6 SE!ZE the Moment
8 NIC’s Café
A treasure from the BBC Archive, Bodhana Sivanandan’s WGM title, the return of John Healy and more.
14 A new FIDE President
Timur Turlov was elected in the second voting round, as the 38-year-old multibillionaire from Kazakhstan defeated Wadim Rosenstein, a multimillionaire from Germany, 110-85.
18 Interview: Timur Turlov
The new FIDE President wants to take chess into the digital future with the help of global partnerships with big brands.
24 Uzbekistan superb in Samarkand
Seemingly unfazed by the pressure from the home crowd, Team Uzbekistan relied on friendship and an unshakable belief in their potential as they triumphed in the 46th Olympiad in Samarkand. On Board 1, a formidable Nodirbek Abdusattorov led the way, winning a gold medal with a 2869 performance.
33 Celeb 64
Nigerian-born British poet, .playwright, and novelist Sir Ben Okri.
78 China wins Women’s Olympiad
They didn’t bring World Champion Ju Wenjun or any former World Champions and they were only seeded fourth. And yet they won.
92 Uzbekistan’s next generation
As the Olympiad’s host, Uzbekistan was entitled to field more than one team. After 9 rounds, Uzbekistan 2 had the local fans in raptures as they sensationally occupied third place.
100 Is a racoon a he or a she?
Megan Moreland played 200 games on Chess.com, and found she was five times likelier to receive interaction from her opponents when she played as a woman than when she played as a man.
104 A hot summer
Boris Gelfand’s choice pick of fascinating recent games from around the world.
120 GCT is decided in St. Louis
The 2026 Grand Chess Tour came to a close with a month(!) of top-level chess in St. Louis.
136 Pawn sacrifices
Renier Castellanos looks at the strengths and risks of different kinds of pawn sacrifices.
143 The Killer Blow
145 Fair & Square
146 The Scoresheet
Salov-Ljubojevic, Buenos Aires 1994.
148 Unbelievable but true
Is it possible to find new approaches in an opening as old and venerable as the Spanish? Or a relevant new idea as early as move 4 in the Caro-Kann? You bet it is.
152 The Model Game
It’s always time for the Modern Defence.
156 Sadler on Books
Matthew Sadler happily gave himself over to another endgame binge.
162 Just Checking
Which three people would Denis Lazavik like to invite to dinner?
A modern reappraisal of Bobby Fischer’s greatest games by US grandmaster Joel Benjamin. With engine-aided insight and personal perspective, this book highlights the clarity, technique, and huge impact of Fischer’s chess.
The games of the eleventh World Champion continue to fascinate chess fans. In Bobby Fischer’s Best Games, American grandmaster Joel Benjamin revisits his fellow countryman’s legacy with fresh eyes, modern engines, and a deeply personal perspective, as a chess Grandmaster launched by the Fischer chess boom in the 1970s.
Within the context of Fischer’s dramatic life, Benjamin focuses firmly on the chess. In this careful selection of 64 games, his analyses illuminate Fischer’s strategic clarity, technical mastery, and unique approach to decision-making. With today’s analytical tools, Benjamin reassesses famous fragments and sheds new light on Fischer’s play without losing sight of the Champion’s great artistry.
Organized chronologically, the book traces Bobby Fischer’s development from prodigy to World Champion. Benjamin gives special attention to Fischer’s openings, endgame play, and recurring strategic themes.
This book is a modern, thoughtful exploration of Fischer’s chess – respectful, honest, and deeply instructive.
At thirteen years of age Joel Benjamin broke Bobby Fischer's record as the youngest ever US master, and this was followed by countless tournament successes. He won the US Championship three times and was the chess consultant for IBM's Deep Blue computer, which made history by beating World Champion Garry Kasparov in an epic encounter.
Dutch edition. We also offer an English edition.
