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The first official FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship to be hosted in Weissenhaus

08/01/2026 -

FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship 2026 has been announced to take place in Weissenhaus, Germany from 13th to 15th February. Six players - Magnus Carlsen (NOR), Levon Aronian (USA), Fabiano Caruana (USA), Vincent Keymer (GER), Arjun Erigaisi and Javokhir Sindarov (UZB) have qualified based on their Freestyle Grand Slam Tour 2025 results. Two additional participants will be selected separately, one by FIDE and one by Freestyle Chess. Freestyle Chess has already nominated Hans Niemann, due to his outstanding performance in the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Las Vegas. FIDE will hold an Online Qualification Tournament on Chess.com as early as January 14 and 15 to determine the eighth player. Check the press release to know more details. Photos: FIDE

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10 things that made Global Chess League 2025 special

08/01/2026 -

Some events stay with you even if you were not physically there. The Global Chess League 2025 was one such experience. Through conversations, stories, photos, and videos, the league felt alive, energetic, and unforgettable. It showed how chess can bring together world-class competition, passionate fans, and a sense of community. There were iconic matchups, interesting games, moments that made people smile, in short, this edition had it all. At the Global Chess League, chess is presented in a way that feels modern, inclusive and full of emotion. In this article, we cover ten things that made this edition of the Global Chess League special. Photo: Global Chess League

Tata Steel Rapid 2026 R1-3: Vishy Anand and Hans Niemann make a great start

08/01/2026 -

Vishy Anand and Hans Niemann (USA) have emerged early coleaders at Tata Steel India Rapid 2026. Both of them scored 2.5/3 on the first day. Anand defeated Wesley So (USA) and Aravindh Chithambaram, drew against Wei Yi (CHN). Hans on the other hand, won against former World Rapid champion, Volodar Murzin and R Praggnanandhaa, drew against Vidit Gujrathi. Arjun Erigaisi started the event with two losses. Vidit Gujrathi scored an unbeaten 2/3. Nihal Sarin and Praggnanandhaa scored 1.5/3 each. In the Women's event, IM Vantika Agrawal scored 2/3 including wins over GM R Vaishali and GM Harika Dronavalli. WGM Rakshitta Ravi drew all three of her games, although she was winning against the new World Rapid Women's 2025 champion, GM Aleksandra Goryachkina. Round 4 starts tomorrow at 3 p.m. IST. Photo: IA NI Vivek Sohani

Rohith and Aleksandrov In Joint Lead, Dhananjay Catching Up at 16th Chennai GM

07/01/2026 -

8 rounds are completed at The 16th Chennai Open International Grandmasters Chess Tournament 2026, and we have two players, GM Rohith Krishna S with GM Aleksandrov Aleksej on 7/8 points, both players are still unbeaten in the event, and they will be playing against each other in the penultimate round, which will be played tomorrow. For the second place its a tie between 6 players who are playing on 6.5/8. Dhananjay S From chattisgarh utilised the advantage after Hoang Thi Bao Tram made a blunder in an equal position and won the game in style. On the Top board, Rohith played a Draw against Srihari LR, and on board 2, Aleksandrov Aleksej won against Mayank Chakraborty with the white pieces. Srihari LR, Alexei Fedorov, Nguyen Duc Hoa, Vandan Alankar Sawai, and Palencia Morales are on 6.5/8 points alongside Dhananjay S. Round 9 will start at 10 am on 8th January. Photo Credit: IA S. Paul Arokia Raj

Late R. B. Sapre Memorial 2025 starts in 9 days

07/01/2026 -

Ratnagiri will host a major amateur chess event from 16th to 18th January 2026. Players from across Maharashtra will compete in a highly competitive FIDE-rated field. The tournament also serves as an important selection event for the National Amateur Championship. The winner will take home a top prize of Rs. 14,000 along with a trophy. The event will be played over three days with eight rounds of intense competition. With great inspiration, vent will be played over three days with eight rounds of intense competition. Read the article to get full schedule and registration information. Photo: Tournament brochure

Vishy Anand returns to action in Kolkata after six years at Tata Steel India Rapid and Blitz 2026

