The gala opening of the third stage of the FIDE World Chess Grand Prix was held tonight at the Four Seasons Hotel in Geneva, Switzerland. On behalf of FIDE the tournament was officially opened by prof. dr. Adrian Siegel, FIDE Treasurer and member of the Presidential Board. President of World Chess, Mr Ilya Merenzon, and [...]

The world’s most elite chess players of both past and present will be facing off in the U.S. Chess Capital during the Sinquefield Cup, the most prestigious chess tournament hosted on U.S. soil. Following the Sinquefield Cup, legendary World Champion Garry Kasparov will be coming out of retirement to compete against world’s top chess talent [...]

This is a game I played against John Duggan at the excellent Coulsdon Chess Club run by Scott Freeman. Nigel said it showed substantial progress apart from the ugly 3.Nc3. I think 8.e4 is instructive as a key pawn lever against the Dutch. I was pleased with my calculation of the ending. I allowed Black […]

+Διονύσης Mαραγκουδάκης (1923-2017).Ένας πολύ παλιός Έλληνας σκακιστής, που ξεκίνησε να αγωνίζεται προπολεμικά σε φιλικές παρέες στην Κυψέλη, στους Αθηναϊκούς ομίλους πριν την ίδρυση της Σκακιστικής Ομοσπονδίας.Tο 1943...

Στα 95 του χρόνια μας αποχαιρέτησε ο Διονύσης Μαραγκουδάκης, ένας πολύ καλός άνθρωπος που λάτρευε το σκάκι μέχρι το τέλος της ζωής του. Είχε αρχίσει να παίζει σκάκι στα τέλη της δεκαετίας του 1930. Το 1951 μετείχε στα τελικά...

From 26 June to 1 July 2017 the 51st Internet based FIDE Arbiters’ Seminar was held, organized by the FIDE Arbiters’ Commission and under the auspices of FIDE. The lecturer of the seminar was IA Takis Nikolopoulos (GRE), FIDE Arbiters’ Commission Chairman and FIDE Lecturer and Assistant Lecturer and Technical Organizer was IA Mihail Prevenios [...]

“Pawns are like buttons. Lose too many and the pants fall down by themselves.” George Koltanowski The knight moves in L-shape right? We all learn that at the very beginning and struggle at first to figure out the move. I can go one square to the right and two forward or two squares to the […]

Russian Higher League, the final qualifying stage for the Russian Superfinal Championship, is taking place from 1-12th July in the Olympic resort Krasnaya Polyana near Sochi. 100 players compete in two sections, men’s and women’s, through 9 rounds of Swiss system. The total prize fund is 75.000 EUR. Top five finishers from each section will [...]

Μεγάλες διακρίσεις και το 2017! Σύμπτωση επαναλαμβανόμενη δεν είναι σύμπτωση, και ο Δημήτρης Στεφάνου ηγείται των επιτυχιών και τις 2 χρονιές. Περισσότερα επιστρέφοντας Πάτρα. Πολλά συγχαρητήρια σε Στεφάνου, Μακρίδη...

Here’s an endgame I played yesterday in the Llandudno Major. My opponent should have played 28…Kf7 straight away before the pin on the g-file became a problem. Instead he advanced his queen side pawns after which the loss of the f-pawn was the beginning of the end. Sam Davies

Αρχίζει σήμερα 3 Ιουλίου, και θα διαρκέσει έως τις 8 Ιουλίου, στο Ρίο της Αχαϊας ,το 45ο Πανελλήνιο Πρωτάθλημα Α’ Εθνικής Κατηγορίας. Συμμετέχουν 34 ομάδες. Το πρόγραμμα του 1ο γύρου είναι: 1 ΕΟΑΟ ‘ΦΥΣΙΟΛΑΤΡΗΣ’...

The second leg of the Grand Chess Tour, Your Next Move, wrapped up today in Leuven with a complete domination by Magnus Carlsen. The World Champion earned thirteen tour points (one bonus point for winning clear first) and $37,500 for his efforts. He is now leading the tour with twenty-five points. The next stop will [...]

The 11th Philadelphia International was held from June 24-29, 2017, at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, 1201 Market St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. GM Andrey Stukopin from Russia and local IM John Burke shared the first place with 7,0/9 points to earn $2250 each. Burke also earned a GM norm, as well as IM Nicolas Checa (6,5 points). [...]

Today was all about Magnus Carlsen who completely annihilated the field scoring 7.5/9 in blitz play, half a point more than his impressive score in the rapid in Paris. He is now tied for first place with Wesley So who had a very shaky day. Their last round meeting tomorrow will most likely decide the [...]

What I often do when playing young children who are lacking in confidence is head for an overwhelmingly won ending and turn the board round to let them win. I was playing a boy at a school chess club the other day and duly turned the board round when I had a rook and lots […]