The Most Prestigious Chess Tournaments

Over more than a century and a half of organized chess, the world has seen thousands of tournaments - but only a select few have truly become great. Winning a prestigious chess tournament grants not only access to prize money, but also status, influence, and the right to be considered among the strongest players in the world.

It was at such events that Magnus Carlsen, Garry Kasparov, and Emanuel Lasker proved their dominance - players who defined entire eras. These tournaments have witnessed the world’s greatest grandmasters and some of the most intense games in chess history. Their story is, in many ways, the story of chess itself.

What Makes a Tournament “Great”?

Prestige in chess is measured not only by prize funds (although they matter too), but also by historical legacy. We have selected three tournaments where victory automatically inscribes a player’s name into the pantheon of chess immortality. These events represent different formats - from classical “marathons” to the most demanding competitive structures.

FIDE World Chess Championship Match

No. 1 in the world
Since: 1886
Format: 14-game match
Frequency: every two years
Prize fund: ≈ $2M

The pinnacle of the chess world. No other event matches the World Championship in terms of intensity, historical significance, and psychological pressure. Two players - the reigning champion and the challenger - face off in a long match where every mistake carries enormous weight. The first official match took place in 1886 between Wilhelm Steinitz and Johannes Zukertort. Since then, the title has been held by giants such as Emanuel Lasker (27 years as champion), José Raúl Capablanca, Alexander Alekhine, Mikhail Botvinnik, Anatoly Karpov, and Garry Kasparov.

Legendary clash: The Karpov-Kasparov match of 1984–1985 became the longest in history: 48 games over 5 months. FIDE eventually terminated the match without declaring a winner, with Karpov leading 5-3. The rematch in 1985 was won by Kasparov.

Current format: 14 classical games; if tied, the match is decided by rapid and blitz tiebreaks. The challenger is determined through the Candidates Tournament - one of the most grueling events in the chess calendar.

FIDE Candidates Tournament

Since: 1950
Format: 8 players, double round-robin
Frequency: every two years
Prize fund: ≈ $500K

Eight of the world’s strongest players - including winners of the World Cup and FIDE Grand Prix, as well as top-rated players - compete in a double round-robin tournament. The winner earns the right to challenge the reigning World Champion. In essence, this is the second most important tournament in chess. The Candidates Tournament is defined by immense psychological pressure: even a minor miscalculation or an unnecessary draw can cost a player their dream of reaching the World Championship match.

2024 edition: Toronto hosted the most recent Candidates Tournament. Gukesh Dommaraju delivered a dominant performance, becoming the youngest winner in the event’s history. He later went on to win the World Championship title by defeating Ding Liren.

Linares Chess Tournament

(Torneo Internacional de Ajedrez de Linares)

Since: 1978
Format: 8-10 players, round-robin
Frequency: annual (regularly held until 2010)
Prize fund: up to $400K

Linares, a small Spanish town, became a true chess Mecca. For decades, this tournament brought together the world’s best players and was consistently known for its exceptionally high level of play. It was here that Kasparov dominated with remarkable authority, winning the event nine times. The average rating of participants in Linares often exceeded 2700 - and even 2750 - Elo points, which at the time was an extraordinary level. The tournament became famous for its fierce competition and a high number of decisive games.

In chess, prestige is never accidental - it is built over decades through elite lineups, dramatic battles, and legendary names that shape the game’s history. Tournaments such as the World Championship match, the Candidates Tournament, and Linares set the standard that every grandmaster aspires to reach.

Source: whychess.com

REVIEW: Only Up Rush (2026 Video Game) - on Playstation 5

Review by Jon Donnis

Only Up Rush wastes no time dressing itself up as anything more than it is. You climb. You fall. You try again. That simplicity is the whole hook, and to its credit, the game leans into it with confidence. On PS5, it presents a clean, accessible take on the now familiar parkour climbing formula, one that is easy to pick up but quietly demanding once you start pushing for real progress.

