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Archive for the ‘Chess’ Category

Heath Ledger Was So Obsessed With Chess He Wanted to Direct … – FandomWire

Posted: October 16, 2023 at 7:19 pm


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Long before Netflix turned The Queens Gambit into a sensation, the seeds of the idea were sown. Heath Ledger desperately wanted to bring the story to life as a director with the help of the talented Elliot Page, who was then known as Ellen Page in the lead, back in 2008. The actors battle with addiction made him relate to the novel which was first published in 1983 and thus felt a compelling need to bring Beth Harmon on screen.

Thus, the creator of the blockbuster Netflix show, Allan Shiach revealed all the plans that Heath Ledger had made before his unfortunate and untimely death.

Also Read: I knew he was gonna win an Oscar: Joaquin Phoenixs Terrifying Performance Convinced His Joker Co-Star That He Was the Perfect Heath Ledger Successor

Allan Shiach took charge of scripting The Queens Gambit movie back in the day, while directors Michael Apted and Bernardo Bertolucci joined initially along with Shiach who uses the pen name Allan Scott, but departed early in the process. Later, Heath Ledger expressed enthusiasm about directing the film adaptation, marking a series of notable shifts in the projects creative journey.

In an interview with The Independent, the creator of the show revealed,

Of the three of them I found Heath was the one I wanted to work with,He was passionate about it; he was an intense, interested young man and I was drawn to him immediately. We spoke and spoke about the project over the phone, and then eventually got round to meeting up over it towards the end of last year.

In addition to expressing a sincere desire to direct the project, he also delved into casting suggestions for the film. The actor pictured Elliot Page, formerly recognized as Ellen Page before his transition, as the ideal choice for the lead role.

Shiach further stated,

We spent a lot of time over the last three months working on his vision,I did draft after draft and he gave his input and we met several times in New York and here, where he was spending a lot of his time. We had got to the stage where we had sent the script to Ellen. Heath was full of ideas for the other cast, mainly from his list of acting friends. We were planning to make a movie at the end of 2008.

Despite all preparations being in place and the project on the verge of production, the world tragically lost Heath Ledger due prescription drug overdose in early 2008. This heartbreaking event indefinitely halted the progress of the project.

Also Read: The role leaks into the man: Morgan Freeman Debunks Theory That Romanticized Joker Actor Heath Ledgers Death as Being Caused By Too Much Evil

After immersing himself in both the script and the novel centered around the character Beth Harmon, Heath Ledger, who battled addiction in his youth, felt a profound connection to the story. Recognizing the importance of shedding light on this narrative, he considered himself the ideal candidate to explore the projects essence to its deepest core as a director. Shiach in the same interview stated,

Everyone knows Heath was a user of prescription drugs; and that he had addiction issues when he was a young man,The movie business lost a real talent. I think he would have been an extraordinary director.

The mastermind behind the immensely popular Netflix series believed the actor would have been a perfect fit for the role. Consequently, he feels a profound sense of gratitude for being able to resurrect the project after so many years, finally breathing life into it once more in 2020, but this time in a series form.

All episodes of The Queens Gambit are available on Netflix.

Also Read: Ryan Gosling is like the perfect man: Dune Star Timothe Chalamet Swoons Over Oscar-Nominated Barbie Actor After Watching $145M Rom-Com

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Heath Ledger Was So Obsessed With Chess He Wanted to Direct ... - FandomWire

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October 16th, 2023 at 7:19 pm

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Daniel Fernandez: Weapons against the Caro Kann – Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 – ChessBase

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by Daniel Fernandez

GM Daniel Fernandez is an expert using the Caro Kann for his own repertoire so he knows which systems can cause trouble for Black.

In this video course he explains the ins out of his favourite systems. In modern times it gets more and more important to have several ways to counter an opening as you might want to surprise your opponent or even use different lines for different players or time controls.

This video course is helpful to find the system thats suits you best as White, but also for Caro-Kann players themselves as the author explains what are the best ways for Black to fight for equality.

This volume features the Panov Attack (3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4) and the Two Knights (2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3)

Having enjoyed the videos, you can practice your freshly acquired repertoire in the Opening trainer. This will make sure you remember the important lines - and youre well prepared to use them in your own games.

