ChessBase

• Bundesliga: Viernheim still perfect, Baden-Baden only manage a draw

  SC Viernheim extended their lead in the 2025/26 Chess Bundesliga with a narrow win over Sfr. Wolfhagen in round thirteen, while OSG Baden-Baden were held to a draw by Heimbach-Weis-Neuwied. The results leave Viernheim four match points clear of Baden-Baden with two rounds remaining. A draw in Saturday's direct encounter with Baden-Baden would be sufficient for the leaders to secure the title. | Pictured: 14-year-old Turkish prodigy Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus (Viernheim) | Photo: ChessBase / Nils Rohde

• Zachery Saine - From YouTuber to FIDE presenter

  Zachery’s journey is a remarkable rise from a small content creator to the face behind the YouTube channel thechessnerd, now with over 227,000 subscribers, and a presenter for FIDE, hosting press conferences at the 2026 Candidates Tournament. He began in 2019 at just 18 years old, uploading chess videos, and saw explosive growth during the pandemic as his content reached a global audience. Alongside this, his playing strength climbed from 1680 Elo in 2016 to over 2100 within a decade. So how did he make the leap from creator to official FIDE presenter, and how did his chess level improve? In this interview with Arne Kaehler, he shares the full story.

• Live Masterclass with Peter Svidler

  This weekend KCF Academy subscribers will have the opportunity to meet the extraordinary Peter Svidler during a regular live Sunday session. Don't miss this unique opportunity to enhance your chess understanding with insights from a true chess legend and get an expert's take on the just-concluded 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament. Add to Your Calendar: Sunday, April 26, 2026, 17:00 CET.

• Chess.com Open Playoffs - Live!

  The Chess.com Open Playoffs, running from 23 to 26 April, offer a direct route to the Esports World Cup, with up to three qualification places at stake. Leading grandmasters contest a double-elimination playoff bracket in a rapid format (10+0) with Armageddon tiebreaks deciding drawn matches. On day two, the winners bracket semifinals see Magnus Carlsen facing Denis Lazavik and Jan-Krzysztof Duda facing Nihal Sarin. | Follow the games live starting at 17.15 CEST (11.15 ET, 20.45 IST)

• Bundesliga Round 13 - Live!

  The 2025/26 Chess Bundesliga season concludes with three rounds in Berlin from 24 to 26 April. SC Viernheim lead the standings by three match points over OSG Baden-Baden, with Schachfreunde Wolfhagen still within reach in third place (a win grants two MPs). The final weekend features direct encounters between all three teams. | Follow the action live starting at 16.00 CEST (10.00 ET, 19.30 IST)

• Chess.com Open: Carlsen shines, Sindarov knocked out

  Four players remain unbeaten after the opening day of the Chess.com Open Playoffs, with Magnus Carlsen, Denis Lazavik, Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Nihal Sarin progressing through the Winners Bracket. Several close matches and multiple Armageddon deciders marked the early rounds, while eight players dropped into the Losers Bracket and four were eliminated, including new World Championship challenger Javokhir Sindarov. | Photo: ChessBase / Nils Rohde

• World Senior Team Championship heats up, USA and Italy share the lead in 50+ section

  At the halfway stage of the World Senior Team Championship in Durrës, the standings have begun to take clearer shape. In the 50+ section, USA 1 and Italy moved into the lead after key round-five victories, while France 1 emerged as sole leaders in the 65+ category. With closely contested matches and limited separation across both sections, the tournament remains open ahead of the decisive final rounds following the rest day. | Photo: Georgia Grapsa

• 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