XB Chess players love finding hidden tricks to catch opponents off guard. One such tricky opening is the Mikenas Defense (also called the Bogoljubov–Mikenas Defense or Queen’s Knight Defense). Starting with 1.d4 Nc6, this rare opening is perfect for players who enjoy creative, offbeat strategies. Let’s break down what makes it unique. What Is the Mikenas Defense? After 1.d4, Black … Read more
Discover Freestyle Chess, a thrilling new take on chess backed by Magnus Carlsen, blending strategy and unpredictability to reshape the future of the game. There is a football tournament in Spain called the Kings League, founded by former center-back Gerard Piqué and famous streamer Ibai Llanos in late 2022. To date, the tournament has raised … Read more
Lu Miaoyi is not your everyday teenager. Born in February 2010, this Chinese chess star is already an International Master (IM) with a peak FIDE rating of 2449. At just 15 years old, she ranks as the No. 2 junior girl in the world—only behind Divya Deshmukh—and is the reigning Chinese women’s national champion. Her … Read more
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