Page 10«..9101112..2030..»

Archive for the ‘Chess’ Category

The Stealth Campaign That’s Getting Your Kids Hooked on Chess – The New York Times

Posted: May 3, 2023 at 12:08 am


without comments

Stella Schwartz, 16, hopped on the chess bandwagon earlier this year after hearing about the game from her older brother, Hugh, a high school senior in San Francisco. Alex Post, a freshman at the University of Colorado, started playing in February, after some chess-related videos appeared in his Tik Tok feed; then he got his whole fraternity playing.

Many other teenagers and young adults said that they too had recently developed a regular chess habit, although they could not recall how it started. But by all accounts from players, parents, teachers, website metrics the games popularity has exploded.

Sinceearly November, the number of daily activeusers to Chess.com, a website and app where visitors can get chess news, learn the game and play against one another and computer opponents, has jumped from 5.4 million to more than 11 million, rising sharply after the beginning of the year. (In December Chess.com also purchased the Play Magnus Group, a company started by chess world champion Magnus Carlsen that includes a mobile chess app.)

The biggest growth has come from players who are 13 to 17 years old 549,000 visited Chess.com in January and February, more than twice as many as in the two months prior, according to a company estimate of traffic. The second-fastest age group in the same period was 18- to 24-year-olds. Its everyone, every single day, Ms. Schwartz said. Ive seen people play at parties.

Casual observers, as well as newly avid chess players, may attribute the trend to pandemic lockdown and boredom, or perhaps to the popularity of the 2020 Netflix mini-series The Queens Gambit. But quietly a grandmaster plan was also unfolding, carefully crafted by Chess.com to broaden the appeal of the game and turn millennials and Gen Z into chess-playing pawns. Were they playing chess, or was chess playing them?

Everything was targeted right at high school, college and junior high, saidErik Allebest, chief executive officer of Chess.com.

The strategy was very much deliberate, he said: to erase the perception of chess as a grueling, geeky battle of wits and to package it instead on social media as less intimidating, fun, even funny. The matches offered on Chess.com also play to impatience. Timed games can be played at various lengths: 10 minutes, three minutes or, if that seems interminable, one minute. Still too long? Enjoy a 30-second match! Sometimes, Mr. Allebest said, its just about sport for sports sake, not about getting better.

Soon, before anyone quite knew what had happened, it was game over, and chess had won. It happened in a really short period of time, Mr. Allebest said of the games online growth, thanks to a handful of crazy seeds.

Happenstance the coronavirus, word of mouth, the handsomeness of Mr. Carlsen played a part. From February 2020 to February 2021, usage on Chess.com appsleaped from around1.5 million daily activeusers to around4.5 million.

Behind the scenes, Chess.com was working to change the games image and attract new players. This was good for business. Although the app allows users to play for free, its financial model relies on charging for tiers of service, from $6.99 to $16.99 per month for additional features like instructional videos and computer analysis of a players games and moves. The strategy, simply, was to rebrand chess as good old-fashioned fun.

When I was a kid, chess was for nerds, Mr. Allebest said. We started selling the enjoyment of chess and community more than just the top players and news of top players. In 2020, the site started hosting tournaments with online influencers who were not particularly adept at chess but had large followings among young people. These included xQc, a professional video-game player and streamer; Ludwig, an e-sports streamer; MoistCr1TiKal, another streamer and commentator; and Mr. Beast, a 24-year-old YouTube sensation with 147 million subscribers.

Chess.com hired college students to manage its social media presence. The students were encouraged to be irreverent and funny and to create memes, Mr. Allebest said. A recent blog post on the site was titled Why chess sucks and offered as the main reason, I always lose!

The sites Instagram account features short, offbeat videos, including the regular appearance of a bearded man in a puffy green pawn costume, who at one point trips over an electrical cord. Joker takes pawn.

Before long, an array of online chess personalities had emerged.

Levy Rozman, 27, is an international masterand a lively, charismatic commentator better known as GothamChess; Mr. Allebest described him as a chess prophet spokesperson for 14- to 25-year-olds. Grandmaster GMHikaru has 1.91 million YouTube followers. Alexandra Botez, 28, another chess celebrity on Twitch and YouTube, earned a particular claim to fame: Once, while streaming a match, she blundered into losing her queen and reacted with an endearing, bemused shock that made the gaffe seem cool. To accidentally lose your queen is now known as the Botez Gambit.

