ContentNIC'S CAFÉ
Ever seen a game of container chess? Have a look at the heavy-weight struggle that Jan Timman won against Garry Kasparov in the Rotterdam harbour. LETTERS
The pages to vent your irritation, express your approval or point out analytical errors. Or to publish an unknown loss that the great Capablanca suffered against your friend's grandfather. ALEXANDER KHALIFMAN NEW FIDE CHAMP
Once again FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov pulled off what many had deemed impossible. In the gambling capital of the world one hundred chess players split a three million dollar prize-fund. In the end Alexander Khalifman hit the jackpot and became the fourteenth FIDE world champion. Hans Ree travelled to Las Vegas and saw a strange tournament in a strange town. Plus lots of expertly annotated games and an interview with the new champion. XIE JUN REGAINS WOMEN'S TITLE
Winning a world championship is a herculean task. Regaining the title you once held is said to be even tougher. Yet, that's exactly what China's pride Xie Jun did in a gruelling match against Alisa Galliamova. After three weeks of exhausting chess in Kazan and Shenyang the new champion was still fresh enough to send her predecessor Zsuzsa Polgar a candid open letter. 'YOU ASK THE QUESTIONS'
In the second part of his engrossing triptych on legendary Soviet trainers, Genna Sosonko pays tribute to Semyon Abramovich Furman, whose undisputed claim to fame was his part in the rise of Anatoly Karpov. PIKET FINISHES WITH A FLOURISH
Jeroen Piket continued his return to good form at the traditional Biel festival. When in the last round he needed a win to secure first place he baffled Bologan with a queen sacrifice. SECRETS OF OPENING SURPRISES
Your opponent chooses the Najdorf and still you take him out of the book on move six. Check the SOS pages for the recipe. VAN WELY INCREASES MARKET VALUE
The Dutch grandmaster travelled to Polanica Zdroj to gain some kilos and Elo points. Throwing about his weight the tournament winner definitely improved his Elo. MASTER OF THE ROOK ENDING
On the occasion of the publication of Viktor Kortchnoi's book Practical Rook Endings we are happy to present a sample of his work on rook endings with all the pawns on one wing. FROM ANTWERP TO AMSTERDAM
Boris Avrukh's victory at the Lost Boys farewell party in Antwerp won him an invitation to their first tournament in Amsterdam. JAN TIMMAN
You take another look at a recent endgame and before you know it you're analyzing several endings that inevitably spring to mind. BOOKS CHESS NOTES
Chess is a manysplendoured game with a rich history. If you did not know this truism Edward Winter will convince you. | 
Alexander Khalifman,
Xie Jun,
Semyon Furman,
6.Qf3 yet another anti-Najdorf 
Boris Avrukh,