In modern times it gets more and more important to have several ways to counter an opening as you might want to surprise your opponent or even use different lines for different players or time controls.

This video course is helpful to find the system thats suits you best as White, but also for Caro-Kann players themselves as the author explains what are the best ways for Black to fight for equality.

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Daniel Fernandez: Weapons against the Caro Kann - Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 - ChessBase

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October 16th, 2023 at 7:19 pm

Posted in Chess

CHESS Kicks-Off Vagabond Players 108th Season – BroadwayWorld

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Vagabond Players will begin its 108th season with the highly acclaimed musical CHESS - music by Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, lyrics by Tim Rice (based on an idea by Tim Rice) and directed by Stephen Deininger.

During the height of the Cold War, the renowned game of chess becomes a battleground for romantic rivalries, super-power politics, and international intrigue as two great chess masters, an American and a Russian, meet to fight it out for the world championship and the love of one woman. From Tyrol to Thailand, the players, lovers, politicians, and spies manipulate and are manipulated to the pulse of a monumental score by the ABBA team that includes such classics as One Night in Bangkok an Heaven Help My Heart.

CHESS opens Friday, Oct. 20 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 19, with weekly performances Fridays/Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., and a special $16 Thursdays on Broadway performance on Nov. 16 at 8 p.m.

For tickets and show info visit http://www.vagabondplayers.org. Special group rates are available online.

Located at 806 S. Broadway in historic Fells Point, the Vagabond Players is easily accessible to patrons CHESS is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. http://www.concordtheatricals.com.

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CHESS Kicks-Off Vagabond Players 108th Season - BroadwayWorld

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October 16th, 2023 at 7:19 pm

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How world’s chess champions map changed in 20 years – Times of India

Posted: May 3, 2023 at 12:08 am


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Updated: May 1, 2023, 21:51 IST

The recently concluded world championship match between Ding Liren and Ian Nepomniachtchi underlined a tectonic shift in global chess hierarchy. Ding Liren, a 30-year-old Grandmaster (GM) from Wenzhou, China, came from behind three times and clinched the title with less than a minute to spare.Ding is the second Asian to win the world title. Viswanathan Anand was the first. When Anand won the first of his five world championships in 2000, he was the only Asian in the World Top 10. Europe, and more specifically East Europe, was the epicentre of world chess. The other nine GMs on the 2000 list were Europeans, both in terms of origin, and domicile. Even Anand lived in Spain. Five of the players in that millennial list had been born within the borders of the Soviet Union, one was a Bulgarian and one a Pole.

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How world's chess champions map changed in 20 years - Times of India

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May 3rd, 2023 at 12:08 am

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2023 Chess Open bringing players from across the region to … – ABC 6 News KAAL TV

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(ABC 6 News) Whether youre young or old, or know anything about chess, theres a club for you. The Rochester Chess Club.

The club is holding its second-annual 2023 Chess Open at the Mayo Civic Center this July. The two-day event will invite more than 100 players from across the Midwest to compete for more than $1,000 in prizes.

Rochester Chess Club Director Dennis Mays tells ABC 6 News chess is all about developing critical thinking skills. Helping people learn how to plan, learn more about cause and effect relationships, and it helps with their STEM skills. On top of that, its a game!

I think it helps children pay attention, focus on the task at hand, said Mays.

Theres some chess players who when theyre thinking about a chess game and play a chess game, the rest of their world is non-existent. Their world is that chess board and the chess pieces.

There are rounds for all levels during the Open. Depending on how you do, youll go on to compete against other players in multiple rounds. But youre not eliminated. Ultimately, whoever gets the top score in that round gets the top prize.

But, how can you join in?

Attending the meetings, playing chess at the Rochester Chess Club. Theres a membership but its something thats voluntary and you can participate in everything. If we have sanction tournaments, thats sanctioned by the United States Chess Federation, that requires a membership.

The Rochester Chess Club is open to anybody. Mays says he has students in elementary school to even one in their late 90s.

If youre interested in the Chess Open, you can register ahead of time or at the door.