Mr. Post, the freshman at the University of Colorado, said he was drawn in by a bunch of clips TikTok videos by GothamChess at a moment when he was feeling kind of bored.

That was in early February; now, he plays every day, including sometimes in class. And he himself turned into a chess influencer. At a fraternity event, he said, he asked a frat brother, Yo, are you good at chess?

He said, Lets play, and then another dude said, Im decent, and it was like a domino effect, Mr. Post said.

Chess.com allows users to play against other people of their own skill level or against computer programs of various levels, including A.I. opponents that have names and personalities and can be outspoken.

Fabigi, described by Chess.com as a hardworking Italian American plumber, is an advanced beginner. Boshi, portrayed as a longhaired human with a reptile body, plays at the beginner level and is everyones favorite dinosaur sidekick, according to a Chess.com description.

But the mother of all Chess.com bots, introduced only for the month of January, was Mittens, an anime-esque tabby cat with big green eyes that look a little sad. Mittens was advertised by Chess.com as having a chess rating of 1 the worst. In reality, Mittens was a stone-cold killer with a sadistic streak.

Mittens was created with world-class skills and was unlikely to lose against the worlds top grandmasters. Mittens played slowly, appearing to give the opponent a chance while muttering odd and obnoxious taunts. (Meow, I am become Mittens, destroyer of kings.)

We made it strong enough to beat virtually every human player in the world, but not quickly, said Mike Klein, the chief chess officer of ChessKid.com, which is a part of the Chess.com company.

In January, 40 million games were played against Mittens, which Slate described in a headline at the time as the evil cat bot destroying players souls.

Mr. Klein has been traveling the country trying to convince schools to include chess in the curriculum. He argues that chess is good for the brain, but he concedes that the scientific studies he invokes, linking chess with better performance on standardized tests, are pretty old or dont have a good control group or are not a large enough sample size.

Whether chess offers anything more valuable than other online games do is unclear, said Dr. Michael Rich, an associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and the founder of the Digital Wellness Lab, which studies the health aspects of technology use. It all depends, he said, on whether someone is playing with patience, and to learn, or just for quick digital thrills.

Some teachers complain that chess is more of a distraction than a learning tool. They play it constantly, schoolwide, and its gotten to the point where they arent turning anything in and are exclusively playing chess, an anonymous high school teacher said of students in a post on Reddit, where several threads have emerged on the subject. Mastery appeared to be an afterthought, the teacher wrote: The only thing is theyre all really, really bad at it? Theyre absolutely awful.

Ms. Schwartz, the high school sophomore in San Francisco, said that she generally avoided playing in class and that it did benefit her brain. Chess is a smart game, she said.

Her mother, Emily Stegner-Schwartz, agreed. Id rather she play chess than, whats that game, Jewel Crusher or Candy Land, she said, referring to the game Candy Crush. Online chess is to chess what pickleball is to tennis, she said.

Her son, Hugh, the high-school senior, couldnt recall what first got him playing on Chess.com earlier this year friends, maybe? I dont know, its weird, he said. Now he plays twice a day. And if there was a corporate strategy to capture him, did it really matter?

Everybody is manipulating people now on social media, he said. Chess is not the worst thing to be manipulated into.

Audio produced by Kate Winslett.

Read more:

The Stealth Campaign That's Getting Your Kids Hooked on Chess - The New York Times

Written by admin

May 3rd, 2023 at 12:08 am

Posted in Chess

Howard Universitys chess club makes a comeback – WTOP

Posted: at 12:08 am


without comments

Howard University's chess club has been around since the early 1900s but hasn't been active in recent years until a student decided to bring new life to the club in 2020.

WTOP/Melissa Howell

WTOP/Melissa Howell

WTOP/Melissa Howell

WTOP/Melissa Howell

WTOP/Melissa Howell

WTOP/Melissa Howell

WTOP/Melissa Howell

Chess is all about strategy, and an HBCU chess club is learning to master the game. Howard Universitys chess club has been around since the early 1900s but hasnt been active in recent years until a student decided to bring new life to the club in 2020.

One of our students reinstituted the club and got it reinstated, said Nisa Muhammad, the teams adviser. Muhammad is the Assistant Dean of Religious Life and an avid chess player. Since leading the team, shes watched the students grow and learn.

The team began competing in prestigious competitions, including the Pan Am Collegiate Chess Tournament. They entered the online tournament back in 2021 with hardly any experience and won the under 1400 section, the greatest upset of a lower ranked player over a higher ranked player.

