Cercle d'échecs de Wavre

ChessBase

1. A Heavy Theoretical Battle

   Two years ago Eftratios Grival, grandmaster and international chess trainer, published a large volume (520 pages, Thinkers Publishing), called ‘The Grivas Anti-Sicilian Bible’ – a necessary companion to ‘The Modernized Grivas Sicilian' (512 pages). In the 7th Sharjah Masters-Challengers Grivas had an opportunity to test his Sicilian – against a 15-year-old from India. A highly instructive battle ensued, one you'd do well to study.

2. Casablanca Chess - Live!

   Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Viswanathan Anand and Bassem Amin are testing the Casablanca Chess Variant in Morocco, as they play rapid games (15+10) starting from carefully selected positions derived from historical games. Rounds 1-3 take place on Saturday, while rounds 4-6 take place on Sunday. | Follow the games live starting from 17.15 CEST (11.15 ET, 20.45 IST)

3. Sharjah Masters - Live!

   From Dubai to Sharjah - many of the grandmasters who played in the Dubai Open have made their way to Sharjah and are now taking part in the Sharjah Masters, which has an even stronger line-up. Arjun Erigaisi leads the starting rank in a tournament including over 80 participating grandmasters. The number of Indian players is lower than in Dubai, as a maximum of 20 players from a single federation are admitted. | Follow the games live starting at 13.00 CEST (7.00 ET, 16.30 IST)

4. Morocco Chess Week kicks off in Casablanca

   The 2024 edition of Morocco Chess Week started in Casablanca with the official opening ceremony at the Casablanca Stock Exchange. The main attraction is the Casablanca Chess Tournament, featuring Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Viswanathan Anand, and Amin Bassem. They will try out the novel “Casablanca chess variant”, designed to celebrate the history of chess. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

5. Sharjah: Three co-leaders, Tabatatabei misses big chance

   Draws on boards 1-4 in Friday’s fourth round at the Sharjah Masters allowed Hans Niemann, Aravindh Chithambaram and Saleh Salem to remain as co-leaders atop the standings. Twelve players now stand a half point behind, including Arjun Erigaisi, Alexey Sarana and Vladimir Fedoseev, who all won in round 4. | Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

6. Grivas on Underdog Crushes!

   It is a great way to study chess: follow the notes of a world-class coach, analysing an exciting game from a running event, click on the notation to get a special replayer, where you can start an engine that will assist you in your own analysis, and study the strategy that brought about the final result. Here's an example by GM Efstratios Grivas analysing a stunning upset that occurred in the 7th Sharjah Masters, after a top seed player misjudged his opponent’s attack.

7. CBM #219: "Fundamental Endgame Knowledge"

   Why is the rook’s pawn called the "worst enemy of the knight"? How do you make best use of the "Knight Check Shadow" and when should you enter the "Karpov Distance"? In the new ChessBase Magazine #219, Karsten Mueller shows you the most important techniques in the endgame with knight against pawn(s) in part #9 of his series "Fundamental Endgame Knowledge". Take the chance and test your technique in two interactive training videos in this week’s CBM reading sample. Have fun!

8. Anatoly Bykhovski turns 90!

   He was the coach of the USSR Youth National team from the mid-60s, until the collapse of the Soviet Union – a driving force behind the great generations of Soviet chess, but always in the shadow. On 30 April Anatoly Awraamowitsch Bykhovsky celebrates his 90th birthday. Chess Trainer Adrian Mykhalchyshyn describes the career of the man who helped created the chess zenith of the USSR.

9. Grivas on the Mad Rook

   During the endgame, stalemate is a resource that can enable the player with the inferior position to draw the game rather than lose. In more complex positions, stalemate is much rarer, usually taking the form of a swindle that succeeds only if the superior side is inattentive. Chess Trainer GM Efstratios Grivas shows us how a "mad rook" can complicate matters for the superior side.

10. Yet another 12-year-old grandmaster

    He was born on 3 June 2011 in Bursa, Turkey. On April 1st (no April Fool's joke) the twelve-year-old, playing in the very strong GRENKE Chess Open, Yagiz Kaan Erdpgmus scored 7.0/9 points with a 2646 performance. With that he had fulfilled his final GM norm and become the youngest grandmaster in the world – the fourth youngest in chess history. We will be watching this young boy carefully. | Photo Ugur Medya