FIDE Online Arena

Our new campaign is called Brains Are Duty-Free. Players in countries hit with new U.S. tariffs (India, Vietnam, China, EU…) now get discounts that match the tariff. 26% off in India 46% off in Vietnam 34% off in China ...and more

The U.S. raised tariffs. So we lowered our prices. It’s called balance. ♟

The World Chess Show is here. 155 countries. 53 channels. Chess like you’ve never seen it—rivalries, egos, time control meltdowns, and, of course, Magnus Carlsen doing Magnus Carlsen things. Watch now: youtube.com/watch?v=3u4gzo…

Chess has always been played on boards. But some games are meant for bigger screens. Stay tuned. 🎬♟️

Or if you like to play with a soundtrack, try the #GenChess music-themed sets, where you can match synths against acoustic instruments.

Are you fire, or are you ice? Check out the nature-themed sets from #GenChess, where you choose whether you want to play it cool, or you want it hot. Chessarena.com

Checkmate, but make it snackable. Introducing the food theme from #GenChess: where your pawns are pickles, your queens are cheese, and your strategy might just involve dessert. Play today on ChessArena.com

It’s here! Play chess like never before, with an exclusive collection of chess sets from #GenChess, an AI image generation experiment by Google Labs. Choose from six chess set designs and a new #GenChess-inspired board on ChessArena.com, or create your own at labs.google/genchess.

Join the masterclass ‘Theoretical rook endgames’ with GM Wesley So on January, 11 at 18:00 CET! ⏳ This is a must-see for those who want to learn how to turn promising positions into victories and improve their overall understanding of not only rook endgames, but the endgames in general. ♟️ Don’t miss out, join now 🔥

🚨 Last Call: Your Next Move Could Be Legendary. The offer ends today, January 2! Get 6 extra months free when you subscribe for €49.99. That’s 18 months to: ♟️ Climb the ranks ♟️ Improve your skills ♟️ Earn your official FIDE rating This holiday deal only comes once a year. Make it count—and you might just win Gukesh’s exclusive travel chess set. 🔗 Subscribe Before It’s Gone. Link in the bio

Nobody likes bad news, but confusing news? That’s worse. We’ve added a clear state for banned players so if it ever happens (and we hope it doesn’t), you’ll know exactly what’s going on and what to do next. Because clarity should never be optional. Play fair, stay sharp, and keep making moves: chessarena.com

The holidays are here. Be kind. Play chess. Maybe even let someone win—just this once (when it’s not for your official rating).

Magnus Carlsen walked out of the World Rapid Championship over a pair of jeans. On ChessArena.com, you can play without pants entirely.

For those who want to check out New York outside of the Rapid and Blitz streams, here is our favorite livestream from the Times Sq. We know that after the games, some players will take the N and R train to see the midtown, so we can possibly spot them here as well. #google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">earthcam.com/cams/newyork/t…