During the in-person competition the following year, they lost every game. I said I have to find the right coaches for them because theyre all serious about chess, Muhammad said.

She brought in Jerald Times, the 2021 Chess Educator of the Year, and hes continued to work as their coach. The team also had a chance to learn from the 12-year-old Nigerian prodigy, Tani Adewumi.

They entered the 2023 Pan Am Games again, this time ranked No. 43, but by the time it was open, their team A was ranked 8th. Im really looking at how we can advance and do more in the world of chess, Muhammad added.

Last month, they continued their rise to the top during the inaugural HBCU Chess Classic, put together by the first Black Chess Grandmaster Maurice Ashley, and The Black Chess Odyssey Society, taking home first place wins in the individual and team categories.

Their president, Malik Castro-DeVarona, who won his first tournament in kindergarten, said its been a rewarding experience and he couldnt be happier with the progress his team has made.

I think were in a really good position to just balloon and be really successful next year. The critical analysis that chess gives you really comes into your day to day, he added.

Castro-DeVarona also offers tutoring for anyone looking to learn and expand their interests and hopes to see more Black and Brown kids give it a try.

One of my favorite takeaways from the game is no matter your position in life, you have to make the best move you can given your situation.

Like WTOP on Facebook and follow WTOP on Twitter and Instagram to engage in conversation about this article and others.

Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

2023 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

Excerpt from:

Howard Universitys chess club makes a comeback - WTOP

Written by admin

May 3rd, 2023 at 12:08 am

Posted in Chess

2023 Executive Board Election Registration Now Closed | US Chess … – uschess.org

Posted: at 12:08 am


without comments

In accordance with US Chesss Bylaws, registration to vote by mail in ballot or online in the forthcoming election of four members to the Executive Board closed May 1, 2023.

Postal ballots will be mailed out to the US Postal Service address on file on June 10, 2023.

For online voters, US Chess will be using Election Buddy to conduct the election, with oversight by the US Chess Election Committee.We will send you a link to participate in the election on the same day that paper ballots are mailed (June 10, 2023).

That email will come from US Chess (invitations@mail.electionbuddy.com) and will have the subject:Vote now: US Chess 2023 Executive Board Election.

If your invitation does not arrive on the day it is expected, please check your spam folder before contacting US Chess to request a replacement link.More specific instructions for voting electronically will be provided directly before it is time to vote.

The ballot count will take place in Smyrna, in the Atlanta area, on July 13th, 2023, at the Country Inn and Suites, 2175 Church Road SE, Smyrna GA 30080. The counting process may be observed by the candidates or by each candidates designated representative. Results will be announced at the conclusion of the counting.

Thank you for participating in our governance process.

Read the original here:

2023 Executive Board Election Registration Now Closed | US Chess ... - uschess.org

Written by admin

May 3rd, 2023 at 12:08 am

Posted in Chess

Check is in the Mail: Join the Electronic Knights! – uschess.org

Posted: at 12:08 am


without comments

Greetings! Last months column received a request from reader Jim Morrison for tournament games such as the Electronic Knights, and so this months column is dedicated to games from the 2022 Electronic Knights tournament, with gratitude to Jim for reading.

The Electronic Knights tournament is a large Round Robin tournament in which contestants are paired up in groups of seven, and they play one game each against every other player in the group (three as White and three as Black). The tournament consists of three stages: the preliminaries, the semi-finals and the finals. Those players who score 4/6 or more points in a section will advance to the next round. The competition is fierce, and getting past the first round isnt easy. All play is via email. More information about the Electronic Knights can be found on the list of Correspondence Chess Events Offered by US Chess | US Chess.org.

Our first game, Chirillo Civan, shows John Chirillo tearing apart the Dutch Stonewall quickly and effectively. Ethan Civan is no weak player, so this game had to be an eye-opener! Black either sacrificed a pawn or hung one, but in either case White made the most of it, bringing home the point in only 23 moves.

I am not a fan of system openings, even though, I am also no fan of memorizing a gajillion book moves for each opening I choose to play. I find system openings (like the London System or the Colle Opening) to be a kind of shortcut to opening theory, and shortcuts can be unreliable or even dangerous. Systematic approaches take the thinking out of your moves, and you need to be able to explain each move you make. Of course, Magnus Carlsen makes me look a fool in writing these words, as he has beaten some of the worlds best with the London System, and so I should just sit in the corner with my mouth shut. But first I want to show you all a merciless takedown of the London System in our second game, McGroarty Hilburn.

