Chess · Worth knowing

Arohi Thatte provides an insider's account of attending Norway Chess 2026 in Oslo, offering a behind-the-scenes perspective on one of the world's premier chess tournaments. She describes the venue at Deichman Bjørvika library, the tournament infrastructure including the confession room where players share candid thoughts during games, and the studio setups overlooking the Oslofjord. The piece highlights several standout games, particularly Praggnanandhaa's two classical victories over Magnus Carlsen—a rare feat—including round eight where both players admitted uncertainty about their own game despite the decisive outcome. Beyond tournament analysis, Thatte captures the human element of the event: the camaraderie among players and staff, evening social rituals like playing Werewolf and Avalon, and her own memorable experiences including making the opening move e4 on the first board. The article reflects on how the tournament's relocation from Stavanger to Oslo this year created a distinctive atmosphere, combining high-level chess competition with the city's accessible charm and outdoor culture.

GM Ioannis Papaioannou is leading a two-part training series in September 2026 focused on endgame structures arising from the Réti Opening. The course examines how the Réti's characteristic features—the fianchettoed bishop, queenside pawn majorities, and isolated pawn structures—create recurring endgame patterns that strong players exploit. Participants will learn how to evaluate these structures correctly, steer the middlegame toward favorable transitions, and convert small structural advantages into wins through precise technique and prophylaxis. The training covers both sides of the position, addressing defensive counterplay and key technical procedures in pawn-majority and minor-piece endgames. Sessions run across four lectures on September 9 and 30, 2026, with participants receiving recordings, PGN files with test positions, and a final digital product.

Hans Niemann leads the Super Rapid & Blitz Poland, the opening event of the 2026 Grand Chess Tour taking place in Warsaw from May 5-9. Niemann holds a one-point lead over Wesley So heading into the final day. The tournament features a rapid section (May 5-7, 25 minutes plus 10-second increments) followed by a double round-robin blitz event (May 8-9, 5 minutes plus 2-second increments), with a total prize fund of $200,000 and $50,000 for first place. The ten-player field includes top competitors such as Fabiano Caruana, Alireza Firouzja, and young prospect Gukesh Dommaraju, with wildcards given to Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Gukesh, Hans Niemann, Vladimir Fedoseev, and Radosław Wojtaszek.