Media comments on chess

[John Upham]

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/stanl ... 00380.html

[JustinHorton]

Every time I spotted the photographer from a local Minsk newspaper, I hurriedly positioned myself making a photo opportunity. Here I pretend to play chess.

My summer in a Soviet pioneer camp

[Stewart Reuben]

When I went to Leningrad in 1986 I was aware that the most privileged members of Soviet society were the children. We visited one Young Pioneers Club and it was very impressive.

[Stewart Reuben]

THE HONOURABLE WOMAN. BBC2 Thursdays at 9pm. A political thriller in 8 weekly parts.

The opening credits include a chess set being emptied on a table and then the black queen being spotlighted standing alone.
Later in the episode there is a scene with people playing chess in a big hall. One of the chief protagonists was playing. The significance of this, if any, is unclear at the moment. The scene past too rapidly to determine whether the board was round the right way.

[Ian Kingston]

THE HONOURABLE WOMAN. BBC2 Thursdays at 9pm. A political thriller in 8 weekly parts.

The opening credits include a chess set being emptied on a table and then the black queen being spotlighted standing alone.
Later in the episode there is a scene with people playing chess in a big hall. One of the chief protagonists was playing. The significance of this, if any, is unclear at the moment. The scene past too rapidly to determine whether the board was round the right way.

Not only was the board the right way round, but algebraic notation was used. And no one said 'check' or 'checkmate'.

Here's the position (it can be seen just as the Israeli agent/official approaches the board):

r1bq3r/4k1pp/n1pb1n2/pp6/2N1P2P/1B1P1Q2/PPP2PP1/R1B1K2R w KQ - 0 0

White now announces the move Nb6, which, while possible, appears to lose the knight for nothing. Nor does White seem to actually play the move. However, the conversation revolves around an apparently pointless suicide, so Nb6 could be hinting at that. Why would White throw away the knight/commit suicide when he has a winning position/just won a lucrative contract? (Nxd6 is somewhere between +1.5 and +2 according to Stockfish). Or maybe I'm reading too much into this, because the win is far from easy.

Within the context of the story, it seemed strange that two intelligence agents would be discussing a sensitive issue in an otherwise silent room. Even odder was the fact that none of the other players told them to be quiet.

[Paolo Casaschi]

Chess was reported in an article about anti-doping tests:

Adverse test results were recorded in sports as diverse as chess, bridge and boccia

At least they talk of chess as a sport...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/28194582

[Roger de Coverly]

Adverse test results were recorded in sports as diverse as chess, bridge and boccia

I cannot recall any in chess. There have been various refusals to take tests, Ivanchuk in Dresden being a well known example. I thought it generally accepted that any testing in chess was just a charade to ensure a box was ticked in those countries where chess is eligible for sports funding.

[Matt Fletcher]

Another (mostly) chess-based xkcd today - an infographic showing dominant players over time.

http://xkcd.com/1392/

[John Upham]

http://www.cityam.com/1404869248/barcla ... rd-meeting

[Matt Mackenzie]

Another (mostly) chess-based xkcd today - an infographic showing dominant players over time.

http://xkcd.com/1392/

Anand is a surprising omission, tbh.

[Nick Grey]

Today's Evening Standard - World Cup poker game - Holland v Argentina.
Both bosses hold aces so poker game is tough to call.

On reading the article it certainly sounds like CHESS rather than poker.

"No other managers have tried so many formations, no other teams have displayed such tactical variation. Both have gone through the range of modern formations,...".

Sabrella on Van Gaal - "It's not that long ago I said he can play in so many different ways. He knows how to change the system, and seems so intelligent".

As for Messi & Robben "they do not just dictate ... play... They also completely condition the opposition, and pose tactical dilemmas for reasons that go far beyond their rampaging ability".

Looking forward to chess related comments during the match.
---------------
As for last night's game leaving gaping holes in the middle & defence is best countered by attacking straight through the middle.

No idea why Luiz was going for Bf1-c4 move so early. Be2 - e3 - b5 better. However Bf1-a6 gets exactly what it deserved.

The pressure & emotion & occasion was all too much & no wonder there were tears.

I think the nearest World Championship Chess Semi-finals comparisons with 6 game swings were when Bobby Fischer was playing.

[John Upham]

Live final of largest ever international schools’ online chess tournament

http://www.newsroom.barclays.com/Press- ... t-b90.aspx

[Roger de Coverly]

Live final of largest ever international schools’ online chess tournament

On the face of it, FIDE could do the same, given that they now have a server as well. Presumably the problems of giving schools access to servers were eventually overcome. It is an initiative that potentially could grow to an enormous size.

[David Robertson]

Following the Government's reshuffle, Tories might care to reflect on the layout of the board

[Roger de Coverly]

I don't imagine Moshi Monsters means much to many of the readers of this forum, although they might recall the chess set that doubled as glasses for drinking shorts.

The man behind both has been in the news recently.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-28262946

I don't think he played much after school, but he played for long enough to make it to the grading database.
http://www.ecfgrading.org.uk/new/player ... 45946G#top

Personally I thought he was potentially much better than 125, but his talents took him elsewhere.