7/27/2025 – The Mega Database 2025 contains over eleven million games — an impressive archive of chess knowledge. And it keeps growing. Thanks to the weekly Mega Update service, you receive about 5,000 new games each week, directly from tournaments around the world. As with ChessBase 18, keeping the Mega Database up to date requires just a few clicks. In this tutorial episode, we’ll show you how.
Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.
Update Service
In the previous tutorial episode, we took an in-depth look at the regular ChessBase 18 program updates. The combination of ChessBase 18 and the Mega Database 2025 offers ideal conditions for training. With this tandem, you can view, analyze, and archive the latest games using the most up-to-date software.
Here’s how the game update process works with your Mega Database 2025:
The ChessBase Mega Database 2025 is the premiere chess database with over 11 million games from 1475 to 2024
The ChessBase Mega Database 2025 is the premiere chess database with over 11 million games from 1475 to 2024 in high quality. Packing more than 113,000 annotated games, Mega 2025 contains the world‘s largest collection of high-class analysed games. Train like a pro! Prepare for your opponents with ChessBase and the Mega Database 2025. Let grandmasters explain how to best handle your favorite variations, improve your repertoire and much more.
Mega Database 2025: Game Update
Once a day, you’ll automatically be notified when new games are available for download. This pop-up window appears in the bottom right corner of your screen:
Click on “Game update”, then continue with the second screenshot that follows.
You can also access the download through the permanent display in the main Mega Database window:
Important note: The message “Mega Update – New Games” (lower pointing finger) is only visible if the checkbox next to “Folders” at the top left is enabled (under the “View” menu).
When you now click on “New Games,” one of the following windows will open:
This window appears if new games have been made available for download since your last update. When you click “OK,” the games will be saved to your Mega Database 2025.
Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.
If you’re already up to date, or if you click “New Games” again after the update, the following window will appear:
On the left, you can see which updates were downloaded, when they occurred, and what content they included — including the tournaments contained in each update. On the right, you’ll find details about the tournaments and a breakdown of players and the number of games.
Pro Tip:
In the options menu (File → Options or shortcut ALT+CTRL+O), you can use the “Game update” settings to have newly played opening innovations displayed via pop-up window, for example:
Your personal chess trainer. Your toughest opponent. Your strongest ally.
FRITZ 20 is more than just a chess engine – it is a training revolution for ambitious players and professionals. Whether you are taking your first steps into the world of serious chess training, or already playing at tournament level, FRITZ 20 will help you train more efficiently, intelligently and individually than ever before.
ChessBase 18 program only: ChessBase is a personal, stand-alone chess database that has become the standard throughout the world. Everyone uses ChessBase, from the World Champion to the amateur next door. It is the program of choice for anyone who loves the game and wants to know more about it. Start your personal success story with ChessBase and enjoy the game even more.
Conclusion
The combination of Mega Database 2025, ChessBase 18, and the weekly update service is an unbeatable trio. It keeps you fully up to date — whether for training or tournament preparation. And with Fritz 20, this powerful trio can become an even stronger quartet!
We hope you enjoy working with the latest updates from ChessBase 18 and the Mega Database 2025.
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ChessBase has evolved over decades to become what it is today with its 18th version. The programme has countless options, which we will introduce here in small chunks – so you can customise your interface for everyday use and continually discover and learn new options to get the most out of ChessBase 18 and save time.
You can find more tips and hints on our support pages and FAQ pages.
All parts of the series:
Beginner’s Tips Part 1: Entering and Saving Your Own Games
Beginner’s Tips Part 2: Creating Variations and Activating the Engine
Beginner’s Tips Part 3: Inserting Variations from References and the Engine
Beginner’s Tips Part 4: Figurines and Colours
Beginner’s Tips Part 5: Annotating
Beginner’s Tips Part 6: Quick Command Bars and Variation Hierarchy
Beginner’s Tips Part 7: Organizing Your Database Correctly!
Beginner’s Tips Part 8: Putting Together What Belongs Together…!
Beginner’s Tips Part 9: “Tactical Analysis”
Beginner’s Tips Part 10: “Standard Layout or Custom Layout”
Beginner’s Tips Part 11: Multitasking with Several Windows
Beginner’s Tips Part 12: Arrows and Marks
Beginner’s Tips Part 13: Powerbooks and Powerbases
Beginner’s Tips Part 14: Save Resources with Remote Engines
Beginner’s Tips Part 15: Setting Up and Analysing Positions (Part 1)
Beginner’s Tips Part 16: Setting Up and Analysing Positions (Part 2)
Beginner’s Tips Part 17: Choosing Your Board Design
Beginner’s Tips Part 18: What the mouse can do!
Beginner’s Tips Part 19: Find model games for training
Beginner’s Tips Part 20: Award medals to your best games!
Beginner’s Tips Part 21: Maximum Training Effect with the Power Tool “Replay Training” (Part 1)
Beginner’s Tips Part 22: Maximum Training Effect with the Power Tool “Replay Training” (Part 2)
Beginner’s Tips Part 23: Stay up to date with program updates
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