Maximum Data Integrity Instead of Guessing
- Rigorous deduplication:Automatic selection of the most informative “master record.”
- Strict Quarantine: Games with conflicts (color swaps, FIDE ID discrepancies) are not recommended but are isolated.
- Transparent Identities: Phonetic and historical reconciliation with proof of origin in the PGN tags.
Full PGN and SCID support
- Optimized formats: Ready to use as PGN and in the Scid formats
si4andsi5. - Focus on standard chess: Games played exclusively from the starting position (no Chess960 or fragment games).
- Adjusted data: Removal of unnecessary engine evaluations while fully preserving the think times (
%clk,%emt). - Chronological sorting: Sorted deterministically by date, event, location, and round.
Independent
- Focus on Quality: Developed and maintained by Michael Jansen, the sole developer in Germany.
- No data at any cost: Conservative data preparation ensures reliable analyses without incomplete fragments.
Deduplication Logic
- 10-Step processing: Multi-stage pipeline for the precise identification and resolution of duplicate batches.
- Fuzzy Matching & ELO Resolver: Intelligent matching of variant spellings and assignment based on ELO histories and FIDE IDs.
- Subsumption Check: Automatic detection of incomplete games, fragments are replaced with the complete game without any data loss.
Performance & Rust-Backend
- Modern Infrastructure: High-performance data processing with a specially developed Rust pipeline.
- Fast Exports: Efficient storage cleanup and fast loading times despite massive amounts of data.
- Resource-efficient: Minimal memory requirements for smooth operation in Scid and Scid vs. PC.
Monthly release cycles
- Reliable Schedule: New database releases and OTB updates are reliably available in the first week of every month.
- Incremental patches: Monthly update files for directly updating existing Scid collections.
Database version for Scid
- Optimized for Scid and Scid vs. PC (
.si4&.si5). - OTB Database: Over 12 million games.
- Online database: Over 6 million games
Database Version as a PGN File
- Universal format for all common chess GUIs.
- Contains exactly the same cleaned-up dataset.
- Ready for immediate analysis or conversion.
Current Version
Current status:
October 2026
Main Database:
2026-10-05
Incremental Update:
none
Opening Books
ECO/NIC 2025-10-05
License Model (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Lumbra’s Gigabase ist ein freies Projekt für die Schach-Community. Die Nutzung für private Analysen, Vorbereitungen und Training ist unter der Creative Commons Lizenz (CC BY-NC 4.0) vollständig kostenlos. Für die Integration in kommerzielle Schach-Apps oder Datenbanken kontaktiere mich gerne direkt unter moc.esabagigsarbmul@ssenisub
Secure Lichess Integration
- No contamination: To avoid legal disputes, Lichess Broadcast data is strictly excluded from the main database through December 2023.
- License-free: This ensures that the main database remains free of ShareAlike restrictions (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Separate Download: If needed, the broadcast data is available as a completely standalone, deduplicated download.
Reviews of BuyMeACoffee.com
Support the project
The ongoing curation of the data, maintenance of the Rust infrastructure, and server operations for the monthly downloads incur ongoing costs. If this solo project helps you with your chess preparation, I would greatly appreciate a small contribution.
Note on TWIC
The use of TWIC (The Week in Chess) data was deliberately removed from the Gigabase, as this project relies on donations for its long-term sustainability and should not be undermined by database exports. TWIC is an extremely important project for the chess community.
„Send a £30 donation via Paypal and contact me via email (Email Mark Crowther – moc.tenretnitb@htworcdm) I’ll send you an address for a cbv file of my personal copy of every issue of the games in one database. Over 4 million games. Alternatively subscribe to donate £4 a month“
Partner Showcase
Some links in this Partner Showcase are affiliate links. If you purchase software or subscribe through one of these links, I’ll receive a small commission to support this project, of course, the price remains exactly the same for you.
Chessever
Chessever is the mobile chess streaming platform. Follow live tournaments, keep an eye on grandmasters, and analyze games in real time on iOS and Android.
If you subscribe within 14 days of registering, I’ll receive a small commission at no cost to you.
Use the code “lumbras” to get 10% off your subscription. (Disclaimer: These discount codes are only valid when used via the Stripe checkout on chessever.com. They do not apply to purchases made on the App Store or Google Play.)
ChessRoller
ChessRoller is a desktop chess database designed for maximum speed, available for Mac and Windows.
- Search by position, pawn structure, or motif, with opening statistics that update in real time as you search
- Import PGN, SCID, and ChessBase databases (.cbh/.2cbh)
- Analyze your game with Stockfish or your own UCI engines
- Scout your opponents with detailed player reports
- Build an opening repertoire based on your own games and practice it effectively using spaced repetition.
One-time purchase, 7-day free trial. Here's how to import the Gigabase.
Use the code LUMBRA at checkout to get the current discount.
Tabiya: A Chess Database
Tabiya is a modern chess database for Windows and Mac that provides fast and flexible access to millions of games. It is designed to work seamlessly with Lumbras Gigabase, allowing players to open one of the largest collections of chess games available and start exploring right away.
Search the entire Gigabase along with your own databases, import games from PGN files, and export your work whenever you need it. With “Search Position,” you can search the entire collection for any board position, while “Advanced Search” narrows down millions of games by player, tournament, result, opening code, date, or rating. The “Opening Explorer” shows how a position was played, allowing you to study openings the way strong players actually play them.
Tabiya It also offers tools for learning and analysis: an annotation system for marking moves and positions, engine variations on the board, and customizable boards and pieces so the program looks exactly the way you want it to. Gigabase updates are delivered through the app, ensuring your collection is always up to date.
Whether you're a club player preparing for your next opponent or a coach putting together training sessions, Tabiya combines games, search functions, and analysis tools into one clear, fast program.
Thank you for your support!