COVID-19 has created a global crisis. We are not sure how the world and India will come out of it. The modern world faced a similar pandemic in late nineteenth century called the bubonic plague, which killed millions in the eastern part of the world mainly in India and China.

That pandemic also originated in China, in Yunnan province, and spread to many countries through the sea route. Medical facilities at the time were almost all but absent. Particularly in India, there were hardly any trained doctors in modern medicine.

That pandemic spread to all inhabited continents and reached India through the ports at Calcutta and Bombay. Later on, it spread to Pune and other towns and villages. One guess is that more deaths occurred in towns than in spread-out villages, where natural social isolation is already a factor. Several herding communities left urban and populated towns and established settlements in the forest and plain lands.

Though several medical practitioners must have played a role during the time one young doctor died while treating patients in the Poona region: Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phules adopted son Dr. Yashwantrao.

Also read: Government Measures for Coronavirus Control Leave the Poor High and Dry

The doctor died alongside his adopted mother Savitribai while serving plague patients in a special clinic that they opened in 1896-97. According to historical texts, Dr. Yashwant Rao served patients of all castes and communities as a part of his father and mothers social reform movement. In those days, Brahmins were avoiding becoming doctors as the British had made it mandatory that medical partitioners treat patients of all castes, and many Brahmins were unwilling to touch Dalits and Shudras.

The Satyashodak movement launched by the Phules took up a massive campaign against human untouchability and superstitions. Since the couple had no children of their own, they adopted a boy the son of a brahmin widow, Kashibai. The name of Yashwantraos birth father is unknown.

It is said that having while after her husbands death, conservative Brahmins in the Poona area had wanted to kill his pregnant wife. It was the Satyashodak movement headed by Phule that saved her and took care of the mother and child at their ashram. The son was eventually adopted by the Phules in 1874.

Yashwantrao eventually became a doctor and was married to Radha in 1889, whose father was part of the social reform movement. An inter-caste marriage, it was performed with a simple garland exchange in defiance of being married traditionally by a Brahmin pandit. The priestly class took this marriage to a court also.

Jyotirao Phule died in 1890. After his death, Savitribai and her son continued to undertake social and medical services. One biographer of Savitribai writes:

Her (Savitribai) adopted son Yashwantrao served the people of his area as a doctor. When the worldwide Third Pandemic of the bubonic plague badly affected the area around Nallaspora, Maharastra in 1897, the courageous Savitribai and Yashwantrao opened a clinic at outskirts of Pune to treat the patients infected by the disease. She brought the patients to the clinic where her son treated them while she took care of them. In course of time, she contracted the disease while serving the patients and succumbed to it on March 10, 1897.

The tragedy did not end there. Dr. Yashwantrao died as well after contracting the disease. This episode of the bubonic plague ultimately led to more than 12 million deaths in India and China, with about 10 million killed in India alone.

India has evolved a lot since the days of Dr. Yashwantrao and Savitribai Phules sacrifice. We now have doctors of all castes and communities. Apart from Dr. Yashwantrao, another doctor to die in the line of duty was Dwarkanath Kotnis during Chinas hour of need in the late 1930s. Kotnis was one of the five Indian physicians dispatched to China to provide medical assistance during the second Sino-Japanese war in 1938.

It was on January 10, 1897, that Aldemar Haffkine, a bacteriologist who trained with Louis Pasteur at his institute in Paris, and who was based in Bombay, tested the vaccine on himself and created a vaccine in record time to combat the bubonic plague epidemic in Bombay and Poona regions. That vaccine saved millions in over subsequent years even though at that time, India superstition and illiteracy coupled with ignorance resulted in restricted use.

The Haffkine Institute is now a premier research and vaccine producing organisation in Bombay.

Also read: Public Health Needs the Public, Modiji, but it Also Needs the Government

Today, coronavirus seems to pose a much bigger threat in a globalised world of air travel in closed air-conditioned aircrafts. Well-equipped hospitals and well-trained doctors and nurses with the courage to make sacrifices like Dr. Yashwantrao and Savitribai Phule alone can save the world and India. And while there is still no vaccine for this novel virus, there will hopefully be one soon.

With some among the ruling party spreading superstitions, we must take a page out of our own medical history of courage, sacrifice and suffering. India still has a long road ahead when it comes to social reform and this crisis is suited to push such reform.

So while there is misinformation about how cow urine and dung work work like a vaccination for coronavirus, people must depend only on tested science, medicines, laboratories, doctors and nurses.

India is a country of 1.3 billion people, among them many who believe in superstitions as part of a long heritage of illiteracy and ignorance. We now have the media, and even mobile networks, informing people about how to look after oneself from washing hands to not touching faces.

However, casteism and baba-ism will only contribute to loss of more life. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself accepted, the Kerala government has been handling the COVID-19 better with a belief in science and medicine. Other state governments must also make adequate preparations.

Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd is a political theorist, social activist and author.

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Taking a Page out of India's Medical History of Courage, Sacrifice and Suffering - The Wire

caption Tony Hawk. source Dan Mathieu

The worlds most successful people read an outsized number of books. You dont have time to read a ton of books right now. So we asked these elite CEOs and Advisors in The Oracles to share the one book that profoundly changed their life and why. Here are the life-changing books you should be reading (or rereading) next.

Had I read High Fidelity when I was younger, I might have realized that I could pursue my dreams and become successful later in life and at a different pace. You dont have to do what you love with such abandon when you have other responsibilities. Now Im working on a Broadway production of another Hornby book, Slam, about a kid who aspires to be a pro skater but has to realize his path to responsibility when he gets his girlfriend pregnant.

