ChessBase

• Critical thinking takes centre stage at Judit Polgar's Global Chess Festival

  The 12th Judit Polgar Global Chess Festival took place at the Hungarian National Gallery in Budapest, with critical thinking as the central theme of its 2026 edition. The programme combined chess with education, technology and art, and included a Community Chess Simul with the strongest female chess player of all time, the public debut of the RubikChess Tournament, AI-related activities and a range of events aimed at families and young players. | Photo: Global Chess Festival

• From Tsaghkadzor to the Grand Final: European Schools Chess Champions crowned amidst cultural celebration

  Gymnasium No. 50 of Minsk won the European Continental Stage of the FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship in Tsaghkadzor, completing the eight-round event with a perfect match score. Riga State Gymnasium No. 1 took second place, while LEPL Georgia, Kutaisi Andria Razmadze Physico finished third. The champions also secured qualification for December's Grand Final, with individual board prizes and a closing ceremony bringing the European stage to an end. | Photos: Arlan Olzhabay / BI-Group

• Upcoming tournaments and events

  Looking for an interesting over-the-board chess tournament to play, attend, or simply watch? There are plenty being staged all over the world, and we bring you an overview of the most interesting of them – focused mainly on tournaments in November. We do this in cooperation with MyChess.events, a global platform that helps players discover upcoming events, check dates, venues, formats, prize funds and registration details.

• Jon Speelman at 70: A leading figure of English chess

  Jonathan Speelman turns 70 today, 2 October 2026. The English grandmaster was one of the world's leading players in the late 1980s, reaching the Candidates semifinals and climbing to the world top five in the FIDE rankings. A three-time British champion, Speelman also played a major role in England's Olympiad successes and later became well known for his work as a chess author, analyst and columnist. Happy birthday! | Photos: British Chess News / Gennadiy Titkov

• Is Russia plotting to kill Kasparov?

  Russia is hardly known for treating people in general, and political opponents in particular, with restraint. Lithuanian and US security services have now uncovered an alleged network of Russian operatives and saboteurs said to have been preparing attacks on Russian exiles. One of the reported targets: Garry Kasparov. | Photo: Kasparov.com

• Nepo has dragon problems - The Monthly Dragon

  Chris Ward looks at two very different Dragon games, one from club level and one from the very top of the chess world. The first example shows how ambitious attacking ideas can lead to rich tactical positions, even when the calculation is not completely correct, while the second features Alexander Grischuk against Ian Nepomniachtchi and demonstrates how quickly White can get into trouble after spending time grabbing material instead of developing the attack. Chris highlights typical Dragon themes such as pressure on the queenside, exchange sacrifices, tactical ideas on the c file and the strength of the dark squared bishop. | Photo: John Upham

• Knight to October 8: Saint Louis to host America's chess elite

  The 2026 U.S. and U.S. Women’s Chess Championships will take place at the Saint Louis Chess Club from 8 to 23 October, with 12-player fields and more than $400,000 in total prize money. Fabiano Caruana (pictured) will defend his U.S. title against a field including Wesley So, Hans Niemann and Levon Aronian, while Carissa Yip heads the women's event alongside Alice Lee, Irina Krush and Rose Atwell. | Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club

• Afghan Olympiad participants arrested after returning home

  Chess is currently banned in Afghanistan. This was not always the case. Despite the ban, Afghan teams took part in both the open and women's sections of the Chess Olympiad, a decision that was not welcomed by the ruling Taliban. Three of the players were arrested at the border on their return and placed under house arrest. They could potentially face severe punishment.

• Behind the scenes in Samarkand: The Olympiad comes to a close

  Arne Kähler shares impressions from the final moments in Samarkand: the start of the crucial matches Uzbekistan–Ukraine and India–Hungary in the last round, a blitz game against seven-year-old Uzbek talent Mukhammadyusuf Bakhramov, scenes from the press room, a chat with Frederik Svane from Germany and Konstantin Peyrer from Austria, and highlights from the closing ceremony. | Photo: ChessBase

• FIDE Ratings - October 2026

  The results of the Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan brought notable changes to the rankings. Among the big winners are Uzbekistan's Abdusattorov, Sindarov and Yakubboev. Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus has extended his lead over Gukesh in the junior rankings, while Alice Lee of the United States is now the top-ranked female junior.