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Endgames are where the magic happens in chess. When the board is stripped down to just a few pieces, every move counts. But what do you do when you’re in an unbalanced endgame? You know, those tricky situations where you’ve got a rook, and your opponent has two knights. Or maybe you’ve got an extra … Read more
Chess has witnessed many transformations over the centuries, but few innovations are as thrilling as Freestyle Chess, also known as Fischer Random or Chess960. This chess variant shakes up the traditional setup by randomizing the back rank’s pieces, creating 960 unique starting positions. Now, this variant is taking center stage in the form of the … Read more
Follow Xue Haowen’s journey from a passionate chess student to Shenzhen’s first Grandmaster, guided by GM Zeng Chongsheng, with stories of perseverance, triumph, and unwavering dreams. In the final round of the historic 98th Hastings Open in the UK, Xue Haowen secured the championship with an impressive performance: 5 wins, 4 draws, and 7 points … Read more
Who are the brightest chess prodigies to watch in 2025? I’ve compiled a ranking of 45 young talents, from Faustino Oro to Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, based on their age, Elo rating, and recent performances. Preface I chose to focus on the top 5 players by Elo from each birthyear category (2007 to 2015) based on … Read more
When Faustino Oro moved from Argentina to Spain, the parallels with Lionel Messi were hard to ignore. Just like the football legend, Oro made the leap to pursue his dreams on a bigger stage. But instead of football fields, his arena is the chessboard. At just 11 years old, Faustino isn’t merely following in Messi’s … Read more
Gukesh Dommaraju, an 18-year-old chess player from India, dethroned defending champion Ding Liren on December 12 to become the 2024 World Chess Champion. The match was decided in the final classical game, where Gukesh clinched victory with a score of 7.5-6.5, avoiding the need for a rapid tiebreak. This win makes Gukesh the youngest World … Read more
How did a 13-year-old could beat Magnus Carlsen in 41.2 seconds? Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus has made an impressive mark on the chess world, though, according to his parents, his achievements are more about hard work than natural talent. A Star is Born Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus was just 5 years old when he first learned about … Read more
Gukesh Dommaraju’s journey to the 2024 world chess championship was a testament to huge dedication and sacrifice, both from him and his family. With no external financial support during his formative years, his parents relied almost entirely on their income, even taking on loans to fund his participation in tournaments. *Please note that the following … Read more
What’s the deal with everyone discussing the Cow Opening? This article will delve into its origins, its creator, and how to employ it effectively.
Ashwath Kaushik has just become the youngest player to defeat a GM in a FIDE-rated classical chess game, thanks to a discovered check. But it isn’t just about one tactic.