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Article · Friday, September 18, 2026

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.

By Marius BongartsSports67 editions
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Chess · Worth knowing
Friday, September 18, 2026
Chess · Worth knowing

Olympiad momentum builds; Saint Louis shapes November

1 min read

Samarkand Olympiad running

Underdogs are hunting the favorites in Uzbekistan.

Continuing the upset-laden start from yesterday, the Samarkand Olympiad is now deep into its Swiss grind with 400 teams locked in an 11-round battle that punishes blunders and rewards survival [Quelle: ChessBase]. India's title-defense machine is quieter than expected—Gukesh dropped below 2700 rating in round two—but the depth of Praggnanandhaa and others means the defending Open and Women's sweep is far from over. The formula that worked in Budapest is being tested like never before.

Round five will tell us if this is noise or a real crack.

Kasparov-Topalov 960 heads to blitz

The legends' final day is worth triple.

Veselin Topalov and Garry Kasparov are locked in their first Chess960 match since 2018, and the escalating-points format means today's blitz showdown carries triple weight compared to day one [Quelle: Chess-Results]. Topalov's early lead has already thinned as Kasparov clawed back—a reminder that 960 doesn't care about your rating when the position is unfamiliar at move five. The $144,000 prize is still completely up for grabs.

One blitz game could erase Topalov's advantage entirely.

October rapid showcase looms

Four elite rapid players converge in Saint Louis next month.

Caruana, Nakamura, Praggnanandhaa, and Sindarov are set to chase $120,000 first-place money from October 27–29 using rapid time (10+5) and the same escalating-points format that lets late rounds swing the entire tournament [Quelle: Saint Louis Chess Club]. Sindarov's appearance matters most—he faces Gukesh for the World Championship in November, and how he performs under pressure here will signal whether he enters that match sharp or rattled. A $412,000 total prize fund makes this a serious audition before the title bout.

Form now could reshape November's equation.

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