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Evaluating AI chess compositions - A study by Google DeepMind
A new study by researchers at Google DeepMind explores whether artificial intelligence can exhibit genuine creativity through the composition of chess puzzles. By generating positions designed for aesthetic appeal and originality, the team invited leading experts to evaluate their quality and artistic value. The reviewers' assessments, combining praise and constructive critique, shed light on how AI-generated chess problems compare with traditional human compositions in terms of beauty, depth and innovation.
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World Cup 2025: How good are the chances for the favourites?
The first round of the World Cup will begin in Goa, India, on 1 November at 15:00 local time. A total of 206 players will compete; the oldest participant is 65-year-old Igor Efimov, while the youngest is Faustino Oro, who turned 12 in October. The prize money totals 2 million US dollars, and the top three finishers will qualify for the Candidates Tournament. Matches will consist of two games, with rapid chess and blitz tiebreaks following a 1–1 score. The loser is eliminated. Vincent Keymer is officially seeded 6th, but according to the live world rankings, he is effectively ranked 1st. So, how good are his chances of finishing in the top three? | Photo: FIDE
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Opening ceremony of the FIDE World Cup dazzles in Goa
The 2025 FIDE World Cup opened in grand style at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa, as dignitaries, players and guests gathered for a dazzling 2½-hour ceremony blending culture, sport and symbolism. With 206 players set to compete for a $2 million prize fund and three coveted Candidates spots, the event began with music, dance and inspiring speeches celebrating India's chess tradition and the spirit of fair play that defines the game. | All photos: Mark Livshitz
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Chess Endgame Challenge
Did you solve the endgame puzzles we gave you last week? In the position shown, White had to move his rook to one of nine squares. But only moving it to e6 retained the win. How come? Today we give you the full solutions of all the four problems, in video explanations and on a replay board with engine assistance. It's a good way to master such tricky endgame situations.
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US Chess Championships - Live!
The 2025 US Chess Championships are taking place on 12-24 October at the Saint Louis Chess Club. Each tournament is a 12-player single round-robin with a classical time control. Fabiano Caruana, Wesley So and Hans Niemann are the highest-rated players in the open, while Carissa Yip, Alice Lee and Tatev Abrahamyan head the women's field. | Follow the action live starting at 19.00 CEST (13.00 ET, 22.30 IST)
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Chess Endgame Challenge
Take a look at this position. In order to have any winning chances, White must clearly move his rook. There are nine squares it can safely occupy, but only one retains the win. Can you find it? Today we have four problems that will challenge your endgame skills. Try to solve them by moving pieces on our interactive diagrams. The video solutions will be provided in a week.
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European Team Championships - Live!
The ninth and final round of the European Team Championships will determine the medal winners. In the Open Ukraine and Azerbaijan fight for victory, in the Women's Tournament Poland is in the lead, but Ukraine and Germany can still hope to win. | Watch the games live with video commentary. Start: Around 10:00 CEST.
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Fermat in Chess
Pierre de Fermat (1601–1665) was a French mathematician who made pioneering contributions to analytic geometry, calculus, optics, and probability. He is best known for Fermat's Last Theorem, which famously remained unproven for over three centuries. Then, thirty years ago (in 1995), the mathematician Andrew Wiles published the comprehensive proof. In his book "Chess Stories" mathematician Prof Christian Hesse, told us how he applied Fermat's final conjecture to chess.
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Lasker-Chigorin: A legendary clash of two bishops vs two knights
Already in the second round of the famous Hastings tournament of 1895, two of the favourites faced each other in a tough and complex battle. After just thirteen moves, the game had reached a semi-endgame with two rooks and two minor pieces each. Lasker held the pair of bishops, but it was Chigorin with the pair of knights who emerged victorious in the end. The game made history, and its course has been interpreted very differently over time. We invite our readers to join us in the search for new insights.
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Werner Keym: Problem Chess Art
You may have seen it before. In this very famous position, composed almost exactly a century ago, it is White to play and draw. Which do you think is the stupidest move White could make. Right, that is the solution – it is the only move that saves the game. Problem expert Werner Keym illustrates this in a book which he has made available, as an eBook, to everyone, free of charge. Here are some excerpts to give you a taste. You can play them out on the diagrams we provide.
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Solution: Botvinnik–Boleslavsky 1943
Some time ago, we invited our readers to help us unravel a long-standing mystery in the famous game Botvinnik–Boleslavsky, played in 1943 (during World War II!). The response was overwhelming, and in a relatively short time, we reached a conclusion: Boleslavsky could have held the balance – a draw was within reach – despite Botvinnik’s claim in his (usually precise!) commentary that his position was winning.
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Sinquefield Cup Playoffs - Live!
The Sinquefield Cup, the only event to feature in every Grand Chess Tour since 2015, returns to Saint Louis from 18 to 27 August. As the concluding leg before the revived Finals in São Paulo, it will play a decisive role in determining the four qualifiers, with Maxime Vachier-Lagrave currently leading the standings and strong challengers close behind. | Follow the games live with expert commentary starting at 19.00 CEST (13.00 ET, 22.30 IST)