Our third game is one of my own. I have played in several sections of the Electronic Knights tournament, starting eight or nine years ago, and while I have played some good games, I rarely get close to the top. Last year I was able to win my section with a perfect 6/6, and so I am going to be playing in the semi-finals later this year. In the preliminaries, Anthony Gold tested my mettle in the Carlsbad structure, but his attempts to mix things up backfired. In the end, Whites pieces that werent pinned were too far away to help.

The preliminary rounds often find players who try to avoid opening theory, and those players are not to be taken lightly! Our fourth game, Miller Hilburn, has White refusing a standard French Defense. Instead, both players are left to their own resources on move two! Both players struggled through the opening and into the middlegame, each overlooking small ways to make their positions stronger, with the position remaining close to equality until move 21. Whites 21st move permits a continuation that results in a significant endgame advantage for Black, but Black misses the chance, and the game peters out to a draw.

In Hilburn Strobehn, Jerry Hilburn plays a form of the Scotch Gambit that I am unfamiliar with, and for which there are no games in my database. The fight was fairly level throughout, but Black first captured the d-file for his rooks, and then used the file to double his rooks on the second rank. Whites first move after that drops a piece.

Patrick Walsh, the winner of our sixth game, has forced me to turn over my king more than once. In this game, John Finnegan is his prey, and Whites knights run roughshod over Blacks bishops. In the end it is the White pawns that are the biggest threat.

In our final game, Finnegan Hutson, Black plays for the Grunfeld Defense while White develops his kingside knight first. The simple pawn exchange in the center works better for White since Black is denied the knight exchange on c3. The advantage changes hands during the middlegame, but after the queens come off the board Black makes his final mistake, and he gives up the ship ten moves later.

I intend to make the Electronic Knights games a regular part of the column, and I would like to include games from the Golden Knights (correspondence) tournaments as well. However, I cannot get the scores of those games unless they are sent to me. So, I invite you all to send me your games (correspondence_chess@yahoo.com), analyzed or not, in pgn format or typed into an email, to be included in future columns. I also invite readers to suggest column ideas.

Stay safe, and good skill in your games!

Robert

Paul O. Flueckiger of Navasota, Texas passed away on December 2, 2022. He had a 1618 CC rating.

William H. Hutchinson of Palmer, Alaska passed away on February 13, 2023. He had a 1478 CC rating.

Craig W. Ellyson of Morehead City, NC passed away on April 16, 2023. He had a 1589 CC rating.

Walter Muir E-Quad

22W22, Kevin Buswell 5-

23W03 Michael McCaffery 5-1

Victor Palciauskas

22VP12, Josh Pruett 6-0

John W. Collins Memorial

22C04 Craig Faber 6-0

Go here to see the original:

Check is in the Mail: Join the Electronic Knights! - uschess.org

Written by admin

May 3rd, 2023 at 12:08 am

Posted in Chess

Kazakh President Meets with World Chess Champion and Runner … – Astana Times

Posted: at 12:08 am


without comments

ASTANA Kazakhstan is focused on advancing chess in the country, aiming to double the number of chess players in the nearest future, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during a May 2 meeting with new World Chess Champion Ding Liren, runner-up Ian Nepomniachtchi and President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Arkady Dvorkovich, reported the Akorda press service.

President Tokayev with Ding(L) and Nepomniachtchi(R). Photo credit: Akorda.

More than 200,000 people play chess in the country. This figure should at least double with the help of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation and FIDE. Chess will see significant growth in the country, said Tokayev.

The President congratulated Ding on becoming the world champion in a close chess battle and expressed his respect to Nepomniachtchi for his mastery.

Chinas grandmaster Ding thanked Tokayev for the invitation. Photo credit: Akorda.

Chinas grandmaster Ding thanked Tokayev for the invitation.

We are very pleased to meet you. I am thrilled to win and participate in this tournament. I enjoyed the game a lot, he said.

Russias grandmaster Nepomniachtchi noted the great interest in chess in Kazakhstan.

Russias grandmaster Nepomniachtchi noted the great interest in chess in Kazakhstan. Photo credit: Akorda.

I thank the organizers of the match, and thank the country. I see that the countrys interest in chess is constantly growing. With the new leadership of the federation, you are moving in the right direction, he said.

Dvorkovich expressed gratitude to the Kazakh President for the warm welcome, noting the effective development of chess due to state support and financial assistance.

