Grandmasters
The KazChess Masters Almaty tournament began in Kazakhstan with two wins for international grandmasters in the first round. Igor Kovalenko and Sam Shankland took early leads after defeating their opponents.
Imeripotiwa na AI
GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov leads the 2026 UzChess Cup after five rounds in Tashkent. He has won his last three games following an early loss. Three other grandmasters trail by half a point.
Prominent chess figures from around the world are converging on Auckland for a series of round-robin tournaments organized by local enthusiast Paul Spiller. The events, held at the Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre from January 15 to 21, aim to boost chess development in New Zealand ahead of the 2026 World Chess Olympiad. The highlight is the Bob Wade Memorial Masters, featuring top international talent.