Godfried Vos – de held van De Sponsor, deel I – ontdekt een sinister complot: de maffia bereidt een aanslag voor op het legendarische schaakfestival in Marostica.
Samen met de blinde detective Gino Cancellara gaat hij op onderzoek uit om de waarheid achter de zogenaamde 'Vierde Maffia', een meedogenloos netwerk van drugshandelaren in heel Europa, aan het licht te brengen.
Hun onderzoek leidt hen diep in de verborgen geschiedenis van Italië, waar de geheime vrijmetselaarsloge P2 en het clandestiene Gladio-netwerk ooit opereerden als een staat binnen een staat. Het landschap van De Sponsor II draagt nog steeds de littekens van de brute gevechten uit de Tweede Wereldoorlog tussen fascisten en de geallieerden – gevechten waarvan de gevolgen tot op de dag van vandaag doorwerken.
Tegen deze beladen achtergrond riskeren Godfried en Gino alles om de georganiseerde misdaad te bestrijden. Hun gedeelde passies – schaken, geschiedenis en de Italiaanse keuken – lopen als een rode draad door het verhaal en geven deze literaire thriller een unieke sfeer en emotionele diepgang.
Een speciale bijlage bevat gedetailleerde analyses van de schaakpartijen die in het verhaal voorkomen, evenals recepten voor de authentieke Italiaanse gerechten die de hoofdpersonen aten.
Fred Das was internationaal ondernemer, ontwikkelaar van onroerend goed en een verdienstelijk schaker. Na de verkoop van zijn bedrijf is hij voornamelijk huisvader.
Jeroen Terlingen was vakbondsjournalist, redacteur van Vrij Nederland en docent journalistiek.
6 Chessfest
From a sickening Russian attack on a chess school in Ukraine, via Judit’s lunch with the Terminator, to the FIDE presidential elections.
16 Searching for the real Gukesh
Successfully hanging on to an early lead, Alireza Firouzja became the winner of the Chennai Grand Masters. There was plenty of captivating chess – as witness our extensive games section – but the main topic of conversation was once again the man who finished last, the out-of-form World Champion.
27 Celeb 64
The new head coach of Manchester City, Enzo Maresca.
48 The Magnus Mountain
Over the past 15 years, no fewer than twelve different players have reached the number two spot in the world rankings. The top spot has been the exclusive domain of just one player: Magnus Carlsen.
54 Why is he really the best?
Peter Heine Nielsen sees Magnus Carlsen’s double victories in the World Rapid & Blitz Championships as eminent proof of the Norwegian’s overall dominance.
68 All-round Aronian
Levon Aronian showed a much-welcomed return to form as he crowned his debut in the Biel Chess Festival with a win in the Grandmasters Triathlon.
72 Kazakhstan Rising
88 A Tribute to Danya
An incredible number of top grandmasters, content creators and other friends came to the Charlotte Chess Center to honor the memory of Daniel Naroditsky.
100 King Safety
No matter what advantage you have, it may amount to little or nothing if your king is under threat.
109 The Killer Blow
111 Fair & Square
112 The Scoresheet
Unzicker-Fischer, Buenos Aires 1960.
114 New Tries in Old Openings
Nikolaos Ntirlis presents four practical opening ideas from current tournament practice that promise good play; two for White and two for Black.
118 The Model Game
Sound positional play and relentless pressure: How football imitates chess.
122 Sadler on Books
Our book reviewer celebrates the endgame and much-missed authors on the subject.
130 Just Checking
What is Nihal Sarin’s biggest fear?
Endgame mastery separates great players from the good. First-rate endgame play requires a mix of calculation, pattern recognition, abstract themes, theoretical knowledge and resilience few have mastered. In this rich collection of seventy mini-lessons, written over six years, acclaimed author GM Daniel Naroditsky guides you to every corner of the endgame world in the engaging, humorous, and always instructive style that made him famous.
