Conscious Evolution TV

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!

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!

Read the original:

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.

More here:

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.

Go here to see the original:

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

KCB Chess Club's Ben Nguku. [Washington Onyango, Standard]

The 2020 Kenya Chess Premier League (KCPL) and Scrabble National Circuits have been suspended following the confirmation of three cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Kenya over the weekend.

Chess Kenya President Bernard Wanjala said the decision to call off the games after the first round this season, depended on a directive from the Ministry of Health.

Following the Ministry of Healths ban on public gatherings and as a precautionary measure, Chess Kenya would wish to inform the public of suspension of all events scheduled for March and April, he said.

Some of the postponedevents include the 2nd National Chess Championships for People Living with Disabilities, the inaugural National Inter-Schools qualifiers, Kenya National Youth and Cadets Chess Championship.

The same suspension of the league has been enforced by Scrabble Kenya Secretary General Evelyne Njogu, who confirmed to the Standard Sports the suspension of the 2020 Scrabble National Circuits.

We wish to inform all clubs of the suspension of the season, until further notice, she said.

Get the latest sports news updates. Subscribe to our SMS sports service by texting 'SPORTS' to 22840.

Thecoronavirus outbreak has hit Kenyan sports after the country reported its first case on Friday.

Two more cases were confirmed by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Sunday.

According to the World Health Organisation, the virus, which exploded in Chinas Wuhan City, has so far claimed over 4,900 lives with more than 132,000 people infected globally.

For More of This and Other Sports Stories Subscribe to the Standard Epaper

Original post:

Indoor Games: Chess and Scrabble suspend games - The Standard

Ghost-Spider #8 is in stores from Marvel Comics tomorrow, and we've got a preview below.

The Johnny and Susan Storm of Gwen's universe, former social media stars who went missing in Latveria for five years, have returned.

And Gwen is concerned that they might secretly have some powers.

So she seeks out the one man er, twelve-year-old boy who might have answers.

Reed Richards is not an opponent one would normally want to play a game of chess with.

But when an older, far more evil version of Reed Richards is playing a game of chess with Gwen that she doesn't even know about from the shadows, that can be far more dangerous.

Ghost-Spider #8 hits stores on Wednesday.

GHOST-SPIDER #8 JAN200959 (W) Seanan McGuire (A) Ig Guara (CA) Takeshi Miyazawa Rock and roll dreams come true! It's all eyes on THE MARY JANES as Gwen takes the band on a rip-roaring multiversal concert tour! But not all those eyes belong to starstruck fans. There's something symbiotic and sinister stirring in the Prime Universe and GWENOM may have a part to play Rated T In Shops: Mar 18, 2020 SRP: $3.99

A prophecy says that in the comic book industry's darkest days, a hero will come to lead the people through a plague of overpriced floppies, incentive variant covers, #1 issue reboots, and super-mega-crossover events.

Scourge of Rich Johnston, maker of puns, and seeker of the Snyder Cut, Jude Terror, sadly, is not the hero comics needs right now... but he's the one the industry deserves.

APTOPIX Virus Outbreak Washington

A woman wearing a mask walks through a terminal at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, March 16, 2020, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

COVID-19 testing and processing being conducted in Lansing, Mich.

Aragaw Beyene, center, of Washington, plays with his cousins' children, Eldana Tilahune, 6, left, and Meklit Tilahune, 2, Monday, March 16, 2020, at a public park in northwest Washington. Beyene and his extended family are taking turns watching each other's children so the others can work while schools are closed due to coronavirus precautions. "I normally drive an Uber," says Beyene, "but it's scary to drive an Uber right now with the coronavirus. I haven't gone to work since Friday. Although I hear there is not much work." The family says they may stop taking the children to parks outside due to coronavirus fears. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Friends, from left, Erin Carroll of Severna Park, Md., Clay Colehouse of Crownsville, Md., Jessica Goblin of Severna Park, Md., Travis Victorio of Millersville, Md., Mary Fitzell of Millersville, Md., and dog Marty, enjoy lunch during a visit to Annapolis, Monday, March 16, 2020. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan ordered the closure of bars, restaurants, gyms and movie theaters across the state in response to coronavirus beginning at 5 p.m. Monday. Drive-thru, carryout and delivery service will still be allowed. The friends gathered for lunch because they are home from college. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

People walk in Union Station's Main Hall in Washington, Monday, March 16, 2020. The U.S. surgeon general says the number of coronavirus cases in the United States has reached the level that Italy recorded two weeks ago. It's a sign that infections are expected to rise in America as the government steps up testing and financial markets continue to fall. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Washington Union Station, a major transportation hub in the nation's capital, is nearly empty during morning rush hour as many government and private sector workers stay home during the coronavirus outbreak, in Washington, Monday, March 16, 2020. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

A bicyclist moves through Gravelly Point as planes arrive and depart at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, March 16, 2020, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