Over the past seven months, Kazakhstan held five world championships. We see the popularity of chess in Kazakhstan. The numbers are impressive and will be even higher, said Dvorkovich.

Dvorkovich expressed gratitude to the Kazakh President for the warm welcome, noting the effective development of chess due to state support and financial assistance. Photo credit: Akorda.

According to Dvorkovich, FIDE plans to host the first-ever World School Championship in Kazakhstan this summer, in which representatives from at least 80 countries are expected to participate.

Following the meeting, the President wished the chess players luck in reaching new heights.

Ding became the new world chess champion after he defeated Nepomniachtchi in the FIDE World Chess Championship final game of the tiebreak on April 30.

Read more here:

Kazakh President Meets with World Chess Champion and Runner ... - Astana Times

Written by admin

May 3rd, 2023 at 12:08 am

Posted in Chess

Elden Ring Fan Creates Incredible Hand-Painted Chess Set Based … – GameRant

Posted: at 12:08 am


without comments

There are many passionate Elden Ring fans, but one particular fan has created an incredible chess set inspired by the popular action adventure RPG. The unique artwork is sure to impress many players of Elden Ring; even gamers who have yet to experience the game.

It's no secret that Elden Ring is one of the hottest games around right now. The action adventure RPG developed by FromSoftware is hailed by many gamers as one of the greatest titles in the genre, and critics have praised the game just as much as players. Despite only being out for a little over a year, many have named it a masterpiece. With that kind of passion behind it, Elden Ring has grown a die hard fan base, and it only continues to keep growing as new players journey to the Lands Between every day. Having such a large and passionate community means that sometimes those fans choose to pay homage to a game in unique and creative ways, like one player recently did.

RELATED: Elden Ring Trick Gives You Huge Advantage When Fighting Trolls

A Reddit user known on the platform as GreenyRepublic shared their incredible hand-painted chess set inspired by Elden Ring, featuring several prominent characters that a lot of fans will recognize. Even if one doesn't play chess, it's impossible to overlook GreenyRepublic's amazing work and dedication to completing this artwork.

Some of the featured characters on the board include Marika and Rennala as opposing queens and Turtle Pope standing in as the bishop, naturally. Additionally, Godfrey and Radagon are the kings of the set while the Tree Sentinel is the knight. For those who are interested in the possibility of owning a set like this, GreenyRepublic's work is unfortunately one of a kind since it was made as a gift for a very lucky friend. Although there's no chance of owning this amazing Elden Ring artwork, the fact that it's the only one of its kind makes it incredibly special.

There are many talented Elden Ring fans, and this chess set is an amazing addition to the long list of fan art within the game's community. Since Elden Ring is one of the best modern games around, it's no surprise that some players want to pay tribute to the RPG in such incredibly unique ways. Whether it's through drawing, crocheting, or painting, each new piece of artwork that is made by fans is just further proof of what a special game Elden Ring is, showcasing how much it means to many gamers.

Elden Ring is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

MORE: Elden Ring: Best Great Spears

See the rest here:

Elden Ring Fan Creates Incredible Hand-Painted Chess Set Based ... - GameRant

Written by admin

May 3rd, 2023 at 12:08 am

Posted in Chess

Classic Chess Pie Recipe – The Recipe Critic

Posted: at 12:08 am


without comments

This website may contain affiliate links and advertising so that we can provide recipes to you. Read my privacy policy.

This classic Southern dessert is a delicious combination of sweet, tangy, and buttery flavors all wrapped up in a flaky crust. Its custard-like filling has a smooth and creamy texture that will have you hooked. And the best part? Chess pie is super easy to make and only takes 10 minutes of prep!

With the weather being nice and warm, Ive been wanting to break out my favorite summer desserts. I feel like pie is a must-make for any summer barbecue! Channel your inner Southern baker and try out this chess pie, or make a lemon or peach pie from scratch! Lemon chess pie is another great option if you want a little extra flavor.

Chess pie is a dessert that has its roots in the South, particularly in states like Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia. The exact origin of the name is uncertain, but there are a few theories out there. Some say it comes from the saying just pie. Others believe that it comes from the term cheese pie, as the custardy filling has a similar texture to cheese. No matter what you want to call it, one thing is for sure! This pie is extremely delicious and easy to make.

