3

A LOT of us will be trying to social distance at the moment but that doesn't mean we can't connect with friends virtually.

Facebook Messenger has lots of games you can play remotely and we've rounded up a few of them below.

3

You'll need to make sure you and the people you want to play with are using the latest version of the Facebook Messenger app.

If not simply update in the Google Play or App Store.

Next you'll need to launch the Messenger App and open the chat with the friend you want to play against.

3

Click the game controller icon, which should be located down near the camera icon.

Alternatively, tap the "More" button in the toolbar, and then click the controller icon.

Once here you can select a game.

Then send your friend a request to start playing.

Facebook has a number of games on offer.

Here's some of the games you could be playing:

There are certain messages you can send that unlock hidden games.

Send a basketball emoji then tap it to unlock a game.

Or send a football emoji to unlock a keepy-uppy mini game.

You can also type "@FacebookChess" to launch a chess challenge.

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Facebook Messenger games you can play with pals including Space Invaders, chess and Words With Friends - The Irish Sun

The eight-man world championship Candidates has begun this week in Ekaterinburg, Russia, amid controversy over whether it should have been postponed and doubts as to whether it will survive the virus until its planned finish on April 4.

Three Russians, two Chinese, and one each from the US, Netherlands and France are competing in the 500,000 event for the right to meet Norways Magnus Carlsen for the global crown at Dubai in December.

Even before a pawn was pushed, Azerbaijans Teimour Radjabov withdrew after his request for a postponement was refused. Chinas world No3 Ding Liren arrived two weeks early for the mandatory quarantine, while his compatriot Wang Hao came from Japan but arrived without his aides due to quarantine and visa problems.

Wang Hao had also wanted a postponement, so was not in the best mental state for the first round, when the rules stipulate that compatriots should play each other. But contrary to expectations, Ding mishandled the white pieces and was convincingly beaten, a big blow to his chances even though there are still 13 rounds to go.

The games are free and live to watch online daily with move by move grandmaster and computer commentary, starting 11am GMT.

Fabiano Caruana, the US world No2 and Candidates favourite, has made a good start with a draw with Black against Frances Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and a convincing round two win against the Russian wild card Kirill Alekseenko.

2359

White (to move) is threatened with instant mate by Qh2 or Qh1. How does he turn the tables and win? This ancient puzzle is from the 1745 book The Noble Game of Chess, whose author Philipp Stamma liked victories from seemingly hopeless positions.

Click here for solution

Original post:

Chess: controversial world Candidates starts in Ekaterinburg but will it finish? - Financial Times