The core loop is straightforward. Your only goal is to get higher than your last attempt. Checkpoints offer a sense of relief, breaking up what could otherwise be a brutal climb back from the ground. They are a smart inclusion, especially in a game where a single mistake can send you tumbling all the way down. That tension between risk and reward sits at the heart of the experience, and it works.

Visually, the game holds its own. The environments become more interesting the further you climb, giving a real sense of progression that is not just about numbers on a leaderboard. There is something satisfying about reaching a new height and taking in the view, even if you know the next misstep could undo it all. It keeps you pushing forward, even after repeated failures.

Controls are generally solid, and the game is easy to get into. There is a slight softness to some landings, a floaty feeling that can take a bit of adjustment. At first it can be frustrating, especially when precision matters, but over time it becomes part of the rhythm. Whether that works for you may depend on how strict you want the challenge to be. The game can feel forgiving in places, which can either smooth the experience or take the edge off depending on your mindset.

For those who enjoy speed running, Only Up Rush offers plenty of appeal. The structure naturally encourages repeat attempts, shaving seconds off runs and finding more efficient routes upward. Combined with the leaderboard, it adds a competitive layer that extends the life of what is otherwise a very simple concept.

That simplicity is both its strength and its limitation. There is not much beyond the climb itself, so your enjoyment will come down to how much you buy into that loop. Thankfully, it is a loop that is hard to walk away from. The constant urge to go again, to just get a little bit higher, carries the game through its quieter moments.

Only Up Rush does not try to reinvent the genre, but it understands what makes it compelling. It is accessible, occasionally frustrating, and quietly addictive. You fall, you learn, you climb again. That is the entire pitch, and for the most part, it delivers.

A solid 7 out of 10.

Out Now on PS5

REVIEW: Dark Trip (2026 VR Video Game) - on MetaQuest

Review by Jon Donnis

Dark Trip arrives as one of the more unusual virtual reality releases in recent memory, and it wastes no time making that clear. This is not just another horror title dressed up for VR. It leans fully into its concept, building an experience around altered perception, unreliable reality, and the unsettling idea that the only way forward is to deliberately lose control.

You play as a detective investigating a disappearance in a small German town, a premise that sounds grounded at first but quickly spirals into something far stranger. The trail leads to an abandoned laboratory, one steeped in disturbing experiments and fragments of human suffering. Notes, recordings and environmental clues slowly piece together a grim history, one tied to wartime atrocities and occult ambitions. It is not subtle, and it does not try to be. Instead, it embraces a grotesque, almost theatrical tone that feels closer in spirit to Hellraiser than traditional detective fiction.

What sets Dark Trip apart is its core mechanic. Progression depends on the player choosing whether to remain sober or consume pills that trigger hallucinations. This is not a simple visual filter layered over the game. Entire rooms transform, puzzles shift logic, and previously invisible clues emerge only when perception is distorted. It creates a constant tension between clarity and chaos. You are never quite sure whether you are making things easier or more complicated by stepping into a hallucinated state.

At its best, this system feels genuinely inventive. Puzzles are carefully structured so that both sober and intoxicated approaches are viable, encouraging experimentation rather than forcing a single solution. Some sequences demand sharp observation in a stable environment, while others only make sense once reality begins to bend. It keeps the player engaged in a way many escape room style games struggle to achieve.

Visually, the game is strong throughout. The contrast between the cold, clinical design of the laboratory and the warped, organic horror of hallucinated spaces is striking. When the game leans into its more surreal side, it becomes genuinely unsettling. Walls breathe, machinery pulses, and the environment feels alive in a way that VR amplifies effectively. There is a confidence in how it presents these moments, even when they border on the absurd.

The storytelling is handled mostly through the environment, and it works well enough. Fragments of narrative are scattered across the rooms, encouraging players to piece together what happened rather than being told outright. It is not always subtle, but it is effective. The themes are dark, sometimes uncomfortably so, and clearly aimed at an adult audience. There is a deliberate push into taboo territory, which will not be for everyone.

That said, Dark Trip is not without its flaws. The use of AI generated artwork in places stands out, and not in a good way. It breaks immersion slightly, especially in a game that relies so heavily on atmosphere and detail. It feels like a shortcut in an otherwise carefully crafted experience.