The articles in this book were originally published in Chess Life Magazine and on chess.com. They have been checked carefully and updated where necessary. Mastering Practical Endgames is a resource for chess improvement of the highest order.
Daniel Naroditsky (1995-2025) became the World U12 Champion in 2007 and a Grandmaster at just 17 in 2013. He competed in the US Championship in 2021, defeating World No. 2 Fabiano Caruana. At his death in 2025, Naroditsky ranked 23rd in the world in blitz. Online, he was a respected and much-loved chess educator.
Every aspiring chess player wants to improve their positional understanding. In this ambitious work, GM Daniel Naroditsky explains clear positional themes in complex settings. Drawing on his own games, those of US colleagues, and top-level grandmasters, the prodigious author navigates chess strategy with the liveliness and clarity he later became famous for.
Mastering Positional Chess was first published when Naroditsky was just 14. This edition has been significantly updated.
Mastering Complex Endgames is a rich collection of practical endgame examples whose assessments require more than just standard theory. Daniel Naroditsky drew heavily on his own experience as a player. The material is lively and instructive, with wonderful practical advice and insights into the minds of the chess greats. This highly systematic work will take your endgame technique to the next level.
Mastering Complex Endgames was first published in 2012, when Naroditsky was only 16. This edition has been significantly improved and updated.
English edition. We also offer a Dutch edition.
Godfried Vos — the hero of The Sponsor, Part I — uncovers a sinister plot: the Mafia is preparing an attack on the legendary chess festival in Marostica.
Together with blind detective Gino Cancellara, he sets out to expose the truth behind the so-called Fourth Mafia, a ruthless network of drugs traffickers across Europe.
Their investigation leads deep into Italy’s hidden history, where the secret Masonic lodge P2 and the clandestine Gladio network once operated as a state within a state. The landscape of The Sponsor II still bears the scars of the brutal World War II battles fought between Fascists and the Allied forces — battles whose consequences echo into the present.
Against this charged backdrop, Godfried and Gino risk everything to confront organised crime. Their shared passions — chess, history, and Italian cuisine — thread through the narrative, giving this literary thriller a unique atmosphere and emotional depth.
A special appendix includes detailed analyses of the chess games featured in the story, as well as recipes for the authentic Italian dishes enjoyed by the protagonists.
Fred Das is an international entrepreneur and property developer who is also a keen chess player. Having sold his business, he is now also a part-time stay-at-home father.
Jeroen Terlingen is a former trade union journalist and editor at Vrij Nederland, as well as a journalism teacher. He now writes books, makes films and teaches courses.
Pragg’s Fab Four Finish
After six rounds he languished in last place. Winning his last four games, Praggnanandhaa shot up to first place at the spectacular Norway Chess 2026 edition in Oslo.
Interview: Praggnanandhaa
‘My generation has certainly proved that we are top players. If you just see our results, we have done everything.’
Interview: Elham Amar
When he became an IM at 17, he had never ever opened a chess book, never used ChessBase and had never been abroad. Four years on, Norway’s Elham Amar is a GM and has just crossed 2600.
Second comes first
We knew him as Sindarov’s passionate second. Now Mukhiddin Madaminov has won the UzChess Masters, ahead of several super-GMs.
Blindfold anyone?
Swedish GM Axel Smith explains how easy it is to play 50 opponents blindfold. He managed 49 himself.
Magnus Magic in Malmõ
Looking to play some classical games before Norway Chess, Magnus Carlsen hand-picked the Tepe Sigeman tournament to gain some practice.
Exchange for the better
When is the right moment to trade pieces or pawns and what is your objective?
Life’s a Beach
Boris Gelfand looks at games from around the world that piqued his interest.
Keep it easy
The Model Game
A fine effort by British prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan.
Sadler on Books
From a chess biography of a forgotten master to a collection of tips first published on Twitter, Matthew Sadler shines his light on a wide variety of new books.