[Event "FIDE Candidates Tournament"] [Date "2020.03.22"] [Round "5.4"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Wang, Hao"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2774"] [BlackElo "2762"] [Annotator "Aagaard"] [PlyCount "85"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Russia"] [BlackTeam "China"] [WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"] [BlackTeamCountry "CHN"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bf5 {This is the current trend in the Petroff.} 7. O-O Be7 8. Re1 O-O 9. Nbd2 Nd6 10. Nf1 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 c6 {[#] Black has achieved a solidity in a symmetrical structure. But his development is a bit behind and White is more active. White will continue to apply pressure and it will then be up to Black at some point to play a few good moves in order to equalise. In short, both players were heading here and knew what they were heading for. It is quite common that players want to apply pressure with White and are OK trying to neutralise it with Black.} 12. Bf4 Na6 {Almost everything has been played here. Nepomniachtchi plays an obvious novelty, recommended by Stockfish.} 13. h4 $5 $146 {A generally sensible move.} Nc7 ({Black’s other natural move} 13... Ne4 {is met with a nice refutation:} 14. Ng3 $1 f5 {Without this move it makes no sense to play …Ne4.} 15. Qb3 $1 Qb6 16. c3 {White has a nice advantage. He will continue with Ne2, h5, Ne5 with a nice advantage. There are several reasons why White is better. Most obviously that he will be able to play f3, while Black cannot repair the damage done to the e5-square.}) 14. Ng5 $1 {[#] The key idea. Black will have to make a concession of some sort.} Bxg5 ({The real alternative was} 14... g6 15. Ne3 h6 16. Nf3 h5 17. Re2 $14) (14... f5 $6 {looks bad, on account of} 15. Qg3 $1 {, when White has managed to create tactical threats already.} Rf6 16. Re2 {leads to a big advantage for White. You can easily see things go wrong for Black tactically. There are too many threats.} h6 $6 17. Rae1 $1 hxg5 $2 ( 17... Bf8 18. Nf3) 18. hxg5 Ne4 {[#]} 19. gxf6 $5 {This queen sacrifice is not necessary, but it is very compelling.} ({The simpler} 19. Rxe4 {just wins a piece.}) 19... Nxg3 20. Rxe7 Nxf1 21. Rxg7+ Kh8 {[#]} 22. Ree7 {Threatening mate in three.} Ne8 23. Rh7+ Kg8 24. f7+ Kxh7 25. f8=Q+ {With mate looming.}) 15. Bxg5 f6 {The necessary concession.} 16. Bf4 Qd7 {This is a typical scenario in the plus equal mode. White has to work out how he can improve his position and keep up the pressure. The worst placed pieces are the a1-rook and the f1-knight. As Black is planning to play …Rae8 and exchange rooks, there is little point to playing Re2. So White needs to bring the knight to f5. But which path it takes is not obvious.} {[#]} 17. Ng3 $6 {An incurracy of no importance to the course of the game, but it did offer Black a chance to equalise immediately.} ({The correct path for the knight to f5, was} 17. Ne3 $1 {, when Black should play 17…Rae8, transposing to the game, as} g6 $6 { does not work here.} ({And} 17... Ne4 $2 {would leave Black under pressure after} 18. f3 Ne6 19. Bh2 Nd6 20. Re2 $16) 18. h5 {and after} Kg7 {or} (18... Kf7 {White has} 19. Ng4 $1 {, when the Black position is crumbling.})) 17... Rae8 $6 {Allowing White to occupy the f5-square with the knight.} ({Black here had a chance to reduce the pressure with} 17... g6 $1 18. h5 Kf7 {. White has no serious way to apply real pressure here. As we shall see, Black has a number of chances to defend in this game, but the failure to take the easy ones, means that he will later have to defend difficult positions.}) 18. Bxd6 Qxd6 19. Nf5 Qd7 20. Qh3 {Threatening Nh6+, gaining an important tempo to make it possible to apply pressure. [#]} Kh8 $1 {The only move. Nepomniachtchi said he remembered his preparation to around here.} (20... Re6 {could be considered. Black is intending to play …g6 or …Rfe8.} 21. h5 $1 g6 {Without this, nothing makes sense.} (21... Rfe8 {also} 22. Re3 $1 {does not allow Black to relieve the pressure.}) 22. hxg6 hxg6 {[#] Black is threatening to take the knight and retreat would relieve the pressure. White has to find a way to increase the pressure.} 23. Re3 $3 Qh7 (23... gxf5 24. Rg3+ Kf7 25. Qh5+ Ke7 26. Rg7+ {wins the queen.}) 24. Rg3 Rfe8 (24... Qxh3 {is met with an intermediate move.} 25. Rxg6+) 25. Rf1 $1 Re1 26. Nd6 Qxh3 27. gxh3 $16 { Black is under serious pressure with two pawns currently hanging.}) ({Black had another option.} 20... Ne6 $2 {, which is unpleasant for Black after} 21. h5 g6 22. Nh4 $1 $14 {Putting pressure on the weak squares g6. The best move is to take on h5, but this has clearly gone wrong.} Kf7 $6 {is the critical move. [#] Here the strongest move is:} 23. f4 $1 {One of the most important attacking techniques is to bring more wood to the fire whenever you can. Black now has to play the very sad} (23. Re3 Qd6 24. Rae1 Ng5 {holds, althogh Black is still under some pressure.}) 23... gxh5 {, when after} 24. Re3 {Black is unlikely to resist the pressure.}) 21. h5 $1 {Keeping up the pressure and preventing …g6.} Rxe1+ 22. Rxe1 Re8 {[#]} 23. Rxe8+ {This move seems entirely natural, but a deeper investigation of the position reveals that both kings are currently out of the game and that both players should have aimed at improving them.} ({Strongest was therefore} 23. Kf1 $1 {, when after} Rxe1+ 24. Kxe1 Ne8 25. Kd2 {White has a serious advantage. Against 25…Qf7 White has 26. Qh2! and after} Qe6 26. b3 $5 Qe4 27. f3 Qf4+ {[#]} 28. Kd3 {White is threatening h6 and also Ne3 followed by an invasion of the white queen.} Qc7 { is therefore forced, after which} 29. Ne3 $16 {White is ready to increase the pressure. Next comes Qe6 or Qc8.}) 23... Nxe8 24. g4 $2 {This move looks entirely natural, but the logic has not changed since the previous move. White is better after} (24. Kf1 $1 Qe6 (24... Nc7 {does not work. White has} 25. Qa3 $1 Kg8 26. Qxa7 $1 {and White is on his way towards the full point, although there is a lot of play left.}) (24... a5 $5 {is possible though.}) {[#] White has a number of decent moves here. I quite like} 25. b3 {, just slowly improving the position. White has a real advantage, but it is not clear to me how serious this advantage is. A key point is that the counterplay does not work for Black.} Qe4 $6 26. Ne3 $1 Qxd4 (26... Qe7 27. Qc8 $16 {is very unpleasant.}) 27. Qd7 Qa1+ (27... Qe5 28. Qxb7 {gives White a winning advantage. Black has too many weaknesses.}) 28. Ke2 Qe5 {[#]} {White will first remove the counterplay, then start picking out the weak pawns one by one. } 29. f4 $1 Qe4 30. c3 $1 h6 31. Qxb7 Qxf4 32. Qxc6 Nc7 33. Qd7 {White has a winning advantage. Long term he will advance the pawns on the queenside.}) (24. Qa3 {is premature. After} Kg8 {Black is OK.}) {[#]} 24... a6 $2 ({In the same way Wang Hao fails to equalise.} 24... Kg8 $1 {improves the worst placed piece. The king, which is not only not contributing, but also in risk for his life in the corner.} 25. Qh2 (25. g5 Qf7 {is not dangerous. More about this below.}) 25... g6 $1 {Black is able to push back the knight and thereby equalise.} 26. hxg6 hxg6 27. Ne3 Qc7 28. Qh6 Qg7 {and it is easy to see a possible draw by repetition arising.}) (24... Qe6 25. Qa3 {would however be good for White.}) 25. b3 $6 ({Nepomniachtchi explained after the game that he played too rashly here, missing the necessity for playing} 25. Kf1 $1 {. The key idea is that 25. ..Kg8 has been prevented. After 26.g5! the Black king is forced back into the corner, which is hardly ideal. The tactical point to justify 25.Kf1 was 26… Qf7? 