Tony Hawk, founder and CEO of Birdhouse Skateboards and president of the Tony Hawk Foundation, and the most influential and commercially successful skateboarder of all time, with a $100+ million net worth

The Richest Man in Babylon was a game changer for me and changed the way I look at money. It teaches five simple rules: 1) Store money for future use, 2) Control your expenses, 3) Make money multiply, 4) Guard your treasures against loss, and 5) Improve your ability to earn. After reading it, I stopped saving money simply to save it and started storing money that I could later invest to work for me. The investment vehicle that met these criteria was income-producing real estate. This book teaches you to establish reliable income streams and that you should never confuse financial needs with wants. It should be required reading in every school.

Grant Cardone, founder of Cardone Capital, a $2 billion real estate empire. Follow Grant on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

This book explains how to create apps and online experiences that are easy, intuitive, and enjoyable. Software should be simple and obvious to use. This simplicity is central to the vision of Canva and all good software companies. I reread this book often and recommend it to everyone.

Melanie Perkins, cofounder and CEO of Canva, valued at over $3 billion, and one of the youngest female CEOs leading a billion-dollar company

This book is such a must-read for leaders that I bought a copy for every manager in our company. The premise is simple: Good is the enemy of great. Most companies never achieve greatness because theyre satisfied with good enough. Greatness requires humble leaders who are driven by whats best for the company and dont let obstacles stop them.

Collins explains the importance of the book with this concept: When your passions, what you can be best in the world at, and what drives your economic engine come together, your work and life move toward greatness. Its impossible to have a great life unless its meaningful, and its difficult to have a meaningful life without meaningful work.

Dottie Herman, CEO of Douglas Elliman, a real estate brokerage empire with more than $27 billion in annual sales. Connect with Dottie on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

As an avid reader, I continuously consume stories and knowledge. I read this book while pregnant with my second child because I was curious about how my daughters relationship would work with her soon-to-be baby brother. It changed my approach to professional and personal relationships.

This book opened my mind to how people interact and why they are who they are. It spawned my interest in learning more about how to communicate effectively and meaningfully. It gave me an incredible gift: the tools to get past the awkward beginning of any relationship easily, be a considerate listener, and engage in fruitful relationships.

Jessica Mead, founder and CEO of BrandLync, cofounder of Mead Holdings Group, The Epek Companies, and Grayson Pierce Capital. Follow Jessica on Instagram.

This book is about aligning your work and life toward your calling and staying the course. When the warrior Arjuna loses his courage to lead a big battle against his evil cousins, Krishna shows him that he must do it because its his calling and duty. Anything less leads to regret and negatively impacts your life.

As I relate in my own book, Staring Down the Wolf, I went through a similar experience in my twenties. If I had read this then, I wouldve been more confident about ditching my corporate suit to become a Navy SEAL officer. I would have avoided a lot of confusion and emotional suffering around the decision, knowing that following my purpose was not a nice to do, but an absolute imperative.

Mark Divine, retired US Navy SEAL commander, NYT & WSJ bestselling author, and founder of Unbeatable Mind and SEALFIT. Follow Unbeatable Mind on Facebook and YouTube.

In college, I was profoundly affected by the concepts Professor Bargh taught in my Modern Unconscious class, which he later distilled into this book. In short, while your conscious thoughts matter, you are also heavily influenced by unconscious or automatic behavior.

I was struck by the huge potential of designing technology products and human organizations based on an understanding of how the human brain actually works, to help people lead happier, more fulfilled lives. After college, I turned down traditional job offers and decided to build a startup instead to put those ideas into action. Now, a decade later, were still motivated by the same long-term goal of increasing human agency. We use these concepts not to make you sad so you buy more or trap you in your Instagram feed, but to enable people to accomplish their goals and lead happier, more fulfilled lives.

Judd Rosenblatt, founder and CEO of AE Studio, an Agile web development and data science consulting firm with a mission to increase human agency with technology. Vote for the charity they donate to next month.

Holmes teaches timeless time management principles and the Dream 100, or the art of identifying and tirelessly pursuing key partners and customers. Ill never forget flipping through the pages for the first time on the island of Koh Phangan, Thailand, and recognizing that everything in my life had to change. I was doing too much, trying to be too many things to too many people. This book taught me to focus on networking. Ive read it multiple times since and always uncover new insights. I shudder to think how much money, time, and frustration I could have saved myself if I had come across this book sooner.

Jonathan Goodman, founder of the Personal Trainer Development Center and the first-ever certification for online fitness training, the Online Trainer Academy. Connect with Jonathan on Facebook and Instagram.

This book downloads nugget after nugget of life-changing wisdom. In particular, Stanley outlines five Cs that leaders need to be successful and leave a legacy. The first is competence. Leaders must channel their energy where they are most likely to excel. Second is courage, which is required to set things in motion and move ahead. Third is clarity. Leaders must learn to be clear, even when they arent certain. Fourth is coaching, because without a coach youll never be as good as you could be. Finally, character. You can lead without it, but you wont be a leader worth following.

Shaun Rawls, founder and CEO of Rawls Consulting who built The Rawls Group of Keller Williams to over $4 billion in annual sales, and author of the upcoming book F-It-Less. Connect with Shaun on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Growing up, I looked at money negatively and thought it was only possible to have money by saving it. This book changed my entire perspective on what money can accomplish for good and how to earn it. It was eye-opening to see the difference between two paths: playing it safe, going to school, and getting a job or using your skills to build a business that creates new opportunities.