The filling consists of just a few ingredients sugar, butter, eggs, cornmeal, and vinegar that are mixed together and poured into a pie crust. The result is a sweet and tangy filling that has a lovely golden brown, caramelized outside once its baked. Its the perfect dessert for when youre short on time or dont want to spend hours in the kitchen. Plus, its versatile you can enjoy it on its own, with a dollop of whipped cream, or with a scoop of ice cream. No matter how you choose to serve it, I know youll love its custard-like texture and sweet flavor!

This is a popular dessert recipe because it uses so many simple, pantry staple ingredients. Pick up a refrigerated pie crust from the store, and youll probably have everything else you need ready to go at home! (If youre feeling ambitious, you can also make your own crust! Its a lot easier than youd think.)

Only 10 minutes of prep and then its off to the oven! With how easy chess pie is to make, youll see why its such a popular Southern dessert! Sweet, creamy goodness made with minimal effort.

Chess pie is delicious on its own, but here are a few ways to make it even better! No matter how you customize it (or if you leave it as-is) this dessert is sure to please!

When it comes to storing leftover chess pie, the hardest part is resisting the urge to eat it all in one sitting! But if you manage to save some for later, simply cover it with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and pop it in the fridge.

With potluck season ramping up again, here are a few classic desserts to share with friends and family! You can never go wrong with a sweet homemade pie. Whether youre wanting something fruity, citrusy, or chocolatey, here are a few of my favorite pie recipes to try!

Melt the butter in a saucepan or in the microwave then allow it to cool.

In a small mixing bowl whisk the eggs until blended well and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl add the granulated sugar, cornmeal, flour, and salt. Stir until combined.

Add the milk, vinegar, vanilla, and whisked eggs to the bowl of dry ingredients. Whisk together until incorporated.

Mix in the cooled butter until smooth and combined.

Pour the batter into the prepared crust. Carefully place the pie on a baking sheet and into the preheated oven.

Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour or the until edges are set. It's normal for the center to wiggle slightly. Cover the pie with foil for the last 10 minutes if the edges of the crust are getting too brown.

Allow the pie to cool for 1 hour before slicing and serving. Dust powdered sugar on top of the pie before serving if you desire!

Cover and store leftover pie in the refrigerator.

Serves: 6

Calories525kcal (26%)Carbohydrates68g (23%)Protein6g (12%)Fat26g (40%)Saturated Fat13g (65%)Polyunsaturated Fat2gMonounsaturated Fat9gTrans Fat1gCholesterol151mg (50%)Sodium381mg (16%)Potassium101mg (3%)Fiber1g (4%)Sugar51g (57%)Vitamin A641IU (13%)Vitamin C0.02mgCalcium39mg (4%)Iron1mg (6%)

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword chess pie, chess pie recipe

Read the rest here:

Classic Chess Pie Recipe - The Recipe Critic

Written by admin

May 3rd, 2023 at 12:08 am

Posted in Chess

Nepomniachtchi Holds Ding To Draw, Closes In On World … – Chess.com

Posted: at 12:08 am


without comments

GM Ian Nepomniachtchi moved one step closer to the world championship title on Sunday after equalizing with Black and drawing in 45 moves in the 10th game of the 2023 FIDE World Championship.

GM Ding Liren reverted to the English Opening and valiantly tried to imbalance matters, but his opponent was up to the task and exchanged into a drawn rook endgame. Nepomniachtchi, now leading 5.5-4.5, is just two points away from claiming the world championship title.

The 11th round of the world championships will continue on Monday, April 24, at 15:00 Astana time (2 a.m. PT/11:00 CEST).

How to watch the 2023 FIDE World Championship

Coming into the 10th game, the intrigue centered around the importance of Ding's rest day and specifically, whether he could concoct preparation that could challenge the resolute defense of Nepomniachtchi.

The negative impact of a training games leak was put to bed by Nepomniachtchi, who claimed that his own preparation strategy did not change much after his team "took a look" at the games. He further reinforced this, stating: "I'm still doing what I'm supposed to do. This information didn't change it much."

Another factor in the championship has been GM Richard Rapport's influence on Ding, but in game 10, the Chinese number-one stayed true to his usual style, playing in a classical fashion.

Sachdev correctly predicted that Ding would play 1.c4 in a return to the opening move that he employed and won with in round four, and the position quickly turned into the English Opening: Four Knights, Nimzowitsch Variation.

