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The origin and accuracy of Elo rating: Food for thought

29/05/2026 -

Every chess player knows the importance of ratings, but how accurate are they really? In this article, Yevgeny Levanzov explores the origin of the Elo rating system and the ideas behind it. He explains how ratings are calculated and why they sometimes fail to reflect true playing strength. The article also looks at rating inflation, deflation, underrated juniors, and the challenges faced by modern players. Through simple examples and practical insights, it questions whether ratings should be treated as the absolute truth. A thoughtful read for anyone interested in the deeper side of competitive chess!

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Norway Chess 2026: Magnus Carlsen wins against World Champion D Gukesh

29/05/2026 -

Magnus Carlsen defeated the World Champion D Gukesh in the 4th round of Norway Chess 2026. Magnus played an excellent game to outplay Gukesh, and in the post-game interview, Magnus said, "He played himself into trouble!" The other 5 games, including the Women's section, were decided in an Armageddon. Praggnanandhaa defeated Vincent Keymer, while Alireza lost his first game of the tournament against Wesley So. 29th May is a rest day, and the 5th round will start on 30th May at 5:30CEST/8:30 PM IST. Photo: Michal Walusza / Norway Chess

11-Year-Old Vickash S Dominates 2nd Warrior Chess Academy Below 1650 Classical 2026

29/05/2026 -

11-year-old Vickash S dominated the field at Warrior Chess Academy's 2nd FIDE Rated Open Chess Tournament for Below 1650. Vickash scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 points to win the tournament. 13 players scored 7.5/9 points to finish in 2nd to 14th places according to tiebreak scores. The tournament was organised by Warrior Chess Academy & Capa Chess Academy from 25th to 27th April 2026 at the Hall of Chess, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹6,00,000. Photos: Warrior Chess Academy

Norway Chess 2026: Praggnanandhaa Defeats Magnus Carlsen in Wild Round 3 Clash

28/05/2026 -

Praggnanandhaa defeated World No.1, Magnus Carlsen, in the 3rd round of Norway Chess. It was a wild game in which both players missed chances, but Praggnanandhaa emerged victorious. This is Pragg's 2nd classical victory over Magnus Carlsen. In 2024, he defeated Magnus in the 12th edition of Norway Chess. Alireza Firouzja kept his winning run going as he defeated D Gukesh in a crazy Armageddon game. Divya Deshmukh is showing her class, and she scored her 3rd consecutive win in the Armageddon game. This time, she defeated the tournament leader Bibisara Assaubayeva. The 4th round will start on 28th May at 5:30CEST/8:30 PM IST. Photo: Michal Walusza / Norway Chess

6th CFPD National Chess Championship 2026 for Specially Abled Players Kicks Off in Indore

28/05/2026 -

A special tournament for very special players kicks off at Indore Public School. Chief Minister Trophy - 6th CFPD National Chess Championship for Specially Abled Players 2026 started on 27th May 2026. A total of 82 specially abled players are taking part in the National Championship. Among them, 51 are FIDE-rated players, while others are unrated bravehearts. This tournament is the perfect example of the fighting spirit and love for our game. These players are the real motivation for everyone to look up to and get inspired. Read day 1 report. Photos: IM Akshat Khamparia

Shankhadeep Maity wins ₹4,50,000 at 17th KIIT International Chess Festival Cat-B

28/05/2026 -

Shankhadeep Maity scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 points to win the 17th KIIT International Chess Festival 2026 (Category 'B' Below-1900). Shankhadeep finished a clear point ahead of 10 players who scored 7.5/9 points. Samarth Jain and Satyam Sarbajit Mishra secured 2nd and 3rd place according to tiebreak scores. Shankhadeep's performance was rewarded with ₹4,50,000 and 58.8 rating points. The tournament was organised by KIIT on their campus from 23rd May to 26th May. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy

Norway Chess 2026: Alireza scores 2 classical wins in a row, Divya stuns Humpy

27/05/2026 -

Alireza Firouzja scored his 2nd classical win in a row to gain a 3.5-point lead over the field. In the 2nd round of Norway Chess 2026, he defeated R Praggnanandhaa in the classical game. Apart from this game, all other games ended in a draw in classical time control, and the results came in an Armageddon game. Magnus Carlsen defeated Vincent Keymer, and the World Champion D Gukesh suffered a loss against Wesley So. In the Women's section, Bibisara maintained her lead after defeating Zhu Jiner in Armageddon, while Divya scored her 2nd consecutive Armageddon win. The 3rd round will start on 27th May at 5:30CEST/8:30 PM IST. Photo: Michal Walusza / Norway Chess

Software Engineering Volunteer | Help Build the Future of Indian Chess

27/05/2026 -

HelpChess Foundation, the NGO initiative by ChessBase India, is looking for Software Engineering Volunteers to help build technology that supports chess players across India. HelpChess has raised significant funds and supported players through scholarships, sponsorships, travel, coaching, and training support.

