12/23/2024 – The 11th Sunway Sitges Chess Festival wrapped up in style, delivering a lively atmosphere in the picturesque town near Barcelona. Savva Vetokhin, aged 15, stole the show, winning the title after beating Ido Gorshtein in a blitz playoff. The event saw fierce competition, with Chinese GM Li Di taking third place and Iranian WGM Mobina Alinasab finishing as the top-scoring woman. Living legend Vasyl Ivanchuk added flair, ending his campaign with a remarkable final-round win. | Photo: Official website

12/22/2024 – Magnus Carlsen has once again proven his supremacy in the world of chess, claiming his fourth consecutive Champions Chess Tour title with a commanding 4-1 victory over Ian Nepomniachtchi in the final. Dominating the series since its inception, Carlsen's brilliance shone through in critical moments. With the World Rapid and Blitz Championships just around the corner, the Norwegian superstar shows no signs of slowing down as he continues to redefine excellence in the game. | Photo: Maria Emelianova / chess.com

12/21/2024 – The stage is set for a thrilling final encounter at the Champions Chess Tour Finals in Oslo, as Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi stormed into the title match with commanding semifinal wins. Carlsen defeated Maxime Vachier-Lagrave 3½-1½, showcasing his trademark composure in critical moments. Nepomniachtchi delivered an even more dominant performance, crushing Alireza Firouzja with two games to spare. The two rivals, who contested the 2021 World Chess Championship, are set to clash again on Saturday in what promises to be a hard-fought battle for the title. | Photo: Maria Emelianova / chess.com

12/20/2024 – The Champions Chess Tour Finals in Oslo are heading into the semifinals after an action-packed Thursday that saw the conclusion of the round-robin and the intense survival stage. Magnus Carlsen dominated the all-play-all phase to secure first place, with Alireza Firouzja taking the second direct semifinal spot. Ian Nepomniachtchi (pictured) and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave emerged victorious in the survival stage, completing the final four. Carlsen has chosen to face Vachier-Lagrave in the semis, while Firouzja will battle Nepomniachtchi. | Photo: Maria Emelianova / chess.com

12/19/2024 – Day 2 of the Champions Chess Tour Finals saw Magnus Carlsen take the sole lead, but the spotlight was on Alireza Firouzja, who won all three of his matches to join Ian Nepomniachtchi and Denis Lazavik in shared second place. As the battle for direct semifinal spots heats up, the fight to avoid elimination is just as fierce. With one round of the round-robin left, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Vincent Keymer and Levon Aronian are all vying for survival. | Photo: Maria Emelianova / chess.com

12/18/2024 – The 2024 Champions Chess Tour Finals kicked off in Oslo, featuring eight of the world's top players battling it out over-the-board. With noise-cancelling headphones allowing the audience to react freely, the first day saw three rounds of round-robin action. Magnus Carlsen and rising star Denis Lazavik shone brightest, finishing undefeated to share the lead. Meanwhile, Levon Aronian endured a tough day, losing all three of his games. | Pictured: Levon Aronian and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Photo: Maria Emelianova / chess.com

12/16/2024 – The 11th Sunway Sitges Chess Festival is delivering thrilling action in the picturesque town of Sitges, near Barcelona. Surprises have already shaken the standings. Edward Song pulled off an upset against top seed Kirill Alekseenko (pictured), joining Ido Gorshtein and Anwesh Upadhyaya as the only players with perfect scores after four rounds. With side events, culinary workshops and a Tuesday rest day conference by Ivanchuk, the festival blends fierce competition with rich cultural experiences. | Photo: Official website

12/12/2024 – In a historic conclusion to the World Chess Championship in Singapore, 18-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju defeated reigning champion Ding Liren in the final game, becoming the youngest undisputed world chess champion in history. With this monumental victory, the title returns to India for the first time since Viswanathan Anand lost it in 2013. Gukesh's triumph, sealed after Ding blundered in a technical endgame, cements his place among chess legends. The victory also highlights India's rise as a global chess powerhouse. | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An

12/11/2024 – The tension in Singapore continues to mount as the World Chess Championship match heads into its final classical game with the score tied at 6.5-6.5. In a gripping 13th game, Gukesh D created significant pressure with the white pieces in a French Defence but missed critical chances to convert his advantage, allowing Ding Liren to hold a draw after 68 moves. The reigning champion showed remarkable defensive skill under time pressure, while Gukesh remained undeterred despite his missed opportunity. | Photo: FIDE / Eric Rosen