Gyula Breyer (1893-1921) was a highly successful and imaginative chess player. He won the championship of his native country Hungary as a teenager and achieved remarkable results against the leading players of his day.
But first and foremost, Breyer was a revolutionary in his chess thinking. He promoted the idea of dynamic chess and formulated many of the Hypermodern concepts, long before others started their investigations. Yet, after his death, he was omitted from most of the chess history books and today is only known for the Breyer variation, an ever popular defence against the Ruy Lopez.
However, Jimmy Adams has now unlocked Breyer’s legacy from the archives and made it accessible to the chess world at large. This monumental book presents 240 of his games, annotated by Breyer himself and many others. It also features a large number of articles, columns and fragments from newspapers, magazines and books, sparkling with chess and literary wit. The majority appear in English for the first time – and indeed in any language other than Hungarian.
By piecing together this material in chronological order, Jimmy Adams has constructed a mesmerizing biography covering Gyula Breyer’s intense, unconventional and ultimately tragic life. Included as well is a collection of his chess problems, some of which are truly amazing.
GM Raymond Keene:
"In terms of importance this book ranks at the top with Kasparov's various mega series, Nimzowitsch's ‘My System’ and Alekhine's books of his best games. Games, notes, discreet modern corrections, scholarly research, history, theory and perhaps most impressive of all, Breyer's Philosophy of the art, science and sport of chess!"
CHESS Magazine (UK):
"The Hypermoderns owed much to Breyer, as becomes clear in this fine, detailed biography."
International Master John Donaldson:
"A magnificent tribute to one of the unsung heroes of the early 20th century (..) This book has almost everything one could want in a game collection (..) This is a book that all those with an interest in chess history will want to have."
Davide Nastasio, Georgia Chess news:
"This book on Breyer is amazing (..) When I got this book I thought I was just adding another biography to my shelf of chess biographies. Instead I discovered, thanks to Adams’ meticulous work, a world of chess ideas I had ignored (..) I believe everyone should read this book."
B.H.Wilders, Nederlands Dagblad:
"A splendid book."
IM Gary Lane, British Chess Magazine:
"A thoroughly entertaining story that whisks you along to the dramatic end. There is a lot to admire in this clear and readable guide to a largely forgotten chessplayer who was way ahead of his time."
James Vigus, author of ‘Play the Slav’:
“This magnificent tome is the product of decades of research (..) Most of us tend to buy opening books and works of instruction rather than history. This one is worth making an exception for – and difficult to put down.”
The widely-played Winawer Variation has been called ‘the jewel in the crown of the French Defence’. It is easy to see why:
This is an opening for players who love a real fight. Black immediately attacks White’s centre and the resulting positional dynamics offer chances to both sides.
Viktor Moskalenko, a renowned champion of dynamic play, is the ideal guide to show you both the strategic principles and the tactical finesses. As a follow-up to his bestselling The Flexible French, Moskalenko has written another sparkling book brimming with new and original ideas.
The entire spectrum of the Winawer is covered, but of course Moskalenko has his own preferences and he does not shy away from some daring recommendations.
His keen eye for the essence of positions, his talent to find new resources in well-known lines and his own inimitable style will make the ‘French Magic’ work for every reader.
Viktor Moskalenko is an International Grandmaster, a successful author and a well-known chess coach who has worked with Vasily Ivanchuk. A former Ukrainian champion, Moskalenko remains highly active as a player and has won numerous tournaments in his new home country, Spain.
Viktor Kortchnoi:
"Familiarizing oneself with Moskalenko's new ideas can only have a beneficial effect on the play of any reader, from amateur to professional. I can see many connections between this second book and the earlier 'flexible' volume, which proves that the two are in spirit actually one publication."
Arne Moll, ChessVibes:
"The book literally brims with double exclamation marks, devious tricks, once-forgotten-but-now-revitalised ideas, quintessential quotes, noteworthy novelties, and thought-provoking italicised musing (..) A true roller-coaster ride of a book."
