The bad news: the popular New York-based chess program Chess NYC wont reopen its doors anytime soon. The good news: it doesnt need to! Chess NYC has used this period of quarantine to redefine the game of chessonlineand the program is more exciting, fast-paced and alive than ever. One might even call it...the Chess Renaissance. For kids, at least.

"We've built our operationour reputationon the belief that kids shouldn't be asked to sit still for unreasonable periods of time," Chess NYC director Michael Propper says. "And we've taken that approach to our online programs."

Until they believe its safe for kids to resume play in-person again (and even after its safe again), . Why? First and foremost, they're proud that online chess cuts down borders. Kids get to meet, chat with and match with kids from all around the worldEngland, Africa, Canada and, of course, the United States. During this turbulent time, we could all use a little bit of cultural harmony, right?

Alsomost importantlyChess NYC has revolutionized the way kids play chess online. Their Play N Stay online programming cuts out the three areas that had previously given chess its stodgy reputation. One: kids have been known to complain, Chess is too slow. Well, Play N Stay eliminates that by only allowing 20-minute sides (this means the game is, max, 40 minutes). Another one of the complaints is that kids say that there are too many draws. Boom: Play N Stay doesnt have draws, instead, instituting a tiebreaker system. Three: kids often say, Chess is hard to learn! Well, not anymoreChess NYC promises that, with their system, youll be ready to compete in Level 1 matches after three short lessons.

Full article here:

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We're In the Chess Renaissance - Chess Daily News

Altibox Norway Chess today announced that this years event will be held in Stavanger, Norway from October 5-16. The previously announced 10-player field has been cut to six, but with Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Levon Aronian, Anish Giri, Alireza Firouzja and Aryan Tari in action the event aims to be the first undisputed super-tournament to be held in person since lockdowns began in March.

It was announced in March that Altibox Norway Chess would be postponed from June until October due to the coronavirus situation. With that still so unpredictable any scheduling for such events is an act of faith, but the organisers believe it can go ahead. Their press release includes:

First top-tournament post corona! The world as we know it has changed and people all over the world are facing challenging times. Sport events of all types have been cancelled as we together have been distancing ourselves to avoid the spread of the virus. For chess, this has been the case as well, where tournaments all over the world have been cancelled. However, chess online has grown exponentially during this period as tournaments and other chess events have been organized online. This has certainly been positive for chess, as it is a perfect sport to follow online!

The time for chess across the physical board is back!

Back in March a 10-player field was announced, but since then five players have dropped out Ding Liren, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Wesley So and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. One has been added, however - the worlds top junior, 17-year-old Alireza Firouzja. The 6-player field consists of players who all have European passports or residency:

Since the Candidates Tournament had to be stopped halfway through, elite chess has moved online, most notably with the Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour that is just reaching a thrilling conclusion. With the first wave of the virus over in most European countries over-the-board chess is gradually coming back, however, with the Biel Chess Festival the first to witness a group of international top players compete at a common venue.

Altibox Norway Chess, with four of the worlds Top 10 and the hottest junior, is a different prospect. Cutting the field to six players means its now going to be a 10-round double round-robin, but the twist of Armageddon after each classical draw remains. The scoring system will be:

The tournament will be broadcast live with commentary and video of the players on chess24 and Norwegian TV.

See also:

Continue reading here:

Norway Chess to be 1st over-the-board super-tournament since March - chess24

Part 1: Introduction | Part 2: India| Part 3: China| Part 4: Egypt| Part 5:Myths, legends

So far we have analyzed, if not all assumptions (one can always omit something in such avast subject), at least a large part of the theories relating tothe originsof chess.In all of them,the original act of invention is ascribed to a single entity, a person or a deity. It is notable thatin none of themthe idea of a shared effort is considered, so plural contributions are not verified, and even less the participation ofdifferent cultures or civilizations.

The criterion of uniqueness, which is the one that has prevailed over time, was very expressively argued by William Jones for whom chess, due toits beautiful simplicity and extreme perfection, could only have been invented by one ofgreat genius:[1]Jones considered thatfrom a more rudimentary version of the game created by a single entity asubsequentprocess of successive changes followed until the appearance ofthe current version, which turned out to be more sophisticated. On the contrary, his compatriot Hiram Cox said that complexity occurred first and only then came simplification.He inferred thata gradual process that was subsequently verified led to the creation ofchess, as the result of a cooperative phenomenon.

In line with Coxs theory, which for a good part of history was forgotten, in recent times the theory that chess emergedfrom diverse and complementary sources has gained strength. It is believed that it comes from a plurality of games that led to the creation of a unique and new variant of proto-chess, which served as the basis in the Eastern world to other modalities or versions of a game that, after successive mutations in particular those that happenedin the Middle Ages inWestern Europe led tothe consolidationof the currently-used format.

The time interval in which this magical synthesis could have occurred can be placed between the 2nd century BC and the 3rd century AD. For its part, it is very likely that this happened at some imprecise Asian point on the Silk Road that went from China to Persia and Arabia, and beyond, and that passed through, among other nations, India. This route was a dynamic meeting place of cultures characterized by the richness of their extreme interconnectivity.

