Valencia Nanjing Bilbao Amsterdam  Zurich Anish Giri Fischer's openings  Just Checking

Content Your Move One More 25th Anniversary Coinciding with our 25th anniversary, Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov celebrated that their unique rivalry also started a quarter of a century ago, with an exhibition match in Valencia. Carlsen Breaks 2800 Barrier Now that we knew he was working with Kasparov all eyes were on Magnus Carlsen when he arrived in Nanjing. What happened next can only be described as historic. Playing with unrestrained ambitions in every game the Norwegian outclassed a category 21 field with a 3002(!) performance. Anand’s Favourite Websites What websites does the current World Champion visit to read up on his interests outside of chess? Is 40 the New 20? Following a severe form crisis Vasily Ivanchuk bounced back to win the Jermuk Grand Prix. Runner-up Levon Aronian secured the top spot in the overall GP standings. New In Chess and I It was heart-warming and gratifying to see that New In Chess means so much to our readers. Here are the winners. Have You Ever Been Experienced? An invitation to play in the NH tournament convinced Peter Svidler that he was now officially Experienced. Both as a grandmaster and as a prolific writer, we may add. Mikhail Botvinnik, Homo Politicus Genna Sosonko reveals a lesser known side of the former world champion, a man of unshakable political convictions. S.O.S.: Preparing the Staunton Gambit Jeroen Bosch proposes 2.f3!? against the Dutch Defence. Lev On A Roll Again Having lost his first game he steamrolled the field to finish first with one round to spare. Levon Aronian was in a class of his own at the Grand Slam Final in Bilbao, posting yet another major victory in a year that he calls his best so far. Champions’ League in Zurich Vladimir Kramnik not only won the star-studded rapid tournament in Zurich, he also had a great time seeing his colleagues again. The Oldest Chess Club Richard Forster’s book on the history of the Zurich Chess Club brought Hans Ree back to that bright evening when he saw Mikhail Tal for the first time. Of Old Dogs and an Englishman He may poke fun at his diminished powers, but at 44 Nigel Short is enjoying a second youth. Bring Back the Cold War! Jonathan Rowson wonders what is needed to revive chess as a sport that attracts global interest. Top Giri Fifteen-year-old Anish Giri became the youngest Dutch champion in history. Bobby Fischer’s Openings The American champion never explained how he thought about openings. But he left clues. Recent Endgames that Caught the Eye Join Jan Timman in his endgame laboratory. Of Once and Future Kings Garry Kasparov looks back on his reunion with Karpov and does not hide his pride about Carlsen’s stellar performance in Nanjing. Just Checking Guess what’s Veselin Topalov’s biggest fear? Did they play your opening? In this issue games with the following openings were annotated by world class players: Pirc Smeets-Beliavsky, by Smeets Caro-Kann Short-l’Ami, by Short Ruy Lopez Inarkiev-Leko, by Leko Karjakin-Grischuk, by Karjakin Scotch Carlsen-Leko, by Carlsen Slav Grischuk-Aronian, by Grischuk Aronian-Inarkiev, by Aronian Kasimdzhanov-Aronian, by Kasimdzhanov Catalan Topalov-Kramnik, by Kramnik Queen's Indian Gelfand-Leko, by Gelfand King's Indian Giri-Nijboer, by Giri Beliavsky-Nakamura, by Svidler Nakamura-Svidler, by Svidler English Opening Aronian-Shirov, by Aronian Réti Ivanchuk-Alekseev, by Ivanchuk