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Photo of Leonard Barden is from John Saunders excellent archive - https://www.saund.co.uk/britbase/pgn/bardenl-viewer.html Leonard Barden, chess columnist for The Guardian, has broken the world record for the longest-running chess column in history, celebrating 70 years of continuous publication in September 2025. His weekly column began in September 1955 and has been published without interruption, making Barden a uniquely dedicated and influential figure in chess journalism. He has been incredibly helpful in the careers of many well-known chess masters. Record Details
Impact
Leonard Barden’s extraordinary tenure as the Guardian’s chess columnist marks a historic achievement, with his column now holding the world record for the longest-running chess column ever. My Top 10 Chess News Stories1. British Chess Championships Light Up LiverpoolThe 111th British Chess Championships returned to Liverpool’s St George’s Hall from July 31 to August 10, 2025. The event brought together hundreds of competitors across age groups in the city’s historic heart. Liverpool Chess Club called it “huge” for the city, which last hosted the event in 2008. The championships included amateur tournaments at the Holiday Inn and were hailed as a triumph of collaboration between the ECF, the city and local chess organisers. 2. Parham Maghsoodloo and Vaishali Rameshbabu Lead FIDE Grand SwissAt the midway point in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Iranian GM Parham Maghsoodloo and GM Vaishali Rameshbabu have taken sole leads in the Open and Women’s events of the prestigious 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss. Highlights include tight finishes and dramatic turnarounds, with stars like Praggnanandhaa, Firouzja, Gukesh, and young prodigies in contention. 3. UK Open Blitz Qualifiers Fill September CalendarA packed September in the UK sees a swarm of qualifying events for the UK Open Blitz Championships, including legs in Newcastle, Nottingham, Glasgow, Cardiff, Southampton, Sheffield, Golders Green, and others—plus a jammed club and junior calendar nationwide. 4. FIDE September 2025 Ratings: Keymer Makes HistoryGerman prodigy Vincent Keymer entered the world’s Top 10 after his victory at the Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters made headlines. The biggest single gain in world rankings went to WGM Tatev Abrahamyan after her sensational run in Budapest. 5. England Juniors Triumph at St George’s HallHome success: The National Chess Championships at St George’s Hall featured strong performances by England’s youth teams. Notably, Purbeck’s own rising star made headlines after an undefeated run debated “beating all the chess club teachers.” 6. Sinquefield Cup: Wesley So’s ReturnWesley So reclaimed a spot in the FIDE Top 10 after his Sinquefield Cup win in August, outpacing Pragg (Rameshbabu) and marking a significant comeback following a tough year. 7. Titled Tuesday—The Last “Old Format” EditionAugust closed with the final ‘classic’ Titled Tuesday online blitz before a major format overhaul. Notable winners: Tuan Minh Le and Aleksei Sarana, with Caruana and Carlsen both in the mix. 8. Mongolian, Argentinian, and Angolan Championships CompleteLate summer saw multiple national championships, with the Mongolian, Argentinian Women’s, and Angolan tournaments all recently completed—proving chess is thriving on every continent. 9. FIDE Launches “Fast Classic” Pilot ProjectWith a view to refreshing tournament chess, FIDE announced a new “Fast Classic” format, testing shorter time controls for inclusion in the main rating lists. Several federations are expected to participate and events could begin this autumn. 10. Upcoming: London Chess League FIDE WeekenderChess in London this month includes the London Chess League FIDE Weekender (September 26–28), as well as a full slate of junior events, rapidplays, and league matches. Chess in the Mainstream
Chess History From the Archives: The Chess News That Shaped the WorldSt. Petersburg 1909—A New Chess Generation Emerges Video ChessHighlights: FIDE Grand Swiss 2025—Round 3 What I Am Reading / Listening to Right NowYOUTUBE: BotezLive: Chess Patch Playtesting Chess PodcastsPODCAST PICK: Book ReviewA Monstrous Keres Project A truly monumental achievement—Jimmy Adams' four-volume, 4,013-page collection on Estonian legend Paul Keres is the definitive tribute to one of chess’s greatest unsung heroes. The set brings together Keres’ annotated games, fascinating commentary on his evolving style, and detailed biographical insights from Joosep Grents. Sadler’s review praises the depth and balance in Keres’ approach, tracing the journey from audacious attacker to universal master—bridging the extremes of hyper-modern chaos and dogged positional purity. If you’re a history buff or hungry for instructive game analysis, every volume is five-star material. Enjoyed this issue? Consider upgrading to Chess Circuit Premium and join 5,000+ chess friends for more in-depth content. Sources for further reading [To submit news, event reports, or feedback, reply to this post on Substack:
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