Players

Discover insights into the world of chess players, from legendary masters to rising stars. Explore their strategies, notable games, playing styles and personal lives.

Jianchao Zhou: From Shanghai’s Chess Prodigy to America’s Grand Prix King

Jianchao Zhou: From Shanghai’s Chess Prodigy to America’s Grand Prix King

XB
August 13, 2025

Jianchao Zhou’s chess journey spans continents, decades, and countless battles over the 64 squares. Born November 6, 1988 in Shanghai,...

Gukesh Dommaraju: How Calm, Teamwork, and Technology Crowned the Youngest World Chess Champion

Gukesh Dommaraju: How Calm, Teamwork, and Technology Crowned the Youngest World Chess Champion

LR
August 10, 2025

In November 2024, Gukesh Dommaraju etched his name in chess history, becoming the youngest World Champion the game has ever...

Xiao Tong (QD): Qingdao’s Rising Star and China’s “Hexagonal Warrior” in Chess

Xiao Tong (QD): Qingdao’s Rising Star and China’s “Hexagonal Warrior” in Chess

XB
August 3, 2025

At just 16 years old, Xiao Tong (QD – meaning his native Qingdao) is no stranger to pressure, podiums, or...

Where Does Magnus Carlsen Stand Among the Greatest Chess Legends?

Where Does Magnus Carlsen Stand Among the Greatest Chess Legends?

XB
August 3, 2025

Magnus Carlsen is one of the greatest chess players the world has ever seen. Some fans even call him the...

Ding Liren, the Machine Dreamer: In a Game of Precision, a Man Who Feels

Ding Liren, the Machine Dreamer: In a Game of Precision, a Man Who Feels

XB
July 21, 2025

In April 2023, the chess world watched in silence as Ding Liren, a quiet law graduate from Peking University with...

Hans Niemann vs. the Modern Chess Mafia: “I’m Not a Victim—I’m a Fighter”

Hans Niemann vs. the Modern Chess Mafia: “I’m Not a Victim—I’m a Fighter”

XB
July 16, 2025

When Hans Niemann sat down with ChessBase India in the quiet luxury of Weissenhaus during the Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. Challenge,...

Ian Nepomniachtchi’s Playing Style: The Dynamic Intuitionist

Ian Nepomniachtchi’s Playing Style: The Dynamic Intuitionist

XB
July 10, 2025

Ian Nepomniachtchi is one of modern chess’s most enigmatic grandmasters, a player whose style defies neat categorization. While many call...

The Relentless Improviser: Hikaru Nakamura’s Unique Playing Style

The Relentless Improviser: Hikaru Nakamura’s Unique Playing Style

XB
July 10, 2025

Hikaru Nakamura is one of the most electrifying figures in modern chess, not just because of his bullet-speed reflexes or...

Magnus Carlsen’s Playing Style: The Perfect Storm of Logic, Instinct, and Will

Magnus Carlsen’s Playing Style: The Perfect Storm of Logic, Instinct, and Will

XB
July 10, 2025

Magnus Carlsen doesn’t play chess. He absorbs it, reshapes it, and makes it bend to his will, usually with a...

Hans Niemann’s Playing Style: Unstable Genius, Relentless Pressure

Hans Niemann’s Playing Style: Unstable Genius, Relentless Pressure

XB
July 10, 2025

Hans Niemann might be the hardest player to define in modern chess. Ask David Howell and he’ll give you numbers,...