Nevertheless, Nepomniachtchi seemed adequately prepared to deal with Ding's English Opening and even managed to surprise the world number-three with 9.Bc5, instead of the more common 9.Be7. The move had been played just four times in master-level chess games and notably, the highest-rated player who had previously played the move was none other than our own GM Rafael Leitao, who provides his own insights on the game later in the article.

The move somewhat paralyzed Ding, who later admitted that it came as a "complete surprise" to him, also evidenced by the fact that the challenger spent 11 minutes deciphering the move.

Unfortunately for Ding, after 10.Kf8!, a most unusual move in the eyes of many chess viewers, the resulting position was one that Nepomniachtchi was indeed familiar with. In fact, the world number-two had played the exact same position from the white side in a 2020 Titled Tuesday clash with the now-GM Jose Gabriel Cardoso, something that was potentially missed by Ding and his team.

Ding's masterful calculating ability still allowed him to progress through the middlegame with a minuscule advantage; however, Nepomniachtchi was able to force the queens off the board, aided by some enterprising kingside pawn play. In the process of trading queens, Nepomniachtchi did give away a pawn but gained adequate compensation in the form of rapid development and structural weaknesses on White's queenside.

The resulting endgame, which featured a pair of rooks and a bishop alongside several pawns each, was identified by both players as close to equal. Although Ding would later state: "I believe I had some chances in the endgame," the quick rate of play by both players indicated their confidence that they were heading toward a draw.

"The defensive resources for Black are vast" was the take from former world championship challenger Caruana, who firmly believed that the players would reach a peaceful conclusion from early on in the piece. Demonstrating that Black had compensation for the pawn, Caruana asked viewers to "look at all the pawns on light squares" and note that they were easy to target for Black's bishop and rooks.

It was no surprise that pieces began to fly off the board as the combatants neared the 40-move mark. By move 37, with only a rook and three pawns left each, Ding was able to cash in his initiative and win one of Nepomniachtchi's pawns, but the resulting endgame was a straightforward rook and two pawns versus rook and one pawn ending.

For just the second time in a world chess championship, the players dueled all the way until their kings were the only pieces remaining on the board.

What made the game so incredible is the accuracy rating of the two players, which clocked in at 98.6 percent and 98.7 percent for Ding and Nepomniachtchi respectively, according to Chess.com's Game Review tool. Neither really put a foot wrong.

For an extensive look into the round 10 clash, Leitao's annotations are below.

After shaking hands on move 45, Ding left the board and stormed out of the room. Despite showing no obvious signs of anger, he was undoubtedly unhappy with the result. With just two White games left in the match, the pressure on the Chinese GM increases with each passing round.

Now with Ding due to play with the black pieces in round 11, many feel that the odds are against him. GM Hikaru Nakamura weighed in during his YouTube recap and proclaimed that he felt Ding is "running out of steam" in the opening phase of the game.

To Ding's credit, the surprise element has been a refreshing and entertaining feature of the world championship match and should another surprise pay off on Monday, he will find himself at 5.5-5.5 alongside Nepomniachtchi.

For now, rest and preparation are the two most important things for Ding if he is to mount a resurgence. As for Nepomniachtchi, he will feel bullish about his chances to secure two more match points and achieve his dream of becoming the chess world champion should things go well in round 11.

You can watch video recaps of the FIDE World Championship in our playlist below (clickhere).

Match Score

The 2023 FIDE World Championship is the most important over-the-board classical event of the year and decides who will be the next world champion. Nepomniachtchi and Ding play a match to decide who takes over Carlsen's throne after the current world champion abdicated his title. The match has a 2 million prize fund and is played over 14 classical games; the first player to gain 7.5 points wins.

Previous Coverage

Read this article:

Nepomniachtchi Holds Ding To Draw, Closes In On World ... - Chess.com

Written by admin

May 3rd, 2023 at 12:08 am

Posted in Chess

Maine asylum seekers find community in chess group – Bangor Daily News

Posted: at 12:08 am


without comments

To some a board game means a lot more than just beating your opponent. Its also about a sense of community.

And this community loves chess.

I would say Im pretty good at it, said Urial Valentim, an asylum seeker from Angola. Yeah, Im pretty good at it.

Valentim is staying at the Howard Johnson Hotel in South Portland, which has become an emergency shelter.

The group Gift of Chess meets there every Saturday, spreading their love of the game and connecting young Mainers with young asylum seekers.

A lot of the kids are just kind of hanging out with their friends, said Jacob Holden, Portlands director of Gift of Chess. Which is great, but we want to give them a drive and reason to play the game.