07/01/2026 -

Tata Steel Chess India is the strongest and biggest Rapid and Blitz tournament to take place in India. For the second time, Men's and Women's events will take place simultaneously at the same time. Just like the last three editions, both men and women's events will have equal prize fund of US$ 41500. The five-day Rapid and Blitz tournament will feature 20 of the world's top including Vishy Anand who is returning to Kolkata as a player after over six years. World no.5 Arjun Erigaisi, FIDE World Cup 2025 runner-up Wei Yi (CHN), Wesley So (USA), World no.8 - R Praggnanandhaa, winner of Tata Steel India 2022 Rapid - Nihal Sarin, Hans Niemann (USA), Vidit Gujrathi, Aravindh Chithambaram and former World Rapid champion - Volodar Murzin. Among the Women, the new World Rapid Women 2025 champion - GM Aleksandra Goryachkina, FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 winner - GM Divya Deshmukh, the defending Blitz Women champion - GM Kateryna Lagno, GM Harika Dronavalli, GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO), GM R Vaishali, IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE), IM Carissa Yip (USA), IM Vantika Agrawal and WGM Rakshitta Ravi will be seen in action. Round 1 starts today at 3 p.m. IST. Photo: Lennart Ootes

Top Seeded Rohith Krishna S is leading at 16th Chennai GM After 7 Rounds

06/01/2026 -

After completion of 7 rounds at The 16th Chennai Open International Grandmasters Chess Tournament 2026, Rohith Krishna S is leading the event with 6.5/7 Points going into the eighth round. In round 7, Rohith won a beautiful game against Belarusian GM Alexei Fedorov with the white pieces, destroying Fedorov's Benko Defence. Rohith is still unbeaten in the event, and he just had one draw against FM Jinam Jomon in round 5. For the second place right now its a 4-way tie between GM Srihari LR, who is unbeaten with 2 draws, GM Aleksandrov Aleksej, who is also unbeaten with 2 draws, IM Mayank Chakraborty, who suffered a loss in round 4, and CM Madhvendra Pratap Sharma, who also played 2 draws and increased his rating by 24 Points. Games of Round 8 will start at 10 am on 7th January. Photo Credit: Sivakasi Chess Club/S. Paul Arokia Raj

Aarush Bhat awesome at 29th RCC Rapid Rating Cup 2025 with a perfect score

06/01/2026 -

13-year-old Aarush Bhat scored a perfect 9/9 to win 29th RCC Rapid Rating Chess Cup Open 2025. He finished a full point ahead of the competition. Govind Prabhu and Aneesh S C scored 8/9 each. They secured second and third place respectively according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹100000. The top three prizes were ₹15000, ₹10000 and ₹7000 along with a trophy each. The one-day nine round Rapid Rating Open tournament was organized by Rao's Chess Corner at Canara High School, Urwa in Mangaluru, Karnataka on 14th December 2025. This is Aarush's third overall, second rating tournament triumph of 2025. Photo: Rao's Chess Corner

Take back and replay the same move!

06/01/2026 -

Did you solve the famous retractor by T.R. Dawson? You had to retract White's last move and then deliver a mate in two. And the solution? Take back the move h2-h4 and then play exactly the same move: 1.h2-h4! g4×h3 e.p. 2.B×g6#. Outrageous! Today we bring you a second instalment of solutions from our Christmas Puzzle Week. With retractors, reflectors, missing pieces and more. Hoping you like such out-of-the-box puzzles. Photo: ChessBase

Kazakhstan Chess Federation announces Freedom Asian Chess Initiatives (FACI) Project 2026

06/01/2026 -

Kazakhstan Chess Federation is pleased to announce the opening of the application process for participation in the Freedom Asian Chess Initiatives (FACI) Project 2026. Freedom Asian Chess Initiatives (FACI) is an international chess project of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation. It is supported by Freedom Holding Corp. and implemented together with FIDE and the Asian Chess Federation. The Project supports the development of chess in Asia by working with national chess federations, improving chess education, supporting tournaments and encouraging international cooperation. FACI helps selected federations through training camps, educational activities, expert support and joint chess initiatives. Graphic: Kazakhstan Chess Federation

