Home › News

Chess news and puzzles

Updated 3 November 2026

Short notes from the operator of this chess site: tournament news with links to the official sources, puzzles, rules and strategy notes. New notes appear regularly; every fact links to its source.

• Asian Seniors 2026 in Osh: Vlassov and Mikhailova take the 50+ standard titles
  3 November 2026 · The 2026 Asian Seniors Chess Championships ended in Osh on 25 October. Standard medallists in the 50+ and 65+ sections, plus a practice note for the site.
• Puzzle: mate in one, while two natural queen moves stalemate
  2 November 2026 · White to move and mate in one with a queen. Two natural-looking queen moves leave Black without a legal move, which is a draw. Answer checked by computer.
• Youth rapid and blitz in Cairo: the FIDE U7 to U17 event runs 8 to 15 December
  1 November 2026 · FIDE's under-7 to under-17 rapid and blitz championships go to Cairo in December. The age cut-off, 15+5 and 5+3 controls and who may return.
• Chess problem solvers meet in Fujairah: the WFCC Grand Prix Final, 27 to 30 November
  31 October 2026 · The WFCC Grand Prix Final for chess solvers runs 27-30 November 2026 in Fujairah, UAE, with EUR 30,000 in prizes and 18 original problems.
• World Rapid and Blitz 2026 goes to Istanbul; venue and rules still to come
  30 October 2026 · FIDE names Istanbul to host the 2026 World Rapid and Blitz Championships, with four world titles in late December. Venue and rules are still to come.
• FIDE calls an online General Assembly for 27 December; time controls still open
  29 October 2026 · FIDE invites delegates to an online General Assembly on 27 December 2026. The agenda is not out yet; shorter classical time controls are still under review.
• Chess in Education conference takes place in Almaty on 12-13 November 2026
  28 October 2026 · FIDE announces the 4th Chess in Education conference in Almaty on 12-13 November 2026, covering schools and teacher training, plus a practice habit to try.
• FIDE extends its rapid and blitz rating fee waiver through 2027
  27 October 2026 · FIDE has waived rating fees for all rapid and blitz tournaments through 2027. What the decision says and what it means for players here.
• NATO Chess Championship 2026: Vahap Şanal wins all seven games, Türkiye takes the team title
  26 October 2026 · The 36th NATO Chess Championship ended in Jūrmala, Latvia, on 17 October. Şanal scored 7/7, Türkiye won the team event and the blitz was settled on tiebreak.
• World Junior Rapid and Blitz 2026: four under-20 titles at stake in Al Ain from 2 November
  25 October 2026 · FIDE's under-20 rapid and blitz championships run 1-7 November in Al Ain, UAE. Schedule, time controls, prizes and last year's winners.
• European Club Cup 2026: Bayegan Pendik and Monte-Carlo win on tiebreak in Budva
  24 October 2026 · Turkey's Bayegan Pendik edged Novy Bor in the open section and Monte-Carlo kept the women's title. Results, tiebreaks and the Super League places.
• Wesley So wins the 2026 U.S. Championship in a playoff; Rachael Li takes the women's title
  23 October 2026 · So beat Caruana 1½–½ in rapid games after they tied for first in Saint Louis. Rachael Li, 16, won the women's title outright with 8½/11.
• World Youth Championships 2026: Kazakhstan wins seven of the twelve titles
  22 October 2026 · The FIDE under-7 to under-17 world championships ended in Roquetas de Mar, Spain. All twelve champions, a perfect 11/11 and a new 45+30 time control.
• Puzzle: mate in two, and the queen is the wrong promotion
  21 October 2026 · White to move and mate in two. The pawn on e7 can promote, but only one of the four pieces forces mate. Answer checked by computer.
• Gukesh vs Sindarov: the 2026 World Championship match starts on 24 November
  20 October 2026 · The title match runs from 22 November to 12 December near Geneva. Dates, format and draw rules, plus Uzbekistan's Olympiad gold in Samarkand.