The aforementioned practices, which would have made their respective contribution to the creation of a different game altogheter, were the gamespetteia, ashtpada and liubo, respectively corresponding to the Greek, Indian and Chinese cultures. From their symbiosis,a single variant of proto-chess was created.For those who defend the theory that the game came fromIndia, this variant is none other than chaturanga (or eventually chaturaji[2]), and for those who think the game came from China, the variant would bethe xiang-qi. Although, of course, it should not be ruled out thatchaturanga andxiang-qicould have appeared independently with some degree of synchronicity.

When trying to determine the geographical point where this powerful encounter took place, researches point to awide arealocatednorthwest ofIndia where the kingdom of Bactria (Bactriana) and the Kushan Empire (Ku)[3] settled successively, both characterized by a great cultural openness. It is a space that covered vast territories, with its centre locatedin the valley of the Indus River, in todaysAfghanistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, which were under Greek influence (legacy of Alexander the Great) and had commercial bridges established with the Chinese throughthe Silk Route, whichbegan to operate approximately in the 1st century BC.

In this context, it is entirely conceivable that a proto-variant of chess with contributions from different sources would be able to emerge in a territory of suchcultural openness. Analysing the Indian, Chinese and Greek peoples, this hypothesis gains strength,asarchaeological finds of the oldest pieces of the game were located in that territory.

This line of research, being so convincing, is nevertheless relatively new, having been fundamentally supported by the German researcher Gerhard Josten[4] who, in a way, revolutionized the study of the origin of chess, by applying an approach based on the study of the internal structure of the game and not on thecontributions from the fields of history, literature of, even, archeology.

Yuri Averbakh, partially agreeing with the idea of a confluence of contributions, thinks that the game was created based onpetteia and ashtpada, which in his opinion gave way to the chaturanga, implying an evolution from twosourcesto a third unified strategic game. Thisprocess would have led tothe elimination of the use ofdice[5], and the participation of four players was reduced to two. This symbiosis, according to Averbakh, would have happened thanks to a remarkable cultural fact:Hinduismhad lost, momentarily, relevance in Indian society in favour ofBuddhism. In short, while admitting a possible inheritance of diverse cultures, which is not usual, the erudite Russian chess player strengthens the predominant Indian theory, without acknowledgingany contribution proceeding from China.

The scholar Myron Samsin,[6] meanwhile, supports the possibility that chess is a hybrid game of Greco-Indian origin, being made up of two types of entities: pawns, which would be the Greek contribution, andpieces, which would have anIndian legacy. This symbiosis would have taken place, according to him, shortly afterAlexander the Great invaded theEast.

Josten makes the issue more complex by abandoning the bilateralism and considering the presence of a third source. In his view, the contribution made by the Chinese culture should not be overlooked. In his very original work, which is based on the discernment of the internal logic of the game, he identifies three types of pieces: those that are essential targets,represented by the king or general; others that have long movements in various directions, which are the main pieces; and others that merely move forward, represented by the pawns. From this distinction, he suggests thatchess was based onthree different games. According to him, the king would comefrom China, probably from the gamewei-ki and, perhaps more precisely, from the more ancestral liubo; the pieces wouldhave a Mesopotamian origin, more specifically from a Sumerianastrolabe [7]; while the pawns typical pieces that advance after throwing dice would come from India, from the gamespachisi / gyan chauper.[8]

Thaayam and Pachisi / Chaupur, taken fromChess A living fossil by Gerhard Josten

The first proto-variant of chess, according to Josten, which wasthe product of this confluence, would have had a circular board (in the style of Byzantine chess), which would later be replaced by a square board, also contributed by the Indians, from ashtpada. At that time, a game could have emerged in India for four participants (with the use of the dice), chaturanga; while the gamexiangqiappeared in China, with its special characteristics (among them the presence of a river, which it inherits from the liubo). This is also stated by Petzold[9] who, in addition to supporting this hypothesis, considers that these contributions, coming from India and China, were made independently and simultaneously.

Living and extinct chess variants, taken from Chess A living fossil by Gerhard Josten

In short, these contributions support the theory that chess originated from an action typical of cultural syncretism, locating the initial event somewhere in Central Asia between 50 BC and 200 AD, during the period of the Kushan Empire.[10]

According to Cazaux, strenghtening the idea that the game originated in Central Asia:

There is no doubt that chess is... an Asian game. Three regions may claim to be their birthplace: Northern India; Central Asia, from Iran to Turkestan;and Eastern China. No one can object that there is a genetic linkage of all forms of chess that come from those areas.

In conclusion, the theory that points to a cultural confluence as the origin of chess, which was recently conceived, is highly persuasive. However, it is very difficult to prove it for various reasons, at least from a factual point of view. First, because of its own characteristics: since it is a process, and not a punctual fact, it is more difficult to catchit, and consequently explainit in a given moment of time; the same difficulty arises regarding the place where it happened. Secondly, due to the impossibility of finding literary sources that could have included the mention of a collective construction: generally speaking, stories have a strong nationalist bias; in this context, it is difficult to find claims for an invention that is not of ones own exclusive heritage.[11]

However, there is the possibility that archeological findings chess pieces or boards will support thissyncretic theory, as long as they coincidewith the places of the Silk Route in whichthe games would have converged, provided that they are datedwithin the lifespan ofthe Kingdom of Bactria or the Kushn Empire.

