Discover insights into the world of chess players, from legendary masters to rising stars. Explore their strategies, notable games, playing styles and personal lives.
In the world of elite chess, where grandmasters often burst into the spotlight with flashy debuts or social media fame, Xu Xiangyu stands out in a different way, with quiet resilience, relentless growth, and a vision shaped more by long hours of practice than public attention. Born in Taiyuan, Shanxi, in September 1999, Xu began … Read more
By 2025, Kong Xiangrui, born in 2009, has become one of the most exciting young talents in Chinese chess. His journey, marked by bold decisions, relentless self-improvement, and standout international achievements, is inspiring a new generation of chess hopefuls. A Humble Beginning in Qingdao Kong was introduced to chess in Qingdao, a city known for … Read more
Back on April 11, 2025, Jiang Haochen at just 14 years old, becoming the youngest International Master in China at that time. His coach, Grandmaster Wang Rui, couldn’t hold back the excitement, pulling Jiang into a tight celebratory hug. Jiang’s response? Just a quiet, bashful smile. Started Chess at 6, International Master by 14 Born … Read more
Lu Miaoyi is not your everyday teenager. Born in February 2010, this Chinese chess star is already an International Master (IM) with a peak FIDE rating of 2449. At just 15 years old, she ranks as the No. 2 junior girl in the world—only behind Divya Deshmukh—and is the reigning Chinese women’s national champion. Her … Read more
On December 31st, 2024, Ju Wenjun made history by winning the blitz women’s final of the 2024 World Chess Rapid and Blitz Championship in New York. This marks the first time a Chinese chess player has claimed the blitz world championship. With this victory, Ju Wenjun has achieved a rare Grand Slam, becoming only the … Read more
Follow Xue Haowen’s journey from a passionate chess student to Shenzhen’s first Grandmaster, guided by GM Zeng Chongsheng, with stories of perseverance, triumph, and unwavering dreams. In the final round of the historic 98th Hastings Open in the UK, Xue Haowen secured the championship with an impressive performance: 5 wins, 4 draws, and 7 points … Read more
First off, let’s clear the air: no, Magnus Carlsen didn’t solve chess. That would be like solving pizza. Sure, you can perfect a recipe, but there are infinite toppings and ways to burn your tongue. But the way Carlsen plays? It’s fair to ask if he’s secretly running on some kind of Silicon Valley AI … Read more
Who are the brightest chess prodigies to watch in 2025? I’ve compiled a ranking of 45 young talents, from Faustino Oro to Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, based on their age, Elo rating, and recent performances. Preface I chose to focus on the top 5 players by Elo from each birthyear category (2007 to 2015) based on … Read more
When Faustino Oro moved from Argentina to Spain, the parallels with Lionel Messi were hard to ignore. Just like the football legend, Oro made the leap to pursue his dreams on a bigger stage. But instead of football fields, his arena is the chessboard. At just 11 years old, Faustino isn’t merely following in Messi’s … Read more
How did a 13-year-old could beat Magnus Carlsen in 41.2 seconds? Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus has made an impressive mark on the chess world, though, according to his parents, his achievements are more about hard work than natural talent. A Star is Born Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus was just 5 years old when he first learned about … Read more