Length is another issue. The game can be completed in around two hours, which feels short given the strength of its central idea. There is some replay value in revisiting rooms and experimenting with different approaches, but it only goes so far. Once the core mechanics have been fully explored, there is limited incentive to return.

There are also minor technical issues. Bugs do crop up, though not frequently enough to derail the experience. To the developers' credit, updates are ongoing and there is a sense that feedback is being taken seriously.

Even with its shortcomings, Dark Trip leaves a strong impression. It commits fully to its concept and delivers something genuinely different within the VR space. The idea of using altered states as a gameplay mechanic is not just a gimmick here. It is the foundation of the entire experience, and for the most part, it works.

Dark Trip is a disturbing, creative and at times genuinely unnerving piece of work. It may be short, and it may stumble in places, but it stands out in a crowded field simply by daring to do something different.

8 out of 10

Available at

https://www.meta.com/en-gb/experiences/dark-trip/27793698076945636/

REVIEW: Planet of Lana II (2026 Video Game) - On Xbox

Review by Jon Donnis

Planet of Lana II picks up two years after the events of the first game and brings players back to the mysterious world of Novo. Developed by Wishfully and published by Thunderful Publishing, the sequel sticks closely to the formula that made the 2023 original memorable. It remains a 2.5D side scrolling puzzle platform adventure built around atmosphere, environmental storytelling, and the bond between Lana and her small cat like companion Mui. The result is a game that often feels warm and familiar, though not always in ways that benefit it.

From the moment the journey begins, it is clear that the visual presentation remains one of the series' greatest strengths. The hand painted environments are striking. Frozen mountain ranges, deep ocean spaces, and ancient ruins unfold across the screen with a quiet sense of scale and detail. The world feels alive without the need for spoken dialogue. Characters communicate through an alien language while the environment and music carry the emotional weight. It is a confident storytelling approach that invites players to read between the lines rather than be told everything directly.

The orchestral score plays a huge part in that atmosphere. The music gently moves alongside the action, swelling during moments of discovery and pulling back when the story becomes more intimate. It is consistently pleasant to listen to and helps maintain the calm cinematic tone the series is known for. Combined with the visual design, it gives the game a polished and thoughtful presentation that is easy to admire.

Lana herself feels more capable this time around. Set a couple of years after the first adventure, she is older, more confident, and noticeably more agile. Players can now wall jump, dash, slide, and move through the world with greater freedom. Mui also receives expanded abilities. The small creature can hack machines and use telepathic powers to briefly control other creatures in the environment. These skills feed directly into the puzzle design, which relies heavily on cooperation between the two characters.

Many of the puzzles are genuinely clever. They often ask players to observe their surroundings carefully, time actions correctly, and use Lana and Mui together in small but satisfying ways. Compared with the first game, some challenges are more layered and make better use of the characters' expanded abilities. When the design clicks, solving a puzzle feels natural and rewarding rather than overly mechanical.

The story also deserves praise. The narrative explores the consequences of technological progress on Lana and Mui's home world. New inventions promise advancement but also bring greed and imbalance among the planet's tribes. As the journey unfolds, the pair uncover buried truths about the planet and hints about Mui's origins. It is an emotional thread that encourages players to care about the characters and stay curious about what comes next.

Despite these strengths, the sequel struggles to feel like a true step forward. One of the most noticeable issues lies in the pacing. The adventure lasts roughly six hours, yet stretches of that time are spent simply running across environments while little happens. The scenery is attractive, but extended quiet sections can make the experience feel padded rather than purposeful.

The puzzles themselves are also inconsistent. While some are clever and satisfying, others feel strangely simple or unnecessarily convoluted. At times the game introduces an idea only to resolve it quickly without much challenge. This uneven balance removes some of the tension that puzzle platform games thrive on.

Controls present another frustration. Lana's new abilities expand what she can do, but the movement never feels quite as smooth as it did in the original game. Something about the responsiveness feels slightly off. Actions can seem less intuitive, which is surprising given the additional movement options. Instead of making progress feel fluid, the extra mechanics sometimes slow things down.