Therefore, and as it happens with regard to the possible findings that could arise supporting the other hypotheses about the origin of chess, nothing is set in stone yet. There is a wide field still to be explored. The historical search necessarily continues. We find ourselves following a path whose goal, being somewhat closer, cannot yet be clearly seen.

Part 1: Introduction | Part 2: India| Part 3: China| Part 4: Egypt|Part 5:Myths, legends

[2] There is no agreement about the sequence that was given regarding the order of precedence of these Indian games. For Cox the chaturaji was first, while for Jones that place was occupied by chaturanga. From Murray onwards this last theory has been imposed. Forbes even speculated that the chaturaji, rather than a game, could only be a chaturanga position, in its four-person mode, which is verified when one of the participants captures two of the three rival kings. In Theory of the Games it is usually discussed, without conclusive answer, which sequence should be more probable: if the evolution goes from simplification or instead if goes in the search of a greater complexity. In the first case the chaturaji should be prior; on the contrary it would be chaturanga. An analysis of this kind has been made about the order in which conventional chess and Tamerlanes chess (or big chess) appeared. In the search for the correct explanation, we should not forget the existence of a four-handed chess, aided by two dice, with the known pieces (chariot, horse, elephant, king and pawns) on a 64-square board which is mentioned by the Arabic sage al-Brn in Ta'rikh al-Hind (Chronicles of India), a classic book dated in the year 1030, at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/digital/collections/cul/texts/ldpd_5949073_001/ldpd_5949073_001.pdf

[3] The Kushan Empire was based ethnically on a tribe that came from China which, in a test of the prevailing syncretism, took for itself the Hellenistic cultural legacy and also incorporated concepts of Indian Shivaism.

[5] It has also been said that this elimination of the dice occurred in India itself when Hinduism (which had a more rigid view of the bets associated with dice) takes over cultural controlwith the Gupta Empire, whichruled the Indian subcontinent between the fourth and sixth centuries of the Christian era.

[7] Because of this astrological connection, it is believed that many board games, including old versions of chess, were used as oracles.

[8] We have already seen that for Samsin thepawnsare a Greek contribution, specifically ofpetteia. In his opinion,gyan chauper (chaupur), which would proceed from the Sacred Game of Ur, is the one that contributes the pieces. But there is a problem in this regard:pachisiis not such an old game,asit is usually located only starting from the fourth century of the Christian era, so that the time frame inwhichit could have beena predecessort of the game that was born on the silk route, although it exists, is too narrow. This is not the case ofgyan chauper, which could have existed inprehistoric times.

[9] Source: Das knigliche Spie, Leipzig edition, 1987, p. 19, quote taken from Josten's work.

[10] Always within the path of the Silk Route, it has been claimed thatthe meeting point of the games could have been an oasis in the current Chinese location of Kashgar (where the Kushn people once established a Kingdom); as Horst Remus speculates. Source: The origin of chess and the silk road, at http://silkroadfoundation.org/newsletter/volumeonenumberone/origin.html.

[11] There is a classical exception to this assertion: Persians recognizing the Indian paternity of chess. But this actually occurred in the context of proving their intellectual superiorityand in the understanding that nard was superior to the game coming from India.

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On the origins of chess (6/7) - Chessbase News

World No. 2 Koneru Humpy believes India has a very strong side at the online Chess Olympiad beginning on Friday.

The star-studded squad comprises the likes of five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand, Pendyala Harikrishna, Vidit Gujrathi, Dronavalli Harika, R. Vaishali and teen sensations Nihal Sarin and R. Praggnanandhaa.

I am happy to be part of this team and I hope it will be an exciting tournament, Humpy told Sportstar over phone from Vijayawada on Wednesday. India has good chances but in rapid and blitz chess, reputations don't matter much.

India to take on China in online chess battle

India, which has been seeded directly to the top division, has some strong rivals in Group A. China will of course be a tough challenge, she said. But I think Iran, Germany, Georgia and Vietnam have also some very good players.

Humpy said she started to enjoy playing online chess more after the recent Women's Speed Chess Grand Prix series organised by FIDE. She had reached the final of the last leg.

I wasn't too keen about playing online or speed chess earlier, but I am more comfortable after the Grand Prix, she said.

India opens its campaign with what should be an easy match against Zimbabwe. Later on Friday, India will take on Vietnam and Uzbekistan.

See more here:

Humpy: China will pose tough challenge in Chess Olympiad - Sportstar

The first PogChamps tournament was the sensation of the summer on Twitch. Incredible streamers such as xQc, MoistCr1tikal, and forsen competed for $50,000 in prizes and the title of PogChampion. The first PogChamps broke all chess viewership records and was frequently the number-one most viewed stream on all of Twitch.

