His Life and Chess Games

Paul Morphy might well be the most brilliant and enigmatic chess champion of all time. He burst onto the scene in 1857 as a 20-year-old and dominated the chess world for two short years, convincingly defeating all the strongest players. After conquering the European chess scene, Morphy was universally recognised as the greatest player of all time. But at the age of 22 he suddenly and permanently retired from serious competition.

The Musketeer Years 1908–1939

Gideon Ståhlberg (1908-1967) reigned among the world’s best chess players for over three decades, leaving an indelible mark on the Swedish chess scene. This captivating biography chronicles his extraordinary journey from humble beginnings in a village outside Gothenburg to global acclaim, marked by triumphant matches against formidable adversaries like Rudolf Spielmann and Aron Nimzowitsch.

The Fiercest Battles of Gukesh D

Gukesh Dommaraju became the challenger for the 2024 World Chess Championship when the then 17 year old won the Candidates Tournament in Toronto earlier that year, ahead of favourites including Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana and Ian Nepomniachtchi. A year earlier Gukesh wasn't so well known in the West, even though the chess prodigy had been consistently breaking records:

- Gukesh was the second-youngest Grandmaster in chess history, missing being the youngest-ever by only 17 days.

1981-1991

The third volume of Elk and Ruby’s treatise on Viktor Korchnoi, penned by FM Hans Renette and IM Tibor Karolyi, covers the period 1981-1991. This encompasses Korchnoi’s famous world championship match with Karpov at Merano in 1981, his candidates matches against Portisch and Kasparov in 1983, Hjartarson in 1988 and Sax and Timman in 1991, as well as the candidates tournament of 1985 at Montpellier, the GMA world cup series and major tournament performances.

Updated, edited and expanded by Carsten Hansen

François-André Danican Philidor (1726-1795) was unique in countless ways. He had a great career in music, composing many popular pieces of music, but it is from his accomplishments in chess that he is most remembered. His book "Analyse du Jeu des Échecs" ("Analysis of the Game of Chess") was translated into several languages and was updated in several, expanded editions.

Kurzbiografien mit 47 Partien und 55 Aufgaben

Die Rolle, die insbesondere jüdische Meisterspieler, Problemkomponisten, Turnierorganisatoren, Verleger, Autoren und Mäzene für die Entwicklung des Schachs in Deutschland gespielt haben, ist bislang kaum systematisch zusammengefasst und illustriert worden. Diesem Manko soll mit diesem Buch ohne Anspruch auf Vollständigkeit ein wenig abgeholfen werden.

The Chess Champion (AGBC 10)

After having conquered chess America, Paul Morphy issued a challenge to European chess players and traveled there to play the best players of the game, and in particular wanting to face Howard Staunton, the English master who was widely considered to be the best player in the world.

The Chess and Football Careers of Simen Agdestein

Simen Agdestein was awarded the title of chess grandmaster at the age of eighteen, the youngest in the world at the time. Two years later he wrote in his diary that he believed he could become the best in the world.

But chess wasn't his only passion. He also excelled at football and was selected nine times for the Norwegian national team. Foreign clubs wanted to sign him as a professional.

Chessplayers Lost in the Labyrinth of Life

Lost in the Labyrinth of Life Throughout the history of chess, elite players have been studied, celebrated and adored. But there also been players, while perhaps not regarded as world-class competitors, who had a precious gift, but who did not know (or could not find) the way to success. They were lost in the labyrinth of difficulties that life always places before every human being.

(1969-1980)

The second volume of Elk and Ruby’s treatise on Viktor Korchnoi, penned by FM Hans Renette and IM Tibor Karolyi, covers the period 1969-1980. This encompasses Korchnoi’s famous world championship fight with Karpov at Baguio City in 1978, his candidates final matches against Karpov in 1974 and Hubner in 1980, as well as the related candidates cycles and major tournament performances.

Bent Larsen is one of the most celebrated chess players of the twentieth century. Larsen is the man who pushed Bobby Fischer down to Board 2 on the Rest of the World team in 1970. The Danish grandmaster had spectacular results, but chess fans appreciated even more his creativity and fighting spirit.

For Larsen, a drawish-looking position was no reason to halt a game, as he had the ability to create magic out of thin air.

The Rising Star

Boris Spassky is the most underappreciated World Champion in chess history, remembered as the Soviet who lost to Bobby Fischer in 1972. In this two-volume work, biographer extraordinaire Tibor Karolyi puts the focus on Spassky’s brilliant career and life story.

The Spiritual Journey of a Professional Chess Play

The Dutch Grandmaster Paul van der Sterren was a professional chess player for over twenty years. At the peak of his career, he qualified for the Candidate Matches for the World Championship and was only four victories away from the World Title. In Mindful Chess, you will get his long and short answer to whether meditation or mindfulness will help your chess.

Autobiography of a World Champion Candidate

In Black and White is probably the most honest autobiography ever published by a chess grandmaster. It covers Paul van der Sterren’s rise to the chess elite, but above all, his struggle to become a better player, his insecurities and the difficulties he encountered.

A Chess Biography

On 30 April 2023, in Astana, Kazakhstan, Chinese grandmaster Ding Liren sensationally defeated Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi in a dramatic battle for the chess crown. Ding Liren not only became the 17th World Chess Champion, but he also won the hearts of chess fans across the globe with his incredible fighting spirit and disarming interviews. At the final press conference, the new champion said the match ‘reflected the deepest of his soul’.