12/9/2024 – Ding Liren delivered a stunning performance in game 12 of the World Chess Championship match in Singapore, levelling the score at 6-6 against Gukesh D with two classical games remaining. The reigning champion, who described the victory as "the best game I have played in recent times", showed impeccable strategic prowess to outmanoeuvre his younger rival in 39 moves. Both players now face immense pressure as they battle for the ultimate chess crown. | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An

12/8/2024 – Game 11 of the World Chess Championship in Singapore brought a dramatic twist as 18-year-old Gukesh D defeated reigning champion Ding Liren to take a one-point lead with just three games remaining. The thrilling 29-move battle saw both players falter, but it was Ding's blunder in mutual time trouble that sealed his fate. With the stakes higher than ever, Ding faces the daunting task of mounting a comeback to defend his title. | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An

12/7/2024 – As the World Chess Championship in Singapore nears its conclusion, the tension remains palpable, with the score still tied after ten games. Saturday's cautious game 10, a 36-move draw from a London System, reflected the heightened stakes as players avoid unnecessary risks with only four classical games left. Gukesh D, the challenger, and Ding Liren, the reigning champ, are both focused on precision, knowing that a single mistake could prove decisive. | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An

12/7/2024 – Gawain Jones (pictured with his two kids) delivered a brilliant performance at the 2024 London Chess Classic, winning the tournament with an undefeated 5/7 score. The 36-year-old grandmaster topped a strong field, gaining 15 rating points and securing a stellar 2795 Tournament Performance Rating. Jones, who led from start to finish, clinched victory with a final-round win over women's world champion Ju Wenjun. | Photos: London Chess Classic's Facebook page

12/5/2024 – Game 9 of the World Chess Championship in Singapore brought a more measured yet strategic encounter, ending in a draw after 54 moves. Playing with the white pieces, Gukesh D applied early pressure in a Catalan Opening, but Ding Liren's precise defence kept the balance. Gukesh, who described the game as "very precise from both sides", managed to build a lead on the clock but could not capitalise in the critical moments. With the score tied and only five games left, the match resumes on Saturday. | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An

12/4/2024 – The World Chess Championship in Singapore continues to thrill fans as game 8 delivered yet another dramatic encounter. Both Ding Liren and Gukesh D missed opportunities to secure a crucial win, with the game ultimately ending in a hard-fought 51-move draw. Gukesh introduced a prepared novelty, gaining an early advantage, but Ding's resourcefulness turned the tables. Despite a tense battle featuring bold strategies and critical time pressure, neither contender could break the deadlock. | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An

12/4/2024 – The 2023 London Chess Classic has brought world-class chess to Arsenal's Emirates Stadium. Featuring eight top grandmasters, including England's prodigy Shreyas Royal and international stars like Vidit Gujrathi and Ju Wenjun, the tournament has seen intense battles over five rounds. With two games left, Gawain Jones leads the pack with 3½ points. Vidit Gujrathi and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov are sharing second place, a half point back. | Photos: London Chess Classic's Facebook page

12/3/2024 – The World Chess Championship in Singapore reached its halfway point with a gripping game 7, as Ding Liren and Gukesh D battled for over five hours in the most thrilling draw of the match so far. Gukesh dominated early with excellent preparation, gaining a clear advantage, but missed a major chance to secure victory. Ding's resilience and endgame expertise salvaged a draw, despite a critical error in time trouble. As the score remains tied, both players face back-to-back games ahead, with nerves and strategy likely to play a decisive role in the second half of this tense showdown. | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An

12/1/2024 – The World Chess Championship in Singapore continues to thrill, with game 6 delivering another intense and closely contested draw. Ding Liren’s choice of the London System and strong preparation put early pressure on Gukesh D, but the young challenger’s resourceful play neutralised the reigning champion’s advantage. A surprising decision by Gukesh to avoid a draw repetition added intrigue, as both players navigated the complexities of a double-rook endgame with precision. As the match enters its second rest day, the score remains tied, with game 7 set to resume the action on Tuesday. | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An