Chess.com is thrilled to begin the next PogChamps on August 21 with 14 new streamers such as itshafu, mizkif, and callmecarson. Two wildly popular streamers from the first PogChamps return: xQc and forsen.

Prior to the beginning of the group stages, all competitors will be able to receive live-streamed coaching from Twitch chess stars GM Hikaru Nakamura, WFM Alexandra Botez, IM Levy Rozman, WGM Qiyu Zhou, IM Danny Rensch, and IM Anna Rudolf.

Here's all the information you need to follow the 2020 Chess.com PogChamps:

All Chess.com PogChamps matches will be broadcast live with master commentary on Chess.com/TV.Players may choose to stream as well on their own channels on a delay and will not be permitted to use chat for outside assistance. Players who choose not to stream will be required to join a Zoom call for fair play and broadcast purposes.

Official match times for each game will be posted prior to the subsequent round of play. The dates for each stage of the event are as follows:

Total Prize Fund: $50,000

Each player's winnings are determined by how far they advance into the Chess.com PogChamps.

Group Stage: 16 players, $4,000 prize pool.

Championship Bracket: 8 players, $30,000 prize pool

Consolation Bracket: 8 players, $16,000 prize pool

Groups andSeeding

Group Stage

In the case of a tie on points, the first tiebreak is average CAPS score across all three games.

Championship and Consolation Brackets

The complete field :

Tune in this Friday on August 21 to catch the opening day of the 2020 Chess.com PogChamps. The event will be streamed live on Chess.com/tv.

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The Next PogChamps: All The Information - Chess.com

Azerbaijani filmmaker Ru Hasanovs second feature, The Island Within, tells the story ofan international chess grandmaster from Azerbaijan, played byOrkhan Atamwho gets a chance to challenge the reigning world champion.

He is coached by his strict and deeply traditional father (Vidadi Hasanov) who puts a terrible pressure on him and he finally reaches a breaking point after his beloved grandfather dies. He runs away to a remote island with only one inhabitant. The film make its world premiere in Sarajevos feature competition.

What inspired you to make this film?It all started with an article in The New York Times I stumbled upon, titled A Fathers Pawn by Fred Waitzkin. It was about an uneasy relationship between a chess prodigy from Tatarstan and his father, who also happened to be his coach. It resonated and stuck with me, but not as yet another father-son story. I kept thinking about the metaphysical and mythological elements to the narrative Saturn devouring his son, Antaeus, John Donnes poem No Man Is an Island

And then my father showed me an article about the island of Kurdili, an ex-Soviet farm with herds of wild horses and a single resident, who lived there in complete solitude. These two ideas clashed and gave birth to what became The Island Within.

What was the biggest challenge when you were making it?I am sure a quite a number of my colleagues from every corner of the world can relate when I say that there are times when the established vision formed inside the directors mind is inversely proportional to the allocated budget. Those are the painful moments when you feel like Houdini, who is being handcuffed and sealed inside an oversized milk can filled with water and has to find a way to make a grand escape. However, looking back at the production process, I now feel that maybe the occasional financial constraints led to spontaneous creative decision-making on the spot, which, I want to believe, added some film magic to The Island Within.

Tell me a bit about the music in the film - there is not a lot, but the few times you use it, it is very effective and evocative.To be honest, I think I started making films to compensate for not being able to make music. I am a music nerd to the backbone, but I find it very challenging to use it in a film in an organic fashion. In Chameleon, for instance, my co-director Elvin Adigozel and Idecided not to use it at all.

But here we had this image of a thread that guides you throughout the labyrinth and helps you get back on the right path when feeling lost, mirroring our protagonist. We discussed this concept with our incredible composers Farhad Farzali and Katya Yonder and they came up with this motive, which captures this theme of discovery, nostalgia for childhood and feeling of inner freedom, hitherto unseen. This feeling of surprise from all the sudden lightness and neglect. As for the music in the finale it is a cover of the famous Azerbaijani folk love song Gl Ad (literally, Flower Blooms).

What do you know now that would have helped you to know earlier in your career?So much, really, I wouldnt even know where to start. But its the time-travellers paradox, isnt it? Telling something to my younger self would definitely alternate the future and thus, I wouldnt be the person I am today. All the ups and downs, the traumas and challenges I had to overcome are now a part of me and I take pride in that.

Do you have any first-day rituals on set? Similar to the old naval tradition of breaking a sacrificial bottle of champagne over the bow, we have a tradition to write down the names of the cast and crew on a large plate and shattering it for good luck on the first day of filming. Im not very superstitious, but I appreciate the idea of a ritual unifying everyone involved in the process.

How have the last few months been for you and how do you feel about online screenings where you lack a direct contact with the audience?The last few months have been very busy, but at the same time, exciting and full of pleasant surprises. Thankfully, the technological advancements allow us to communicate in real time across thousands of miles and I will fully take advantage of this in order to be closer to the Sarajevo audience Ill have the honour and pleasure of sharing The Island Within first.

