The Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2026, often called the Wimbledon of Chess, returns to Wijk aan Zee with one of the strongest classical lineups of the year. Featuring the Tata Steel Chess Masters and Challengers, this legendary round-robin event brings together world champions, elite grandmasters, rising stars, and future prodigies competing under classical time controls from January 17 to February 1, 2026. In this video, we break down the tournament’s rich history, the 2026 format, the Masters and Challengers fields, and why Tata Steel remains one of the most important events in the global chess calendar.

Hikaru Nakamura has officially declined his invitation to play in the FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship, choosing instead to focus on another major world championship event later this year. In this video, we break down Hikaru Nakamura’s statement, explore the implications for freestyle chess, and discuss whether a hierarchy of world championships exists in modern chess. With FIDE, Freestyle Chess, elite players, and the future of chess titles all in focus, this decision raises important questions about prestige, scheduling, and governance at the highest level of the game.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcCYnCaW-MTNMo0BuxO3EkQ?sub_confirmation=1

https://buymeacoffee.com/matthewrichards2005

How much do chess players really make in 2025? From million-dollar prize winnings at elite tournaments to the harsh financial reality faced by most professional chess players, this video breaks down chess prize money, tournament earnings, and how income is distributed across the chess world. Using official prize data from major international events, we explore how top grandmasters earn their money, why only a small percentage of players make a full-time living from chess, and how most professionals rely on coaching, streaming, sponsorships, and other income sources to survive.The Top Chess Prizewinners In 2025, And How Much They Won - Chess.com

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcCYnCaW-MTNMo0BuxO3EkQ?sub_confirmation=1https://buymeacoffee.com/matthewrichards2005

Magnus Carlsen is widely regarded as one of the most dominant players in chess history, with record-breaking success across classical, rapid, and blitz formats, a peak rating of 2882, and victories in elite events such as the World Chess Championship, Candidates Tournament, World Cup, Tata Steel, and Norway Chess. In this discussion video, we examine Magnus Carlsen’s major accomplishments, explore why his playing style is so unique compared to other world champions, analyse his mentality and competitive attitude at the highest level, and look at what fellow grandmasters, rivals, and commentators have said about his place in chess history and the ongoing GOAT debate.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcCYnCaW-MTNMo0BuxO3EkQ?sub_confirmation=1

https://buymeacoffee.com/matthewrichards2005

The 2025 World Rapid & Blitz Championship heads to Doha, Qatar, with Magnus Carlsen officially confirmed in a stacked field featuring many of the world’s strongest players across the Open and Women’s events. In this preview, we break down the tournament format, prize fund, schedule, confirmed participants, notable absentees, recent controversies surrounding FIDE and Carlsen, and the key storylines to watch as rapid and blitz chess take center stage once again at one of the most exciting events on the chess calendar.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcCYnCaW-MTNMo0BuxO3EkQ?sub_confirmation=1

https://buymeacoffee.com/matthewrichards2005

Cheating in chess has become one of the most serious threats to the integrity of the game, affecting online play, titled competitions, and player trust at every level. This video examines how widespread cheating has fueled paranoia, damaged competitive fairness, and created an environment where suspicions cannot easily be proven or disproven, while also analyzing Chess.com fair play statistics from November 2025, my own encounters with confirmed cheaters since June 2025, and multiple Untitled Tuesday events impacted by disqualifications, alongside a reflection on the human cost this crisis has placed on the chess community.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcCYnCaW-MTNMo0BuxO3EkQ?sub_confirmation=1

https://buymeacoffee.com/matthewrichards2005

The Total Chess World Championship Tour is FIDE’s newest world title concept, combining fast classical, rapid, and blitz into a single championship, but its qualification system has already sparked major debate. In this video, we break down how players qualify for the Total Chess World Championship, why ratings dominate the selection process, how rapid and blitz champions are rewarded, and whether this system truly reflects the idea of a “total chess player.” With confirmed spots for world champions like Gukesh Dommaraju and Ju Wenjun, heavy reliance on classical ratings, and limited places from faster formats, this format raises serious questions about fairness, legitimacy, and the future of world championship chess.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcCYnCaW-MTNMo0BuxO3EkQ?sub_confirmation=1

https://buymeacoffee.com/matthewrichards2005

The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam South Africa 2025 brings together the strongest lineup of elite players anywhere in the world, featuring Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Vincent Keymer, Levon Aronian, Arjun Erigaisi, Hans Niemann, Parham Maghsoodloo, and Javokhir Sindarov competing across Cape Town in one of the most anticipated freestyle events of the year. This video breaks down every player profile, world ranking, classical ELO, freestyle rating, current form, storylines, and competitive history, while also covering event news including Hans Niemann’s Diving Chess victory, press releases, global expansion ambitions, and the partnership announcement with Duolingo. This is the complete guide to understanding the South Africa Grand Slam, its top contenders, and the significance of hosting the world’s best in one of the most extraordinary venues on the chess calendar.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcCYnCaW-MTNMo0BuxO3EkQ?sub_confirmation=1

https://buymeacoffee.com/matthewrichards2005

SuperPogChamps 2025 brings together the strongest lineup of celebrities, streamers, esports stars, and past PogChamps champions in the most competitive amateur chess event ever. Featuring Andrea Botez, Tyler1, Masi Oka, SonicFox, Samay Raina, Voyboy, Wirtual, Sparg0, and more, this edition delivers high-level battles, intense tiebreaks, dramatic group-stage fights, and a $50,000 prize fund. With a 10+5 time control, round-robin groups, and a knockout bracket, SuperPogChamps 2025 offers fast chess, unpredictable matchups, and some of the most entertaining games in PogChamps history. This video covers the full breakdown, highlights, key players, format, upsets, and standout moments from the sweatiest PogChamps ever.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcCYnCaW-MTNMo0BuxO3EkQ?sub_confirmation=1

https://buymeacoffee.com/matthewrichards2005

In this long-form review I break down the dramatic 2025 FIDE World Cup, the unexpected Candidates qualifications of Javokhir Sindarov, Wei Yi, and Andrey Esipenko, and how these results reshape the road to the 2026 FIDE Candidates. I also analyze the current FIDE Circuit standings, Praggnanandhaa’s commanding lead, Anish Giri’s chase, and the slim but mathematically possible scenario in which Magnus Carlsen overtakes Hikaru Nakamura for the rating spot. With key performances, Circuit rules, and a surprise Candidates lineup forming, this video covers everything happening at the top level of chess as the 2025 season reaches its decisive phase.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcCYnCaW-MTNMo0BuxO3EkQ?sub_confirmation=1

https://buymeacoffee.com/matthewrichards2005