Opening Master. 25 Years of Chess Excellence and Why It Still Matters

Details: Published: Wednesday, 11 June 2025 23:52; Written by Openingmaster; Hits: 91

In the ever-evolving world of chess, where engines grow stronger, ChatGPT is everywhere and preparation becomes ever more critical, one thing remains constant - the need for accurate, reliable, and comprehensive game data. That’s where Opening Master stands tall, not only as a chess database but as the official chess collection trusted by thousands of FIDE-certified educators and chess professionals around the globe, chess masters and basically anyone who ever downloaded Opening Master Chess Database

From a Hobby to the Gold Standard

Opening Master began humbly in the late 1990s, as a passion project by Senior International Master Alexander Horvath and a close circle of Grandmaster friends in Slovakia. Back then, the Internet was young, DGT boards were rare, and tournament archiving often relied on manual input, with error and inconsistency. Horvath, driven by a vision for quality and precision, began creating a personal database of human over-the-board (OTB) games, ensuring accuracy down to the last pawn move and tournament, deduplicating the database, indexing it.

What started as a side hobby quickly grew into a trusted resource, especially as digital chess education took flight in the 2000s. By the early 2010s, Opening Master was being recognized by thousands of chess players, teachers and educators integrating structured data into lesson plans, classroom drills, and training camps worldwide. FIDE EDU jumped officially signing a global agreement in March 2023.

Why Opening Master Still Leads — In 2025 and Beyond

As of June 2025, Opening Master features a monumental 10,230,938 human chess games, all played over the board and verified. This isn’t just a random collection. It’s an officially curated historical archive, with consistent updates, tournament structuring, player profiling, and error correction, especially from the messy 1990s era when records were inconsistent and PGNs often full of mistakes.

What makes Opening Master superior?

Clean Data: No duplicated games, no corrupted PGNs, and no fake players.
Depth of History: Especially strong from 1990 to 2010 a weak spot in most public databases.
Trusted by GMs: Many top Grandmasters still use Opening Master as their go-to reference.
Educational Foundation: Integrated into FIDE EDU training for teachers and chess in schools programs.
Always Updated: The June 2025 update adds thousands of new tournament games with fresh insights.
Offered in PGN and CBV files (yes we think about our lovely Chessbase guys)

We are Opening Master

Beware of Free Databases

It's tempting to download a “free chess database” from a forum or file-sharing site. But what do you really get?

Corrupted game files
Fake engine vs. engine games labeled as human
Missing metadata (player names, locations, dates)
Broken PGNs and no tournament grouping
No updates — and definitely no support

A faulty opening preparation based on bad data can cost a player a tournament. That’s the hidden cost of free.

Still Better than Megabase — Yes, We Said It!

Over the years, many have asked, “How does Opening Master compare to ChessBase’s Megabase?” Let’s just say — even after 25 years — we’re still cleaner, broader, and more accurate. Many coaches and professional players privately admit they rely on Opening Master when it really matters. And that’s something we’re proud of.

So yes — we’re still better than Megabase. Just that you know.

A Final Word

Whether you’re a FIDE trainer, a titled player, or a passionate student of the game, Opening Master gives you the tools to learn, grow, and prepare with confidence. After 25 years, we’re not slowing down. We’re evolving with the game, just like you.

If you’re serious about chess, trust the database that’s earned the respect of the global chess community. Opening Master - where every move matters.

Today, Opening Master is more than just a database; it’s a community that spans the globe, connects non-profits, funds projects or is official educational tool for Global FIDE. We provide monthly updates to players from Slovakia to the USA, Nigeria to Australia, Germany to the UK, and over 160+ countries. Our database is an invaluable resource for players, coaches, and enthusiasts at all levels.