A person stands near empty seats at Stadium Grill, Monday, March 16, 2020, in Jupiter, Fla. The restaurant, which is across the street from Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, the spring training baseball home of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Miami Marlins, is normally full with customers on game day. On Sunday night, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended gatherings of 50 people or more be canceled or postponed across the country for the next eight weeks. Major League Baseball planned to update teams Monday on its health policy. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Shelves are nearly empty at a supermarket in the wake of coronavirus outbreak in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tuesday, March 17, 2019. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms. For some it can cause more severe illness, especially in older adults and people with existing health problems. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

A man wearing a face mask walks past advertisement boards at a shopping mall in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Indonesia's capital city announced a lockdown of all tourist destinations and entertainment as well as the closing all of its public schools for 14 days amid the global coronavirus outbreak. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms. For some, it can cause more severe illness, especially in older adults and people with existing health problems. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

A security official checks the temperature of a visitor as a precaution against the new coronavirus at the Parliament House in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms. For some, it can cause more severe illness, especially in older adults and people with existing health problems. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

In this Monday, March 16, 2020, photo, a woman wearing a medical mask with her child shops in a food mall in Chechen province capital Grozny, Russia. The Russian government says that it has decided to bar entry to all foreigners starting Wednesday. For most people, the new 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. (AP Photo/Musa Sadulayev)

A streetcar conductor wears a mask on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans on Saturday, March 14, 2020, amid an outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus. (Scott Threlkeld/The Advocate via AP)

Train commuters hold on to the side of an overcrowded passenger train in Soweto, South Africa, Monday, March 16, 2020. South Africa will revoke nearly 10,000 visas issued this year to people from China and Iran, and visas will now be required for other high-risk countries that had been visa-free, including Italy and the United States. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms. For some it can cause more severe illness, especially in older adults and people with existing health problems.(AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Elderly Thai people, some wearing protective masks practice Tai Chi at Lumpini park in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms. For some, especially older adults it can cause more severe illness. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)

FILE - In this Saturday, March 14, 2020 file photo, travelers wait to check in their luggage at the Los Angeles International Airport. The coronavirus pandemic that's caused many Americans to avoid airports has others booking spur-of-the moment trips at dirt-cheap ticket prices. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, March 12, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., makes a statement about a coronavirus aid package, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, March 13, 2020. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

President Donald Trump listens to Vice President Mike Pence during a press briefing with the coronavirus task force, in the Brady press briefing room at the White House, Monday, March 16, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

People wearing a masks walk through a terminal at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, March 16, 2020, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

People walk in Union Station in Washington, Monday, March 16, 2020. The U.S. surgeon general says the number of coronavirus cases in the United States has reached the level that Italy recorded two weeks ago. It's a sign that infections are expected to rise in America as the government steps up testing and financial markets continue to fall. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

A delivery worker rides his electric bicycle past the New York Stock Exchange, Monday, March 16, 2020, in New York. New York leaders took a series of unprecedented steps Sunday to slow the spread of the coronavirus, including canceling schools and extinguishing most nightlife in New York City. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

A COVID-19 test being processed at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Laboratories in Lansing, Mich.

A woman wearing a mask walks goes through security at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, March 16, 2020, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Custodian Joan Garner washes the floor in the pool locker room at Orange High School, Monday, March 16, 2020, in Pepper Pike, Ohio. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday ordered every school in Ohio to close for three weeks beginning at day's end Monday. DeWine says it's possible Ohio schools may be closed for the rest of the academic year. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Testing in Michigan

Darcy Coleman locks the door to Rebelle Artisan Bagels after handing an online order to a customer outside as the restaurant closed its doors to dine-in service Monday, March 16, 2020, in Providence, R.I. State officials on Monday ordered restaurants and bars to end dine-in service as the total number of cases of the new coronavirus in the state has risen to 21. The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

A cyclist wears a mask as he crosses the Brooklyn Bridge, Monday, March 16, 2020 in New York. The bridge's pedestrian and bicycle path is normally crowded on a sunny day. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

The Oculus at the World Trade Center's transportation hub is sparsely occupied, Monday, March 16, 2020 in New York. Millions of Americans have begun their work weeks holed up at home, as the coronavirus pandemic means the entire nation's daily routine has shifted in ways never before seen in U.S. history. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

A volunteer uses rubber gloves while handing out lunches at a food distribution center set up by the Dream Center for those in need due to the coronavirus outbreak, Monday, March 16, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Physicians Assistant Jessica Hamilton, left, and Amena Beslic RN holds a swab and test tube kit to test people for COVID-19 at a drive through station set up in the parking lot of the Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich., Monday, March 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