Audio design is another mixed area. The orchestral music is excellent throughout, yet the character sounds are less successful. The laughter, chirps, and fragments of alien language can become grating over time. What is meant to add charm occasionally ends up distracting from the otherwise strong atmosphere.

The short length of the adventure also raises questions. A six hour journey is not necessarily a problem for a story driven game, but here it feels slightly thin. The original title offered a more consistent flow of puzzles and discoveries. In comparison, this sequel contains fewer memorable puzzle sequences and more stretches of simple traversal.

The ending does little to resolve that feeling. The story closes on a cliffhanger that feels abrupt rather than exciting. After investing several hours in Lana and Mui's journey, the conclusion arrives quickly and leaves more questions than answers. For some players that may hint at a future continuation, though it risks feeling unsatisfying in the moment.

Taken as a continuation of the first game's story, Planet of Lana II works well enough. The characters remain likeable, the world is still beautiful, and the emotional tone is intact. However, as a full sequel it never quite improves on what came before. The original game felt tighter, more focused, and more confident in its design.

That sense of familiarity is both the sequel's strength and its weakness. Returning fans will appreciate revisiting Lana and Mui, yet the experience rarely evolves beyond the foundations already established. In some ways it almost feels closer to an extended follow up episode rather than a major new chapter.

For players who already subscribe to Xbox Game Pass, it is certainly worth a look. The atmosphere, music, and character driven storytelling remain engaging even when the gameplay falters. Those expecting a significant leap forward from the first game may come away a little disappointed.

Planet of Lana II is still a charming and thoughtful adventure, but it struggles to escape the shadow of its predecessor. What should have been a confident next step instead feels like a smaller return to familiar ground.

Score. 6.5 out of 10.

Out Now on Xbox

REVIEW: BOULDER DASH 40th Anniversary (2026 Video Game) - On Xbox

Review by Jon Donnis

BOULDER DASH 40th Anniversary is a fitting tribute to one of the most enduring puzzle games in video game history. From the very first moments, it is clear that this edition has been crafted with care for both long-time fans and newcomers. You guide Rockford through perilous caves, collecting diamonds while dodging enemies and avoiding falling rocks, a simple premise that has endured for four decades because it is genuinely fun and rewarding. The gameplay is just as addictive today as it was in 1984, and the modernised engine keeps it feeling fresh without losing the essence of the original.

The game offers a choice between authentic 8-bit graphics and updated HD visuals. The retro mode is a faithful recreation of the classic Atari, C64, ZX Spectrum, and Apple II aesthetics, and it hits all the right nostalgic notes. It feels like stepping back in time, and for anyone who played the originals, the experience is pure joy. The HD mode, meanwhile, brings new life to the 320 levels, six new worlds, and six exclusive fan-designed worlds. The new game elements, such as growing walls, slime, enemy generators, and eggs, add layers of strategy that keep even veteran players on their toes. The level editor and community content are welcome additions, offering endless replayability and creativity.

Chris Huelsbeck's soundtrack deserves a special mention. It is lively, memorable, and perfectly complements the frantic pacing of each cave. The option to play as one of six unique Rockford characters drawn from the series' history is a charming touch that rewards those familiar with the franchise. There is a strong sense that the developers respected the legacy while giving players plenty of reasons to explore and enjoy the new content.

On the downside, the classic games, while enjoyable, feel very dated next to modern standards. Younger players might find the retro visuals charming but will likely prefer the new levels and HD graphics. It is also hard not to reflect on the passing of time when playing something that first appeared 40 years ago. It is a reminder of just how far the industry has come, and it does make you feel older than you would like.

Overall, BOULDER DASH 40th Anniversary is a brilliant puzzle game. It is easy to pick up, fiendishly hard to master, and offers hours of entertainment. Whether you are revisiting a childhood favourite or discovering the series for the first time, there is plenty here to keep you busy. I give BOULDER DASH 40th Anniversary a solid 8 out of 10.

Out Now on Xbox

https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/boulder-dash-40th-anniversary/9nf27s57jq02