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2023 Chess Open bringing players from across the region to ... - ABC 6 News KAAL TV

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May 3rd, 2023 at 12:08 am

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Hopkinton team wins K-8 chess state title – Hopkinton Independent

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Chess competitors (from left) Karthik Lakshmanan, Dhairya Mehta, Jashwant Reddy Ambati and Dattasai Kilari pose with their championship trophies.

After winning the Hurvitz Cup State Scholastic Team Championship in elementary school a year ago, the same Hopkinton team of chess players won the K-8 division of the tournament this year.

The competition is run by the Massachusetts Chess Association, which hosts the tournament annually and attracts young players from all over the state.

Going into the competition, the Hopkinton team consisting of sixth graders Dattasai Kilari, Dhairya Mehta, Jashwant Reddy Ambati and Karthik Lakshmanan ranked second behind Belmonts Chenery Middle School.

All four players have a passion for chess and have been playing competitively for years, with Kilari and Mehta competing for six years, and Ambati and Lakshmanan competing for three and two years, respectively.

Despite their varying experience levels, all four players were critical in the teams latest accomplishment.

Kilari was first board in the tournament, meaning he is the highest-ranked team member. Each team member plays their counterpart of the same rank on the opposing team. Kilaris opponent was an eighth grader and a National Master, a title awarded to a player who has reached a ranking of 2,200.

I thought I was going to lose, Kilari admitted. I hoped that the other people on my team would win their games.

However, after a tough match, Kilari ultimately emerged victorious.

I was not doing very well, but he tried to go for the win so that he could tie [the team score], and he went too far for the win and lost, Kilari said.

Kilaris goal is to become a National Master by the end of the year.

In the final round, two Hopkinton players had won their games, and one had lost. Ambatis victory secured the title, avoiding a tie.

Although the boys compete together, they typically dont practice together. Instead, they individually practice on websites like chess.com. The players use puzzles to improve their tactical abilities and play games to learn, using an analysis tool to see their mistakes. Mehta explained that theyre constantly learning and improving, striving to become better players.

Despite the pressure of competitive play, the Hopkinton team offers a valuable lesson for all chess players:

Dont stress about chess, Ambati said. Its only 64 squares and 32 pieces.

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Hopkinton team wins K-8 chess state title - Hopkinton Independent

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May 3rd, 2023 at 12:08 am

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Resurgence of chess in San Francisco – KALW

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This story aired in the May 2, 2023 episode of Crosscurrents.

On a cold Tuesday night, two blocks from Union Square, people start lining up to enter an old building off Post Street named the Mechanics Institute. But inside, there is a research library and a competition hall for playing chess on the top floor.

Chess Program Manager Alex Robins says there is so much history since they have been operating since 1854, but tonight is the big night. It's the Tuesday night marathon.

This is the longest-running weekly tournament in the United States it's been going since 1972, Robins said. We've actually been doing really well on attendance lately all of our tournaments are selling out in advance.

That is the beauty of chess. A sudden resurgence of the 1,400-year-old game can only be explained by the COVID-19 pandemic causing everyone to stay home, chess tournaments resorting to function online, and the premiere of the Netflix series Queens Gambit, which told the story of a female chess prodigy becoming a chess master during the Cold War.

Only minutes before the tournament started, the Chess players listened to the resident Chess master, Paul Whitehead, lecture on a recent international game played by Armenian chess grandmaster Levon Aronian. Mr. Whitehead displays strategy and mistakes made throughout the game on a demonstration board, where chess pieces hang on, giving a bird's-eye view of the carnage.

Whitehead said that the Chess grandmaster was setting up his pieces as a dragon variation of the Sicilian Defense, a known set of moves that put most of your chess pieces on the frontline. Learning from past games helps new and professional players turn the tide to beat their opponents.

Sebastian Mio-Bucheli

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This classroom environment allows regulars to ask Paul Whitehead, What if Levon made a daring move?

A lot of times taking action can lead you into trouble, Whitehead, who became a Master at a young age, said. Being patient is sometimes the thing to do.

When the lecture ends, more members pour into the room, packing the hall. Most of the chess players are male, and they vary in age. Some players are as young as eight, some as old as 80. But there were some women players scattered around the tables.