Ashley Alderson, founder and CEO of The Boutique Hub and Boutique.Style, cancer survivor, motivational speaker, and host of Boutique Chat. Connect with Ashley on Instagram and LinkedIn.

This novel is about the leveraged buyout of RJR Nabisco for $25 billion in the 1980s. It showed me that with funding from financial institutions and investors, you can buy established, profitable companies without using any of your own money. This book inspired me to purchase multimillion-dollar businesses and help dozens of others do the same, which is what I do today. It teaches invaluable principles through storytelling, for example, that its all about building rapport with the seller. At the end of the day, business is about relationships.

Moran Pober, founder and CEO of Acquisitions.com, which buys and sells seven-figure businesses and helps others do the same, and former partner at WeKix and ABD Assets. Connect with Moran on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Want to share your insights in a future article? Join The Oracles, a mastermind group of the worlds leading entrepreneurs who share their success strategies to help others grow their businesses and build better lives. Apply here, and follow The Oracles on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

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Tony Hawk and 10 other entrepreneurs share the books that changed their lives - Business Insider

Many entrepreneurs make a point of following the emerging trends within their industries. If youre looking for something beyond traditional trade publications, there are a number of rich sources of information and discussions available, including industry-specific podcasts.

To help you learn about some of these resources, we asked a panel of Young Entrepreneur Council members the following question:

How I Built This with Guy Raz is one of the best podcasts for entrepreneurs. Each episode shares the story of a different entrepreneur and how they built their company. By listening to their stories, you can gain a lot of insight that can be helpful or inspiring in regards to your own business. Past guests on the show include the founders of companies like Shopify, Headspace, Yelp, and tons more. Thomas Griffin, OptinMonster

One podcast Ive been enjoying lately is Business Wars. It tells the stories of the biggest global brands from the perspective of the competition. I especially love that this show talks about both grand successes and massive failures. Its a great source of knowledge and inspiration for entrepreneurstotally recommended. Solomon Thimothy, OneIMS

I listen to a weekly podcast called Copyblogger FM. The show is hosted by Tim Stoddart and Darrell Vesterfelt, and focuses on turning average freelancers into extraordinary writers. I find that this podcast helps me find inspiration for our content strategy. I have used some of these strategies when working on our quarterly content marketing plan. Chris Christoff, MonsterInsights

Business Dailycompiles a roundup of all the latest and greatest business news around the globe. It keeps me informed about the worlds current events, as I like to know whats going on at all times in the industry and how I can apply new principles to my own company. Jared Atchison, WPForms

Joe Rogans podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, is not industry-specific, but he brings on a ton of people from across multiple industries that are at the top of their game. The insights can be incredible. Many times your best ideas come from outside of the industry, so dont be afraid to listen to and learn from people seemingly not connected with your industry, but who are also entrepreneurs. Andy Karuza, FenSens

Harvard Business Reviews HBR IdeaCastis great for business owners and entrepreneurs seeking advice and anecdotes on the subject. If youre looking for true insight into running or managing a business, this podcast is a great place to start as youll see various perspectives. Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms

Marketing Schoolis a podcast hosted by Eric Siu and Neil Patel. Both of these marketers are extremely talented and between them have enough knowledge to turn anyone into a successful marketerproviding you follow their advice. They have 10-minute chat sessions every day, and I feel like these small sessions help get me thinking and motivated for the day. John Turner, SeedProd LLC

Other Articles FromAllBusiness.com:

The Smart Passive Income Blog is a great podcast for entrepreneurs whose businesses are largely online. Its a helpful resource for developing niches, building habits, and building a passive income. One of its most helpful features is that it helps you to connect with other people. You can also participate in webinars and workshops, making it an interactive and hands-on resource base. Blair Williams, MemberPress

The focus of The Side Hustle Showis making money on the side, which is something many entrepreneurs need to do at first. It has great content for approaching side hustles in different industries. If you arent ready to set up a full-fledged business, then check out the other recommendations to do with freelancing and investing. Syed Balkhi, WPBeginner

I am a big fan of a number of the podcasts already mentioned on this list, but another one that I have been enjoying as of late is Rise and Grind. Its hosted by Daymond John, who interviews successful people in the business world. The discussions focus on the keys to their own success, as well as how theyve learned to be more efficient with their time. Its a good listen. Colbey Pfund, HUGS Wellness

Grant Cardone and the 10X Movement have really taken off in the self-discovery and entrepreneurship learning space. What he offers podcasts, seminars, retreats, books, and social media is beyond the competition. Cardone is so far ahead of his competition in terms of free content because the premise of 10X is to do 10 times the work and hold yourself accountable for being 10 times better. Matthew Capala, Alphametic

The Tropical MBA has been around for almost a decade and is a podcast for location-independent entrepreneurs. Whether youre location-dependent or not, there is a lot to learn from the hosts and guest; running a remote business can be difficult and often requires unconventional strategies and efficiency that traditional businesses can benefit massively from. Karl Kangur, Above House

John Danes created The No Excuses Show with the main objective of eliminating excuses and negativity in entrepreneurs. John interviews entrepreneurs and important business people who give advice and tips about their careers, which is very useful, by the way. Kevin Leyes, Team Leyes

RELATED:9 Must-Watch TED Talks That Will Make You a Better Entrepreneur

Read the rest here:

Check Out These Podcasts to Keep Up With the Latest Business and Industry Trends - AllBusiness.com

The FIDE Candidates Tournament was officially opened on Monday evening at theEkaterinburg Expo Congress Center in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The participants of the tournament did not attend, in order to avoid exposure to the more than a thousand attendees.