Holden sees the tournaments as an opportunity for these children seeking asylum to learn and acclimate.

Chess at the end of the day promotes critical thinking, promotes decision making, Holden said.

The best part is when you find someone competitive and the game takes long to end, Valentim said.

Maria Marta, who is also from Angola, has found a new appreciation for the game.

When I was a kid, I didnt like chess, Marta said. I felt like it was so boring.

This group has helped redefine the game of chess for Marta. She loves the challenge and the friends shes made along the way. Thats something many of these kids share.

It has made it more fun, and it has made me a better player in chess, Valentim said.

These volunteers said its not just about winning or losing, but how you learn and grow from the game.

More articles from the BDN

Read this article:

Maine asylum seekers find community in chess group - Bangor Daily News

Written by admin

May 3rd, 2023 at 12:08 am

Posted in Chess

Just The Rules: Quiz-a-mania is Runnin’ Wild – uschess.org

Posted: at 12:08 am


without comments

This columnist has come across enough material to create another fun quiz for your enjoyment. Lets get started!

1. After the pairings are posted for the first round, Player A approaches the TD and points out that the pairings are wrong. Why? They are paired against Player B, a member of their club. Five members of the club, including both Players A and B, all entered the event all at once together online. The TD should have known to not pair them against each other. After checking the early entry fee records the TD cannot find any non-pairing request. What can the TD do at this point?

2. You and your opponent are in time trouble in a game with 90 minutes per player and 15 seconds of increment per move. You still have several minutes left. Your opponents digital clock is displaying all zeros on move 60. You claim a win on time. Your opponent disputes your claim. They point out the clock was set with an increment of 10 seconds instead of 15 seconds; therefore, the missing time (5 seconds per move) should be, and can be, added to the playing time. The clock is theirs. They set it wrong. What did the TD Rule?

3. In a rated US Chess Blitz game your opponent grabs a piece from the board and hesitates before setting it on the intended square. During that hesitation their digital clock displays those dreaded zeros, meaning that they are out of time. You have mating material, so you claim a win. They claim that the intended move was going to be checkmate; therefore, they did not lose. They claim that you lost and they won. Thats the rule, is their explanation. What did the TD rule?

1. Rule 28T tells us that players can request a non-pairing as long as it does not cause any pairing problems. But if those requests come late like after the pairings are made that is a problem. TDs have workarounds if they choose, but are not required, to use them. So, in this instance, D is the correct answer.

2. In rule 16P1 the rulebook solution when there is no delay or increment set is: The delay or increment should be set for the remainder of the game. Since this game is over, rule 16P1 and/or rule 16P cant be applied. Players need to make a claim about any clock issues before the flag falls: they had the entire game to notice any irregularities. Given that the clock owner (your opponent) set the timer, their claim just might be a dirty trick. Or is it? Did they plan the clock miscue? This is fodder for a lot of investigation. The best bet by the TD here is answer B.

3. C is the answer. Why? Your opponents flag fell before checkmate was delivered (Chapter 11, rule 7c). Besides, the wording to the rule they cited does not appear in the rulebook. One of the challenges with Blitz chess is that there are many different types of local rules that players might be used to, but these rules cannot be used in officially rated US Chess events.

The free, updated US Chess Rules (Chapters 1+2 + 9 + 10 +11 from the 7th edition rulebook) are now downloadable and available online.

Want more? Past columns can be found here or by searching the Chess Life Online archives.

Plus, listen to Tim when he was a guest on the US Chess podcast One Move at a Time.

Tim Just is a National Tournament Director, FIDE National Arbiter, and editor of the 5th, 6th, and 7th editions of the US Chess Rulebook. He is also the author of My Opponent is Eating a Doughnut & Just Law, which are both available from US Chess Sales and Amazon/Kindle. Additionally, Tim revised The Guide To Scholastic Chess, a guide created to help teachers and scholastic organizers who wish to begin, improve, or strengthen their school chess program. US Chess awarded the 2022 Tournament Director Lifetime Achievement Award to Tim. He is also a member of the US Chess Rules Committee plus the Tournament Director Certification Committee (TDCC). His new column, exclusive to US Chess, Just the Rules will help clarify potentially confusing regulations.

The rest is here:

Just The Rules: Quiz-a-mania is Runnin' Wild - uschess.org

Written by admin

May 3rd, 2023 at 12:08 am

Posted in Chess


Page 10«..9101112..2030..»



matomo tracker