The Institute wants to include women and children from lower economic backgrounds so they learn to play chess. Because, despite the recent resurgence, there are still some barriers in the Chess world since the game is still male-dominated or needs a lot of funding to play matches to be ranked and play in tournaments.

Sebastian Mio-Bucheli

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Alex said to really see the Mechanics Institute at work, interested folk could see the Scholastic Chess Championship, where more than 300 students from all over San Francisco would compete at the San Francisco County Fair building in Golden Gate Park.

Sebastian Mio-Bucheli

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Before the competition started, you could see young kids reading up on chess strategies or trying to memorize gambits, a set of famous opening moves in which players would trap their opponents by giving up a piece for something better.

Allysa Stone, Senior Director of Programs and Community Engagement at the Mechanics Institute gave the opening speech that kicked off the event.

Stone said, Its been four years since we've been able to bring the championship back.

There were tables set for Kindergarteners to 12th graders who could compete in unranked games, which students play amongst their peers, and ranked games with no age range, just skill level.

Wilson Skinner, Special Educator at Francisco Middle School, said, I think for Chess Club at this age, it can feel like a place to be.

I know we run our club as 'very open,' Skinner said. It gives a lot of kids who need somewhere to go at lunch or made a ton of friendships a place to find community.

Skinners side hustle is running the Chess club and team. His motivation is to have his students bond together during tournaments and also in academic settings. But Skinner also has a challenge to face.

Sebastian Mio-Bucheli

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My challenge is how do I get more girls to play, "Skinner said. Were kind of seeing them recognize their power feels empowering and exciting.

Skinner added that in the Francisco Middle School team of three, two of the strongest players are girls. One of them, Vicky Lee, came out of the tournament hall to catch up with the team after her game. She lost in an earlier match but was in great spirits.

I'm really glad to come here, Vicky Lee said. There's a lot of great people, and I learned a lot from my first game.

Just for Lee to practice for the tournament, she used a mix of Online Chess matches from Chess.com and their Chess puzzles, which throw the player into random scenarios to find a quicker checkmate. But, mostly Vicky credits attending the club and interacting with people.

Sebastian Mio-Bucheli

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You can think of all the dynamics and ways you can move a piece, Vicky Lee said. It's kind of really like how we experience life with a lot of moves, except it's on a chess board.

Win or lose, the next generation of Chess players will be okay. As long as they do not leave themselves open for a checkmate.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A previous version of this story contained errors that have been corrected. The story at the end states that the Mechanic's Institute offers free chess classes every Monday, but their free classes are offered every Wednesday.

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Resurgence of chess in San Francisco - KALW

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May 3rd, 2023 at 12:08 am

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Play Chess Against The Chess Club Regulars – Chess.com

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Are you ready to take down an old elementary school chess champion? Think you can go head-to-head with a notorious chess hustler? These local legends with classic chess player personality tendencies are eager to accept your challenge!

Meet the Chess Club Regulars: Gavin, Lauren, Freddy, Grandpa Gambit, and Maya. The chess club closes next month, so play some games with them before they're gone! Just click the button below:

Strength: 650

Gavin was his schools 3rd grade chess champion over twenty years ago, and he wont let you forget it. Can you beat this former elementary school legend?

Strength: 1000

Lauren is the self-proclaimed "Office Queen of Chess." She plays on her lunch break and during boring meetings. Can you win quickly before she gets in trouble at work?

Strength: 1325

Freddy is a chess hustler from New York City. He makes his living hustling in the parks but runs away when he loses a big bet. Thats why he always wears his favorite tracksuit.

Strength: 1650

Grandpa Gambit is a lifelong chess player known to regale his opponents with a chess anecdote of his pastor two. Ready to take a trip down memory lane?

Strength: 2050

Maya is a child prodigy who commands a crowd any time she plays a game. She sits across the board, adjusts her pieces, and opens her fruit snacks. Youre in big trouble.

These bots are only here for the month of May, so play them before it's too late. And let us know who's your favorite in the comments section below!

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Play Chess Against The Chess Club Regulars - Chess.com

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May 3rd, 2023 at 12:08 am

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Eagles GM Howie Roseman plays chess while others play checkers – NFL Spin Zone

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Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman continues to play chess while many other general managers are stuck at checkers. Roseman completely dominated the 2023 NFL Draft as he did in 2022. This time around it seems that other general managers are tired of Rosemans public success.