11-year-old Advik Agrawal secures first International Master norm

27/05/2026 -

11-year-old Advik Amit Agrawal delivered a stunning performance at the Baku Open. He secured his first IM norm, crossed 2400 Elo, and gained over 100 rating points in the tournament. What makes his journey even more special is the way he approaches the game with calmness, curiosity, and a strong desire to keep improving. We spoke to Advik, his coach, and his father to understand the story behind his impressive performance at the Baku Open. Read the article to know more. Photo: Amit Agrawal

Norway Chess 2026: Injured Alireza Firouzja Stuns Magnus Carlsen; Indian Trio Win in Armageddon

26/05/2026 -

Norway Chess 2026 starts with a bang! Injured Alireza Firouzja defeated Magnus Carlsen to start the tournament on a high note. On the 1st day, there were 2 decisive results in the standard format, including both the Men's and Women's sections. Bibisara defeated Koneru Humpy to start her campaign. It was a wonderful day for other Indian players as Gukesh scored a win over Vincent Keymer in Armageddon, Praggnanandhaa defeated Wesley So, and Divya Deshmukh won against the reigning World Champion Ju Wenjun in Armageddon. Photos: Michal Walusza / Norway Chess

Fritz 21 is here and It's on Sale!

26/05/2026 -

FRITZ is more than just a chess engine – it’s a training revolution! Train more efficiently, intelligently, and with a more personalised approach than ever before, whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess or already playing at a tournament level. It has gained 40 Elo points and now stands at 3620 Elo. It can show you the best moves, the most promising lines. But it concentrates on teaching. It will play practice games against you, at your level of play, and imitate the style of famous players if you wish. It has AI-supported training with subtle hints and will train tactics and endgames with you. It even teaches you Freestyle Chess. It practically forces you to become a stronger player.

12-Year-Old Sairam Bala M wins 5th ICC Rapid Rating 2026

26/05/2026 -

Sairam Bala M scored an unbeaten 8/9 points to win the 5th ICC International FIDE Rapid Rating 2026. Five players, including Sairam Bala M, Aakash G, Nandish V S, Nigash G, and Manigandan S S, scored 8/9 points to finish in 1st to 5th places, respectively, according to tiebreak scores. The tournament was organised by the Indian Chess Consortium on 26th April, with a total prize fund of ₹3,00,000. The top 3 prizes were ₹25,000, ₹20,000, and ₹15,000 along with trophies. Photos: G.G.Sathiesh

From 2 Boards to the World Stage: How Two Cousins Built a Rural Chess Movement

26/05/2026 -

In the quiet carpet-belt region of Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh, where chess once barely existed, two cousins, Ankit and Prabhat, sat down with a few children and two simple plastic boards, and an unlikely chess movement began. Not with funding, not with infrastructure, not with a professional chess background, just pure intent. There was no master plan, no vision of success, only a quiet decision to do something meaningful with whatever they had. A few years later, girls from those same villages would sit across international players at the FIDE World School Team Championship in Almaty. Read this amazing story!!

The entertaining Press Conference of Norway Chess 2026

25/05/2026 -

"Hunger will come when I see the meal," remarked Magnus Carlsen, perfectly capturing the spirit of the players gathered for the Norway Chess 2026 press conference. With the World Champion Gukesh acknowledging the "pressure of not wanting to lose" the opening remarks revealed the deep psychological battle underlying the moves on the board. As the pairings set up a mouth-watering first round - including Alireza Firouzja against Carlsen and Ju Wenjun and Divya Deshmukh. Get to know what transpired at the press conference.

Vincent Keymer wins Super Chess Classic Romania 2026

24/05/2026 -

Vincent Keymer defeated Jorden van Foreest in the final round of the Super Chess Classic 2026 to win the title. This was Vincent's first year as a full-tour player in the Grand Chess Tour, and this one was his first event. Vincent Keymer scored 6/9 after suffering a loss in the 7th round against Javokhir Sindarov. Fabiano Caruana scored 5.5/9 to claim second place. Javokhir Sindarov and Wesley So scored 5/9 to finish in 3rd and 4th place. Vincent takes home 100,000 dollars + 31,000 dollars of bonuses, 13 Grand Chess Tour points, and a 7.8 elo Rating. With this, he is World No. 6 in the live ratings now. Photo: Lennart Ootes

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