27.g6!, when the pawn cannot be taken with check, meaning White wins.} Qe6 {is therefore better. After} 26. Qh2 Kg8 27. Qb8 g6 28. hxg6 hxg6 29. Nh4 Qf7 30. Ng2 {White retains just a little bit of pressure.}) 25... Qe6 (25... Kg8 $1 {would have equalised. After} 26. g5 Qf7 $1 {[#] White no longer has g5-g6, as the pawn would be taken with check. Instead White would probably try} 27. f4 { , but after} Kf8 {Black is fully OK.}) 26. Ne3 Nd6 $6 ({Both Nepomniachtchi thought that White would be better after} 26... h6 {. Nepomniachtchi had considered playing 27.Qg3 Nd6 28.Qf4 with a slight pressure. Wang Hao had considered the following variation:} 27. Nf5 Qe1+ {This was Wang’s idea.} ( 27... Nd6 $5 28. Qe3 Qd7 $1 {was also possible. After} 29. Qe7 Qxe7 30. Nxe7 Nb5 31. Nf5 Na3 32. c3 {Stockfish says that Black draws with any which move, but in reality he will have to play a good deal of decent moves to do so.}) 28. Kg2 Qe4+ 29. Qf3 Qxc2 30. Qe3 Qe4+ $1 31. Qxe4 dxe4 {[#] But he felt that the endgame was risky. It is, but Black can hold a draw with extremely accurate play.} 32. Kg3 Nc7 33. Nd6 b6 34. Kf4 Nd5+ 35. Kf5 $1 e3 36. fxe3 Nxe3+ 37. Ke6 Nxg4 38. Nf5 Kh7 39. a4 (39. Ne7 f5 $1 40. Nxf5 Nf6 41. Ng3 b5 42. Kd6 g6 { gives Black enough counterplay on the kingside.}) 39... g6 40. Nh4 $1 {Keeping the Black king out of the game.} gxh5 41. Kd6 {[#] White’s position looks very dangerous. For example 41…c5 42.a5! with a breakthrough.} Ne5 $3 {This piece sacrifice saves the day.} 42. dxe5 (42. Kc7 b5 43. Kb6 bxa4 44. bxa4 Nd3 45. Kxa6 c5 {with a draw is another line.}) 42... fxe5 43. Kxe5 Kg7 {Black draws. If the white king eliminates the kingside, Black will eliminate the queenside.} ) ({Although this draws, it is a very straight and narrow path. Much better is for this reason} 26... Kg8 $1 27. h6 g6 {with a decent position, based on} 28. Qg3 Qd6 $1 {and Black is fine.}) 27. h6 $1 {This leads to an advantage quite similar to the games by AlphaZero and later Magnus Carlsen. The latters coach, Peter Heine Nielsen wrote a nice article about the strategy behind this idea in the latest New in Chess magazine. Yesterday Caruana used the same idea of advancing the h-pawn against Nepomniachtchi and missed a chance to win the game at an opportune moment.} g6 28. c4 {[#]} dxc4 ({If you look at the computer evaluation, you may think that} 28... Kg8 29. cxd5 cxd5 30. Qf3 Ne4 31. Qf4 Qd6 32. Qxd6 Nxd6 33. Nxd5 Kf7 {equalises. Well, you are both right and wrong. White’s best try is probably} 34. Kg2 $1 {, with ideas such as} Nb5 35. Kf3 Nxd4+ (35... Ke6 $2 {does not work here because of} 36. Nf4+ {, but it can be played on the previous move.}) 36. Ke4 Nc6 37. f4 Ke6 38. f5+ gxf5+ 39. gxf5+ Kf7 {This knight ending is a draw, but Black still have to play some accurate moves to prove it.}) 29. bxc4 Kg8 $6 (29... Nxc4 $2 {would lose directly to} 30. Nxc4 Qxc4 31. Qh2 $1 {, where the queen plans to penetrate the black position, while keeping the defence of the h6-pawn up.} Kg8 {The only move.} (31... Qg8 32. Qd6 $1 {leads to a direct mate.}) 32. Qb8+ Kf7 33. Qxb7+ Ke6 34. Qxh7 Qxd4 35. Qxg6 {and White wins.}) ({The best way to neutralise the pressure was} 29... Nf7 $1 {. The knight is ready to deal with the main problem in Black’s position, which is the strong h6-pawn. If White plays Qh2, Black has …Qd6 with full equality. Thus the most dangerous option is} 30. c5 $5 {, where Black is entirely OK in many ways. The most direct is} Qxa2 31. Qh2 Qa1+ 32. Kg2 Qxd4 33. Qb8+ Qd8 34. Qxb7 Qe8 {and White has no advantage at all.}) 30. Qh2 $1 Kf7 31. c5 Nb5 ({Black also had a fantastic active defence with} 31... Ne4 $5 32. Qb8 (32. Qf4 Ke7 $1 33. a4 Kd7 {also holds. Apparently.}) {[#]} 32... Qxa2 $3 {This is a bit surprising. But White cannot defend f2 conveniently after he pics up the h7-pawn with check.} 33. Qxb7+ Kf8 34. Qg7+ Ke8 35. Qh8+ Ke7 36. Qxh7+ Kd8 37. Qh8+ Kc7 38. Qg7+ Kd8 39. Nd1 Qe2 40. Qxg6 Qxd1+ 41. Kg2 Qxd4 {and Black survives because of the counterattack against f2.}) 32. Qb8 {Black has plenty of problems left to solve. The fact that they can be solved is of much less importance. In the game Wang Hao tried his best and failed.} Qd7 $2 {Finally the pressure leads to a decisive mistake. Black had two ways of saving the game, but both required some accuracy and understanding. Spending the last five minutes of his time, Wang Hao was not able to see in which direction he had to go.} ({ Black had another computer defence after} 32... Nxd4 $5 33. Qxb7+ (33. Qh8 { leaves Black with two defences. The smartass one has a very important illustrative point that I saw in another game yesterday, where it really was the only option available to hold the game.} Ke7 $3 ({The human defence is obviously} 33... Nf3+ 34. Kg2 Ng5 {, defending the h-pawn, whereafter} 35. Qg7+ Ke8 36. Qxb7 Qe4+ {it is not surprising that Black makes the draw with a combination of counterplay and perpetual check.}) 34. Qxh7+ Qf7 35. Qh8 Qf8 { Black draws.}) 33... Qe7 34. Qxa6 Qe4 $3 {Nepomniachtichi was a true professional, telling the journalists exactly what he was thinking, holding nothing bad.} (34... Qxc5 35. a4 {is unpleasant for Black, although} f5 $1 { still offers him counterplay.} 36. a5 fxg4 37. Qb7+ Ke6 38. a6 g3 $1 {Black has enough counterplay, even though White can still create problems for him.}) 35. Qb7+ Ke6 36. Qxh7 {Nepomniachtchi believed that there was no way Black could deliver a perpetual with the knight on e3 defending everything. But actually, there are several ways for Black to create the necessary counterplay. …Qb1+ and …Ne2. 36…Nf3+ 37.Kf1 Nd4 and finally} Ne2+ 37. Kf1 {and the knight can retract to threaten …Qh1 mate. But nicest is} Ng3+ $1 38. fxg3 Qf3+ {with a draw.}) ({The more human attempt was} 32... Qe7 {, where White could still create problems for his opponent.} 33. Nc4 (33. Qh8 Ke6 34. Nc2 $1 {is dangerous for Black, but accurate defence hold.} Nc3 35. Qg8+ Kd7 $1 (35... Qf7 $2 36. d5+ $1 Nxd5 (36... cxd5 37. Nd4+ Ke7 38. Qc8 $18) 37. Nd4+ Ke7 38. Qb8 Qe8 39. Qxb7+ Qd7 40. Nxc6+ Ke8 41. Qa8+ Kf7 42. Kh1 {where White is close to winning, as Black cannot play} Qxg4 {on account of} 43. Nd8+ {and 44.Qxd5.}) 36. Qb3 Nb5 37. a4 Nc7 38. Ne3 f5 $1 39. Qg8 f4 40. Nc4 Qe1+ 41. Kg2 {[#]} f3+ $1 {Black survives by perpetual check.} 42. Kxf3 Qd1+ 43. Ke4 Qxg4+ 44. Kd3 Qf5+ 45. Ke2 Qg4+ 46. Ke3 Qg5+ $11) 33... Qe1+ 34. Kg2 Qe4+ 35. Kh2 {looks bad for Black, but after} Qf3 $1 {Black has enough counterplay to ensure the draw.} ) 33. Qh8 $1 Ke6 34. f4 $1 Nxd4 (34... Qxd4 35. Qe8#) (34... Qe7 35. f5+ Kd7 36. Kf2 $1 {leaves Black utterly lost. The main threat is 37.hxg6 fxg6 38.Qg7! and the h-pawn queens. And if Black plays 36…g5, he will face down the secondary threat 37.Nc4! when it is at least checkmate.} {So he has to play} gxf5 {, when after} 37. Nxf5 Qf7 38. a4 {Black’s position is disintegrating. He cannot allow the knight to land on d6. It will hurt too much.}) 35. Qg8+ Qf7 (35... Ke7 36. Qxh7+ {and the h-pawn queens.}) 36. Qc8+ Qd7 (36... Ke7 37. Qxb7+ Kf8 38. Qb8+ Qe8 39. Qd6+ {and White picks up the knight.}) 37. Qg8+ ({ At first Nepomniachtchi believed that he was winning after} 37. f5+ gxf5 38. gxf5+ Ke7 39. Qh8 {, but then realised that Black can defend the pawn with} Nf3+ $1 40. Kf2 Ng5 {and Black is not worse at all.}) 37... Qf7 {[#]} 38. Qd8 $1 {Wang Hao had missed this move. With the threat of mate on d6, Black has no options left.} Qd7 (38... Nb5 39. a4 {also wins a piece.}) 39. f5+ gxf5 40. gxf5+ Nxf5 41. Qxd7+ Kxd7 42. Nxf5 Ke6 43. Ne3 1-0

