Review: ChessBase Magazine 232

8/15/2026 – Since its first issue in 1988, ChessBase Magazine has been published every two months without interruption. Reports on current tournaments, in-depth analyses and a wide range of training features blend seamlessly to create a complete package aimed at both ambitious club players and experienced tournament players. Christian Höthe takes a closer look at what issue #232 has to offer.

Newly reviewed: Endgame Academy Part 1 – Checkmate & Pawn Endgames

8/14/2026 – When it comes to endgames, there's nobody better than Karsten Müller. Michael Kotyk, the young Hamburg chess trainer, knows this well. He's taken out his magnifying glass and dedicated himself to Müller's latest work: His endgame courses are ChessBase classics. The most recent edition also employs the interactive options that have become indispensable in video courses. The new edition of the Endgame Academy kicks off with Checkmate & Pawn Endgames.
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Cairns Cup - Live!

8/14/2026 – The Cairns Cup, one of the strongest women's tournaments in the circuit, is being held at the renowned Saint Louis Chess Club from 10 to 20 August. It is a 10-player single round-robin with a classical time control. The contenders battle for a share of the $250,000 prize fund. Bibisara Assaubayeva, Anna Muzychuk and Humpy Koneru head the strong field. Follow the games live starting at 19.00 CEST (13.00 ET, 22.30 IST) | Photo: Lennart Ootes
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Sinquefield Cup - Live!

8/14/2026 – The Sinquefield Cup is taking place on 10-20 August at the Saint Louis Chess Club. It is a 10-player single round-robin with a classical time control. Besides battling for a share of the $475,000 prize fund, players battle to get one of the four spots in the upcoming Grand Chess Tour Finals. Follow the games live starting at 19.00 CEST (13.00 ET, 22.30 IST) | Photo: Lennart Ootes
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From Friday to Sunday: French Championships Finals

8/14/2026 – The French Championship is taking place in Vichy from 7 to 16 August 2026. The competition follows a knockout format, with each match consisting of two classical games, followed, if necessary, by rapid, blitz, and Armageddon tiebreaks. Etienne Bacrot and Maxime Lagarde face off in the final match of the open, while Sophie Milliet and Pauline Guichard are the finalists in the women's chahmpionship. | Photo: Ambrose Ducable

Smart Moves Americas: Governments that think ahead

8/14/2026 – While the first moves were being made at the World Schools Team Championship in Costa Rica, a second conversation was taking place a short distance away. At the Cariari Country Club in Heredia, ministers of education and sport, government officials, federation presidents and school leaders from across the Americas gathered for “Smart Moves Americas: Governments That Think Ahead”, the ISCF and CCA conference on chess as public policy.

Esports World Cup live - With Carlsen, Nakamura and Firouzja

8/14/2026 – Magnus Carlsen will look to defend his title at the $1.5 million Esports World Cup. Chess is part of the event for the second time, with this year's competition taking place in Paris from 11 to 15 August. Eight players have reached the quarterfinals: Carlsen will face Nihal, Nakamura will play Erigaisi, Abdusattorov will take on Lazavik, and Firouzja will face Niemann. The tournament is played in a knockout format, with four games per match in the quarterfinals and six games per match in the semifinals. | Photos: Esports World Cup 2025 | Live from approximately 12:30 CEST
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Cairns Cup: Tan wins, as Lee stumbles

8/14/2026 – Today marks the halfway point in St Louis. Round five of the Cairns Cup gets under way today at 7.30 pm CEST, with Tan Zhongyi the sole leader. Yesterday, she defeated Vaishali Rameshbabu in a game that was not entirely error-free. Alice Lee, who had been level with Tan at the top after four rounds, lost to Stavroula Tsolakidou, while Carissa Yip and Divya Deshmukh, who were just behind them, drew their game. As a result, the Chinese representative now has a full-point lead. | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Saint Louis Chess Club

Sinquefield Cup: Pragg bounces back, beats Van Foreest

8/14/2026 – Wesley So remains the sole leader of the Sinquefield Cup after round four, holding a half-point advantage over his nearest rivals. The only decisive result of the day saw Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu defeat Jorden van Foreest, handing the Dutchman his third loss of the event. Pragg consequently joined Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Levon Aronian in the chasing group, half a point behind So. | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour
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Discovered check

8/14/2026 – A practical player would, of course, first go 27...Nf2+ in the diagram and then see if Black has more than a draw. But I'd be interested in hearing your opinion here!

