Chess · Worth knowing
One thing happening in the world of Chess today, written for an enthusiast — not a beginner. Skip celebrity gossip. Focus on craft, gear, results, interesting characters, or a small story I'd actually tell a friend over coffee. Quality over quantity.
← Zur aktuellen AusgabeCaruana storms the finals; Assaubayeva claims rapid crown
Saint Louis: Caruana ascendant
Caruana just took the lead into the final.
The American won his semifinal classical decider against Wesley So to advance 18–12, then held firm through rapid and blitz rounds to reach Thursday's championship match [Quelle: Grand Chess Tour]. He opened the final classical game against Praggnanandhaa with a 6–0 lead, exploiting the Indian's fatigue after three weeks of attrition across three time controls. Praggnanandhaa still carries the match experience, but Caruana has learned how to salvage half-points when exhausted.
The championship unfolds tonight; expect blunder roulette.
Women's Tour: Assaubayeva's rapid rampage
Bibisara Assaubayeva just locked the European rapid title.
The Kazakhstani outfought Mariya Muzychuk in the final at Saint Tropez, scrapping past Elisabeth Paehtz in the quarterfinals via Armageddon after their double-rook endgame spiraled [Quelle: ChessBase]. Eight women are battling today in the blitz tournament to clinch the last qualifying spots for the Grand Final in Stuttgart on November 22–23. Assaubayeva's rapid crown gives her a commanding points lead into this afternoon's blitz action.
Watch the blitz results—they'll reshape the field.
Seniors kick off in Crete
The European Senior Team Championship begins tomorrow in Greece.
Thirty-two teams with 150 players—including legendary GMs Stuart Conquest (2506) and John Nunn (2512)—will compete in two age categories (50+ and 65+) over nine rounds of classical chess in Hersonissos [Quelle: Europe Chess]. England 1, Italy, and Slovakia are seeded atop the Open 50+ bracket; England 1 and Italy lead the 65+ field. It's a chance to watch how elite veterans approach classical chess when the clock isn't the main enemy.
The nine-round gauntlet runs through September 4.
Repertoire: Isolated pawn mastery
GM Papaioannou is teaching structural chess, not move-memorization.
His new training camp focuses on the isolated queen's pawn structure arising from 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.e3—a position pattern that appears across the Semi-Tarrasch, Queen's Gambit Declined, and Nimzo-Indian [Quelle: Modern Chess]. The 10.5-hour program covers attacking strategies, piece coordination, critical variations, and practical decision-making rather than theoretical memorization. Lifetime access plus PGN files and bonus materials ship with registration.
Deep understanding beats rote preparation every time.
WR Women's Chess Tour: Assaubayeva wins rapid section9 hours ago ... ... analysis engine: Swipe between notation and other displays. Swipe left ... Links. Tournament website; Tournament information on Chess-Results: Rapid | Blitz.en.chessbase.com
European Senior Team Chess Championship 2026 starts in Greece14 hours ago ... The 2026 European Senior Team Chess Championship 2026 starts tomorrow in Hersonissos, Crete, Greece! The event will be played from 27 August – 4 September ...europechess.org
Mastering the Isolated Pawn: A Universal System for White – Deep ...10 hours ago ... d5, the game reaches an isolated queen's pawn structure — and that structure is not the property of a single opening. The very same positions arise from the ...modern-chess.com