00 CEST (8.00 ET, 17.30 IST) | Photo: […]
Chess returns to 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China September 25, 2023
After a 13-year hiatus, chess is back to the 2023 Asian Games, which officially started on September 23, in Hangzhou, China. The chess program of the 19th Asian Games features four competitions: men’s individual, women’s individual, and men’s and women’s team tournaments. | Photo: Official website
World Junior Championships - Round 5 Live! September 24, 2023
The World Junior Championships are taking place from September 21 to October 1 at the Hotel del Prado in Mexico City. Two US representatives, Hans Niemann and Carissa Yip, are the top seeds in the open and the women’s section, respectively. | Follow the games live with computer assistance, starting at 0.00 CEST (18.00 ET, […]
Robert Ris’ Fast and Furious: A miniature out of a Sicilian Alapin September 24, 2023
In the latest edition of his Fast & Furious series, Robert Ris analyses a 23-move miniature played in the Spanish Team Championship. Daniil Yuffa played an absolute brilliant masterpiece, exploiting the deficiencies of White’s position! | Fast & Furious is available on-demand with a ChessBase Premium Account. You can register a Premium account here.
World Junior Ch: Maurizzi sole leader, Niemann loses to Woodward September 24, 2023
French grandmaster Marc’Andria Maurizzi (pictured) is the only player with a perfect 4/4 score in the open section of the World Junior Championships taking place in Mexico City. In round 4, Maurizzi got the better of Andy Woodward, an IM from the United States who came from beating top seed Hans Niemann in the previous […]
Understanding before Moving 144: Chess history in a nutshell (26) September 24, 2023
Herman Grooten is an International Master, a renowned trainer and the author of several highly acclaimed books about chess training and chess strategy. In the 144th instalment of his ChessBase show "Understanding before Moving", Herman continues his series "Chess history in a nutshell" and takes a look at the ideas and games of Alexander Alekhine. […]
America’s top chess players return to St. Louis for 2023 U.S. Championships September 24, 2023
The nation’s top chess players are set to compete in the U.S’. most prestigious events - the 2023 U.S. Chess Championship and 2023 U.S. Women’s Chess Championship. Hosted by the Saint Louis Chess Club (STLCC) at the World Chess Hall of Fame, two fields of 12 players will face off over the board October 5 […]
Levitov Chess Week: Nepo and Svidler share the lead at halftime September 24, 2023
An inspired Ian Nepomniachtchi and a fighting Peter Svidler climbed to shared first place in the standings of the Levitov Chess Week rapid tournament. Levon Aronian, who had finished day 1 as the sole leader, is now sharing third place with Vishy Anand, as the second half of the double round-robin remains to be played […]
DuoBeniaján edge Silla to win Spanish League September 23, 2023
In what turned out to be an extremely close fight for first place, DuoBeniaján emerged victorious at the Spanish League in Linares. C.A. Silla obtained the same number of match points and individual points as the champions, but had a worse tiebreak score — i.e. they had lost the direct confrontation against the team from […]
Game of the Week #586: Vrolijk vs. Swinkels September 23, 2023
In his Game of the Week show #586, Merijn Van Delft looks at a nice win obtained by Liam Vrolijk in the first round of the Dutch League. The game featured remarkable piece play by the young grandmaster. | Merijn’s show is available on-demand with a ChessBase Premium Account. You can register a Premium account […]
Ready for action September 23, 2023
In the diagram position, Black's bishop c6 is eyeing the point g2 on the long diagonal. But to exploit this requires skilful preparation - so it's a case for you!
Levitov Chess Week: Aronian takes the lead September 23, 2023
An exciting first day of action saw Levon Aronian grabbing the lead at the Levitov Chess Week rapid tournament in Amsterdam. Aronian collected three wins and two draws to end the day as the only player with a 4/5 score. Vishy Anand, who obtained a good-looking victory over an out-of-form Wesley So, stands in sole […]
Leon and Sagar discuss the Keymer September 22, 2023
Recently we announced a very special FritzTrainer by GM Leon Mendonca, one of India's most promising young talents. It is on the Keymer Variation. In this follow-up video IM Sagar Shah invites Leon to speak more about this opening and share his ideas with us. The result is a lesson that can help you build […]
Daniel King’s Power Play Show: A nasty pin September 22, 2023
In his new Power Play Show, GM Daniel King continues to examine a painful kingside pin that arises from many different openings. Instructive material! | Power Play is on air most Fridays. Watch it on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account. All the usual puzzles, games and instruction will be on offer.