You can follow the FIDE Candidates Tournament with Chess.com commentary on Chess.com/TV during each round. The first round is on Tuesday, March 17 at 16:00 local time which is 12:00 Central Europe, 7 a.m. Eastern and 4 a.m. Pacific.You can follow the games live on our dedicated page on Chess.com/events. Find all the information about the Candidates Tournament in our info article.

Attended by over a thousand guests fearless of coronavirus contamination,the opening ceremony was hosted by the renowned Russian film actress Alena Babenko and sports commentator Viktor Gusev. Speakers included the governor of the Sverdlovsk region Evgeny Kuyvashev, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, and the 12th World Champion Anatoly Karpov.

The participants were not present at the opening of the tournament, which is one of the few sports events in the world that were not canceled due to the coronavirus this month. The topic that dominates the news couldn'tbe ignored on this evening either. Dvorkovich said:

"I would like to note that in terms of medical safety measures, the tournament organizing committee fully follows the recommendations of the World Health Organization, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Rospotrebnadzor [the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing - PD] and fulfills all the prescribed requirements."

Earlier, Chess.com reported that everyone involved in the tournamentplayers, seconds, arbiters, organizers, and officialsare being medically checked twice per day. On top of that, everyone was tested for the coronavirus upon arrival in the official hotel and will be tested again on day 10.

Another health and safety measure is that spectators won't be allowed in the playing hall, and all additional mass events such as side tournaments and simuls have been canceled. Those measures are difficult to rhyme with the big crowd that gathered at the opening ceremony.

The official part of the ceremony was followed by a concert by the famous Russian violist and conductor Yuri Bashmet and his "Moscow Soloists" Chamber Orchestra. The concert featured other renowned Russian classical music artists such as Bolshoi Theatre soloist Alina Yarovaya and opera singer Vasily Gerello. The music event also included a performance of the top stars of the Bolshoi Theatre.

Somewhat ironically, it was during the opening ceremony that phones of some attendees started buzzing as the Russian Ministry of Sports canceled all international sports competitions in Russia until further notice. A FIDE source soon confirmed that the Candidates Tournament is not affected by the measure.

Earlier in the day, a press conference for the local media was held at the Sverdlovsk Journalists' Union. The building is located along the Iset river, across the Hyatt Regency (the tournament venue) and a stone's throw away from the famousChurch of All Saints, built on the location where Tsar Nicholas II and his family were shot by the Bolsheviks in July 1918.

Dvorkovich and Karpov were prominent speakers at the press conference, and they were joined by one of the Russian participants, GM Kirill Alekseenko.

Dvorkovich pointed out that the tournament might get more exposure than in normal times: "This is a big event not just for the chess world but, possibly, for the whole sporting community since almost all international competitions have been canceled due to the spread of the coronavirus."

Wildcard Alekseenko put smiles on the faces of the media as he not onlyexpressed his gratitude for being invited, but also stated that he is playing the tournament to win it: "Only the first place gives a chance to challenge Magnus Carlsen."

The Candidates Tournament has a prize fund of 500,00 euros ($557.720,00). Eight players will fight for a chance to play World Champion Carlsen at the World Chess Championship later in the year.

You can play in Chess.com's Candidates Fantasy Contest during the tournament for your chance at a share of $5,000 and premium memberships. Draft your team now and follow the action live on ChessTV.

Read more:

FIDE Candidates Tournament Officially Opened In Absence Of Participants - Chess.com

IM Anna Rudolf

Kosteniuk at the 2020 Cairns Cup, Photo STL Chess Club

Looking for a Candidates Chess aftershow this weekend? We got you. On Saturday, March 21st, US Chess Women will continue our partnership with Alexandra Botez with an even bigger and better event to celebrate all the female chessplayers hanging out at home this week. The Isolated Queens Swiss starts at 1 PM ET on Saturday, and will feature over $2000 in prize money for participating streamers. The ten round Swiss will be played in 3 minute games (plus a two second increment.)

Confirmed players include two Grandmasters: Alexandra Kosteniukof Russia and Marie Sebag of France.Famous commentator, YouTuber and IM Anna Rudolf will also be playing. Many top American players will also be in the hunt, including US Womens ChampJennifer Yu, IMCarissa Yip, IMDorsa Derakhshani and WGM Tatev Abrahamyan.

IM Dorsa Derakhshani

IM-elect Carissa Yip

Popular streamers who are improving at chess by the day will also be in the mix, including Andrea Botez and Gold Dust Tori. There are class prizes for top Under 2000, Under 1800 and Under 1400 (chess.com blitz ratings.)

Jennifer Shahade and Alexandra Botez will host live commentary.

Alexandra Botez

For anyone interested in playing the event you have to join the BotezLive Female Players Club on chess.com. On Saturday go tohttps://www.chess.com/liveandlook for the event in the tournament tab. Make sure to click join! No late entries, so register before 1 PM EDT. Checkout the full rules on this google doc.

Details:

When: March 21, 1 PM ET, Saturday

Where: Stream ontwitch.tv/botezlive,play on chess.com

Prizes for streamers*

Top 3 finishers: 1) $700 2) $500 3) $300

Top finishers under 2200, under 1800, and under 1400*: $250

Donors: Ian Maprail Silverstone ($1000), Open Field Media ($500) and Kevin Wong ($250). Alexandra Botez has kicked in$500from previous donations to the prize fund.

