Chess is one of the purest tests of human logic and creativity. But in the age of powerful computers, even this ancient game faces a modern problem: cheating with chess engines like Stockfish. Stockfish is a free, open-source program that can calculate millions of positions per second and play almost perfectly. It’s great for training … Read more
In October 19, American chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky, 29, was found dead in his Charlotte, North Carolina home. Police say Naroditsky’s friends returned to check on him after he failed to respond to messages and found him unresponsive on his couch; a medic later pronounced him dead. Authorities list the death as a possible suicide … Read more
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has announced the creation of a new annual prize — the FIDE Chess Oscar — designed to recognize the most outstanding achievements and contributions in the world of chess. The award revives the spirit of the historic “Chess Oscar,” once presented by journalists, but now reimagined with a modern, transparent, … Read more
When Wang Shixu walks into a tournament hall, few might recognize him. Yet those who have faced him over the board know better than to underestimate the calm 24-year-old International Master from Tianjin, China. Known in chess circles as “Wang Shixu B”—to distinguish him from another player with the same name—he’s quietly become one of … Read more
David Navara once offered a draw while completely winning, and in another game apologised for playing too long after turning down a draw. That’s how nice he is. The Czech grandmaster who has spent years hovering above a 2700 rating, is known as much for his character as his chess. His career contains moments of … Read more
The Hikaru Nakamura “rating farming” saga continues. Barely a month after sweeping through the Louisiana and Iowa State Championships, the American super grandmaster has entered yet another regional tournament — the 2025 Maritime Open Chess Championship, held from October 11 to 13 in the Canadian provinces of Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. Once again, … Read more
Good chess players know a lot.Great chess players know what to look for. That’s the real difference. If you want to sharpen your positional judgement, stop memorizing more rules. Stop cramming new principles. Instead, learn a simple process — one that sharpens your focus every time you sit at the board. Ask yourself three questions.Ask … Read more
The moment Fabiano Caruana sealed his second Grand Chess Tour title in St. Louis on Sunday, he did not raise his arms in triumph or break into a smile. Instead, he leaned back, exhaled, and shook his head slowly, as if to acknowledge the weight of what had just unfolded: not just a tournament win, … Read more
The chess world has been buzzing after Ukrainian Grandmaster Oleksandr Bortnyk accused FIDE – the global chess federation – of “stealing” his rating. But what really happened? Let’s break it down. The New FIDE Rule Starting October 1, FIDE is changing how ratings are calculated for top players. The idea is to make ratings for … Read more
If you’ve ever played chess online or followed professional tournaments, you’ve probably seen those mysterious numbers next to players’ names—something like 1350, 2100, or even 2800. These aren’t random digits. They represent a player’s Elo rating, the most widely used system for measuring chess strength. But what does an Elo rating actually mean? Why does … Read more