ChessBase

• Grand Chess Tour: Sindarov and Van Foreest step in as tour regulars

  Changes to the 2026 lineup of the Grand Chess Tour have been confirmed ahead of the opening events in May. Gukesh Dommaraju has withdrawn from the full tour schedule, with Javokhir Sindarov stepping in as his replacement - though the two upcoming World Championship contenders will still meet at the first leg in Poland. Levon Aronian will miss the Bucharest event due to illness, with Jorden van Foreest (pictured) stepping in as tour regular. | Photo: ChessBase / Nils Rohde

• ChessBase tips for beginners - Quick access toolbars

  This episode explains how to use the quick access toolbar in ChessBase to manage game notation more efficiently. It shows how to handle variations, delete or hide moves, and quickly add comments, diagrams, and evaluation symbols.

• World Senior Team Championships: USA and Germany, both top seeds in their categories, grab gold

  The World Senior Team Championship 2026 has concluded in Durrës, with USA 1 securing the 50+ title after drawing their final match, while Italy and Kazakhstan completed the podium. In the 65+ section, Germany – Lasker claimed gold ahead of Italy, with Iceland taking bronze on tiebreaks. The women's standings were led by USA Women and the FIDE Women's Team respectively, following closely contested tournaments across both categories. | Pictured: Artur Yusupov (top board for Germany-Lasker in the 65+ section) | Photo: International Senior Chess Events

• A football-like atmosphere at the European Championship in Katowice

  With almost 500 participants, the European Individual Championship in Katowice proved to be an attractive tournament for chess players in the Old Continent. However, it was somewhat lacking in top-level players. Among the "rank and file" was Roger Lorenz, who was impressed by the organisation, though less so by his own result. Nevertheless, his overall conclusion is positive. | Photos: Roger Lorenz

• Hong Kong World Rapid and Blitz

  The fourth edition of the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships will take place from 16 to 22 June in Hong Kong, marking the event’s first appearance in East Asia. Top teams have already confirmed their participation, featuring some of the biggest names in the game, including world number one Magnus Carlsen, alongside the most recent FIDE Candidates and Women’s Candidates winners, Javokhir Sindarov and Vaishali Rameshbabu. | Photos: Rafal Oleksiewicz and Michal Walusza

• The life of Mian Sultan Khan

  He is one of the most remarkable figures in the world of chess. Born in a rural village in British India, and receiving only rudimentary schooling, Sultan Khan became very adept at the game. When he moved to England he won numerous prestigeous tournaments, and beat the likes of U.S. Champion Marshall and World Champion Capablanca. A new book by his oldest son and his granddaughter is due for release in July. We had a preview. | All pictures shown courtesy of chesshistory.com.

• Problem Challenge April

  Were you able to handle the four rook endgame studies we showed you recently? They were a little bit harder to solve than they looked. We now bring you all the intricacies and subtleties in short videos by IM Gauri Shankar, who works as a chess trainer in Chicago. And of course we give you full analysis in a ChessBase replayer, where you can switch on an engine to help resolve any residual questions.

• Regulations for FIDE Rapid and Blitz

  Preparations are fully underway for the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2026 in Hong Kong from 16 to 22 June. In previous editions, the tournament has featured numerous top players competing alongside amateurs and rising talents, producing a dynamic atmosphere rarely seen in traditional elite events. Magnus Carlsen is expected to participate in Hong Kong, adding further star power to the competition.

• Candidates Round 14 - Live!

  The Candidates Tournaments form the final qualifying stage of the FIDE World Championship cycle. Each tournament features eight of the world's strongest players competing in a double round-robin format over fourteen rounds of classical chess. No fewer than six players (out of eight) enter the final round with mathematical chances of winning the Women's Candidates Tournament. | Follow the games live with expert commentary starting at 14.30 CEST (8.30 ET, 18.00 IST) | Photo: Michal Walusza

• A Game That Outlasted the Day (4)

  It should be clearly emphasized that the longest chess game of all time can only arise by chance. Any prior agreement between the opponents before the game—such as, "Let’s play the longest game in history today!" – or any such understanding reached during the game, automatically turns them into cheaters, with all the ensuing consequences. Estonian chess expert and trainer, Valery Golubenko, tells us about the struggle to regulate very long theoretical endings.