Klaus Kreuzer, Europa Rochade Magazine:
"It is simply a pleasure to work with this book."
Paul Motwani, The Scotsman:
"Brilliant (..) GM Viktor Moskalenko does an excellent job of giving all the most important lines after 3.Nc3 Bb4 together with lots of sound advice and ideas which makes the material easily understandable."
Marshtower Chess Reviews:
"The writing style is never less than engaging. It is possible to learn quite a lot just by reading the prose and not even playing through the moves."
Joe Petrolito, Australasian Chess Magazine:
"Expands and complements the material on the Winawer in the earlier book (..) Another fine book by a good author."
Glenn Flear, Yearbook 98:
"It is as if Moskalenko and New In Chess have consciously sought out the best features in other chess books and then put them all into this one. In addition, these 272 pages are so full full of the sheer 'joie de vivre' of the author that I would recommend turning a few pages when you are feeling down."
Max Euwe Centre, Amsterdam:
"A barrage of ideas, suggestions, warnings and concepts."
Gary Lane, Chess Moves Magazine:
"A must for those who play the French Defence."
Carsten Hansen, ChessCafe:
"Very interesting and well-analyzed, with plenty of fresh ideas and suggestions."
The Ruy Lopez Revisited contains, among MANY other things, in-depth but highly accessible analysis of the Jaenisch Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5.
Vassily Ivanchuk played this gambit successfully against world champion Viswanathan Anand in the third round of the 4th Grand Slam Masters Final, held in Sao Paulo, in September 2011.
Ivan Sokolov:
"The Jaenisch should appeal to any black player who is looking for trouble at an early stage of the game. There are many dynamic ideas and still many lines to explore. I personally support Black's cause and I think the Jaenisch is a fully fledged variation."
The Ruy Lopez (or Spanish Opening) is one of the most important and oldest chess openings, forever popular with amateurs as well as professional players.
In this ground-breaking book, one of today’s greatest Ruy Lopez experts, Ivan Sokolov, presents a practical opening guide with a wide repertoire for black players who want to play for a win.
Besides the Jaenisch this book brings you:
* the Delayed Jaenisch: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 f5
* the Cozio Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Ne7
* the Smyslov Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6
* the Bird Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4
* the Classical Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5
The lines Sokolov presents are always dynamic and sometimes quite offbeat. But he has played most of them himself on numerous occasions, even against the strongest opponents.
Many of these lines turn out to be stronger than their reputation suggests, but Sokolov always remains an objective analyst. As well as numerous improvements for Black, the book also contains some crushing novelties for White!
Ivan Sokolov is a top grandmaster who was born in Bosnia in 1968. He was Yugoslav champion in 1988 and Dutch champion in 1995 and 1998. In his rich career Sokolov has beaten world chess champions like Garry Kasparov, Vladimir Kramnik as well as Viswanathan Anand.
Nicholas P.Sterling, Chess Horizons:
"An essential resource for Ruy Lopez players."
"Superb"
"This is simply a great opening book, probably one of the best ever on the Spanish Opening."
British Chess Magazine:
"A well-written, well-structured book with a lot of interesting ideas to explore. Sokolov introduces each chapter with plenty of textual material and also summarises at the end."
Pete Tamburro, Chess Life Magazine:
"With the line that Smyslov made famous, he devotes a decidedly simple and correct ten pages, and -voilà!- you have an understandable defense against the Ruy Lopez."
Fernando Offermann, Schachwelt:
"Sokolov's Spanish book with half-forgotten variations has something to offer for everyone (..) It is well suited for practical players, adventurers and connoisseurs."
Richard Vedder, Schakers.info:
"We must be grateful Ivan Sokolov wishes to share his knowledge of these variations with us, because he treats more or less everything Spanish where 3. ... a7-a6, 3. ...d7-d6 or that awful Berlin is not played."
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