16th Chennai GM Open : Aleksandrov and Fedorov Leading With Full Score After 5 Rounds

05/01/2026 -

The 16th Chennai Open International Grandmasters Chess Tournament 2026, held for the Sakthi Group Dr. N. Mahalingam Trophy, is currently underway in Chennai. As of January 5, 2026, the tournament has completed its first 5 rounds, and the 6th round will be played in the evening of 5th January as it's a double round day. From the 7th round on, 1 game will be played daily. After completion of 5 rounds, Belarusian Grandmasters Aleksandrov Aleksej and Fedorov Alexei are leading the event with a full score of 5/5. A total of 7 players are just a half point behind the leaders with 4.5/5 points. The event is taking place at the Hotel Ramada Egmore from January 2 to January 9, 2026. It features a 10-round Swiss format with a total prize fund of ₹20,00,000. Photo Credit: Sivakasi Chess Club

Shaon Chowdhury triumphs at 2nd AGCA Rating Open 2025

05/01/2026 -

Shaon Chowdhury, Garvit Jain, CM Vinod Kumar Sharma, Harish Sharma and Divit Gangwal scored 7/8 each at 2nd AGCA Rating Open 2025. Shaon won the tournament on tie-breaks. The rest were placed second placed second to fifth according to tie-breaks. Shaon, Garvit, Vinod and Divit remained undefeated. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹164000. The top three prizes were ₹25000, ₹20000 and ₹15000 along with a trophy each respectively. The four-day eight round Rating Open tournament was organized by All Gwalior Chess Association at Hotel Shubh Mangal Grand in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh from 7th to 10th December 2025. This was Shaon's third rating tournament triumph in 2025.

New: ChessBase Magazine 228

05/01/2026 -

FIDE Grand Swiss 2025: analyses by Giri, Bluebaum, Vaishali, Abdusattorov, Mishra, Vidit and many more – "The double blockade": Mihail Marin highlights scenarios in which it is advantageous to block passed pawns with a knight and bishop – Action in the Nimzo-Indian: Balázs Csonka examines 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.e5!? – "The key defender": In his ‘Practical Tips for Tournament Players’, Jan Markos shows how to identify and eliminate your opponent's most important piece – All in One: Romain Edouard himself was amazed at how well 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 e5!? works, and much more. Photo: ChessBase

Prathamesh Sherla & Shlok Sharnarthi are the winners of 1st Pune Speed Festival Rapid & Blitz Rating Open 2025

05/01/2026 -

CM Prathamesh Sherla, IM Akshay Borganokar, IM Srijit Paul and Manas Gaikwad scored 8/9 each at 1st Pune Speed Chess Festival Rapid Rating Open 2025. Prathamesh won the tournament on tie-breaks. The remaining three were placed second to fourth respectively. Only Prathamesh and Srijit remained undefeated among them. Shlok Sharnarthi, IM Aakash Sharadchandra Dalvi and IM Nikhil Dixit scored 9.5/11 each. Shlok became champion on tie-breaks. Aakash and Nikhil secured second and third place respectively. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹400000, ₹250000 for Rapid and ₹150000 for Blitz. The top three prizes in Rapid were ₹31000, ₹25000 and ₹15000 along with a trophy each. For Blitz they were, ₹15000, ₹10000 and ₹8000 with a trophy each. This is Prathamesh's third overall, first rating tournament triumph of 2025. For Shlok, it was his fourth overall, sole rating tournament victory in the same year. Photo: FI Shashikant Maktedar / 8x8 Chess Academy

A recap of Indian chess in 2025

03/01/2026 -

When we look back at Indian chess in 2025, what stands out is how consistent the progress felt. The signs were already there in 2024, but this year, the results kept coming consistently. Indian players made their mark in the world’s biggest tournaments. It was impressive to see great and consistent results month after month. There was always something to talk about! It was a year that felt alive, steady, and exciting for Indian chess. In this article, we revisit some of the most memorable wins and moments that made 2025 such a remarkable year for Indian chess.

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