ChessBase

• International conference "Chess in Education" to b­­e held in Almaty

  Almaty will host the 4th International Scientific and Practical Conference "Chess in Education" on 12–13 November at Narxoz University. Organised as part of Kazakhstan's national chess development plan, the event will focus on expanding school chess, improving teacher training and integrating chess more systematically into education. FIDE President Timur Turlov and international specialists will join discussions on cognitive development, curriculum design, digital tools and the training of educators. | Image: FIDE

• A chess revival at Simpson's-in-the-Strand

  The London chess café Simpson's-in-the-Strand was, for a time, a meeting place for the world's leading players. Now, thanks to Jeremy King and Jason Kouchak, the historic venue is enjoying a revival not only as a top restaurant but also as a gathering place for chess enthusiasts. | Photos: Chiao Lee

• Lhamsuren Myagmarsuren (1938-2026)

  Bobby Fischer fans in particular will probably be familiar with the name Lhamsuren Myagmarsuren. At the Interzonal Tournament in Sousse 1967, Fischer defeated him in a brilliant game that is still frequently cited. On 26 October, the multiple Mongolian champion, who represented his country on numerous occasions, died at the age of 88. | Foto: https://montsame.mn/

• Sindarov takes Clutch Chess title ahead of World Championship match

  Javokhir Sindarov won the Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown in Saint Louis after overturning a 2½-point deficit on the final day. The Uzbek grandmaster scored three wins and three draws on Thursday, including a brilliant tactical victory over Hikaru Nakamura from the black side of a King's Indian Defence. Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu finished second, 1½ points behind. The result gives Sindarov a tournament victory less than a month before his World Championship match against Gukesh Dommaraju in Geneva. | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Saint Louis Chess Club

• Istanbul to host FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2026

  Istanbul will host the 2026 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships from 25 to 30 December, with hundreds of players expected to compete for four world titles in the open and women's sections. Freedom Holding Corp. will serve as title sponsor. The event marks another major international chess competition in Türkiye, which has hosted the Olympiad and several youth championships while continuing to expand chess through schools and national development programmes.

• Stellar line-up for 2026 XTX London Chess Classic

  The full ten-player line-up for the 2026 XTX Markets London Chess Classic has been announced, bringing together some of the biggest names in world chess for the UK's most prestigious international tournament. Defending champion Nodirbek Abdusattorov, the Uzbek world number five, will return to London seeking to become the first player since Magnus Carlsen in 2010 to win back-to-back Classic titles. Tennis star Andy Murray makes the ceremonial first move on Nodirbek Abdusattorov's board at the 2025 London Chess Classic, while tournament director Malcolm Pein looks on and provides commentary. | Photo: London Chess Classic

• Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown - Live!

  Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown is a high-profile rapid tournament gathering four elite competitors. Javokhir Sindarov, who is set to challenge Gukesh Dommaraju for the World Championship title next month, joins Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu in a three-day battle. The competition runs from 27 to 29 October and follows a "clutch" structure of three double round-robins, where results become progressively more valuable with each round-robin. | Follow the action live starting at 18.00 CET (13.00 ET, 22.30 IST) | Photo: Lennart Ootes

• KazChess Masters: Mamedov and Makhnev set the pace in Almaty

  Kazakh grandmasters Edgar Mamedov (pictured) and Denis Makhnev share the lead at the KazChess Masters in Almaty after three rounds, both with 2½ points. Mamedov, aged 16, started with two consecutive wins, while Makhnev caught up by defeating Aram Hakobyan in round three. Three of the five international participants - Daniil Dubov, Shamsiddin Vokhidov and Denis Lazavik - are half a point behind the leading duo. | Photo: Nils Rohde / ChessBase

• Dragons of the Olympiad 2026 - The Monthly Dragon

  In this Olympiad special of the Monthly Dragon, Chris Ward looks at five Dragon games from a wide range of rating levels and shows just how successful the opening was in Samarkand. The examples highlight typical Dragon themes such as pressure on the c file, the strength of the dark squared bishop, exchange sacrifices, tactical ideas around the queenside and the importance of knowing the right plans once the opening theory ends. Chris also examines several instructive mistakes, showing how quickly a position can collapse when White loses track of key Dragon motifs. | Photo: John Upham

• Clutch Chess: Nakamura leads after lively first day of action

  Hikaru Nakamura took the early lead at the Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown tournament in Saint Louis, scoring two wins and four draws to finish day one on 4/6 points. Javokhir Sindarov follows half a point behind, while Fabiano Caruana and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu occupy third and fourth place. The opening day featured five decisive games and plenty of exciting battles. Victories will be worth increasingly more points over the next two days. | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Saint Louis Chess Club