The praise is well deserved. The best player in the draft, Georgia DT Jalen Carter, fell past the Atlanta Falcons at #8 and Roseman quickly traded up with the Chicago Bears in order to secure Carter. There were seven other teams that had the opportunity to draft Carter but passed on the controversial athlete. Roseman wasnt nearly done and also selected Georgia DE/OLB Nolan Smith with the 30th pick overall.

Roseman found value picks in offensive lineman Tyler Steen in the second round and scooped up another Georgia Bulldog, Kelee Ringo, in the fourth round. Ringo was projected to go in the second or third round of the draft. Roseman identified the slide and traded up to take the cornerback before anyone was any wiser. Roseman still was not done with his campaign and traded a fourth and seventh-round pick to the Detroit Lions in exchange for former second-round pick running back DAndre Swift.

The only drafting Georgia players joke is amusing but you cant argue the recent success Roseman has found with drafting players from Athens. The Georgia defense for the last two seasons has been one of the best collegiate defenses we have seen in the last decade. The players coming from that program, similar to the tradition of the Alabama Crimson Tide, are winners and compete with the best. Bringing college players to the professional league that already have experience against elite competition and have that hunger for additional victories is just good business.

Roseman already brought one Super Bowl to Philadelphia and since that victory, his reputation faltered slightly with several questionable picks. While many on the outside believed that Rosemans job was in jeopardy he has accomplished quite a bit in the last two seasons leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft;

Normally when a general manager amasses a Super Bowl team whether they win or lose they usually have to play catch up and end up trying to recover from huge cash/salary cap expenses. Howie Roseman, similar to Chiefs general manager and wunderkind Brett Veach, has been able to keep a competitive unit on the field. Not only has Roseman been able to keep a competitive Eagles team on the field but he appears to be continuing to build up his squad through the draft and free agency.

The 2023 season will be a huge test for Roseman and what appears to be another dominant Eagles team. And for those that continue to express jealousy at Rosemans recent success, this tweet sums up a response for those that continue to chatter.

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Eagles GM Howie Roseman plays chess while others play checkers - NFL Spin Zone

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May 3rd, 2023 at 12:08 am

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NASA take chess in space, ISS and Mission Control battle it out on the board concurrently with the World Championship 2023 – The Indian Express

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The 2023 World Chess Championship saw the game scale new heights. Metaphorically and quite literally. In fact, it went all the way above the planet. A unique match that took place between the International Space Station and US National Aeronautics and Space Administrations (NASA) Mission Control.

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NASA would share the details of the same on their reddit and Twitter handle, While the World Chess Championship was going on last month,/u/warrenhoburg (Warren Hoburg) and his Crew-6 crewmates (left to right: Frank Rubio, Woody Hoburg, UAE astronaut Sultan Alneyadi and Steve Bowen) were finishing up a chess match of their own against the flight directors in NASAs Mission Control Center (back on Earth) at Johnson Space Center.

It further add, Each team made about one to two moves a day, as their hectic schedules allowed, sharing updates via space-to-ground communications. Despite starting with the black pieces, the ISS crew emerged victorious, checkmating Mission Control with a cross-board queen move.

Their first game wrapped up on Sunday, April 16 and the second match is already underway! Keep an eye on our ISS blog for more scientific updates from the orbiting laboratory.

It wasnt a first instance of a chess game in space. The first Earth vs. Space chess match began during astronaut Greg Chamitoffs Expedition 17 stay aboard the ISS.

NASA and the U.S. Chess Federation (USCF) teamed up to host the match, which started in September 2008. Chamitoff conceded the match in a Dec. 16, 2009, letter to the third grade U.S. Chess Championship Team and its chess club teammates from Stevenson Elementary School in Bellevue, Wash.

First published on: 02-05-2023 at 19:49 IST

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NASA take chess in space, ISS and Mission Control battle it out on the board concurrently with the World Championship 2023 - The Indian Express

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May 3rd, 2023 at 12:08 am

Posted in Chess


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