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Aagaard on the Candidates: Round 5 - uschess.org

Like most of us, young Americans face the prospect of being physically detached for a long time.

A young chef is honing his online chess game. A copywriter is meditating to battle isolation anxiety. And many are spending even more time on social media to stay connected.

American millennials, young adults in their 20s and 30s, who are under "shelter-at-home" orders in major cities from New York to California are facing the prospect of being physically detached, but this generation is the one most prepared for the long lonely slog, experts said.

"They are the core group that will stop this virus. They're the group that communicates successfully, independent of picking up a phone," Deborah Birx, coronavirus response coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force, said this week.

California areas under a shelter-in-place order all have the same rule: Vulnerable populations must stay home and anyone else can only leave to get food, care for a relative or friend, get necessary health care or work an "essential" job.

Taking a walk or bike ride outside is okay as long as people are not in groups and stay 1.8 metres away from one another.

SEEKING SOLIDARITY

"I've been communicating with friends and family a lot more than I ever did in the past," said Chef Kyle McBride, 32, in San Francisco. "It's been a moment for sharing a lot and reaching out to people."

McBride and 15 other friends refashioned a WhatsApp messaging group created to plan a Costa Rica vacation into a forum for sharing news and commiserating about the pandemic.

"A lot of people are really tuned into social media and news right now just because of sheer boredom and wanting to stay connected to the latest," he said.

Increased online connections will be critical for millions of Americans as they retreat into their homes for an indefinite period.

"A focus can be the potentially good feeling of solidarity, that we're looking our for each other in this pandemic," said Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a psychology and neuroscience professor at Brigham Young University and a top scholar on loneliness in the United States.

"Look at the Italians out singing on balconies and communicating across distances. That is communicating to others that 'we're in this together' despite the distance."

Holt-Lunstad said most people in a shelter-at-place situation need to focus on increasing contact with the outside world to stay mentally healthy.

"Some research also suggests that engaging in creative arts would be helpful, so this is potentially a time when people could try that," she said. "It could be anything from poetry to cooking to any number of ways to creatively express yourself."

'ON THE BRINK'

World events for the last two decades have prepared young adults for crisis.

"Being a millennial, we've seen a lot of scary things. I grew up in New York during 9/11," said Miles Gamble, 32, a New York City employee who works on federal compliance. "I grew up in New York during swine flu, during West Nile virus, during the second and third Ebola outbreaks."

