American Chess Magazine Issue 53

American Chess Magazine #53: 2026 FIDE World Championship in Geneva
The Youngest Match Ever

Defending champion Gukesh and challenger Sindarov – both 20 years old, two fighting styles, one crown. 

The upcoming World Championship match between Gukesh Dommaraju and Javokhir Sindarov takes center stage in a preview by GM Kayden Troff, exploring this historic encounter between two young grandmasters, their playing styles, and their recent performances. 

The 2026 Chess Olympiad in Samarkand is covered from two perspectives: GM Kirk Ghazarian examines the U.S. teams’ near-podium finishes through individual performances of team members, while IM Grayson Rorrer revisits the most memorable moments from the 46^th Olympiad. The issue also looks at the changing landscape of international chess, with Josip Asik exploring the new FIDE leadership under Timur Turlov, who shares his vision in one of his first mini-interviews since becoming FIDE’s eighth president. Asik also reports on Greenland’s debut at the Chess Olympiad, with the story told by head coach GM Henrik Danielsen and the players themselves.

In his regular Magnificent Three column, GM Sarunas Sulskis presents three outstanding encounters from top-level competition. First, he examines Praggnanandhaa’s fascinating battle against Jorden van Foreest, a game in which the Indian grandmaster drags his opponent into a “dark forest.” The second installment features Tan Zhongyi’s forceful victory over Vaishali Rameshbabu, turning her opponent’s own devices against her. The series concludes with Alice Lee’s hard-fought tactical victory over Divya Deshmukh, a thrilling encounter that showcases the young American’s resilience and resourcefulness.

FM Dylan Loeb McClain explores Magnus Carlsen’s dominance at the Esports World Cup and, exclusively for ACM, interviews the world’s leading chess player about how fatherhood and fierce rivalries have shaped his life and career. In his regular All Things Chess column, McClain examines the shifting balance of influence in international chess, asking why the center of power is moving eastward.

GM Spyridon Kapnisis surveys noteworthy opening developments in Early Deviations, highlighting ideas that challenge established theory and offer fresh possibilities for practical play. In Mysterious Pawn Moves, GM Emilio Cordova explores the strategic and tactical subtleties of pawn advances that can transform a position, illustarting his points with instructive examples and exercises for readers to solve.

FM Carsten Hansen reviews the latest chess publications, while IM Grayson Rorrer rounds up notable tournament performances from around the chess world. The issue concludes with Chess 5x5: Expert Takeaways, featuring GM Sergei Movsesian, who shares practical insights and lessons drawn from his experience at the highest level.