Commentary: WGM Jen Shahade and WFM Alexandra Botez will be following the event and doing live coverage on twitch.tv/botezlive

Donations: 60% of on stream donations will go to US Chess Women Programs, while 40% will go to supporting future matches and events.

*Non-streamers also welcome to play, but the prizes are only for those streaming the event on twitch.

**Provisional ratings do not qualify for class prizes

*** You must be 13 or older to sign up for twitch. Minors can use chess.com or Twitch under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian.

Special thanks to Maprail, who sponsored this US Chess Women series since the beginning of the year and was also a major donor in our first Femme Fatale, devised by Chessbae. Speaking of which.Mark your calendars: March 28th we will be hosting a special fundraiser for Coronavirus Relief. This will take the place of our usual US Chess Women programming and will also be hosted on chess.com and Botez Live.

Take advantage of a new offer:using the code USWOMEN,youll receive 15% off any merchandise at US Chess Sales,including the US Chess Women hat Alexandra is wearing above.

Alexandras channel is attwitch.tv/botezlive.Find out more aboutAlexandra in our premiere Ladies Knight episodeand ina recent NBC articlewithvideo about the streaming boom.

Find out more about our Womens Programs atuschesswomen.organddonate here.

See the article here:

Isolated Queens: US Chess Women and Botez Live Host 2K Saturday Swiss - uschess.org

Indian number-two Vidit Gujrathi speaks to David Cox about his predictions for the Candidates, the impact coronavirus is having on the chess world, and his recent heartbreak at Februarys Prague Chess Festival.

A relative late bloomer in chess termsHe didnt even become a grandmaster until after turning 18, something almost unheard of at the elite level nowadays25-year-old Vidit Gujrathi has been one of the worlds most improved players in recent years.

A spell training with Anish Giri worked wonders for the Indian stars game and after breaking 2700 in September 2017, hes gone from strength to strength, establishing himself as a consistent performer just outside of the worlds elite.

He won the Biel Chess Festival in 2019, and while he threw away an almost certain tournament victory at last months Prague Masters with a disastrous couple of defeats in the final two rounds, he remains one to watch.

Vidit will be keenly monitoring the Candidates over the coming weeks. Like many professional players, his own tournament plans have been put on hold for the time being as the world tries to come to terms with the coronavirus pandemic which has swept across the planet over the past couple of months.

The interview was conducted via phone. Text may have been edited for clarity or length.

Chess.com: To start off with, who are you picking to win the Candidates?

Vidit Gujrathi: First of all, I wasnt sure that Candidates would begin! I thought theres a possibility it could be postponed until the situation normalizes because for the players it must not be easy. I saw Fabi struggling to even get there for two days and with so many things happening, it cant be a pleasant mindset to be in. I think health should be the top priority, but I just hope that now its happening, it all goes smoothly. Im sure everyone would prefer that this happened sometime later in the year when everything is settled. Theres no denying that.

But its kind of obvious that Caruana and Ding are like the favorites and in the past year or two, theyve had very stable results. I think that Wang Hao may have a good performance, but I dont see him winning the tournament. And neither do I see Alekseenko coming close. Hes good, but I feel many things have to be improved. If I have to pick one, Id pick Ding.

Many people seem to be feeling that its Dings time right now?

The top three players are very stableMagnus, Fabi, and Ding. With White, Ding almost always gets a good position, his conversion rate is good, and with Black, hes rarely in trouble. He has a pretty narrow repertoire with Black, but somehow its been working pretty well for him. Thats one thing Ill be looking forward towill he expand his openings in the Candidates, will he try something new?

Obviously this is the second Candidates for Anish. From Twitter it seems like the two of you are still good friends, can you tell us how you became close?

We had some training sessions, and that ended a few years ago, but still we stayed in touch, and we are good friends, because Im one of the few people that can take his jokes! Not taking it personally. I know him, and most of the time he doesnt mean it. He gets joy from creating a joke, thats what I feel. Its nothing personal or below the belt against anyone.

The entire sporting world has been disrupted of late by coronavirus, and many chess events have already been canceled. How has it affected you?

Its affecting the schedule, but to be honest, I dont mind the rest because the last year was quite hectic, and I had some health problems because of this lifestyle. So actually its very good that I get to rest, and Im actually looking forward to just being at home for two to three months and not playing. But looking at the big picture, its not nice for the game and the economy. Its really nothing to be excited about, but on the personal side, it just gives me a chance to rest which I wouldnt otherwise. So Im just going to use that time to recover myself.

So coronavirus has actually come at a good time for you!

I wouldnt say that! To use sanitizers ten times a day and not go out isnt great. Its a really strange feeling. Everywhere in the news, its just constantly that discussionhow many people have been affected. But on the chess side of things, Im not disappointed that I dont get to play for two to three months.

What health issues did you face last year?

I actually lost a lot of weight, around ten kilograms. It wasnt gradual, it was all of a sudden. I think doctors said that it was most likely lifestyle or stress related. Because every other week Im traveling, which is not really good with so many time differences and jetlag. I think thats the reason. Because for me, I dont really play in India. Mainly Im jumping from one flight to another. Probably my body didnt cope with it that well.

Lets talk about the last time you were in action, the Prague Festival last month. You seemed to be comfortably on the way to victory until round eight where you lost that dramatic game to David Navara, and then the final round loss to Jan-Krzysztof Duda allowed Alireza Firouzja to catch you. How do you feel looking back on the tournament?