Gamble celebrated his birthday this week in his studio apartment.

"Our generation particularly are not worried enough," he said. "We have been a generation that has literally been on the brink of the end of the world for like now, arguably 20 years."

Public health officials have been urging young adults to take the disease seriously. Americans aged 20-44 represented one in five of the cases hospitalized with the disease from Feb 12-March 16, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For Timothy J. Seppala, a 35-year-old copywriter in the Detroit area, his first week working at home made it hard to exercise, but he was meditating to keep anxiety at bay.

He echoed others about going online to stay in touch and keep spirits up, but that can only go so far.

Seppala, who is single, could not meet up with a potential date he was set up with.

"I don't know if anyone is feeling ready to go out," he said. "Right now the vibe is just we all stay home."

(Source: Reuters)

Read the rest here:

Online chess, meditation: What US millennials are doing while isolated at home - CNA

3/23/2020 Ian Nepomniachtchi goes into the second rest day of the Candidates Tournament leading by a full point after beating Ding Liren with White on Monday. The only other player with a plus score is Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, who was worse but managed to hold a draw against Wang Hao. Anish Giri defeated Kirill Alekseenko in a game that lasted over seven hours, while Alexander Grischuk had to be precise to split the point with Fabiano Caruana. Express report. | Live games and commentary from 11:00 UTC (12:00 CET / 7:00 EDT). | Photo: Lennart Ootes / FIDE

ChessBase 15 - Mega package

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The eight-player Candidates tournament is one of the most prestigious global chess events, held every two years. The event will determine who will challenge the defender Magnus Carlsen for the title of the World Chess Champion. This years event has a prize fund of 500,000 Euros, which is the highest ever in the history of the Candidates tournaments.

Previous reports: Round 1| Round 2| Round 3| Round 4| Round 5

The tournament is approachingits half-way point, and a player has emerged as the clear leader in Yekaterinburg. Ian Nepomniachtchi scored his second straight win to get a full-point lead over Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. The Russian grandmaster beat Ding Liren, who entered a strategically risky position in the middlegame and soon found himself on the ropes against an in-form opponent. Ding threw in the towel on move 40.

The remaining three games saw one of the players trying to squeeze slight advantages after the time control. Alexander Grischuk survived time trouble and managed to find plenty of only moves to hold Fabiano Caruana to a draw, while Vachier-Lagrave survived anendgame a pawn down against Wang Hao.

The one that got to score a win from what seemed to be a holdable position for his opponent was Anish Giri. Playing Black against Kirill Alekseenko, he was pressing in a queen and knight endgame. Alekseenko strangely rejected capturing a pawn on move 38 and later found himself defending a 3 v 2 knight ending. Giri continued to tighten the screw until his opponent failed to play a simple forcingline that secured a draw moreover, the move simply gave the game away. Thus, Giri scored his first win after 98 moves and over seven hours of play.

Replay the games with computer analysis. Full report to follow shortly.

Players receive100 minutes for 40 moves, then 50 minutes for the next 20 moves, then 15 minutes for the restof the game, plus a 30-second bonus per move starting from move 1. No draw offers are allowed prior to move 40.

Commentary byEvgenij Miroshnichenko and Daniil Dubov

As available.

Press release

The opening ceremony took place at the Ekaterinburg Expo congress center and was hosted by the renowned Russian film actress Alena Babenko and sports commentator Viktor Gusev. Speakers at the Opening Ceremony were Evgeny Kuyvashev (Governor of the Sverdlovsk Oblast (Region)), FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, former World Champion Anatoly Karpov, the President of the Sverdlovsk Chess Federation AndreySimanovsky as well as the Regional Corporate Sales Head at Kaspersky Marina Usova.

Evgeny Kuyvashev, the Governor of the Sverdlovsk Oblast (Region) said that it is the first time this region is hosting a FIDE Candidates tournament and added: Our region considers itself one of the leaders of the home [Russian] chess movement and the center for the development of the chess thought. Today some 20,000 people professionally play chess in the Sverdlovsk Region, including 2.500 children and teenagers. We are proud of our chess masters and our young chess talents.

Arkady Dvorkovich| Photo: Lennart Ootes / FIDE

Congratulating the players and chess fans across the world on the start of the FIDE Candidates Tournament in Yekaterinburg, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich pointed to this event being the most important stage in the qualifying cycle for the World Chess Championship, as it will determine the opponent of the current world champion Magnus Carlsen. In the coming weeks, we will witness epic battles between eight world's leading chess players. They went through the toughest selection process in the previous few months to compete for the right to challenge for the world chess crown in Yekaterinburg.

FIDE president also reflected on the fact that the Tournament is held in the environment of an alarming situation with the spread of COVID-19. 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 IOC and Rospotrebnadzor and fulfils all the prescribed requirements. We also ask for maximum support from the chess community, the media, and all of you.

Once again, I would like to welcome the participants of the FIDE Candidates Tournament and wish them memorable combinations and spectacular victories. And let the Tournament bring only joy and new positive emotions to all the fans, Dvorkovich concluded.

The mayor of Yekaterinburg, Alexander Vysokinsky highlighted the importance of this event for the local community, adding we will try to do everything in our power so that this event is held according to highest standards, so everyone could enjoy!

Press conference| Photo: Lennart Ootes/ FIDE

One of the speakers at the ceremony was Grandmaster Anatoly Karpov, the 12th World Champion in chess, who himself comes from the Ural region. Karpov emphasized the uniqueness of the tournament for the region and spoke about efforts made to develop chess education, including at the Ural Federal University.

Anatoly Karpov (middle) | Photo: Lennart Ootes/ FIDE

The President of the Sverdlovsk Chess Federation Andrey Simanovsky, as well as the Regional Corporate Sales Head at Kaspersky Marina Usova joined the speakers in wishing the players good luck in the tournament.

