We are thrilled to announce that Opening Master has published the January 2026 edition of our world-leading chess database! This new release features an enormous update to OM OTB (Over-The-Board) with 32,150 new games, bringing the total to an incredible 10,463,031 official human chess games played over the board - the most comprehensive collection available anywhere. We had to say good bye to 23,000 duplicates. And the biggest news? Opening Master is going to be soon a challenger to Chessbase software. How? Read below.
OM OTB - the most powerful reference chess database played over-the-board
With more than 10.4 million official over-the-board chess games, OM OTB stands as the largest and most refined collection of human OTB chess ever assembled.
The journey began in 2004, when the creators set out to unify decades of scattered chess knowledge into a single, structured database. Yet the roots go even deeper, the original personal collections of books, handwritten sheets, and analytical notes date back to the 1990s, long before digital chess became mainstream.
The name OM OTB was officially born in October 2011, when the original OM XXL database was deliberately split into two specialized pillars:
OM OTB — dedicated exclusively to human over-the-board chess
OM CORR — focused on correspondence chess
From that moment on, OM OTB followed a clear philosophy: only real humans, playing real games, across real boards. All correspondence games, portal games, and mixed sources were removed, a process that continues to this day. Cleaning, verifying, and refining is not a one-time task; it is an ongoing commitment to quality.
This uncompromising approach is why many Grandmasters consider OM OTB one of the strongest chess databases available.
Built for Accuracy. Maintained for Excellence.
OM OTB is updated regularly, typically growing by up to 50-100,000 new games every month. But growth alone is not enough. Each update also includes:
- Deep cleaning of source files
- Index optimization for faster analysis
- Correction of player names and event data
- Structural refinements to improve consistency
In short: every version is better than the last.
And in 2026, its evolution is only accelerating
OM OTB January 2026: 10,463,031 official human chess games
Download chess database and become GM. It's so simple.
OM CORR stands out from the rest. The correspondence chess is still sexy
In addition, we are proud to present the latest incremental update to OM CORR (Correspondence Chess Database), now enriched with 12,410 new correspondence games, totalling 2,305,724 games. This exceptional growth reflects the global chess activity across all forms of competitive chess mainly our global partner ICCF.
Chess in 2025: A Year to Remember
The chess world saw explosive competition throughout the year, marked by elite tournaments, rising stars, and dramatic clashes at the highest levels:
The year 2025 in chess was marked by breakthroughs for young stars like Vincent Keymer and Javokhir Sindarov, the continued dominance of Magnus Carlsen (winning World Rapid & Blitz titles), and the defense of her title by Ju Wenjun in the Women's World Championship, alongside FIDE's significant shift towards Freestyle (Chess 960) in major events, qualifying players like Anish Giri for the 2026 Candidates Tournament.
Key Champions & Winners
Women's World Champion: Ju Wenjun (defended title).
Chess World Cup Winner: Javokhir Sindarov (youngest ever winner).
FIDE Grand Swiss: Anish Giri.
Grand Chess Tour Finals: Fabiano Caruana.
World Rapid & Blitz: Magnus Carlsen.
Women's World Cup: Divya Deshmukh.
Major Player Highlights
Vincent Keymer: Had a breakthrough year, rising to world #4 and becoming a top-tier elite player.
Magnus Carlsen: Added more world titles, securing both rapid and blitz championships.
R Praggnanandhaa: Won the FIDE Circuit and qualified for the 2026 Candidates.
Hikaru Nakamura: Reached a peak rating of 2816, a decade high, and qualified for the Candidates via the Grand Swiss.
Key Tournament & Format Changes
FIDE's Freestyle Shift: FIDE implemented a significant change, using randomly selected Chess 960 starting positions for many events in 2025.
Candidates Tournament 2026 Qualifiers: Giri, Blübaum, Praggnanandhaa, Nakamura, and others secured spots through events like the Grand Swiss and World Cup.
Other Noteworthy Moments
FIDE Circuit: Awarded qualification spots based on performance across the year's major tournaments.
Young Talent: GMs Abhimanyu Mishra, Pranav Venkatesh, and prodigies like Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus and Faustino Oro made significant rating jumps.
Current Top 10 Chess Players (World Rankings)
As of the latest FIDE published rankings, the top ten players leading the global chess elite are:
Top 10 Chess players in Women
The Future of Chess Software - A New Challenger to the Status Quo is here
At Opening Master, we believe that players everywhere deserve powerful, affordable, and modern tools to learn, analyse, and excel in chess. The era of paying crazy prices for limited packages is over.
We are excited to announce a brand-new chess software platform, coming soon to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store - with an online version rolling out soon after. Powered by the Opening Master chess database, this platform will allow users to:
- Analyse and play against grandmaster-level positions
- Learn cutting-edge opening theory from real games but also using powerful in-built engine
- Build personalised training plans with coaches or for self-study
- Study anywhere from the comfort of your sofa to your daily commute via train or buses on your iPad, Android Tablet or iPhones
- No more need of Windows
- And with cooperation of FIDE EDU we will roll it out soon to all FIDE certified teacher for free
Forget expensive legacy products that lock you in (don't want to name anybody) Opening Master brings you all you need under one roof for just €99 per year, with 12 monthly database updates included!
A Tool for Every Player
Whether you’re a club player aiming to improve, a coach looking to inspire your students, or even a Grandmaster seeking a powerful, licensed alternative to outdated software, Opening Master has you covered.
No more unlicensed copies which you share between people. No more overpriced subscriptions. Just great chess tools built for today’s players.
Stay tuned — the app’s name and launch date will be revealed soon!
Join the future of chess analysis, training, and discovery with Opening Master!
Opening Master chess database
Whether you’re a ICCF or 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.
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