Candidates Round 2 - Live!

3/30/2026 – The Candidates Tournaments form the final qualifying stage of the FIDE World Championship cycle. Each tournament features eight of the world's strongest players competing in a double round-robin format over fourteen rounds of classical chess. In Monday's second round, Anish Giri plays white against co-leader Fabiano Caruana in the most anticipated game of the day. | Follow the games live with expert commentary starting at 14.30 CEST (8.30 ET, 18.00 IST) | Photo: Michal Walusza
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Reykjavík Open - Live!

3/30/2026 – The Reykjavík Open is taking place from 25 to 31 March at the Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre, once again bringing together a large international field for its traditional nine-round Swiss competition. Led by top seed Amin Tabatabaei and featuring a mix of experienced contenders - such as Vasyl Ivanchuk - and young stars, the event continues a tradition that dates back to Mikhail Tal's victory in the inaugural 1964 edition. | Follow the action live starting at 18.00 CET (12.00 ET, 21.30 IST) | Photo: Skáksamband Íslands
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Candidates R2: Head-to-head stats

3/30/2026 – Head-to-head records between the participants of the Candidates Tournaments provide useful context for each pairing. Drawing on data compiled via Mega Database 2026, the key statistics from past encounters highlight imbalances and trends. While such figures are not decisive, they offer an additional perspective on how rivalries have developed before a tournament that will determine the next challenger for the world title.

Candidates R1: Caruana, Pragg and Sindarov score in exciting first round

3/30/2026 – The 2026 Candidates Tournament kicked off in style, with three decisive results from four games, all in favour of the player with the white piece. Fabiano Caruana defeated Hikaru Nakamura in the all-American clash between top seeds, while Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu and Javokhir Sindarov scored wins of different nature over Anish Giri and Andrey Esipenko, respectively. The only draw came in Matthias Bluebaum v. Wei Yi. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza
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Women's Candidates R1: Four draws, Zhu and Goryachkina miss big chances

3/30/2026 – The Women's Candidates began in Pegeia with four draws in round one, though the games featured a number of missed chances. The event, held alongside the open section for a second time, brings together five returning players from 2024 and three young talents. Early pairings included two all-national encounters, while late changes following Humpy Koneru's withdrawal altered the draw. Time pressure and opening surprises marked the first day of action. | Pictured: Aleksandra Goryachkina | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza
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Pranav Venkatesh dominates KazChess Masters, obtains 2795 TPR

3/29/2026 – The KazChess Masters, held in Shymkent from 21 to 29 March, brought together five experienced international grandmasters and five emerging Kazakhstani players in a single round-robin format. Pranav Venkatesh secured first place with 7½/9, finishing clear of Shamsiddin Vokhidov. The event also highlighted the progress of local talents, notably Danis Kuandykuly (born in 2013), who exceeded expectations with a 4/9 score. | Photo: Kazakhstan Chess Federation
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Candidates R1: Head-to-head stats

3/29/2026 – Head-to-head records between the participants of the Candidates Tournaments provide useful context for each pairing. Drawing on data compiled via Mega Database 2026, the key statistics from past encounters highlight imbalances and trends. While such figures are not decisive, they offer an additional perspective on how rivalries have developed before a tournament that will determine the next challenger for the world title.
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ChessBase´26 – Tips for Beginners, Part 9: "Tactical Analysis"

3/29/2026 – Tactical analysis is not just exciting, but it is very practical. With ChessBase´26, it is easy to use its findings. In this episode, learn how you can use this ChessBase function to complement your analysis and make it more effective.
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Candidates Tournaments: A ceremony worthy of champions

3/29/2026 – The Candidates Tournaments opened with a ceremonial evening combining formal addresses, player introductions and cultural performances, setting the stage for the competitions ahead. Held in Cyprus, the event brought together all sixteen contenders from the open and women's sections, alongside officials and guests. With the opening ceremony concluded, attention now turns to the start of play on 29 March, when the race to decide the next challengers begins. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza
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Live lecture: Middlegame Maneuvering

3/28/2026 – We are excited to announce an exclusive live lecture with GM Max Dlugy at KCF Academy on March 29. In this session, GM Dlugy will turn his focus to the middlegame, the stage of the game where deep strategic thinking, long-range planning, and precise piece coordination so often determine the outcome.
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Svitlana's Smart Moves - The Women's Candidates: Who will win?

3/28/2026 – In this episode of Svitlana's Smart Moves, Svitlana continues her Candidates series by presenting one key tactical moment from each player in the Women's Candidates, while Arne tries to solve them along the way. The positions showcase a wide range of attacking and endgame ideas, from classic double-bishop sacrifices to precise defensive resources and beautiful promotion tactics, while also highlighting the strength and fighting spirit of players like Deshmukh, Zhongyi, Vaishali, Goryachkina and Lagno.
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GM Daniel King profiles all eight Candidates!

3/28/2026 – With the first round of the Candidates Tournament set to begin on Sunday, we are just hours away from the start of one of chess' most demanding events. In a series of videos, GM Daniel King profiles all eight participants, offering a clear and concise overview of their strengths, weaknesses and prospects ahead of the competition!
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Review: "Calculation Step by Step" by Surya Ganguly

3/28/2026 – Accurate calculation is the be-all and end-all in chess. That is precisely what Surya Ganguly aims to teach. Young FIDE Master Bahne Fuhrmann of Hamburger SK reviews Ganguly’s video course “Calculation Step by Step – Vol. 1: Foundations.” In his article, he takes a closer look at the tips and techniques proposed by the Indian grandmaster for calculating variations with precision. A course that demands active participation…
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Court of Arbitration for Sport finds FIDE sanctions insufficient, imposes new measures on Russian Federation

3/27/2026 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport has ruled in favour of Ukraine in its case against the Chess Federation of Russia, concluding that earlier sanctions imposed by FIDE were insufficient. The decision requires the Russian Federation to cease organising chess activities in several annexed regions within 90 days or face suspension from international competition. The case centres on events held in territories internationally recognised as Ukrainian. | Photo: TAS/CAS (Tribunal Arbitral du Sport)
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Exploring the Opening Encyclopaedia 2026: A video introduction

3/27/2026 – An overview of the Opening Encyclopaedia 2026 highlights its role as a structured resource for studying modern opening theory. Combining articles, annotated games and video content, it offers both broad coverage and practical guidance. With contributions from authors such as Daniel King and Dorian Rogozenco, the material spans introductory tutorials and detailed analysis, alongside an extensive, searchable games' database.
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Robert Ris' Fast and Furious: Viktor Korchnoi

3/27/2026 – Viktor Korchnoi's favorite opening used to be the French Defense, featuring some positionally risky lines with a lot of fighting spirit. That's what Viktor Lvovich loved to play and so we are going to have a look at some spectacular games he played in this opening.

Exhibit at the World Chess Hall of Fame: "Chess Variants: Transforming Tradition"

3/27/2026 – The exhibition "Chess Variants: Transforming Tradition" explores the evolution of chess across cultures, from its early forms in Asia to modern reinterpretations of the game. Hosted by the World Chess Hall of Fame, it brings together historical artefacts, rare sets and interactive displays, alongside examples of variants such as Shogi and Xiangqi. The show highlights how communities have continually reshaped chess over more than fifteen centuries. | Photos: World Chess Hall of Fame
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Endgame Magic #325: Viktor Korchnoi

3/27/2026 – Karsten pays tribute to Viktor Korchnoi who would have turned 95 this week.. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

Forced

3/27/2026 – Black threatens checkmate, White delivers checkmate – can you calculate the entire variation in your head?
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