A Game That Outlasted the Day (2)

3/23/2026 – A month ago Valery Golubenko played what may well have been one of the longest chess games ever seen, measured by number of moves, under the rather restrictive conditions of modern chess life. At move 88, with queen and b-pawn against queen, Golubenko's opponent held for 37 moves, until he missed an only move, and it was theoretically a mate in 47.

Robert Ris' Fast and Furious: The Marshall Gambit of the Slav

3/23/2026 – I will discuss in this week's episode the latest ideas in the Marshall Gambit of the Slav. Recently some very important games have been played in this sharp opening, which once again proves that it's an excellent opening to play for a win from the very start. A few weeks ago, I played a pretty cool game against Croatian GM Ivan Zaja and managed to win with Black in only 23 moves.

"Erigabava Sicilian"

3/23/2026 – A ‘a powerful surprise weapon in classical games, and an even more powerful weapon in rapid and blitz!’, promises Yago Santiago in his article on the Sicilian 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4!?. This line was long considered a bad choice by Black, but then came Badur Jobava and Arjun Erigaisi… Santiago’s article comprises an overview and seven annotated example games. Take a look at this week’s free CBM sample!

The Birth of a Journey

3/23/2026 – Praful Zaveri is the founder of Indian Chess School, where he has trained more than 5000 students. In 2023 he began writing a book, Shat Shat Vande Chess, on the cultural, historical, and philosophical journey of chess, on the 15,000‑year “odyssey” of the game. Now he has decided to make it into a film. Here is the first trailer – and Praful's thoughts on the enterprise.
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Humpy Koneru withdraws from Women's Candidates, Anna Muzychuk named replacement

3/23/2026 – Humpy Koneru has withdrawn from the 2026 Women's Candidates Tournament in Cyprus, citing concerns over personal safety amid rising regional tensions. In line with the regulations, Anna Muzychuk has been invited to replace the Indian grandmaster in the eight-player field. Travel advisories and recent security incidents in the Eastern Mediterranean have formed the wider context surrounding Koneru's decision just ahead of the event's scheduled start. | Photo: Lennart Ootes
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Agzamov Memorial: Martirosyan and Uskov share lead on 5/6

3/23/2026 – Two players share the lead after six rounds at the Agzamov Memorial in Tashkent, with top seed Haik Martirosyan (pictured) and 14th seed Artem Uskov both on 5/6. Martirosyan has impressed with a series of wins with the white pieces, while Uskov produced a notable upset against Pouya Idani and now faces the Armenian in a key round-seven encounter. A closely packed chasing group remains within striking distance with three rounds still to play. | Photo: Uzbek Chess Federation

Anzel Laubscher: "Meet your students where they are"

3/22/2026 – In this interview feature, WIM Anzel Laubscher reflects on her career in chess education, law and international development, tracing her journey from early tournaments in South Africa to her work with the FIDE Commission for Chess in Education. She discusses formative life experiences, cultural influences and her advocacy for safeguarding and inclusion in sport, offering personal insights into how chess can shape both learning and social responsibility. | Photos courtesy of WIM Anzel Laubscher
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Review: All new releases in February!

3/22/2026 – The Sicilian has long been one of the most popular openings. It therefore makes perfect sense for White to consider 1.c4. ChessBase author Nico Zwirs takes a look at similar, but reversed structures. His 60 Minutes course is aptly titled “Reversed Sicilian Power.” And since the Sicilian cannot be played without tactics, this new February release also fits the theme perfectly: Oliver Reeh’s new Master Class tactics volume offers exercises for players of all levels, regardless of their opening repertoire. | All photos: ChessBase
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Shift your perspective: FIDE Infinite Chess hosts "An Atypical Day" for autism awareness

3/22/2026 – To mark International Autism Awareness Day, the FIDE Infinite Chess initiative will host the online event "An Atypical Day" on 4 April. The session will feature personal accounts from families and coaches working with children with autism, alongside expert input from specialist Gulzhanar Akhaeva. Designed to promote understanding and inclusion, the talk highlights how chess can support connection, development and community participation.
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Review: ChessBase Magazine #230 – A gold standard for training