The medal awaits| Photo: Lennart Ootes/ FIDE

The official part of the Opening ceremony was followed by a concert by the famous Russian violinist 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 Vassily Gerello. The musical event also included a performance of the top stars of the Bolshoi Theatre.

Colourful performances courtesy the Bolshoi Theatre | Photo: Lennart Ootes/ FIDE

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The Candidates Round 6 LIVE - Chessbase News

Changes in body odor are not usually a cause for concern. They are often the result of lifestyle changes, such as an altered diet or exercise regimen. However, in some cases, a sudden change in body odor can be a sign of an underlying health condition.

Generally speaking, body odor can affect anyone, and it should not usually cause a person to worry. In most cases, people can prevent it by practicing good hygiene.

Keep reading to learn more about the most common causes of a sudden change in body odor, how to treat it, and when to see a doctor.

Sweat mixed with bacteria is the main cause of body odor, but not all sweat is the same. The reason for this is that people have two different kinds of sweat glands.

There are large numbers of eccrine glands on the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands, as well as on the forehead, cheeks, and armpits. The sweat that they produce is watery and does not smell.

People have apocrine glands in the armpits and around the genitals. These glands produce a thick, transparent liquid, which can smell quite potent when it mixes with bacteria on the skin.

There are several possible causes of changes to body odor, including:

When someone exercises, their body sweats to help them maintain a steady temperature. When this sweat mixes with bacteria on the skin and then dries, it can smell. People usually refer to this body odor as BO.

Other reasons why someone may sweat more than usual include:

Some foods can lead to a change in body odor. The high fiber content of cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, and kale can, for example, add an egg-like smell to the gas that a person passes. Asparagus often leads to smelly urine.

Foods such as garlic, onions, cumin, and curry can also cause changes in body odor. The sulfur-like compounds that the body releases as it breaks down these foods can react with the sweat on the skin, producing body odor that may be different than a persons natural scent.

Some medications can cause excessive sweating, which can lead to changes in body odor in some people. Some of the most common examples of these drugs include:

The product packaging should list all of the drugs possible side effects. However, it is important to note that not everyone taking the medication will experience side effects.

In some cases, sudden changes in body odor result from an underlying health condition.

People with hyperhidrosis sweat excessively from the eccrine glands. Eccrine sweat does not tend to lead to body odor, but it can do if it mixes with apocrine sweat.

Plantar hyperhidrosis causes excessive sweating in the feet, leading to smelly feet.

A person may have primary hyperhidrosis, meaning that it happens on its own, or the excessive sweating may be a symptom of another medical condition. It can also be a side effect of some medications.

Trimethylaminuria is a rare genetic condition. People who have it are unable to break down a chemical compound called trimethylamine. The compound leaves the body in the sweat, urine, and breath, giving off a smell resembling that of rotten egg, fish, or garbage.

Body odor may be a sign of diabetes in some people. It happens when there is too much glucose in the blood. Diabetes is a long-term condition, meaning that there is no cure, but people can manage it.

Other symptoms include:

Sometimes, body odor can be a sign of kidney disease, which means that the kidneys are damaged and unable to filter the blood in the way that they should. Other symptoms include:

Everyone experiences body odor sometimes, and it is not usually a cause for concern. Likewise, in most cases, people should not be concerned about changes to the odor.

When people sweat, the liquid can mix with bacteria on the skin and lead to a pungent smell. The best way to avoid this is to keep the affected area clean and dry.

Sometimes, a change in odor might be the result of an underlying health problem. Diabetes and kidney disease, for example, can both lead to a change in body odor. Anyone who suspects that they may have such a condition should speak to a doctor as soon as possible.

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Sudden change in body odor: Causes and treatment - Medical News Today

National chain CorePower Yoga closed its 200 studios, but is offering online classes free until May 31. Taryn Toomey closed her New York studios, but is offering two weeks of free streaming as a public service, which she said has drawn participants from around the globe.

"Lebanon, Germany, Spain, Italy. It's overwhelming, Toomey said.

Fitness operations whose core business has always been online or home-based are also stepping up their game, using the opportunity to capture new clients. AloMoves, an online fitness service linked to the popular apparel line, has seen a 40% increase on its YouTube channel, where it is offering some free workouts.

The at-home workout company ob has had 10 times the number of sign-ups this month compared to last, according to co-Founders Mark Mullett and Ashley Mills. They said the company also has received tons of requests from desperate parents now that schools are being canceled. Last week, ob launched four 10-minute dance and strength workouts for kids 10 and under.

Peloton, a company that sells high-end stationary bicycles and treadmills featuring instructors who give live and videotaped classes, has extended its free trial period to 90 days.

For most people, coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover from the new virus.

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Fitness enthusiasts think outside the gym during coronavirus - Auburn Citizen

What you can do when you need to lose weight swiftly

You probably hear about peoples stories or weight loss programmes on the daily; how someoneused one secret trick or a special food. These stories can start to affect how you feel if you are on a weight loss journey. Unfortunately, you cannot remove all of these stories from your news feed to declutter your mind, but you can find quite a bit of relevant information on the internet that can help you.

In particular, this information can help you lose weight efficiently, healthily and quickly, using methods that have proven results. So if you need some tips for losing weight swiftly, read on.

Drink more water

This is one of the simplest ways to lose weight. Hidden calories are found in a lot of sources of our diet, and often in the liquids we consume. Some coffees, teas, milk and alcohol are calorie-dense, so replacing many of these with water can reduce weight gain. Similarly, the more water you drink, the better your body can digest and remove waste, which is a factor in losing weight. This is a good example of how really simple changes in your life can have a dramatic, and positive, change onyour health goals.

