The 2008 world chess championships, which kicked off this week and runs through to 2 November, is set to be one of the closest in history.  Indian grandmaster, Viswanathan Anand takes on Russian grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik in 12 games, with the possibility of a one-day series of rapid and blitz games set aside should the matches end in a tie.   

In recognition of the keen following and interest around the championships, international chess portal, Chescube.com will be offering three free videos, free round-by-round video, and free viewing of the lecture on each game live. 

Lectures will be delivered by International Master Malcolm Pein among others. 

“There has been massive interest in this year's tournament, Anand and Kramnik are neck and neck and have been jostling for position throughout the year.  Traditionally there have been around 24 games lasting many months. This year's short schedule will put extreme pressure on the players," explains Mark Levitt, CEO and founder of Chesscube.com

The free videos focus on Anand and Kramnik, their rise to the top and their previous clashes.  The footage is produced and narrated by international master, Andrew Martin and would ordinarily fetch a total of $30.

"We really want our members to experience every moment of this championship and having a good overview of the players will give insights into their play at Bonn," says Levitt. 

Chesscube.com already has a strong following with 185,000 registered users who interact and play online with counterparts from all over the world.  Levitt says the online chess following is enormous with millions of players.

"This is the highlight of the year for chess followers and we hope to deliver the most comprehensive offering available to as many people as possible. Chess transcends borders and cuts through language barriers, together with the Internet we have a powerful combination," Levitt concludes.

This forms part of a number of new innovations set to be launched by Chesscube.com over the coming months.