Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2025 i British Chess Magazine

This month I set a literary challenge and offer a modest prize to the winner. Inspired by (though NOT in the style of) TS Eliot’s The Waste Land I have written this column in the style of three famous authors from the rich and varied history of English literature. I call it The Waist Land. The challenge is: to identify by name each of the three famous authors I have referred to above who provide the inspiration for this column. With a deadline of submission by November 30, 2025 direct to the email of the Editor of the BCM (editor@britishchessmagazine.co.uk), all correct answers (if any) will be subject to a ballot, and the winner will receive a signed copy of my latest book (co-written with my friend, artist Barry Martin)…

Anyone following chess's recent battles with technology won't be shocked by what happened to Kirill Shevchenko. But the severity of his punishment - becoming only the fourth player ever stripped of a grandmaster title - sends a message that goes well beyond one Ukrainian's fall from grace. The 22-year-old’s case, which concluded with FIDE’s Ethics and Disciplinary Commission rejecting his final appeal on 28 August this year, offers a window into chess’s deepest modern challenge: how do you police a game built on trust when a smartphone can outplay Magnus Carlsen? FROM HERO TO PARIAH There’s cruel irony in Shevchenko’s story. Here was a player who embodied chess’s most inspiring narratives - a teenage prodigy from war-torn Ukraine achieving his GM title at 14, representing his country at the European…

In the Women’s event, on 8/11, Vaishali Rameshbabu and Kateryna Lagno tied for first and both qualified for the Candidates, but Vaishali took top spot on tiebreak. It was her second consecutive Grand Swiss victory - something never achieved before in either section. The women’s tournament showcased close but different paths to success. Vaishali’s journey was more turbulent, featuring spectacular victories and one costly defeat, ultimately decided by her superior clutch play. Kateryna Lagno’s route was built on solid, uncompromising chess – she remained unbeaten throughout while gradually accumulating advantages. Vaishali’s consecutive victories in the Grand Swiss (2023 and 2025) are a historic achievement unmatched in either the Open or Women’s section. Even the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, went to X to congratulate. Vaishali’s performance was characterised by a…

The Mindsports International Open featured several grandmasters and international masters. Igor Janik and Brandon Clarke finished first with 7/9; Janik winning the tiebreak. Brandon Clarke made a grandmaster norm and we look at two of his games starting with the round eight win against The Caro Kann. Brandon Clarke – Li Wenxiang ]V Mindsports Int Open London ENG (8.4) 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 ♙f5 4.♘c3 e6 White now chooses an aggressive variation attacking the black bishop, a good choice when a win is needed. 5.g4 ♙g6 6.♘ge2 c5 7.h4 h5 The alternative is 7...cxd4 8.♘xd4 h5 with complex play. 8.♘f4 ♙h7 After 8...cxd4 9.♘xg6 fxg6 10.♕xd4 ♘c6 is satisfactory for Black, but he prefers to keep the pawn structure undamaged and surrender the pawn on h5. 9.♘xh5 cxd4 10.♕xd4…

1 S Didukh Humor Ty 2004 DRAW 2 M. Minski Sahmat Bestesciliyi-15 JT 2018 DRAW 3 V Samilo Phenix 2018 WIN 4 A Avni Z Birnov MT 2013 DRAW That’s the acronym for the World Chess Composition Tournament. Last month, in this column, we looked at prizewinning studies from the World Championship in Composing for Individuals; this month, we look at the endgame study theme of the team Championship, the WCCT. The twelfth WCCT has just started, and entries can be submitted any time up to the end of June 2026. There are separate sections for all the major types of chess composition, including, of course, endgame studies. This is your opportunity to compose a study and enter it in a World Championship. The event is for national teams, so,…