Thrilling Start to 2026 Candidates: Caruana, Praggnanandhaa, and Sindarov Secure Decisive Wins
The highly anticipated 2026 Candidates Tournament launched with remarkable intensity, as three out of four opening games concluded with decisive results. Notably, all three victories were clinched by players utilizing the white pieces, creating an immediate impact on the standings. In a high-stakes American rivalry, Fabiano Caruana emerged victorious against top seed Hikaru Nakamura. Meanwhile, India's chess prodigy Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu skillfully defeated Anish Giri, and Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan claimed a significant win over Andrey Esipenko. The sole draw of the round occurred in the match between Matthias Bluebaum and Wei Yi, leaving fans eager for more action after an exciting first day.
Fresh materials — Chess News
New Chess Releases for March 2026
The highly anticipated Opening Encyclopedia 2026 is now available. This comprehensive annual publication is the result of extensive and meticulous effort, offering an invaluable resource for thorough tournament preparation. In addition to the encyclopedia, seasoned ChessBase authors have contr
European Championship: Abasov and Anton Share Lead Heading into Final Weekend in Katowice
As the European Chess Championship in Katowice approaches its final weekend, David Anton and Nijat Abasov are currently joint leaders with 7½ points out of 9. Their paths are set to cross in the penultimate tenth round on Saturday, promising a decisive encounter. Following closely, just half a
Nihal Sarin Triumphs at Menorca Masters, Gukesh Secures Fourth
Nihal Sarin has emerged as the sole winner of the Masters section at the Open Chess Menorca 2026. He concluded the tournament with a performance half a point superior to that of Ruslan Ponomariov and Richard Rapport. Following them, a full point behind, were World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju and
European Championship: Six Players Tied for First Place After Five Rounds
After five rounds of the European Chess Championship held in Katowice, a group of six players has emerged at the top, each having accumulated 4½ points out of a possible 5. This strong performance follows a calm draw between two of the initial frontrunners, Eduardo Iturrizaga and Robert Hovhannisya
Candidates R11: Draws Benefit Sindarov
The eleventh round of the Candidates Open was marked by a series of draws, a development that significantly favored Javokhir Sindarov. This outcome allows the Uzbek grandmaster to maintain his leading position in the tournament, holding a two-point advantage over Anish Giri. With only three round
ChessBase 26: Standard vs. Custom Layouts for Analysis - Beginner's Tips Part 10
ChessBase 26 excels in its user-friendly design, making it easy to analyze games even with multiple menu windows open, without losing track of your work. Have you explored the six standard layouts offered, or do you prefer to create your own personalized arrangement? We encourage you to discov