More here:

Sarajevo Q&A: Ru Hasanov on how a real-life story inspired chess drama 'The Island Within' - Screen International

International Chess Federations (FIDE) Honorary Vice President Ian Wilkinson says investigations regarding Jamaican player Rushawn White are still ongoing, but they hope to have a decision later this week. White, a FIDE Online Chess Olympian, has been accused of cheating by the international governing body.

Jamaica Chess Federation President Peter Myers complained that information regarding allegations against White has not been forthcoming from the mother organisation, and that this has made clearing the youngsters name more tedious. However, he said the local federation intends to first meet with local stakeholders before deciding on a way forward.

Nothing has changed, Myers told The Gleaner. We are in the process of determining how to approach it, so we are looking at all our options.

Its very hard when you have zero information and no recourse to get any information. The international body is not providing any information for us to put our case together. But we are talking with our people and will determine a course of action. Mr Wilkinson is a part of the team that will be sitting down with us to determine how to proceed.

Myers says it is not uncommon for chess players to be accused of cheating in online chess, and he says a negative verdict will not affect Whites credibility. However, he wants his name cleared.

This is online chess, not a real over the board play, so he hasnt lost any credibility in terms of real chess, Myers said. This is online chess where anybody can be accused of anything because you are sitting down at home and nobody knows what is going on. It is regular for people to be accused. But online chess is just a filler for COVID-19 until we get back to real chess. So its not a major deal in terms of his credibility because when it comes to physical play there is no way of accusing anybody, because everyone is there.

Wilkinson said that the governing council is still conducting its investigations.

All I can say right now is that I am investigating it with the governing council, he said. I cant say nothing, but we are doing some investigations, so maybe further in the week.

White, who competed in division three of the 2020 FIDE Online Chess Olympiad, was accused by the international governing body of violating its fair play policy. But Myers is bemused as to how FIDE came by the ruling.

Because of the decision, White scored zero for all his matches, despite getting the better of some grandmasters.

Myers said that there has been no sanctions from FIDE for White, and he believes this is because it has no proof to guide in the punishment the player should receive.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

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Chess Federation expecting White verdict this week | Sports - Jamaica Gleaner

Chess in Aruba

Aruba is an island country, situated almost 30 kilometres north of Venezuela, which can be spotted on a clear day. Together with Bonaire and Curaao it forms the so-called ABC islands and is part of the Dutch Caribbean islands, due to their constituency of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Dutch is also the common language used in Aruba, besides English, Spanish andPapiamento.

The most popular sports on this beautiful island with its white beaches are surfing, beach tennis, beach volleyball and baseball. However, the chess federation has no less than 30 active members who have a chess rating.

The country is the smallest of our "Best in" series so far, placed 197th in the world by population and 188th by size. That means, Aruba fits into The Bahamas 77 times and even 165 times into Armenia!

One of the biggest surprises might be though, that their best chess player has a FIDE rating of more than 2400! IM Jasel Lopez tells us how this happened.

Arne Kaehler:Hello Jasel, it is a pleasure having this interview with you. Since many years you have been Aruba's number one. How did you get such a high rating and do you remember when and how you learned to play chess?

Jasel Lopez:Thank you very much for having me. I learned playing chess when I was around 5 years old by my father. He taught me the basics of the game, that my fingers are my enemy, and that I have to think first before moving a piece. Afterwards, my brother and I attended chess lessons from a local chess player, John da Silva, who later on decided to train me privately for a brief period of time. He wanted to train me, because he saw potential in me.

When I started winning back-to-back youth tournaments in Aruba, I aspired to becoming much more than just a chess master. I wanted to be the best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be in Aruban Chess. Through sheer dedication and constant support from my (non-)chess friends and family I can finally say that I am the best there is and the best there was in Aruba. After all, I am the first Aruban who achieved International Master.

Its also worth mentioning that I was fortunate enough to move to The Netherlands to continue my studies after high school. Aruba is an autonomous country within the Royal Kingdom of The Netherlands, which gives us this unique opportunity.

When I moved to Amsterdam, I was a Candidate Master with a mere FIDE rating of 2130. Almost seven years later, here I am as an International Master with a FIDE rating of 2416.

I couldnt have reached such a high rating if I was still in Aruba. We simply dont have enough FIDE-rated tournaments nor do we have master-level players to play against or trainers to help us reach master level.

Jasel Lopez (right) in action with the French Defense

AK: What fascinated you about the game?

JL: When I was younger, mostly the different shapes of the chess pieces and the distinct movement of the pieces. Now that Im older, the problem-solving element in chess and the complexity of the game.

AK: Did you live in a biggercity or in a small place?

JL: Back in Aruba, it doesnt really matter in which city you live in. Aruba is already an extremely small island, with around 100.000 inhabitants. Aruba is smaller than Amsterdam, in size and population! At the moment I reside in Amsterdam, even though very soon Ill move back to Aruba.

AK: How did you get better in chess? Did you read books, did you have a trainer, did you join a club?

JL: I got better by playing a lot of online and offline chess, reading books, going through annotations by strong players and hanging out with chess friends. Also, watching Banter Blitz of IM/GM level and live commentaries of chess tournaments helped me a lot. Its a nice enjoyable way to relax andlearn something from great players at the same time.

