Chess News

Women in Open Olympiads and Juga’s Queen Trap

At the 45th Chess Olympiad, held in Hungary in 2024, 975 players participated in the open event and 909 in the women’s event. Not every woman played in the women’s event. The 46th Chess Olympiad will be in Uzbekistan, from September 15–27, 2026. How many women will play in its open event? More 🡢

Support Blind and Visually Impaired Chess Players

Alex Relyea died on August 16, 2025, almost one year ago. He served for multiple years as chief tournament director for the U.S. Blind Open Championship. His wife Nita Patel arranged for donations to US Chess in his memory to support that annual championship. More 🡢

A Manly Move! Sexist Chess Annotations

In the June 2026 issue of Oklahoma Chess Magazine, editor Tom Braunlich annotated a game between Miles Melvin and FM Ryan Amburgy. About White’s fourth move, b4, National Master Braunlich wrote, “The rare Evans Gambit. A manly move!” More 🡢

Almost 50 years earlier, National Master Guthrie McClain wrote that then Women’s World Champion Maia Chiburdanidze played like a man. More 🡢

2026 Caveman Chess Festival: Guaranteed Prizes in Chicago

When chess players come back year after year to a chess festival, that’s a sign that something special is happening there. The Caveman Chess Festival features three US Chess national championships: The U.S. Junior Open, the U.S. Senior Open, and the U.S. Blind Open Championship. More 🡢

Chess in Georgia and Washington (May 2026)

In May of 2026 WIM Alexy Root will be in Georgia and in Washington, for book signings, talks, and simultaneous chess exhibitions. She will also be competing for the title of Southeastern Regional Women’s Champion. More 🡢

Chess and Poker: Jennifer Shahade Returns to US Chess

WGM Jennifer Shahade is back to the US Chess fold – and she’s bringing pro poker skills with her. After resolving all matters with the federation, Shahade has been named its first-ever Official Ambassador. Her new book argues that thinking across both games can sharpen your edge. More 🡢

International Chess Players in Texas

Discover how Texas blends global culture and competition, from Texas’ Eiffel Tower to chess tournaments across the state. More 🡢

2026 Pan-Am: Missouri Schools Show Chess Prowess

The 2026 Pan-Am was held January 2–5 in Oak Brook, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Webster University, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, the University of Missouri, and Saint Louis University finished first, second, third, and fourth (respectively) in the Open section. More 🡢