The Chess Journal

Breaking Barriers: Divya Deshmukh's Historic Rise to Chess Greatness

July 31, 2025 Sam the Chess Man

The chess world witnessed history in the making on July 28, 2025, when 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh became the first Indian woman to claim the prestigious FIDE Women's World Cup title...

One Teen vs. 50 Clocks: The Brutal Story Behind Chess's Newest, Craziest World Record

June 24, 2025 Sam the Chess Man

On June 9, 2025, 19-year-old Belgian Grandmaster Daniel Dardha set a potential new world record for a clock simultaneous exhibition in Deinze, Belgium. Facing 50 opponents, Dardha achieved a dominant...

Unlock Your Child's Chess Potential: My In-Depth 2025 ChessKid.com Guide for Parents

May 29, 2025 Sam the Chess Man

Are you a parent of a kid who LOVES to play chess but you are at a complete loss as to how to help them train, develop, and satisfy their...

Checkmate at 12: Aaron Reeve Mendes Becomes Canada’s Youngest International Chess Master

May 22, 2025 Sam the Chess Man

Aaron Reeve Mendes has made chess history in Canada by becoming the country’s youngest International Master (IM) at just 12 years old. This remarkable achievement places him among the world’s...

Hikaru Nakamura Breaks the Internet: How He Smashed the 3408 Blitz Rating Barrier!

May 15, 2025 Sam the Chess Man

On May 13, 2025, GM Hikaru Nakamura once again etched his name in chess history by achieving a staggering Chess.com blitz rating of 3408-the highest ever recorded on the platform....

Empowering At-Risk Youth Through Chess: The 'Chess for Life' Initiative in Lethbridge, Alberta

May 08, 2025 Sam the Chess Man

A Lethbridge-based initiative is using the game of chess to empower at-risk youth by teaching them critical thinking, patience, and resilience. Through mentorship and community, the 'Chess for Life' program...

DrLupo’s Cheating Scandal at PogChamps 6: What Happened and Why It Matters

May 01, 2025 Sam the Chessman

Popular streamer Benjamin “DrLupo” Lupo was recently embroiled in a high-profile cheating scandal during the $100,000 PogChamps 6 online chess tournament. The event, hosted by Chess.com, is known for featuring...

Checkmate Your Limits: How Hard Work Turned a Chess Beginner into a 2000-Rated Player

April 28, 2025 Sam the Chess Man

If you’re looking for motivation to improve at chess, there’s nothing more encouraging than hearing about someone who started from scratch and reached an impressive level through hard work and...

I Thought This Rolls-Royce Chess Set Was a Joke — But It’s 100% Real

April 24, 2025 Sam the Chess Man

I’ll be honest — when I first stumbled across a headline claiming that Rolls-Royce was making a luxury chess set, I figured it was either clickbait or an elaborate April Fools...

Carlsen’s Perfect 9/9 at Grenke: A Modern Echo of Fischer’s Greatness

April 21, 2025 Sam the Chess Man

Magnus Carlsen scores a perfect 9/9 at the 2025 Grenke Freestyle Chess Open, echoing Fischer’s legacy and redefining greatness in a bold new chess era.

Ju Wenjun is the 2025 FIDE Women's World Chess Champion

April 18, 2025 Sam the Chess Man

Chinese chess grandmaster Ju Wenjun has once again proven her dominance in the world of chess by securing her fifth FIDE Women's World Chess Championship title this week, joining the...

Magnus Carlsen Dominates in Paris, Clinches Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Without a Tiebreak

April 14, 2025 Sam the Chess Man

Magnus Carlsen reigns supreme in Paris, capturing the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam title without needing a single tiebreak. In a thrilling finale against rival Hikaru Nakamura, Carlsen proved that even...