AK: Did you or do you have any idols or role models, players that impressed you a lot?

JL: My idols are Anatoly Karpov and Ulf Andersson.

I like their simplistic deep positional playing style and how they make the ordinary looking moves, look extraordinary!

Master Class Vol.6: Anatoly Karpov

On this DVD a team of experts looks closely at the secrets of Karpov's games. In more than 7 hours of video, the authors examine four essential aspects of Karpov's superb play.

AK: Do you have a favourite chess book?

JL: My two all time favourite chess books are Positional Chess Handbook by Israel Gelfer and 101 tips to improve your chess by Tony Kosten. Dont make me have to choose between one of the two. (haha)

AK:How active is the chess scene in Aruba?

JL: Its not active at all. We have only two chess clubs and a handful of chess tournaments on a yearly basis. Also, there arent many active chess players on the island. Not to mention that most of us have a narrow repertoire and we all share a similar playing style.

Flamingos playing the "Bird" opening

AK: What was your first big success? Do you remember how that felt?

JL: My first big success was definitely the Scholastic Chess Tournament in Aruba, which I won. I was around eightyears old. It was my first chess tournament I played in and all the best youth players of the age category (four to twelve) participated in said tournament.

I remember one or two school teachers of my primary school visited the tournament to support me, and a few days after the tournament I was asked to bring my trophy to school to do a "victory lap" to the other classes. In addition, I was also inducted into the Hall of Fame of the school.

The whole process of becoming champion, the support that I received from my family and teachers and the recognition of being a champion at my primary school really gave me a lot of motivation to continue playing chess.

AK:You are an International Master with a current Elo rating of 2416. Tell us a bit about your career: when and how did you achieve your first title and when and how did you become an IM? Are there any moments or games in your career that you remember particularly well?

JL: I obtained my first title back in 2010. At the Subzonal 2.3.5 in Bahamas I scored the required points to obtain the title of Candidate Master. Four years later I obtained the title of FIDE Master at the Subzonal 2.3.5 in Trinidad & Tobago, where once more I scored the required points. And finally in 2019 I obtained the title of International Master. I scored the necessary 3 IM-norms and reached the required FIDE rating of 2400.

In the tournament in which I scored my first norm I needed to score 2/2 out of my last two games to get the norm. My opponents in these two games had an average of 2440 and I had White in both games. In both games I played the wonderful London system and I won them both.

AK: Are you a chess professional or do you have a steady job?

JL: Im still a student with chess as my "side gig", even though Im playing chess more as a hobby. I earned money by either giving chess lessons or by playing for my chess clubs in the Dutch and Belgian league.

Very soon Ill move back to Aruba to take over my fathers company.

AK:Does Aruba support chess players or are chess players independent of the state?

JL: In general chess players dont get much support from the government. The Aruban Chess Federation receives a sum each year to support chess in Aruba, however, its not much.

As I am currently residing in The Netherlands, Im receiving little to no support from the federation.

For instance the qualification system doesnt allow a player of my calibre to represent Aruba at the upcoming prestigious Chess Olympiad, although Im an Aruban and the strongest chess player by far.

Aruba vs France

AK: How do people play, train and compete in Aruba? Are there any strong juniors and is there a vibrant chess scene?

JL: In Aruba most of the players are competing to represent Aruba in regional tournaments and/or to qualify for the Olympiad, which takes place every two years.

A few years back, the Aruban Chess Federation introduced the FAA-points system. Its the same as the Grand Prix system of FIDE. I think we have at the moment around 20 tournaments every two years and in each tournament the top six players of the final standing win FAA-points. By the end of the season, the top five players with the most FAA-points earn the right to represent Aruba at the Olympiad.

As to representing Aruba in regional tournaments, the ones who have accumulated the most FAA-points before the regional tournament, earnthe right to represent Aruba.

As to youth players, we have a few very talented juniors. Their FIDE rating doesnt represent their strength. They achieved a low FIDE rating, because they started playing in regional junior events where their opponents also had a low FIDE rating. As they become older and stronger, their FIDE rating still stays approximately the same due to a lack of FIDE tournaments they are able to play.

AK: How would you like to promote and support chess in Aruba?

JL: To be honest, I havent put much thought into this. I could see myself training ambitious chess players and organizing or sponsoring chess events on the island.

With 365 days of summer, it is easy to enjoy the many beaches in Aruba (this picture shows Eagle Beach)

AK: Are you using ChessBase in Aruba?

JL: Of course! Its a must if one wants to improve his/her game or become a chess trainer.

AK: If you look back at your career: what was the most remarkable moment?

JL: I would say my most remarkable moment was my round 6 game at the Central American & Caribbean U20 in Venezuela. Back then I was a Candidate Master, and I was paired against another Candidate Master from Panama. Up to this point my opponent was leading the tournament with a perfect 5/5 socre, beating three of the top five seeds, while I had 3/5. Many believed that I would lose, however I proved them wrong and managed to beat him. I havent won the tournament, but I sure made my presence felt at the tournament.

AK: What is your favourite game?

