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Ivanchuk defeats Leko in Mukachevo
07.01.2009 – For a second time in a year and a half Ukraine's top GM Vassily Ivanchuk has defeated Hungary's top GM Peter Leko in the south western Ukrainian town of Mukachevo. Their six-game match ended in a 3.5:2.5 win for Ivanchuk, with five draws and a single victory in round five. It was, however, deserved, as GM Mikhail Golubev tells us in his big illustrated report.
 

Handicapping Rybka 3
07.01.2009 – Chess programmers have for many years been finding unique means of "handicapping" their chess engines to make them play a weaker chess game should the human user desire one. The reason for this should be obvious: not everyone enjoys getting his or her head torn off by a 2700+ Elo player on a daily basis. Learn all about Rybka's handicap playing features in the newest ChessBase Workshop.
 

ITMA? No it is not – it's Igor Kurnosov
06.01.2009 – Going into the final round of the 2008/9 Hastings Masters, Valery Neverov, who had won the tournament a record-equalling three times, needed a win over tournament leader Igor Kurnosov to get a new record fourth successive title. But "it wasn't that man again". The 22-year old Russian GM Kurnosov drew with the black pieces and finished as outright winner. Final report by Steve Giddins.
 

Peter Svidler wins Aker Chess Challenge in Gjøvik
05.01.2009 – The first game in the final between Peter Svidler and Magnus Carlsen, a Ruy Lopez Berlin, ended in a draw after 20 moves. That gave Carlsen the chance to go for a win with the white pieces in the final game. But it was the grandmaster from St Petersburg who took first prize with a fine victory against his Norwegian opponent. Hikaru Nakamura of the US beat Kjetil Lie to take third. Final report.
 

Vladimir Kramnik on the World Championship Cycle
05.01.2009 – With the chess world in upheaval, and the world championship cycle in doubt, FIDE President Ilyumzhinov chaired an Internet press conference with top players, on December 27th, to find out what they thought. One was missing: former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik. In a surprise call on December 28th he told us why he couldn't take part (and what he would have said). Be pleasantly surprised!
 

Carlsen and Svidler qualify for final in Gjøvik
04.01.2009 – Magnus Carlsen beat Peter Svidler in round five, both Svidler and Hikaru Nakamura beat the luckless Lie in rounds five and six, and in the end three players tied for first. In the tiebreak round robin blitz Carlsen won both games, while Svidler beat Nakamura. On Monday at Nakamura plays Kjetil Lei for third place, and at Carlsen plays Svidler for first, at 13:00h and 14:20h. Watch it on Playchess!
 

Edition two: Ivanchuk vs Leko in Mukachevo
04.01.2009 – In October 2007 Vassily Ivanchuk defeated Peter Leko in a 12-game rapid chess match. It ended in a 6:6 tie, but the Ukrainian GM won the blitz tiebreak. The revenge match, which is being staged in the western Ukraine town of Mukachevo, consists of six games, of which the first two were drawn (in 79 and 16 moves) on Saturday. Report and games.
 

Svidler leads in Aker Chess Challenge in Gjøvik
04.01.2009 – That's in Norway, where the Gjøvik Chess Club is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a semi-open Swiss with six 2600+ grandmasters and a rapid chess special with Magnus Carlsen, Peter Svidler, Hikaru Nakamura and Kjetil Lie – a double round robin on Friday to Sunday, with final matches for first and third on Monday. After four rounds Peter Svidler leads with 3.0/4. Illustrated report.
 

Conference of top players in Elista
03.01.2009 – It took place on December 27th, an online conference with top grandmasters and FIDE officials, to find out what the players think of the new World Championship cycle. President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, who chaired the meeting, has promised to publish full details of what was said, but trouble with the transcript of the audio files is delaying their publication. We bring you the opening introduction of the President and the full statement by Magnus Carlsen.
 

Out with the old, in with the new
03.01.2009 – Chess players with hangovers are not a pretty sight. Chess players with New Year's Day hangovers are even less pretty. Sure giveaway signs are bloodshot eyes and excessive coffee consumption. The wisest players take a half point bye on New Year's Day. For those who didn't do that at Hastings, there were mixed fortunes. Steve Giddins presents the highs and lows.
 

Edward Winter's Chess Explorations (14)
02.01.2009 – Books inscribed by Yasser Seirawan and Magnus Carlsen are the prizes which have been placed on offer in the latest Chess Explorations quiz. A few days before Christmas, six positions were given, and readers were invited simply to state which move White played in each case. Now, the Editor of Chess Notes presents the answers, discusses the positions and announces the winners.
 

Jones, Kurnosov, Neverov lead in Hastings
01.01.2009 – As the 84th Hastings Congress heads into 2009, the lead is shared by Gawain Jones of England, Igor Kurnosov of Russia and Valery Neverov of Ukraine. Lower down the lists, some amateur players have produced brilliant efforts, helped in at least one case by advance sight of what is surely the greatest chess book ever written. Onsite reporter Steve Giddins explains.