Everyone at FIDE Is Now a LawyerNotes from the official hotel lobby in Samarkand; by Ilya Merenzon, CEO of World ChessSeptember 24, 2026·3 min read
Somebody in Samarkand Has Already Called the FIDE ElectionThe most insightful document in the FIDE presidential race — until the votes are counted — is a prediction market with some traders on it. Let’s see if the market gets it right.September 22, 2026·3 min read
Israel Forfeits Two Olympiad Matches After Yom Kippur Reschedule Request RejectedIsrael's Open and Women's teams forfeited their Round 6 matches at the Chess Olympiad—and the Israel Chess Federation is now accusing FIDE of breaking a written commitment to accommodate Yom Kippur.September 22, 2026·4 min read
There Is, Allegedly, a Bentley Riding on the FIDE ElectionIn Samarkand, one candidate brought 30 people. Another brought five. A rumor says the two of them have a bet on the vote count. A dispatch by Ilya Merenzon, CEO of World ChessSeptember 22, 2026·3 min read
Israel's Olympiad Matches Moved From Main Venue For Yom KippurIsrael's Open and Women's teams have had their Round 5 matches at the Chess Olympiad moved away from the main venue and brought forward to accommodate Yom Kippur.September 20, 2026·2 min read
Lazavik Goes Too Far: Chess's New Edgelord Takes Aim At Women, Nakamura And MishraBelarusian GM Denis Lazavik has launched an extraordinary series of attacks on fellow players, declaring it "madness" to train with women, dismissing Hikaru Nakamura's chess and telling 17-year-old Abhimanyu Mishra that "no one needs you" at 2630.September 20, 2026·4 min read
Gukesh Hits His Stride With Back-To-Back Olympiad WinsWorld Champion Gukesh D has bounced back from briefly falling below 2700 with two straight wins at the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand.September 20, 2026·3 min read
World Champion Gukesh Drops Below 2700World Champion Gukesh D has fallen below 2700 on the live rating list for the first time in four years after being held to a draw at the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand. The latest setback comes just two months before Gukesh defends his world title against an in-form GM Javokhir Sindarov in Geneva.September 17, 2026·3 min read
Pakistan Boycotts Israel Match As Chess Olympiad Opens In ControversyPakistan refused to play Israel in the opening round of the 2026 Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, with its federation saying the decision was taken in line with government policy and in solidarity with the Palestinian people.September 16, 2026·3 min read
Could Someone Please Get the Electorate a VisaChess is electing a president this month. Step one, it turns out, is letting the voters into the country. September 16, 2026·5 min read
Mr Dodgy Nearly Took Over FIDE. Eighty-Five Federations Thought That Was a Good Idea.Chess Politics·Sep 29·6 min read
Bodhana Sivanandan, 11, Becomes WGM And Scores Second IM Norm At Chess OlympiadTop players · Chess Olympiad 2026·Sep 27·4 min read
Turlov Backs Russia Suspension—As Former Russian Sports Minister Joins FIDE LeadershipChess Politics·Sep 27·5 min read
Term of the dayChess SkewerThe reverse of a pin: the valuable piece is hit first and the one behind it falls.
