New In Chess 2026/2

A Star is Born 

Dominating the Candidates in Cyprus in unprecedented fashion, 20-year-old Javokhir Sindarov earned the right to challenge World Champion Gukesh (19) in the youngest world title match ever. Vaishali Rameshbabu emerged as the winner in the Women’s Candidates.

Interview: Javokhir Sindarov 

‘I have become a really good professional chess player.’

Interview: Roman Vidonyak 

‘Compared to training in other sports, we are still in the Paleolithic Age.’

Prague Masters 

Unruffled by Jorden van Foreest’s explosive tournament start, Nodirbek Abdusattorov retained his focus on his own play and pipped the Dutchman at the post.

Tournament Roundup

Boris Gelfand looks at recent games from around the world.

In memoriam Jan Timman 

‘Being with Jan was always a comforting moment outside of time. Those playful smiles of his, the gestures, the sovereign calm.’

‘Far out, isn’t it?’ 

Erwin l’Ami remembers Jan Timman.

Jan’s Saga 

Helgi Olafsson writes about Jan Timman’s warm ties with Iceland.

Three Timman Treats 

Jacob Aagaard selected three fine Timman wins from different periods of his long career.

A Huge Appetite for Life 

Jon Speelman misses a charming warrior.

Timman’s Combinations 

Fair & Square 

Peter Heine Nielsen’s brief review of Untold: Chess Mates.

Eze’s Edge 

NIC’s Café 

Erling Haaland thinks ‘chess is an incredible game’ and so does Olympic superstar Johannes Klaebo.

Celeb 64 

Sir William Golding, English novelist.

The Scoresheet 

Niemann-Aravindh, Prague 2026.

Improving the Worst Piece 

Renier Castellanos is your Killer Chess Training coach.

Reimagining the Opening 

Fresh opening ideas curated by Nikolaos Ntirlis.

Viva Ruy Lopez 

A new model game presented by Christof Sielecki.

Killer Blow 

Exercises to sharpen your tactics.

Sadler on Books 

Bobby Fischer remains a model of relentless accuracy.

Just Checking 

Who is Keti Tsatsalashvili’s favourite player?

The Last Column 

Shortly after the medics had told him that he should start thinking in months rather than years, Jan Timman wrote a ‘spare column’.