FIDE and Global Chess will introduce many changes to the FIDE website in the first quarter of 2009 and readers would have already noticed we have been making incremental changes to the front page and menus. This process will be complete in the next few days and ask your patience should there be some broken links, etc.

Veselin Topalov won the Fide world title in 2005, lost the bitter 2006 Toiletgate match to Russia’s Vlad Kramnik, was accused of computer advice via his coach’s hand signals, then dropped down the chess ratings. Now the Bulgarian’s chequered career has taken another strong upswing. His superb tournament form in the second half of 2008 this week raised him back to No1 in the rankings, ahead of the world chess champion, Vishy Anand.

The 2008 tournament season ended with the FIDE Grand Prix event in Elista, Russia. Although there were a few dropouts, the remaining field of 14 was quite strong, including some…   RSS news feeds and Widgets on Feedzilla.com

The 2008 tournament season ended with the FIDE Grand Prix event in Elista, Russia. Although there were a few dropouts, the remaining field of 14 was quite strong, including some…   RSS news feeds and Widgets on Feedzilla.com

Strategically, chess may not be the most complicated game, but it can be daunting to learn. Part of the reason is the vast literature about how to play chess - particularly about the opening phase, the first 15 moves or so

FIDE recently released their January 2009 Rating List. Veselin Topalov takes the top spot this time around, just missing out on the 2800 barrier at 2796

The Elista FIDE Office is pleased to publish the 1st January 2009 FIDE Rating List which includes tournaments up to 15 December 2008 and FIDE events such as the Grand Prix in Elista, Kalmykia which ended 28 December. Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria retained first place with a rating of 2796, an increase of 5 points from his performance in the Dresden Olympiad . His victory in the Pearl Springs tournament in Nanjing, China, which ended 22nd December, will be rated for April 2009, according to FIDE regulations. Viswanathan Anand climbed to second slot with 2791, an increase of 8 points from October after his victory in his World Championship Match with Vladimir Kramnik last October in Bonn, Germany

Grand Master Sergey Karjakin might be the highest ranked chess player in the ongoing Asian Chess Champions League but he is still a teenager accompanied by his proud mother Tatania to all the international chess tournaments he takes part in. Sergey made history and headlines when he became the youngest ever chess Grandmaster at the age of 12 years and seven months. With an elo rating of 2730, Sergey is the highest ranked chess player and shoulders the hopes of the hosts to win the title.

The FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov sincerely congratulates all National Chess Federations, chess players and chess friends on the occasion of the coming New Year! Best wishes of health, prosperity and happiness. Let the coming year bring all of you success and more victories! The Elista FIDE Office joins these warmest wishes and would like to inform that the office will be on vacations for the period 1 - 10 January 2008. Thank you for your understanding.

A terrible chess move.