JL: I would say my second round game at the Subzonal 2.3.5 in Trinidad & Tobago, where I obtained my FIDE Master title. I managed to first shut off all of my opponents counterplay on the queenside and afterwards won the game by launching a mating attack on the Kingside.

AK: Thank you very much for this insightful interview.

JL: It was very nice indeed, my pleasure.

Here are some games and annotations by Jasel Lopez.

Continue reading here:

The Best in... Aruba - Chessbase News

Anand, who is part of the Indian team for the FIDE (International Chess Federation) Online Olympiad 2020 from 21-23 August, has offered no reviews of his performance. The tournaments online-only format, necessitated by the covid-19 pandemic, meant there were no post-match media interactions either. But for all that he left unsaid, he has been open about his prospects for a while now. In his autobiography Mind Master, released last year, he wrote that hes in the sport for the joy of playing (rather) than the pursuit of ranking. For running into greying old buddies and players old enough to be our sons; for telling the world we still love a good fight; and for the odd title we might luck out on."

At 50, he is the oldest player in top-tier competitive chess from India. The latest FIDE ratings place him 15th in the world; P. Harikrishna and Vidit Gujrathi trail him at 20th and 24th, respectively. Anand has been Indias top-ranked player for most of the past three decades. His hard work, perseverance and ability to play across all formats led to a revolution in Indian chess. When he achieved the grandmaster (GM) title in 1988, it was a first for India. India now has 66 GMs, the fifth highest in the world.

Yet, even as Indias tally of chess GMs increases, most players cant seem to keep up the momentum to excel on the world stage. India only has four players in the world top 100. Among women, who are ranked separately, India has seven players in the top 100. After Magnus Carlsen beat Anand to win the world championship in 2013, no Indian has been able to make it beyond the qualifiers to challenge himexcept Anand himself. Koneru Humpy, ranked second in the world in womens rankings, came closest to the world title in 2011, finishing as a runner-up.

In China, they say Ding Liren can be the next world champion," says Praveen Thipsay, a chess GM from Mumbai and a trainer. In the US, Fabiano Caruana (world No.2) or Wesley So (world No.8) could be that. That way, we dont have too many players whom we can project to be world champions today."

For the most part, chess in India flourished not because of the state but in spite of it. Archaic rules and a chronic lack of funding often came in the wayand still do. Manuel Aaron, Indias first international master (IM), a title short of GM, recalled in an interview with The Times Of India in 2013 that he couldnt go to Delhi to receive the Arjuna Award in the 1960s because of financial constraints. The award came by post. Broken," he added. In 1987, a year before he turned GM, Anand had to wait eight months for permission to import a computer. R.B. Ramesh, a chess GM turned coach, tells Mint he had to pose as a school student at age 18 to secure an internet connection in the late 1990s.

Earlier, a boy taking up chess professionally was considered a gone case," recalls Varugeese Koshy, an IM from Bihar and president of the Chess Players Forum. But as Anand notched up wins and records, it prompted a shift in attitudes. In the past 20-25 years, chess has become an alternative career. Private sponsors started coming in, government companies (like banks, petroleum and railways) started giving players jobs."

Two factors worked in its favour: A chess board came cheap, and many middle-class parents wanted their children to pursue it seriously, even if only in the hope of them landing a government job. In Europe, you dont start getting professional coaching at 7-8. They want their kids to decide," says Thipsay. Here, the advantageor disadvantage, depending on how you see itis that parents dont give much of an option to children."

States like Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, where Anand was born, led the way by making chess compulsory in schools. Today, 24 of the countrys 66 GMs come from Tamil Nadu, including two of the youngest GMs in history: R. Praggnanandhaa and D. Gukesh, both of whom qualified at age 12. In the last 20 years, India has had several successes at world youth chess championships. Since 2000, its men and women chess players have won the under-18 thrice, the under-16 four times, under-14 seven times, under-12 eight times and under-10 nine times. The latest triumph came last year, when 14-year-old Praggnanandhaa won the world under-18 chess championship.

Despite recording high levels of success in youth championships, not many seem to keep up the wins as they turn older. Says Thipsay, The entire system is geared towards making GMs. A sense of complacency seems to set in after."

At the elite stage, a players success can depend on the coaches they can afford. And good coaches come at a cost. According to an ESPN report last month, Vidit Gujrathi pays 400 ( around 35,000) for a 6-hour session. Baskaran Adhiban, ranked fourth in India, pays 60 an hour. Both are employed by public sector undertakings and can afford it, but those without jobs or sufficient sponsorship have to pass up opportunities for quality training.

At the highest level, the opponents look for all kinds of weaknesses of the opponents," says Thipsay. If you dont play well, if, say, you tend to not play well if your C6 square is not protected, they will prepare for that." So the chess body needs to organize tournaments to get the top players, or super GMs", to play against each other, he adds. But in India there are barely any such tournaments organized." An estimated 150-200 players fly to Europe every year for such events. But not everyone can afford it.

