Chess News

General chess-related articles and information about SparkChess development; this section is for everyone interested in chess.

Ding Liren

Do favorites win World Chess Championship qualifiers?

Earlier in this World Chess Championship cycle was the 2021 World Cup. Its top two finishers earned spots in the 2022 FIDE Candidates Tournament. To pair its single elimination matches, the World Cup ranks each of its participants by their chess ratings. Thus, the World Cup provides data for the question, “Do ratings favorites win World Chess Championship qualifiers?” More 🡢
Ian Nepomniachtchi

Greatest World Chess Champion of All Time?

How to judge which world chess champion is the greatest of all time? One might look at the number of years that the champion held the title, inflation-adjusted peak rating, dominance over peers, or abilities as a chess ambassador. Another criterion, adopted by this article, is how many different challengers has each world chess champion faced. More 🡢
Fabiano Caruana

FIDE Candidates Tournament and a new Norway Chess sweater

At the opening ceremony for the FIDE Candidates Tournament is June 16, Chilean singer Juga will perform her new chess-themed song, Open Files. Oddsmakers favor China’s Ding Liren and Fabiano Caruana of the United States to be the top finishers at the eight-player FIDE Candidates Tournament. The Candidates winner will face World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen for the title. More 🡢
The Smyslov Workbook

An Earful of Chess

While working from home was common during pandemic lockdowns, many people have resumed commuting. Driving to work, hands on the steering wheel, precludes moving chessmen. Likewise, eyes on the road makes watching YouTube chess videos and Twitch chess channels impossible. But you can get an earful of chess by listening to podcasts. More 🡢
Fabiano Caruana

2022 American Cup: Double Elimination Chess

From April 18–29, 2022, the Saint Louis Chess Club held the American Cup. The tournament’s format was a rare one for chess: double elimination. With $300,000 in prize money on the line, each game counted. More 🡢
Ian Nepomniachtchi, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Magnus Carlsen

Chess, the number 1,000, and Carlsen’s social media

Although the chess board has 64 squares, the number 1,000 relates to two recent chess milestones. World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen has made 1,000 tweets, including tweets about the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships. His 1,000th tweet linked to a “brand new social media platform.” On New Year’s Day, the Mechanics’ Institute posted its 1,000th Chess Room Newsletter. More 🡢
Ian Nepomniachtchi

FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships: A Christmas Miracle

The FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships were originally scheduled for Kazakhstan. When that country’s government mandated a seven-day quarantine for many potential participants, FIDE found the championships a new home. More 🡢
Magnus Carlsen, FIDE World Chess Championship, Dubai, 2021. Photo by FIDE/Niki Riga

Carlsen wins 2021 World Chess Championship

The 2021 World Chess Championship match was scheduled for 14 games, meaning that the first player to reach 7.5 points became the champion. Within the match, each win was worth one point and each draw was worth a half-point. By scoring his fourth win in Game 11, Carlsen reached 7.5 points and remained the World Chess Champion. More 🡢