Candidates Tournament Round 2: Leaders Maintain Positions Following Four Draws in Cyprus
The second round of the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus concluded with all four matches ending in draws, resulting in no shifts in the overall standings. Fabiano Caruana, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, and Javokhir Sindarov continue to share the top spot, each accumulating 1½ points out of a possible 2. Although Praggnanandhaa and Andrey Esipenko had promising opportunities to secure a victory on Monday, their opponents managed to defend effectively, ensuring the games ended in stalemates. Looking ahead to round three, a significant encounter is anticipated between two of the co-leaders, with Praggnanandhaa scheduled to play with the white pieces against Sindarov.
Fresh materials — Сhess

New Chess Releases: March Edition
The highly anticipated Opening Encyclopedia 2026 has arrived, representing countless hours of meticulous work. This updated annual compendium is an indispensable tool for anyone serious about effective tournament preparation. Alongside this major release, ChessBase authors have contribute

European Championship: Anton and Abasov Lead Ahead of Final Weekend in Katowice
With only two rounds remaining at the European Championship in Katowice, Spain's David Anton and Azerbaijan's Nijat Abasov are currently tied for first place with 7½ points out of 9. They are scheduled to face each other in the tenth round on Saturday. A group of ten players, including Aydin Suleym

Elo Boost - A GM Hike in Cyprus 🇨🇾 | Behind the Scenes - Day 2
The ChessBase team is in Cyprus to provide comprehensive coverage of the Candidates Tournament, offering daily glimpses into one of chess's most significant events. We delve into the ambiance surrounding the world's top chess professionals, assess the tournament venue, and explore the downtime

A Game That Outlasted the Day: The Unpredictability of Chess Endurance
It's crucial to highlight that the record for the longest chess game is purely a matter of chance. Any pre-game pact between competitors, like a deliberate decision to "play the longest game in history today," or any similar arrangement made during play, would invalidate the game and result in

Candidates Round 12: Sindarov Leads, Giri vs. Wei Yi
The Candidates Tournament, a crucial step in the FIDE World Championship qualification, is now in its twelfth round. This prestigious event pits eight of the world's elite chess players against each other in a demanding double round-robin format, spanning fourteen intense rounds of classical c

ChessBase 26: Beginner's Tips Part 10 - Standard vs. Custom Layouts
ChessBase 26 excels in its user-friendly interface, making it effortless to analyze games even with multiple menu windows open simultaneously. Do you tend to stick with the six predefined standard layouts, or do you prefer to craft your own personalized setup? We encourage you to explore all t