Liposuction

You might think that this is an unrealistic way to lose weight, but actually it isnt. Liposuction is a type of plastic surgery procedure whereby fat is sucked out of the body. There is no faster way to lose weight, and the benefits are numerous for anyone who wants to lose fat fast. The experts at https://www.reflectionscenter.com/new-jersey-medical-spa/liposuction/ discuss how and why liposuction is so beneficial to those from all backgrounds, and why it is especially important for those with particular needs. For example, emergency weight loss can save a life, such as obese people who cannot simply start a diet or exercise plan. In these cases, weight needs to be lost safely and efficiently, which is why liposuction could be a solution, as well as for those who want to lose non-life-threatening weight too.

Caloric deficit

Speaking of dietary needs, you need to know what a caloric deficit is too. Eating healthy does not always guarantee weight loss. There is still a lot of food that is good for you that can result in no changes or see you gain weight. How? Well, overeating for one. There is simply nothing that can top how eating more calories than you are burning is going to influence how much you weigh. Restricting your caloric intake is the most proven way to properly lose weight. Within reason of course, but you need to cut your eating down to fewer calories than you are burning. If the average person needs 2000-2500 calories to maintain their healthy weight, then even reducing this by as little as 300-400 calories can help you see changes that will positively affect your weight loss journey.

Regular exercise

Lastly, regular exercise is still one of the best ways to lose weight quickly. When coupled with a caloric deficit, you can start to see significant results fast. Not only is it effective, but it is healthy too. Losing weight is only one part of the solution, you want to know that you are making long term improvements to your health. That is always the purpose of the exercise. Get stronger, run faster, breathe better and feel more comfortable in your skin. Not only should you commit to regular exercise, but you should try to implement more forms of exercise too. Weight lifting and cardio through running or walking are two of the most accessible forms of exercise, but you should try to incorporate things like rowing or swimming as well. The more diversity you have in your exercise, the more calories you burn, the more weight you lose, and the better your body will feel from doing different kinds of movements.

Seeing so many things about weight loss can feel overwhelming at times. You can be bombarded with information from so many sources that it can be difficult to know what to trust. Fortunately, the tips here are simple but effective. They are proven and they are reliable. When you need to lose weight quickly and want to do so without jeopardising your health, then this information is a good start.

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What you can do when you need to lose weight swiftly - The Upcoming

SALT LAKE CITY As the COVID-19 pandemic numbers keep climbing, people are asking if theres more they can do to stay healthy, in addition to following public health recommendations.

We are told 75% to 80% of us will at some time be exposed to this, said Dr. Preston Wilson, a family practice provider at Jordan Family Health in West Jordan. We need to prepare ourselves for when that happens.

Can you boost your own immune system or improve your health enough to skate lightly through the public health crisis?

Looking at more than 200,000 cases worldwide has already shown that those most at risk are adults older than 60, people with chronic medical conditions like diabetes or heart disease and those who have compromised immune systems, including anyone who had an organ transplant.

Experts tell the Deseret News that even those at high risk can do certain things to be as healthy as possible, not only during an infectious disease pandemic but in general. Patients should follow not just the basic advice, but tailored recommendations, too.

Wilson said patients still come in for care and admit they continue to smoke, though COVID-19 can be deadly as it can settle in the lungs. Others admit they havent changed their diets to control their diabetes.

As much as we are concerned about this virus, I dont know that we are doing everything we can to maximize our bodys ability to fight it when exposed to it, said Wilson.

Could building your immune system and health really be as simple as sleeping, eating right, exercising, laughing and staying calm? Experts explain why each has value.

Take this seriously, said Wilson. If you are healthy and strong and you are taking care of your body and maximizing its ability to fight infection, then you have a super high likelihood of recovering very well from this.

Myriad studies have shown that sleep is needed for good health, but many people insist on treating it like a commodity they can skip when pressed for time.

Wilson said that sleep is the first thing that comes to mind when asked if its possible to strengthen ones body and its immune system. Thats when the body recovers from the day.

We know that our immune system gets depressed when we are limiting our sleep and dont get enough, he told the Deseret News. By enough, I mean on average 7-8 hours for adults, and more for children, maybe.

Hes not sure you can produce immunoglobulins better by getting more sleep. But he knows its important to a healthy life, both physically and mentally.

Food is more than fuel in Jennifer James book. The registered dietitian nutritionist and certified health coach at Ogden Regional Medical Center said healthy food choices are the raw materials that allow the body to build proteins, blood cells, immune system cells to fight infections and more. Vitamins and minerals run the chemical reactions that go into the cells, she added. For instance, cells have to have B vitamins to create energy.

The interaction of nutrition and the body is akin to building a house a complex process that needs wiring and plumbing and foundation and framing work, among many other things.

The human body requires vitamins and minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, fats, fluids all those things to keep the body functioning at top capacity. Eating an unbalanced diet or one with a lot of processed food doesnt provide whats needed for the chemical reactions to take place or for the body to be able to build new white or red blood cells, soft tissue, heal wounds and keep the brain going strong. A diet of food as close to its raw form as possible can do all that fairly easily, she said.

Theres no one miracle food, she added. I encourage people to do a whole-food diet, mostly plant-based, colorful foods you prepare from scratch. Its OK, though, to enjoy an occasional less-healthy treat.

Dont eat a bunch of garbage, Wilson said. What you put into your body determines what you get out of it.

James suggests getting an app that tracks food intake and breaks down the vitamin and mineral content, among other things. She particularly recommends one called Chronometer.

Dont lose your sense of humor in a crisis. The Mayo Clinic writes that laughter really does reduce stress, which has a cascade of smaller, immune-system-friendly benefits. A hearty laugh doesnt just tickle your thoughts; it gives organs a burst of oxygen and releases endorphins in the your brain. Laughter varies your heart rate from fast to slow, which is good for you. And it helps your muscles relax.

Perhaps best of all, laughter and positivity can release stress-busting neuropeptides to counter the chemistry that negativity, stress and anxiety induce.

So yeah, this is a very challenging time. But appreciate its funny moments, too.