♈ Aries (March 21–April 19): Daniil Dubov, Richard Rapport How to Play in New York: Dubov and Rapport are chaos agents. Aries thrives on speed and improvisation, but today isn’t about showing off. Blitz doesn’t reward vanity. Sacrifice with purpose—every piece has a job, even the pawns you want to throw away for drama. Avoid trying to win the crowd. Win the game. ♉ Taurus (April 20–May 20): None How to Play in New York: If Taurus were here, they’d be building fortresses instead of attacking. New York rewards risk-takers, so be glad you’re not tied to a zodiac sign that would rather protect its pieces than throw them into battle. ♊ Gemini (May 21–June 20): Alireza Firouzja How to Play in New York: Geminis overthink. Firouzja needs to stop calculating six moves ahead and trust his instincts. His ability to pivot mid-game makes him dangerous, but Gemini’s downfall is overconfidence. Move fast, but don’t get cute. This isn’t theory—it’s survival. ♋ Cancer (June 21–July 22): Ian Nepomniachtchi, Anish Giri How to Play in New York: Cancers hate losing, which is why Nepo and Giri play like they’re protecting their childhood bedrooms. That’s fine in classical, but blitz demands some recklessness. Let the defenses fall—just once—and trust that speed beats safety today. ♌ Leo (July 23–August 22): Fabiano Caruana How to Play in New York: Caruana is too polished for blitz. Leos want to win beautifully, but blitz doesn’t care about elegance. New York rewards boldness, so Fabiano should forget symmetry and go for blood. Sacrifice something early—it doesn’t have to make sense as long as it looks good. ♍ Virgo (August 23–September 22): How to Play in New York: If a Virgo were here, they’d be analyzing every move while the clock laughed in their face. Blitz doesn’t care about perfection. Good enough is better than beautiful. ♎ Libra (September 23–October 22): Levon Aronian, Wesley So How to Play in New York: Balance and harmony are cute until the clock runs out. Libras need to get messy. Aronian and So can handle complexity, but today is about creating it, not cleaning it up. Break the board, then sort out the pieces later. ♏ Scorpio (October 23–November 21): Vidit Gujrathi How to Play in New York: Scorpios hold grudges, and Vidit’s biggest grudge is against the clock. Intensity is his strength, but blitz games aren’t won by staring your opponent into submission. Play fast, play sharp, and save the psychological warfare for post-game interviews. ♐ Sagittarius (November 22–December 21): Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura How to Play in New York: Sagittarius doesn’t ask for permission—they just take what’s theirs. Carlsen and Nakamura need to lean into that. This is their territory, and everyone else is a tourist. Forget defense. Play like New York is yours—because, let’s face it, it probably is. ♑ Capricorn (December 22–January 19) How to Play in New York: Capricorns would grind out wins in classical time formats, but blitz doesn’t reward patience. If you can’t make chaos your ally, find another tournament. ♒ Aquarius (January 20–February 18): Vladimir Fedoseev How to Play in New York: Aquarius thrives on surprise, but blitz isn’t the place to experiment. Fedoseev needs to focus on execution, not creativity. The board doesn’t care how clever you are when the clock’s running out. Skip the innovation—just hit the clock. ♓ Pisces (February 19–March 20) How to Play in New York: Pisces would rather dream about winning than actually win. Blitz has no time for dreamers. You can calculate later—today is about instinct and speed. Which sign plays chess like you do? Tag your blitz twin—or your blitz rival. And remember: If you lose, you can always blame Mercury retrograde.

1/13 As the FIDE Rapid and Blitz Championship is just about to start in New York, we hired one of New York’s sharpest astrologers—who once predicted the fall of the Berlin Defense—to chart the destinies of the players at the 2024 World Rapid & Blitz Championship. The stars are aligned. The clocks are merciless. Here’s how they should act if they want to survive New York.

FIDE Online Arena Just Updated the Syrian Flag—And It’s Kind of a Big Deal. Flags don’t change often, and when they do, it’s never just about design. It’s about history, identity, and who gets represented. This week, FIDE Online Arena became one of the first global platforms to update the Syrian flag—responding to requests from Syrian players and reflecting the country’s shifting reality. It’s a small but telling move. Sports platforms, even digital ones, are no longer sidelines. They’re part of the bigger picture—where politics, culture, and identity play out in real time.

⏳ Time is Ticking. Your Opponent is Waiting. Make your move this holiday season: ✅ 18 months for €49.99 (6 months FREE) ✅ Official FIDE Rating & Tournaments ✅ Access advanced game analytics ✅ Join a global chess community And don’t forget: subscribing could win you Gukesh’s official travel chess set—a piece of history to elevate your game. This deal ends January 2. Are you ready to play smart? 🔗 Go Pro Now! Link in the bio

🎄 Play More, Pay Less: Go Official This Holiday Season 🎯 This is your moment! ✅ 18 months of official chess for just 12 months’ price (€49.99) ✅ Earn your FIDE-recognized rating ✅ Chance to win Gukesh’s exclusive travel chess set And mark your calendar: 📅 December 23 at 16:00 CET — A prized money tournament for PRO players is waiting. Compete, climb, and make your move! The board is set, the clock is ticking. 🔗 Subscribe Now