Chess greats jostle for supremacy: Revisiting Nuremberg 1896 September 22, 2023
Nuremberg 1896 was one of the several super-tournaments in the last decade of the nineteenth century. Coming as it did when the world crown was perceived to be hanging precariously on Emanuel Lasker’s head, the tournament presented a stern test to Lasker himself and all the other world title contenders. It is fitting to revisit […]
Xiangqi tournament at the Nymphenburg Palace in Munich September 22, 2023
Nymphenburg Palace was the venue of an international rapid xiangqi tournament on September 9. As part of the festive event, Xiangqi Grandmaster Sun Yongzheng gave a simultaneous exhibition against ten opponents. Oliver Breitschädel reports. | Pictured: Andrea Trombettoni, with his daughter Giulia, observed by Xiangqi Master Dong Xubin. Andrea Trombettoni is a physics professor and […]

lichess.org blog

Your chance to qualify to the Kazakhstan Cup, costs covered – with a $50,000 prize fund! September 21, 2023
A $2,000 prize fund event - with the winner qualifying to Pavlodar Open Starting 22 October, Pavlodar in northeastern Kazakhstan will host a nine-round classical open tournament with a whopping $50,000 prize fund up for grabs. Three lucky players can qualify through a series of tournaments held only on Lichess. They will have their flights, […]
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Titled Arena Announcement(s) September 3, 2023
Announcing our schedule for upcoming Titled Arenas!We're pleased to announce the schedule for our upcoming Titled Arenas! All events will be preceded by a warm-up arena open to all players with a minimum of 20 rated games in the relevant time control (excluding 960 warm-up, where the minimum rated games are 10). Prizes unless otherwise […]
Lichess Team
Breaking the Silence August 10, 2023
Lichess will no longer cooperate with the US Chess Federation and the Saint Louis Chess ClubThis article contains potentially distressing content. Introduction In February, chess commentator and author Jennifer Shahade publicly accused grandmaster Alejandro Ramirez of sexual misconduct. Her allegations sparked a swift and severe backlash against Ramirez, who was forced to resign from the […]
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Ju Wenjun is Womens World Champion July 22, 2023
GM Ju Wenjun is Women's World Champion for the fourth time.In the end, the Women’s World Championship was a tale of two halves. In the first half of the match, held in Shanghai, the challenger Lei Tingjie looked untouchable, giving virtually no chances for the defending champion Ju Wenjun and taking a one-game lead. But […]
@CheckRaiseMate
Women's World Chess Championship: Half way done July 12, 2023
(Photo: Stev Bonhage, FIDE) Ju Wenjun stared at her position, a bishop-down endgame, for several seconds before extending her hand in resignation. Normally at this level of chess she would have resigned several moves earlier, but Ju seemed reluctant to concede the game in a match where wins have been exceedingly hard to come by. […]
@CheckRaiseMate
Andreikin wins the Uralsk Qualifier! July 4, 2023
Andreikin, along with Galaktionov, Sviridov, Sevgi, will play in the second stage of the Kazakhstan Cup, expenses covered!As mentioned in our introductory blog, the Uralsk Open (second event of the Kazakhstan Cup) decided to grant an invitation to four players, selected by a series of events held on Lichess. The first stage was divided into […]
@G-Lorenz, @Lichess
Your (second) chance to qualify to the Kazakhstan Cup, costs covered – with a $50,000 prize fund! June 10, 2023
A $2,000 prize fund event - with the winner qualifying to Uralsk Open Cover photo: Ilyuza Mingazova Starting 22 July, Uralsk in western Kazakhstan will host a nine-round classical open tournament with a whopping $50,000 prize fund up for grabs. Four lucky players can qualify through a series of tournaments held only on Lichess. They […]
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Thrilling final sends Savchenko flying to Aktobe for the $50,000 Kazakhstan Cup June 6, 2023
Winning the Lichess qualifiers he will play with full expenses covered in the $50,000 Aktobe Open tournament in KazakhstanAs mentioned in our previous blog, the Aktobe Open (part of the Kazakhstan Cup) decided to grant an invitation to the winner of a series of events held on Lichess. The first stage was staggered over 24 […]
@G-Lorenz, @Lichess
Your chance to qualify to the Kazakhstan Cup, costs covered – with a $50,000 prize fund! May 23, 2023
A $2,000 prize fund event - with the winner qualifying to the Vladimir Dvorkovich Memorial, Aktobe OpenStarting 17 June, the riverside city of Aktobe in western Kazakhstan will host a nine-round classical open tournament with a whopping $50,000 prize fund up for grabs. One lucky player can qualify through a series of tournaments held only […]