I felt like I was playing really well, after a long time. There was a difference between me and the other players in the tournament in terms of the level. I felt that, with White, every game I had a big advantage at least. Id had a few good games before, but not this consistent level. So that made it even more heartbreaking to play so well, but then lose it in such a manner. If I look at the odds of this happening, I would have had to say they would be pretty slim. Pretty much everything had to go wrong.

Vidit's miniature against Firouzja was one of the most impressive games in the event. Notes by Peter Doggers.

The game with Navara was really tough. I sacrificed a piece early and completely dominated the game from start to almost the finish. I felt, "OK, Im winning; this is all done and dusted. Im champion." And then all of a sudden, I made some slight error, and I dropped a big chunk of my advantage. It was very frustrating, because it had been almost over, and I didnt want to settle for a draw. I was still a pawn up, but somehow I got carried away. Such things are very hard to explain, sometimes theres no rational way to explain it. It was very heartbreaking to lose from that position. Even if Id made a draw and lost the last round, Id still be champion in hindsight.

Recovering emotionally from a setback like that is extremely tough

Yeah, I never imagined that Id lose the game, you know. It was almost impossible, so it was a complete shock. But to be honest, in the last game against Duda, I just got a very bad position with Black straight from the opening. Even if I had beaten Navara, it might have gone the same way. It was a really hard two days for me emotionally, and by the time I got to the tiebreak with Firouzja, my mindset was just like, "I dont care," which is not really a healthy attitude to have going into a tiebreak, but Id already played for five hours that day, lost, and now I have to play a tiebreak straight after losing two tough games. At that point, I stopped caring. I was just thinking, "This is not how it should have been."

Was it hard to put the disappointment behind you after the tournament finished?

With me, usually after the game is the moment where the emotions are running extremely high, and I feel really bad. But then a few days pass, and I dont feel the pain so much. With Prague, afterwards it was ok. Youre able to see the grand scheme of things; its only one tournament and one bad game. If I keep crying about it, theres really no point! I try and analyze the situation, take my lessons, and just move on. Ideally, that should have happened immediately after the round-eight game, but you know, Im human.

Let's speak about some of the challenges youve faced in your life and career. You were a fairly late bloomer in elite chess terms, getting the grandmaster title when you were 18. Did you have to overcome any particular hurdles to achieve that?

When I was very young, it was not easy for me to travel to Europe and play events to get grandmaster norms because it involved a lot of financial expenditure. I got all my GM norms in India, which is not easy because there are so many underrated players. I see many foreigners coming here and losing tons of rating points. There are 1800s or 2100s, who on their good days will play really well. So, while I crossed 2500, at 14 or 15, it took me a while to get the norms which frustrated me. It would have been easier in Europe, but I couldnt afford to make those trips at the time.

I know you continued your studies and even got your university degree. Being the son of two doctors, did your parents ever expect you to pursue a different career? Where does professional chess player rank as a career choice in the eyes of Indian parents?

Its true; its very common for doctors kids to become doctors. But I used to see them getting calls at 2 a.m. and then rushing to the hospital to attend the patients, and I decided this is not for me. Id rather get my nine hours of sleep and then play a game at 3 p.m.!

There is stress and all, but when I compare it to many other professions, the routine is kind of relaxed for chess if you dont play too many events.

Theres so many good Indian players at all levels of the game. How difficult was it to stand out and establish yourself amid the competition?

I mean, there was always a healthy competition, and that kind of pushes you in a way because you know that someone is breathing at your neck, so you have to keep running and keep improving. In a way it motivates you, but serious competition also has its downsides. I was not sure about my strength until I crossed 2700. That gave me some relief because it was a big barrier for me, and until then, I had similar ratings to many of my colleagues. After that, theres always a big competition coming up. But for me, it motivates me if theres someone ready to take my spot.

Now, there are less than 30 rating points separating you and the legend that is Vishy Anand, who been Indian number-one for so many years. How much of a motivation is it for you to surpass him as your countrys leading player?

Its not that I think of it all the time. I know that if I play well, it will happen on its own, so its kind of pointless to focus on. I just want to improve my game. It will happen sooner or later if I do the right things. If I keep playing as I did in Prague until round seven, it will happen!

The biggest difference it would make, rather than me feeling great about it, would be to help me get sponsorship. Because Vishy is a legend, hes been Indian number-one for countless years, and to pass him would be a big deal for people who are interested in the game. And then I could invest that in my career.

Finally, give us a sense of the Vidit away from the board. What hobbies do you have to take your mind off chess?

I like to play sports, like any kind of game. Ive not played football and tennis that much, but I like to play basketball, swimmingcricket in India is a big thing of course. All these sports I love. I also love reading; I always have my Kindle with me. Not just chess literature but any other literature. I wouldnt be bored if you gave me my Kindle and locked me in a room for a week on the condition that there were not only chess books. I would get bored if that was the case!

So if you have to self-quarantine in the next couple of months, it wont be too bad for you!

Haha, certain conditions apply with that!

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Vidit Gujrathi Interview: I was expecting the Candidates to be postponed - Chess.com

With events cancelled around the world due to coronavirus, what else is there for the sports-starved fan to do but turn to arguably the world's most challenginggame for the mind: chess.

The 2020 Candidates Tournament, one of the biggest events in the game's calendar, kicked off in Russia this week with an unexpected flurry of interest.