P. Harikrishna, the 1996 world under-10 champion, currently ranked second in India, believes the absence of such tournaments did have some impact on his growth curve. He cites the instance of his wins in under-10 and under-14 world chess championships. On both occasions, Teimour Radjabov from Azerbaijan was the runner-up. Today, Radjabov is the world No.9 and a three-time challenger for the World Chess Championship. Harikrishna is world No.20.

At a young age, Radjabov played in the Linares tournament in Spain," Harikrishna says. The tournament, held in Spain every year, is known as the Wimbledon of chess". When you play the best in the world, you learn a lot, no matter how you play.... Its a hypothetical thing to say but had I played such events at an early stage, things might have been much better for me."

Bharat Singh Chauhan, secretary of the All India Chess Federation (AICF), says they have tried to make the most of their resources. Today, he says, the AICF organizes a number of youth championships at the state and national levels. Top-ranked national players are sent abroad for exposure trips", their stay and travel expenses for world tournaments paid for. In recent years, the AICF has also started a sessions for young players parents in an attempt to prevent burn-out among youngsters.

AICFs annual budget is about 8 crore. It costs up to 5 crore to organize a tournament featuring elite players like Anand or Carlsen," says Chauhan. I would rather invest that amount in a chess school and have thousands more players coming up."

A possible solution could be to set up a chess league, on the lines of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Although this is part of AICFs 2020 vision" document, as uploaded on its website, Singh says they ruled out its formation due to some issues". R.B. Ramesh, who quit as chief selector at the AICF last month citing interference", says the federation was unsure chess could be marketed as a spectator sport. However, as Harikrishna points out, several countries like China or Iran have a chess league. You wont believe it, but even Bangladesh does".

The erstwhile Soviet Union had a system backing its players; a similar model is now under way in China. In the US, an academy by billionaire Rex Sinquefield has been leading the chess renaissance in the hope of creating the next Bobby Fischer".

But for all the systemic issues, says R.B. Ramesh, one cant discount the fact that India is one of the fastest growing countries in chess. We started from a point when we didnt have books, internet, media attention or private sponsorships. Today, we are producing three-four GMs every year. That is huge," says Ramesh.

India are seeded seventh in the FIDE Online Olympiad. The average rating of the team (2419) does not reflect our true playing strength," team captain Gujrathi told The Hindu last month. Our juniors are most talented and grossly under-rated (as per rapid ratings)." Although India have only won a medal oncea bronze in 2014Gujrathi said the team this year was among the favourites".

World champions are not produced because we want it," says Ramesh. Anand is a one-time phenomenon. When Bobby Fischer became world champion, chess in the US was non-existent. Norway is the size of Chennai, yet it produced a Carlsen. Given where we started, and where we are, I feel we are just as capable as anyone else."

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Chess: Why hasnt India produced another Viswanathan Anand? - Livemint

The amber chess set made around 1690 has returned to the city after being bought by the Gdask Museum. chrisities.com

A magnificent amber chess set one of just four similar ones that have survived to this day has returned to Gdask after over 300 years.

Located on Polands Baltic coast, Gdask has long been associated with amber, fossilized tree resin valued for its golden colour and natural beauty.

The rare set came with a hefty price tag: the museum bought it for around 2.4 million zoty (over 0.5 million euros).chrisities.com

This peaked around the 1600s, when local craftsmen made sophisticated amber goods that were valued not only in Gdask, but around Europe.

These include an amber chess set made around 1690, which has returned to the city after being bought by the Gdask Museum.

Museum director Waldemar Ossowski said: Each (piece) was made at the master level with great attention to detail. Only a skilled master could have made them.chrisities.com

Museum director Waldemar Ossowski said: Amber items are delicate and sensitive, and the susceptibility to damage increases with the age of the item, which is why many amber masterpieces have survived in fragments and are missing many figurines.

This makes the chess set extremely rare: the only comparable ones are in the collection of the Danish royal family, the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg and the Grnes Gewlbe museum in Dresden.

The amber chess set is already in the Gdask Museums collection and will be on display at the new Amber Museum located inside the citys historical Great Mill from June 2021.chrisities.com

The chess set that will go to Gdask is one of four that have been preserved. It has all the figurines. Each one was made at the master level with great attention to detail. Only a skilled master could have made them, Ossowski added.

The set may have been created in the workshop of Michael Redlin, one of the finest amber craftsmen of his time, who was active in Gdask in the second half of the 17th century. It made its way to Amsterdam and later to Blair Castle in Scotland.

The only comparable sets are in the collection of the Danish royal family, the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg and the Grnes Gewlbe museum in Dresden.chrisities.com

The rare set came with a hefty price tag: the museum bought it for around 2.4 million zoty (over 0.5 million euros).

The money came from ticket sales and from EU funds; specifically, from the Poland-Russia Cross-border Cooperation Programme 20142020.

The set may have been created in the workshop of Michael Redlin, one of the finest amber craftsmen of his time, who was active in Gdask in the second half of the 17th century.Gdansk.pl

The amber chess set is already in the Gdask Museums collection and will be on display at the new Amber Museum located inside the citys historical Great Mill from June 2021.

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Gorgeous amber chess set returns to Gdask after 300 years - The First News