3/21/2026 – ChessBase Magazine has been a gold standard for structured chess training for decades. From club players to strong tournament competitors, it offers ample material for players of all levels. Lukas Köpl, himself a long-time user of “CBM”, takes a look at the latest issue of ChessBase’s digital magazine and presents his personal highlights.
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Live lecture: Power of the King

3/21/2026 – The Kasparov Chess Foundation Academy is delighted to announce an upcoming live lecture by GM Dragan Šolak on March 22, 2026, 17:00 CET. This special session will focus on "The Power of the King," a topic of utmost importance for players looking to elevate their strategic understanding and improve their competitive results. Participants will have the unique opportunity to learn from GM Šolak’s extensive experience, gaining invaluable insights into king safety, king activity, and the art of using it as a powerful piece in both the middlegame and the endgame at the highest level.
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Svitlana's Smart Moves - The Candidates: Who will win? (II)

3/21/2026 – In this second part of Svitlana’s Smart Moves: Candidates Special, Svitlana and Arne go through tactical highlights from the remaining four Candidates players, giving viewers both easier and harder puzzles to solve along with them. The episode especially showcases Fabiano Caruana’s astonishing calculation depth, several brilliant attacking ideas by Praggnanandhaa, and a series of creative tactical shots that underline why these players are so dangerous.
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ChessBase´26 – Tips for Beginners, Part 8: Together what belongs together...!

3/21/2026 – ChessBase´26 offers many possibilities for organising databases so that they contain all the important information, while remaining clear and user-friendly. In this episode, learn how to use ChessBase features to improve your game.
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Oxford and Cambridge share honours in 144th Varsity Match

3/21/2026 – The 144th Varsity Chess Match between Oxford and Cambridge, played on 7 March 2026 at London's Royal Automobile Club, ended in a closely contested 4–4 draw. Cambridge struck on the top boards through IM Rajat Makkar and Remy Rushbrooke, while Oxford responded with wins by Andrea Henderson and Savin Dias further down the lineup. With four games drawn, the balanced result preserved Cambridge's narrow historical lead. | Pictured: Connor Clarke (Oxford captain), Henry McWatters (Royal Automobile Club), Remy Rushbrooke (Cambridge captain) | Photo: John Saunders
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Bruno Parma (1941-2026)

3/20/2026 – Bruno Parma passed away on 6 February this year. Born in Ljubljana, he was one of Slovenia's strongest chess players. Parma competed in eight Chess Olympiads for Yugoslavia, winning four silver medals and two bronze medals with the team. | Photo: Dutch National Archive
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Gukesh, Keymer, Maghsoodloo, Ganguly: 6-Player Bughouse is pure chaos

3/20/2026 – After the Prague International Chess Festival, the top players didn't want to stop playing, so they set up three boards for 6-player bughouse. World Champion Gukesh, Keymer, Maghsoodloo, and Ganguly were joined by rising "futures" stars Clio Alessi and Lilian Schirmbeck to create absolute chaos. Keymer was basically overpowered the entire game, while Ganguly held on with everything he had. The highlight? A ridiculous loophole battery where they sacrificed 10 knights and bishops in a row. Finally, no engines, no prep. Just pure fun between some of the best chess players in the world.
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Game of the Week #715: Timman vs Karpov

3/20/2026 – A few weeks ago Jan Timman passed away at the age of 74. In the Netherlands Timman has always been immensely popular, a true icon of chess. His positive nature and adventurous style has inspired many chess players and will continue to do so. At his peak he reached number two in the world rankings, behind Karpov, ahead of the young Kasparov. Today we will look at his fantastic attacking game against Karpov, with whom he had countless interesting encounters. Merijn's show is available on-demand with a ChessBase Premium Account. You can register a Premium account here.
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Victory loves preparation

3/20/2026 – In the diagram position, Black initiated the hunt for the white king ... with a bishop move! I'm very curious to see your suggestions!

Erling Haaland invests in Norway Chess to launch Total Chess World Championship Tour

3/20/2026 – Football star Erling Haaland has become a strategic investor in Norway Chess and its new Total Chess World Championship Tour. The planned circuit will feature four tournaments each season across fast classical, rapid and blitz formats, aiming to crown a combined world champion. A pilot event is scheduled for autumn 2026, with the full tour expected to launch in 2027. | Photo: FIDE
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