As one of the only international competitions still taking place, a peak of one million people in China alone tuned into coverage of the first day, world governing body FIDE said yesterday.

Meanwhile, the online broadcasterchess24.com, which providesmove-by-move commentary in Englishto a more Western audience, reported a 500 per centspike in viewers.

The tournament began on Monday in a luxury hotel in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg - despite Russia suspending all basketball, football and ice hockey fixtures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

It sees eight players compete for 500,000 euros (460,000) and the chance to face off against the current king of chess Magnus Carlsen, who has reigned as world champion since 2013.

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, Russia's former deputy prime minister, said: "This is a big event not just for the chess world but, possibly, for the whole sporting community since almost all international competitions have been canceled due to the spread of the coronavirus."

Sebastian Kuhnert, the CEO ofchess24, added: "With so many people at home and in the absence of other sports, we have seen an unprecedented level of interest in our coverage of the Candidates Tournament which is essentially a World Championship qualification event in the chess world and the second-most important chess event this year."

However, the Candidates tournament has not been entirely untouched by the pandemic. Chinese hope Ding Liren was quarantined for two weeks beforehand while the US number one Fabiano Caruana had his flight cancelled and had to reschedule.

FIDE has banned live spectators to limit the risks linked to the pandemic and announced it is testing all players and staff. Chess players in big matches also traditionally shake hands with a special guest who is given the honour of making the ceremonial first move.

But when chess legend Anatoly Karpov offered his hand in front of the cameras to fellow countryman Ian Nepomniachtchi, he awkwardly pulled back.

See more here:

With most sport off the table due to coronavirus, fans turn to chess - Telegraph.co.uk

Baseballs malfeasance sign-stealing or otherwise has nothing on chess. At prestigious live tournaments and among thousands of others playing daily online, cheating is a scourge. Whether its a secret buzzer planted in a shoe, a smartphone smuggled into the bathroom, a particular flavor of yogurt delivered at a key moment or just online players using computerized chess programs chess has perhaps more cheating than any other game in the world.

In both chess and baseball, both real and rumored instances of cheating have been around for decades, but an explosion in technology and data over the past 10 to 15 years has made the problem much harder to curb for both. In chess, players at live tournaments are now required to leave their phones behind and pass through metal detectors before entering the playing area. Some have even been asked to remove clothing and been searched. And some tournaments now put players behind one-way mirrors to limit visual communication.

Many chess players still try. Just last year, a grandmaster named Igors Rausis was caught examining a smartphone in a bathroom stall at a tournament in France. In 2015, Gaioz Nigalidze of Georgia was barred for three years by FIDE, chesss global governing body, and had his grandmaster status revoked for the same offense. In 2013, Borislav Ivanov, a young player from Bulgaria, was essentially forced into retirement after he refused to take off his shoes to be searched for an electronic device that might be used to transmit signals to him. A device was never found Ivanov reportedly refused to remove his shoes because, he claimed, his socks were too smelly but he retired shortly after the tournament.

FIDEs anti-cheating commission has recently stepped up its efforts to combat the problem. The group met last month and resolved to give financial support to national federations that need it to help them root out cheating, and will share detection techniques with online chess platforms. They are currently investigating 20 cases.

The cheaters have been winning for a long time, Arkady Dvorkovich, the president of FIDE, said in a telephone interview from Moscow. But in the last few months we showed our determination to fight it and I think people realize it is serious.

Read the full article by David Waldstein published Published March 15, 2020 in the NYT.

After reading David Waldsteins article, if you are up to more, you can peruse some of the articles we published on the subject in the past years. Yes, we have been following it closely.

Cheating in chess: the problem won't go away 3/30/2011 As you know the recent suspicion of organized cheating during a Chess Olympiad has led to three French players being suspended. One is currently playing in the European Individual Championship, where his colleagues have published an open letter demanding additional security. For years we have been proposing a remedy for this very serious problem. It needs to be implemented now.

Anti-cheating: the fifteen minute broadcast delay 5/13/2011 For five years we have been trying to get FIDE to implement a 15-minute delay in the Internet broadcast of important games to make organised cheating harder. A chess journalist has now pointed out a fatal flaw in the plan: it would force chess journalists to walk many yards to find out the current status of the games. Damn and we thought it was such a good idea! What is your opinion?

Anti-cheating: the fifteen minute debate continues 6/29/2011 Our recent reply to stern criticism leveled against us in the Dutch magazine New in Chess resulted, unsurprisingly, in a large number of letters from our readers, many quite effusive. But we decided not to publish any until at least one turned up supporting the views of our NiC critic. Six weeks went by until it at last came, authored by the critic himself. Now we can publish your letters.

Cheating suspicion at the Zadar Open in Croatia 1/4/2013 In this event, with 16 GMs and a host of other strong players, one participant stood out especially: the 25-year-old untitled Bulgarian Borislav Ivanov scored 6.0/9 points, with a rating performance of 2697. In the January FIDE list Ivanov has gained 115 points over his previous 2277 rating, gained in over 400 games over three years. A certain suspicion once again raises its ugly head.

Cheating scandal Borislav Ivanov speaks out 1/17/2013 Recently a 25-year-old untitled Bulgarian player scored 6.0/9 points in a strong GM tournament, with a 2697 performance. His opponents complained, he was searched, and no electronic equipment was found. Still, the case put chess on the front pages of the mainstream media, and led to intense discussions on the Internet. Now Ivanov has given the Russian news portal WhyChess an exclusive interview.