State Rep. Tracy Ehlert, D-Cedar Rapids, works at her desk in the Iowa House, Monday, March 16, 2020, at the Statehouse in Des Moines, Iowa. I Iowa leaders are suspending the current legislative session for at least 30 days in efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Courtney Crabtree check the temperature of a customer at a Witham Health Services drive-through Community Viral Screening center, Monday, March 16, 2020, in Whitestown, Ind. The screening center for coronavirus will help provide guidance and reduce unnecessary trips to the emergency room. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Empty shelves are seen at the Meijer store, Monday, March 16, 2020, in Whitestown, Ind. People concerned with the coronavirus have been shopping ahead and emptying store shelves. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Some 60% of all paid workers are in service industry. ;

A pedestrian wearing a protective mask passes a line of customers outside a supermarket, Monday, March 16, 2020, in New York. New York leaders took a series of unprecedented steps Sunday to slow the spread of the coronavirus, including canceling schools and extinguishing most nightlife in New York City. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

A pedestrian wearing a protective face mask walks past a nearly empty restaurant near Grand Central Terminal, Monday, March 16, 2020, in New York. New York leaders took a series of unprecedented steps Sunday to slow the spread of the coronavirus, including canceling schools and extinguishing most nightlife in New York City. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Tony Berastegui, left, and his sister Giselle, age 12 and nine respectively, do their school work at home on the dining room table as the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic forced schools to close Monday, March 16, 2020, in Laveen, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

A cable car operator looks out toward the Golden Gate Bridge while standing at the near-empty Hyde Street turnaround Monday, March 16, 2020, in San Francisco. Officials in six San Francisco Bay Area counties issued a shelter-in-place mandate Monday affecting nearly 7 million people, including the city of San Francisco itself. The order says residents must stay inside and venture out only for necessities for three weeks starting Tuesday in a desperate attempt by officials to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

FILE - In this April 16, 2019, file photo, attendees take a close look at cars from BYD at the Auto Shanghai 2019 show in Shanghai. Chinas auto sales plunged 81.7% in February, 2020, from a year ago after Beijing shut down much of the economy to fight a virus outbreak, adding to problems for an industry that already was struggling with shrinking demand. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 9, 2020 file photo, Tom Hanks, left, and Rita Wilson arrive at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The couple have tested positive for the coronavirus, the actor said in a statement Wednesday, March 11. The 63-year-old actor said they will be "tested, observed and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires." (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

A poster advertising "The Phantom of the Opera" is shown on the shuttered Majestic Theatre on a nearly deserted side street near Times Square, Thursday, March 12, 2020, in New York, after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo banned gatherings of more than 500 people amid a rise in coronavirus cases. The ban for Broadway theaters started Thursday and will be in effect through April 12, according to a statement from the Broadway League, an organization of theater owners and producers. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

The Minskoff Theatre is shuttered Thursday, March 12, 2020, in New York, near Times Square after Broadway theaters closed following New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's banning of gatherings of more than 500 people over concerns about the spread of the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

A sign announcing the suspension of all Broadway shows is posted on a door at the Minskoff Theatre, where "The Lion King" had been playing, Thursday, March 12, 2020, in New York. Gov. Andrew Cuomo banned gatherings of more than 500 people. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Zhili Sun, practices tai chi by blooming cherry trees while wearing a mask, Sunday, March 15, 2020, along the tidal basin in Washington. Sun, who is from China, says he was visiting his son in the U.S. when the coronavirus pandemic struck and has been unable to get home. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

A family visits the cherry blossom trees along the tidal basin, Sunday, March 15, 2020, in Washington. Several events, including the parade, that are part of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival have been canceled due to coronavirus precautions. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

President Donald Trump speaks during a briefing about the coronavirus in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, Sunday, March 15, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Signs in the briefing room of the White House indicate social distancing measures being taken to separate reporters working at the White House, Monday, March 16, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

FILE - In this April 22, 2019 file photo, Chloebella Frazier, 4, of Washington, takes part in the annual White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Washington Union Station, a major transportation hub in the nation's capital, is nearly empty during morning rush hour as many government and private sector workers stay home during the coronavirus outbreak, in Washington, Monday, March 16, 2020. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

People walk in Union Station's Main Hall in Washington, Monday, March 16, 2020. The U.S. surgeon general says the number of coronavirus cases in the United States has reached the level that Italy recorded two weeks ago. It's a sign that infections are expected to rise in America as the government steps up testing and financial markets continue to fall. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Visitors to Gravelly Point watch as a plane takes off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, March 16, 2020, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

A bicyclist moves through Gravelly Point as planes arrive and depart at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, March 16, 2020, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

A plane takes off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, March 16, 2020, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

A man walks through an empty U.S. Capitol Rotunda on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, March 16, 2020. Congress has shut the Capitol and all Senate and House office buildings to the public until April in reaction to the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

The U.S. Capitol Rotunda sits empty on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, March 16, 2020. Congress has shut the Capitol and all Senate and House office buildings to the public until April in reaction to the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing with the coronavirus task force, in the Brady press briefing room at the White House, Monday, March 16, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)