Svitlana Demchenko's ChessBase Training Courses on offer

8/14/2026 – WIM Svitlana Demchenko presents a selection of practical opening courses designed to give players flexible and dynamic repertoire choices. Her trainers cover the Alapin Variation against the Sicilian, the aggressive Leningrad Dutch, the versatile King’s Indian Attack, and a collection of easy to learn surprise weapons for both colours. As part of the ChessBase Summer Special, all of her Fritz Trainer courses are available at a discount until August 16, 2026.

Esports World Cup: Erigaisi, Niemann, Lazavik and Nihal reach playoffs

8/14/2026 – Nihal Sarin, Arjun Erigaisi, Denis Lazavik and Hans Niemann claimed the final four places in the Esports World Cup playoffs after progressing through Thursday's losers brackets. They join Alireza Firouzja, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura, who had qualified a day earlier. The quarterfinals will see Carlsen face Nihal, Nakamura meet Erigaisi, Abdusattorov play Lazavik and Firouzja take on Niemann. | Image: Esports World Cup webcast
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Invest an hour and you will be ready to confound your opponents: Svitlana Demchenko's Opening Surprises

8/13/2026 – The World Championship match between Gukesh Dommaraju and Ding Liren demonstrated how important it can be to catch your opponent on the wrong foot in the opening. In her 60-minute course, Svitlana Demchenko shows how this can be achieved with both colours and very little theory. | Photos: Nils Rohde

Cairns Cup: Deshmukh beats Kosteniuk, Tan and Lee stay ahead

8/13/2026 – After three decisive games in each of the first two rounds, things were a little quieter on the third day of the Cairns Cup: India's Divya Deshmukh was the only winner. She handed former world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk her third defeat. Such a disastrous start must be hard to find anywhere else in the career of the Swiss representative. There was no change at the top of the standings: Alice Lee and Tan Zhongyi dropped their first half-points but remain in front. | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Saint Louis Chess Club

Sagar Shah interviews Timur Turlov

8/13/2026 – In April 2026, Timur Turlov, entrepreneur and President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation and the International School Chess Federation, acquired ChessBase. In June, he announced his candidacy for FIDE President. In an interview with Sagar Shah, founder and driving force behind ChessBase India, Turlov discusses, among other things, his plans for FIDE, the acquisition of ChessBase, the digital transformation of the chess world and the sanctions against Russia. One important point for context: although ChessBase India adopted the ChessBase name, it is a completely independent company.
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Sinquefield Cup: So beats Caruana, becomes sole leader

8/13/2026 – Wesley So took the sole lead at the Sinquefield Cup after defeating Fabiano Caruana with black in round three. Vincent Keymer bounced back from his previous-round loss by beating Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, while Sam Sevian overcame Anish Giri after 110 moves. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Levon Aronian remain half a point behind So following draws against Javokhir Sindarov and Jorden van Foreest, respectively. | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour
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Remembering Oleg Skvortsov

8/13/2026 – A few weeks ago this great chess organiser and sponsor passed away at the age of 57. For many years he invited us to his "Zurich Chess Challenge", which saw some of the world's top players competing. During that time we had interesting, personal interaction with him. For us news of his passing came out of the blue, and it left us deeply saddened.

Esports World Cup: Carlsen, Firouzja, Nakamura and Abdusattorov prevail in group stage

8/13/2026 – Alireza Firouzja, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura secured their places in the Esports World Cup playoffs after winning both of their matches on Wednesday. Firouzja needed Armageddon deciders against Wei Yi and Arjun Erigaisi, while Abdusattorov won all four of his games. Carlsen and Nakamura also advanced without losing a match, leaving 12 players to contest the remaining 4 playoff spots on Thursday. | Image: Esports World Cup
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ChessBase Summer-Special! – Part 6

8/12/2026 – Dear chess friends! We’ve got another great offer for you: this week (until August 16th, 2026), you can get over 25% off all Fritz Trainer courses by Svitlana Demchenko and Karsten Mueller!
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