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World Chess Championship 2023: Reactions, Statistics, and Impressions May 12, 2023
A look back at the 2023 Chess World ChampionshipIt’s been just under a week since Liren Ding became the (undisputed) 17th Chess World Champion, in a spectacular victory over Ian Nepomniachtchi. In the fourth and final rapid tiebreak, Ding, playing with the black pieces, declined a repetition and instead played the iconic 46… Rg6!?, dubbed […]
@Cynosure
Titled Arena Announcement(s) May 2, 2023
Announcing our schedule for upcoming Titled Arenas!We're pleased to announce the schedule for our upcoming Titled Arenas! All events will be preceded by a warm-up arena open to all players with a minimum of 20 rated games in the relevant time control (excluding 960 warm-up, where the minimum rated games are 10). Prizes unless otherwise […]
Lichess Team
World Chess Championship: Game 14 and Tiebreaks May 1, 2023
Ding Liren is the 17th Chess World Champion: “this match was the deepest reflection of my soul”Ding Liren prevailed over Ian Nepomniachtchi after a slightly lucky escape in Game 14, and four thrilling tiebreaks. GM Harikrishna Pentala – one of the strongest players in the world (FIDE rating 2704, world ranking 34th) and former top […]
@Harikrishnapentala @Cynosure
World Chess Championship: Games 12 and 13 - Ding's Third Comeback: Chaos in the Colle! April 28, 2023
A recap of Games 12 and 13 of the World Championship between Nepomniachtchi and Ding, and with annotations by GM Harikrishna PentalaGames 12 and 13 of the 14-game match between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren have just been played in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. The winner will be crowned as the new World Champion […]
Cynosure
World Chess Championship: Games 10 and 11 - Business as Usual? April 25, 2023
A recap of Games 10 and 11 of the World Championship between Nepomniachtchi and Ding, and with annotations by GM Harikrishna PentalaGames 10 and 11 of the 14-game match between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren have just been played in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. The winner will be crowned as the new World Champion […]
Cynosure
World Chess Championship: Games 7, 8 and 9 - Ding’s Prep Discovered? April 22, 2023
A recap of Games 7, 8 and 9 of the World Championship between Nepomniachtchi and Ding, and with annotations by GM Harikrishna PentalaGames 7, 8, and 9 of the 14-game match between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren have just been played in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. The winner will be crowned as the new […]
Cynosure
World Chess Championship: Games 5 and 6 - A Slugfest April 17, 2023
A recap of Games 5 and 6 of the World Championship between Nepomniachtchi and Ding by the Lichess team and with annotations by GM Harikrishna PentalaGames 5 and 6 of the 14-game match between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren have just been played in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. The winner will be crowned as […]
Cynosure
World Chess Championship: Games 3 and 4 - A New Hope? April 14, 2023
A recap of Games 3 and 4 of the ongoing World Championship between Nepomniachtchi and Ding, with annotations by GM David NavaraGames 3 and 4 of the 14-game match between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren have just been played in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. The winner will be crowned as the new World Champion […]
Cynosure
Chess World Championship: Nepomniachtchi versus Ding – Games 1 and 2 April 11, 2023
A recap of the first two games of the ongoing World Championship with annotations by GM David NavaraThe first two games of the 14-game match between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren have already been played in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. The winner will be crowned as the new World Champion in classical chess, following […]
Cynosure
Preview: FIDE World Chess Championship 2023 April 6, 2023
Ahead of the 14 game match between Ding Liren and Ian Nepomniachtchi, Lichess previews what may be in store Officially since 1886 and unofficially since at least the 1830s, World Chess Championships have been played to determine the World Champion in chess. The title-holder since 2013, Magnus Carlsen, has abdicated his throne without being defeated. […]
Lichess
Life moves pretty fast (not really) April 1, 2023
...if you don't play quickly, you could miss it.[EDIT] April fools! Unfortunately, life still moves pretty fast, but Lichess no longer has decrement time controls. Thanks to everybody participating in our 1-1 Arena, it was fun! We’re all busy people! Sometimes we don’t have time for a long chess game. Most of the time even! […]
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