The memes have been hysterical on the toilet paper hoarding, James said. Humor is wonderful.

The greatest mental health need is finding some balance, Wilson said. We know that people who suffer more from depression and anxiety seem to suffer more chronic disease. It may be that they are not sleeping well or not doing the things they need to do to stay healthy.

Relaxing, which cuts stress, is critical. When the stress hormones are elevated, that does not help our immune systems, said James. She likens it to her experience pushing through finals in college, stressed to the max, then going home. I was always sick at Christmas.

Shes among experts who believe being worn out and stressed makes people an easy target for illness.

Meditation is being heralded worldwide for its mental health benefits, from lowering blood pressure and heart rate to perhaps improving memory and building the immune system. It takes about two months of doing it regularly for as little as five minutes a day to see results. There are free and paid apps to help, and people can choose where and when to do it. Some people like music, some a mantra, others a voice guiding them.

Everyones mind wanders while meditating, James said. Just pull it back to what you were focusing on and do it consistently, she said.

Some school districts (when class is in session) are embracing meditation as a way to help students focus and calm themselves and manage their stress.

To manage emotions in a healthy way, James suggests doing things one enjoys, like journaling or crafts or other things that provide a sense of peace and satisfaction.

Dont stew over your emotions. Acknowledge them and let them pass, she said. Pay attention to how you talk to yourself positive and encouraging helps a lot.

Regular moderate exercise is very important. But dont overdo it. Overstressing your body may weaken the immune system and make people vulnerable to illness, James said.

Besides being good physically, there are mental health benefits. A nature walk, for instance, is good all around.

Lots of gyms and other organizations are offering exercise routines online while people are social distancing during the pandemic. Older folks can find ideas from YouTube videos on the National Institute on Aging, AARP and other sources.

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Coronavirus and health: What can you do to boost your immune system? - Deseret News

If you thought ghar ka khana is full of oil and spices and couldn't help you lose weight, think again. Abhinav Mishra's weight loss story is an example that eating the right food and counting calories can help you get in shape, without having to quit on your favourites. To know how he lost 32 kilos in 10 months, read his transformation story below: Name: Abhinav Mishra Occupation: Software Engineer

Age: 26

Height: 5 feet 8 inches

City: Noida

Highest weight recorded: 100 kilos

Weight lost:32 kilos

Duration it took me to lose weight: 10 months

The turning point: I always felt lethargic, sluggish and underconfident. I was also diagnosed with a thyroid imbalance. It was in May 2019 I decided to take things into my hand and work on myself.

My breakfast: My breakfast is the heaviest meal of my day, ranging from 800 - 900 calories. Initially, I had a roti/paratha with dal and sabzi, but these days as I am working on building abs, I just have 2 - 3 cups of daal with half a cup of rice and a protein shake.

My lunch: I generally eat a paneer sandwich(brown bread) for lunch and another cup or two of daal, if I feel hungry.

My dinner: I tend to skip dinner or eat some fruits/ salad. I have a glass of milk before I go to bed.

Pre-workout meal: I have no set pre-workout meal, just something with a few carbs and protein. Sometimes, it's just a coffee.

Post-workout meal: I just have a protein shake after my workout which is usually early in the morning (6 am).

I still try to not cheat too much and practice portion control. If I eat from outside, I moderate or skip the next meal. Although I do try to make healthier choices with junk food now. My favourites are momos, sandwiches and grilled platters.

My workout: Initially, I started slow. I exercised for 20 mins every day following a YouTube video I found online. After about 2 months or so I started to see results. I lost around 6 kgs of weight in this while. Post this, I decided to take my diet and workout to the next level.

I wake up every day at 5 am in the morning and go to the gym at 6 am. This way my workout is complete by 8 am. I do a PUSH-PULL LEGS split, and add 10 mins of cardio every day. I run on Sunday. I also do 6-7 ab workouts after office.

Low-calorie recipes I swear by: I would like to tell people to not shy away from Indian food. Dal is very low calorie and full of protein. Chole and rajma have a lot of good fibre plus protein. Paneer and grilled veggies, too are nutritious and taste well.

Fitness secrets I unveiled: Start slow and build a habit. Cut off the junk, you know what it is. Diet is 70% of the game, and exercise only 30. You don't need any special diet, just track what you eat, add portion control, and switch to healthier choices. Slowly get used to your new diet. Fitness is a marathon, not a race.

How do I stay motivated? To be honest, more than motivation, it is the discipline that matters. You do it with a goal in mind and you do it for yourself, nothing else is going to work better. Sometimes, you have to simply PUSH yourself and make it to the gym I haven't missed a single day of workout and when I couldn't make it, I used to work out at home. If the gym was closed, I would go running. Only when I was unwell I took a break. If you enjoy your workout, it won't feel bad. You have to build that habit.

How do you ensure you dont lose focus? You are going to have ups and downs. It is alright that you missed your workout for a day, or your diet wasn't perfect for a day. Keep your eyes on the bigger picture. Don't compare your progress to others. Keep working on yourself and keep improving wherever you can, and you will see results soon.

Whats the most difficult part of being overweight? Being overweight affects your confidence, makes you feel sluggish and lethargic and is bad for your health in the long term. I am amazed by the changes I feel after being in shape.

What shape do you see yourself 10 years down the line? I want to sport a chiselled look and not have a dad-bod.

What are the lifestyle changes you made? Food is fuel for your body. Making small, disciplined changes lead to exponential results. I now eat out but do not overindulge. Working out regularly also helps me fight stress. I also make sure to drink atleast 3-4 litres of water every day. My sleep schedule is back on track too.

What was the lowest point for you? It has to be the time when I was constantly feeling lethargic and devoid of energy. I am young, I shouldn't be this unhealthy. Some people told me that I can't keep fit for life, but I just shrugged those negative feedback off.

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Weight loss: From being joked about, people call me an inspiration now! - Times of India