The shoe assistant Ivanov forfeits at Blagoevgrad 10/3/2013 Everyone has heard about Borislav Ivanov, a lowly FM from Bulgaria, who since late 2012 has wowed the chess world with super-GM performances. Ivanov was suspected of computer cheating, and forty GMs are boycotting tournaments in which he plays. GM Max Dlugy is not one of them, but he insisted on a thorough check of his opponent before their game. You'll never believe what happened next.

Ivanov ends his chess career 10/5/2013 On Thursday we reported that FM Borislav Ivanov had forfeited his round seven game after he refused to take off his shoes and allow the arbiter to check for hidden devices. His opponent in that round, GM Maxim Dlugy, provided all the details. Ivanov was permitted to continue in rounds eight and nine, but now has announced that he will retire from chess, as the Bulgarian new outlet Blitz reports.

Yet another case of cheating in chess 5/1/2015 When a young 1500-player grinds down a grandmaster rated 900 points above him, people jump to the conclusion that he must have had computer assistance. But the evidence is usually circumstantial and based on logical deduction. "These are just speculative accusations," readers tend to say. "Do you have any real proof?" In the latest case the answer is: yes we do!

Tkachiev: How I became a cheater in chess 5/13/2015 Grandmaster Vladislav Tkachiev is a flamboyant character. His most recent escapade: to test how easy it is to cheat in chess. He spent an hour and a half researching the subject, $30 to rent some equipment and a hidden conspirator to wirelessly send him key moves. That was enough to thoroughly trash a colleague of similar strength. Tkachiev had it all recorded on video.

New case of cheating in chess? 4/26/2016 We use a question mark because the evidence presented by IM Valeri Lilov is circumstantial no actual pictures of hidden devices or anything. But we cannot forget that Lilov has previously unmasked a notorious cheat in a similar way a player who has received a life-long ban from tournaments. You can view the evidence presented by Lilov in a 37-minute video and then tell us what you think.

Famous chess player arrested in Bulgaria 3/22/2017 He gained fame a few years ago, by playing in GM tournaments and crushing players many categories above him with flawless tactical play. Then Borislav Ivanov, who has been the subject of at least a dozen articles here, was disqualified and suspended for not allowing the organisers to check his shoes for electronic signaling devices. That finally ended his chess career. Now Ivanov is in the news again, this time for selling counterfeit drivers licenses. He faces eight years in prison.

"If a player is determined to cheat, it will happen" 10/20/2018 In the United States, there are many weekend tournaments, thanks to the efforts of many independent tournament organizers nationwide. Some of these tournaments provide significant prize money, over USD $12,000, and the chance to play against strong master level players. Georgia-based DAVIDE NASTASIO recently spoke to one such veteran organizer, Walter High, and sent this brief interview along with annotated games from the North Carolina Open.

58-year-old GM Igors Rausis accused of cheating 7/12/2019 Every once in a while we hear a story of a chess player who surpasses the established norms and achieves truly something special. At that point a thought does cross almost every chess fan's mind: Is he for real? This is the case of 58-year-old GM Igors Rausis who saw a phenomenal surge in his rating that brought him as high as 2686, gaining over 50 Elo points in the last year alone. For a player of his age, Rausis' performance was closely scrutinized. Was it just his beating many lower rated players honestly? On July 11th, suspicions of something more nefarious finally gained gravity in the Strasbourg Open in France where he stands accused of cheating with his mobile phone inside a toilet!

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New York Times on cheating - Chessbase News

The premier events on the US Chess calendar will be held later in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns; Hall of Fame events also affected.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic, the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) against gatherings of 50 people or more, and local Saint Louis protocols, the US Chess Federation and tournament organizer the Saint Louis Chess Club jointly announce that the 2020 U.S. Championship and U.S. Womens Championship are postponed until later in the year. The events were originally scheduled for April 9-23.

Above all, both organizations are most concerned with the health and well-being of the participants, spectators, and staff. Following the recommendations of authoritative sources such as the CDC is the best way for us to protect all. While this will be disappointing to many in the chess world, we are confident that this decision is appropriate in these extraordinary circumstances.

Also affected by this postponement are the 2020 induction ceremonies for the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame and the World Chess Hall of Fame. These will take place in conjunction with the U.S. Championship/U.S. Womens Championship opening ceremony when that is rescheduled. Further details on the new event dates for the championships and the halls of fame will be provided later.

Please visit uschess.org, uschesschamps.com, and worldchesshof.org for up-to-date information. Your patience during this rapidly evolving process is appreciated.

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US Championship and US Women's Championship are Postponed - uschess.org

Bury St Edmunds Chess Club has moved it's weekly club meetings to the virtual world, with online internal club games planned for the coming weeks.

Members of the club have been encouraged to log into Chess.com from 7.30pm on Thursdays and join Bury St Edmunds' online club so that matches can be arranged.

Like most sports, chess has seen league fixtures and tournaments cancelled or suspended, with club meetings at Moreton Hall Community Centre called off and no clear time frame on when they may resume.

The proposed online matches between club members allow internal friendly matches and tournaments to be played, but are more limited in terms of allowing competitive league fixtures to be played.

This is because computer software exists which can play perfect chess, which is why players must not have their mobile phones out during face to face competitive fixtures.

For reasons of tournament integrity, it seems unlikely, but not impossible, that online matches can replace the remaining competitive fixtures.

The season is currently suspended just a handful of games away from its conclusion and online chess is currently only planned to replace friendly games.

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Virtual chess boards save the day for Bury St Edmunds Chess Club - Bury Free Press