1/29/2026 – In this video course, Grandmaster Ivan Sokolov explores one of the most intriguing and under-examined areas of modern chess: reversed opening systems, focusing on the Reversed Grünfeld and the Reversed Dutch. At first glance, these two systems seem unrelated. However, they share a common strategic challenge: the value of tempi, structure, and psychology when familiar openings are played with colours reversed. Drawing on his long professional experience, Sokolov explains why these positions are far more subtle than they appear and why traditional engine evaluations often fail to capture their true complexity.

1/29/2026 – This lesson shows how to customize the look of your notation in ChessBase to make it clearer and more comfortable for everyday use. It covers changing notation styles, piece symbols, fonts, colours, and using quick zoom for better readability.

1/29/2026 – 14-year-old German IM Christian Gloeckler remains perfect in the Qualifiers Tournament in Wijk aan Zee: six rounds have been played, and he has won all six. This gives him a performance rating of 3228, and with three rounds to go he leads Henry Edward Tudor by 1.5 points; Tudor is in sole second place with 4.5 out of 6. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

1/29/2026 – Today is a rest day in Wijk aan Zee. A good opportunity to revisit some of the finest games played in the tournament’s long history. Robert Ris helps. The popular Dutch IM, author, and trainer has selected and annotated seven outstanding games from Wijk aan Zee. As a gift, for free!

1/29/2026 – ChessBase Magazine Extra is the ideal complement to ChessBase Magazine. Opening videos: Daniel King presents new ideas against the Caro-Kann (3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf6 6.Be3) plus ‘Mikhalchishin's Miniatures’ Part III (Najdorf, Petroff, Scotch). New in CBM Extra: ‘Move by Move’ with Robert Ris. ‘Lucky bag’ with 37 analyses by Ganguly, Illingworth and many more. CBM Extra #229 can also be used as a ChessBase Book in a web browser on an iPad, tablet or Mac, etc.!

1/29/2026 – As the Tata Steel Chess tournament approaches its final stretch, the Masters section saw another eventful day: Matthias Bluebaum's second straight win moved him into shared second place, while Gukesh Dommaraju, Vincent Keymer and Aravindh Chithambaram also scored victories. Nodirbek Abdusattorov remains in front after signing a non-trivial draw with Vladimir Fedoseev. In the Challengers, Vasyl Ivanchuk defeated former leader Andy Woodward, allowing Aydin Suleymanli's third consecutive win to carry him into sole first place. | Photo: Tata Steel Chess / Lennart Ootes

1/28/2026 – Garry Kasparov, one of the most influential figures in chess history, is set to return to KCF Academy on February 1, 2026, for a second live session, offering the academy community a unique chance to learn about the King’s Indian, which has always been a weapon of courage, creativity, and uncompromising play. And no one embodies that spirit better than Kasparov.

1/28/2026 – The Grand Chess Tour will return in 2026 with a full season of classical, rapid and blitz events, a $2 million overall prize fund and the Finals staged in Saint Louis. Featuring a field of leading grandmasters, including world champion Gukesh Dommaraju and recent Tour winner Fabiano Caruana (pictured), the circuit continues its established format of elite tournaments across multiple time controls, with the top performers advancing to a knockout finale. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

1/28/2026 – Many users buy our latest software, but don't spend time learning the advanced features it offers. They use ChessBase´26 just like earlier versions. But the new program has hidden treasures that will enhance your chess preparation and understanding – and boost your rating in the process. GM Iniyan Pa has taken the time to explore the new features and give you an overview of what awaits you.

1/28/2026 – Round nine in Wijk aan Zee featured several influential results in both sections of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament. In the Masters, Matthias Bluebaum defeated world champion Gukesh Dommaraju, while Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, Jorden van Foreest and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu also scored important wins. Nodirbek Abdusattorov kept the lead with a draw against Javokhir Sindarov, who now shares second place with Erdogmus and Van Foreest. In the Challengers, Andy Woodward moved into sole first place. | Photo: Tata Steel Chess / Lennart Ootes

1/27/2026 – The Brazil Chess Series - Floripa Open brought together 542 players from 19 federations for a 10-round Swiss tournament in Florianópolis from 17 to 25 January. A strong field featuring 19 GMs produced a tightly contested event, with four players tying for first place on 8½/10. The title was ultimately decided according to tiebreak criteria, with André Diamant, Aryan Tari and Luis Paulo Supi finishing on the podium. | Photo: Vivian Passig

1/27/2026 – In Wijk, the Masters and the Challengers take centre stage, but there are other tournaments as well. One of them is the Qualifiers, a round-robin event with ten mostly young and ambitious players, whose winner can hope for a place in the Challengers 2027. Fourteen-year-old IM Christian Gloeckler, regarded as one of Germany’s biggest talents, made a perfect start with 4 out of 4 – and played some tactically exciting games. | Photo: Nils Rohde