How to Find the Latest Chess News
“They said he used what to cheat against Magnus?” If you know what I’m alluding to, you’ve been following the news from the chess elite in the last few years. Chess scandals and events have broken into the mainstream news recently, raising everyone’s awareness of the good, bad, and, um, occasionally highly inappropriate rumors in elite chess. If you’re an avid fan, you might be wondering how to find the true scoop about chess. We’ve compiled a guide to finding all the chess news that’s fit to print.
Chess Publications
One sure way to get a healthy dose of chess news is a subscription to one (or all) of the major chess magazines. The two most widely circulated magazines are Chess Life and American Chess Magazine, but you can find others with different editorial styles by searching the web.
Chess Life is the official monthly publication of US Chess. Your US Chess membership includes a digital subscription. A print subscription can be sent to you for a small additional fee on top of your membership. Chess Life covers a wide range of topics and has a friendly, inviting format for anyone interested in chess.
American Chess Magazine (ACM) is published six times a year. It is print-only. ACM is aimed at experienced chess players. This means the content may be more technical or reach into chess news that’s less well-known. It’s an excellent choice for serious players and fans who want to really dig into chess current affairs.
Photo by Ron Lach for Pexels
Regional and club magazines and newsletters are also a great source of news a little closer to home. Check into your local club and sign up for any newsletters to keep abreast of local tournaments and chess news. Northwest Chess Magazine is an award-winning example of a regional news source. For news directly from the people who write the news, take a look at The Chess Journalist, a free journal published online by the Chess Journalists of America.
The Guardian Series Chess Pieces - 3.75" King
Premium Chess Box - Mahogany
Chronos GX Clock Carrying Bag
Websites and Blogs
There are too many websites and blogs devoted to chess news to adequately discuss them all, but with a little digging, you’re sure to find one you like. One advantage of a blog or website is the opportunity to focus on a narrower range of topics. Nearly every major chess site or club has a blog of some kind, so look on their main sites for a link. FIDE has a robust news section on their front page.
Blogs are also a popular way for elite chess players and coaches to speak directly to fans. While chess techniques are often the focus, you can find current and past events with a little searching. Don’t forget to check Substack for paid blogs by chess personalities you want to follow.
Photo by www.kaboompics.com for Pexels
The Week in Chess by Mark Crowther is worth highlighting as one of the longest continuously running chess news sites. The Week in Chess has been reporting on chess for over 30 years with timely individual updates and a weekly digest. Another popular chess news site is Chessdom.com. From their mission statement: “Chessdom is a platform dedicated to the comprehensive coverage of chess, focusing on delivering professional and independent news, live games, and analysis from chess events from around the globe.” A sampling of recent articles shows a wide range of news from recent big games to the latest advances in chess AI.
(While we’re at it, don’t forget to sign up for email updates on the House of Staunton blog here.)
Chess Apps
Did you know chess apps like Chess.com and ChessBase have pages dedicated to news about current chess affairs? Click on the “News” tab and get a download on what happened in chess today. Chess.com, in particular, has a robust team of journalists who recap major tournaments and other stories in real time. If you don’t yet have an account, you’re one free sign-up away from a wealth of current news about players, major tournaments, and other noteworthy items.
The *NEW* Austrian Coffeehouse Series Chess Pieces - 4.0" King
DGT 3000 Digital Chess Clock
The Camaratta Signature Championship Chess Table - Dark Brown
YouTube Channels and Podcasts
Chess players are beginning to skew younger, and the explosion of chess content on YouTube reflects that. Along with streaming, experimental games, and tutorials, there are channels providing breaking news in chess.
FIDE Chess is the official YouTube channel for the International Chess Federation. Follow them for all the latest on big international tournaments and records, including streams of final matches. US Chess also has a YouTube channel, and it’s the best place to get the latest on scholastic chess in the US in video form.
A quick search for “chess news” also brings up the very popular Gotham Chess channel. Gotham Chess, run by IM Levy Rozman, is the top YouTube chess channel overall. While his content is more wide-ranging, there is a healthy sprinkling of the latest in chess to watch.
Podcasts are handy because you can listen while you do other things. Two of the top podcasts with chess news content are The C-Squared Podcast with hosts GMs Fabiano Caruana and Cristian Chirila, and The Perpetual Chess Podcast hosted by National Master Ben Johnson. The podcast format is a great way to feel like you’re listening to a conversation between elite chess players about current events.
Photo by Kampus Production for Pexels
News Sites and Alert Services
Some chess-related current affairs are of such broad interest that major news organizations widely report them. Championship matches, new records, and major scandals often break into everyday headlines. If you’re a regular consumer of news articles and broadcasts, you’ll probably catch most of the “big” stories about elite chess players. Many people have cut back on their consumption of big media news, though. How can you be sure you don’t miss a story?
The Modern Series Chess Pieces - 3.75" King
DGT Pegasus Chess Board (e-Board) - Wireless Bluetooth with USB Charger
Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess
Many of my fellow chess writers use keyword alert services for any major chess-related news. The most popular and wide-reaching is the Google Alerts function connected to a Google email account. To set it up, navigate to the Google Alerts homepage while logged in and follow the prompts. If you don’t have a Google account, it’s relatively easy to set one up. If you’re not interested in doing that, another free service is Talkwalker Alerts.
A few tips on setting up your news aggregation are in order. Try setting up a frequency that works for you. You may not want to keep up with real-time alerts! A daily or weekly frequency might be easier to manage. Additionally, make sure to tailor your keywords to the news you actually want. Using “chess” may give you more hits than you care to follow, but keying off “chess AI match” will give you a more specific set of results. Spend some time refining your searches to have these alerts work for you.
Social Media
Social media gets a lot of flak these days for the many ways it can be abused to spread misinformation, and rightfully so. That said, however, it can be a good way to keep up with your favorite chess players. Many grandmasters have active social media profiles you can follow across major platforms. Follow accounts for major chess organizations like FIDE and US Chess to get official news and announcements.
The Camaratta Collection - The Botvinnik Flohr Series Chess Pieces - 4.0" King
Leap Digital Classic Chess Clock
US Chess Premium Chess Box
Just remember to be skeptical of things you hear about on social media until they’ve been confirmed by a reliable source. Several recent chess scandals were exacerbated by rumors and inaccuracies fueled by social media posts.
Extra! Extra! Read/Hear/Watch All About It!
Trying to fit all the possible sources for chess news into one article is an impossible task! Whether you prefer to read, listen, or watch the latest in chess, our sources will point you in the right direction. Get ready for your next club meetup with all the facts on the latest chess highs and lows, follow your favorite player, or learn about upcoming official changes in your favorite format. Now go get yourself informed!