GM Hikaru Nakamura, 2770 ELO on FIDE list. Photo by Daaim Shabazz. The pairings of the first round of the FIDE World Cup were released in July and after a couple of changes will commence on August 26th in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Russia will bring a delegation of 26 players. China will bring nine players; the [...]

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In a recent ChessBase article, Uzbekistan’s Rustam Kasimdzhanov made a pronouncement about the state of professional chess and its appeal to sponsors. In a very stark admission, Kasimdzhanov opened with, I am writing this open letter, addressed both to FIDE and the entire chess playing world, due to a certain crisis, in which our noble [...]

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The Chess Olympiad is less than one month away and there are continued grumblings about the logistical arrangements. One month ago there was a story about the venue in Khanty-Mansiysk still being under construction. There was also the revelation that the organizers may have chosen a venue unable to accommodate all the attendees. Israel Gelfer, [...]

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Sweden’s GM Pontus Carlsson at 2008 European Championship. Photo from www.eicc2008.com. From time-to-time there is a question raised about the presence of Black players in the chess world. Players in this demographic can be seen at tournaments around the world and are seemingly enthusiastic about competition. However, those who have found success at the highest [...]

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Baraka Shabazz’s demure pose is a testament to her confidence and poise. This photo was featured in Chicago Metro News, December 4, 1982 as part of Tony Brown Journal segment. Baraka Shabazz (pronounced ba-roka sha-boz) is a famous name is Black chess lore and a name that exudes power. Her arrival on the scene was [...]

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Mikhail Botvinnik, Soviet School icon. Chess has a storied history. There are many theories of its origin stemming from either India or China and going to Persia through the Middle East across the Sahara and into Europe. Some say that chess went through Central Asia and into Eurasia. Regardless of where chess started and how [...]

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Tomorrow Viswanathan Anand will set foot down on the African continent. This is reportedly his first visit which is significant for a number of reasons. First, no other sitting World Champion has visited the continent in recent memory (or perhaps ever). This is revolutionary for a number of reasons and may represent a “homecoming” of [...]

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For decades, there has been a characterization of chess that may be considered flattering by some and insulting by others. It is the idea that chess is somehow associated with those who are socially-retarded, but intellectually overdeveloped. GEEK (n.) A person regarded as foolish, inept, or clumsy. A person who is single-minded or accomplished in [...]

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Dr. René Gralla has done an interesting piece on a version of chess called “Senterej” which originates in ancient Abyssinia (Ethiopia). Gralla contends: Historians and experts in cultural studies always look towards India, Persia and Arabia – and some even turn to China, more recently – when they search for the origins of chess. But [...]

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If you are reading this story you are probably one of the millions who have an appreciation for the royal game of chess… or at least have some intrigue. If one stops to think about the game and sport, perhaps a common question has arisen, “Why Chess?” “Why have I decided to spend so much [...]

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The 2009 edition of Corus is underway as three high-powered sections have assembled in Wijk aan Zee, the Netherlands. Group “A” is headlined by world’s #3 Vassily Ivanchuk of the Ukraine. China’s Wang Yue and Cuba’s Lenier Dominguez are two newer faces in the elite. Dominguez is making his first appearance in Corus “A”. Corus, [...]

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There is an article in the Scientific American titled, “Men’s Superiority in Chess Explained.” While the title of this post bears a question mark, the article’s title did not. The article claims to explain the rationale of why men dominate chess. They basically say that since there are more men playing then they have a [...]

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Five years ago, I penned an essay titled, “Prison Chess: The Game Called Life.” Chess is a game that holds a lot of intrigue among prisoners. There are reports that have found that chess helps prisoner behavior and also reduces recidivism rates. However, it is very difficult for chess players to communicate with prisoners unless [...]

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This was an interesting question that was posed to each participant in the FIDE Grand Prix tournament which just ended yesterday. The question was “Is higher education necessary for professional chess-players?” The answers from the Chess Grandmasters (GMs) ranged from ambivalence to advocacy. Some of the answers seem to be addressing separate questions. Many players [...]

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Approximately one month ago, teams trekked across the globe to attend the premier team event in chess… the biennial Chess Olympiad. Many federations make plans to attend well in advance and the nationalistic fervor heightens as the date approaches. However, the Dresden Olympiad had a number of rule changes. Some were mentioned in GM Bartlomiej [...]

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ARMENIA, GEORGIA WIN GOLD! Armenia men rejoicing over 2nd consecutive Olympiad gold. Photo by Daaim Shabazz. The legendary Maia Chiburdanidze (center) was clearly the leader. Photo by Daaim Shabazz. The 38th Chess Olympiad ended with a rousing Closing Ceremony as traditional chess powers Armenia (open) and Georgia (women) won the gold. The presence of Armenian [...]

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Illinois Senator Barack Obama has been elected the 44th President of the United States of America handily defeating Arizona Senator John McCain. In this historic event, it turns the page in another chapter of Black history. Having only been declared eligible to vote in 1964, this is a historic moment resonating throughout the African Diaspora. [...]

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New in Chess (NIC) has been the world’s premier chess magazine for decades. Its slick layout and improved design has been the staple of players’ libraries and sets the standard for chess journalism. Dirk Jan ten Geuzendem has been leading the charge. When the magazine introduced its new color format years ago (2005, #7), it [...]

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No… this is not an article about the southeast Asian economies (e.g., Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan). It is an article about the rise of chess in the Asian region. Over the last 20 years, Asian has begun to assert itself and is producing a massive wave of talent. This talent will certainly [...]

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In what appears to be an ongoing impasse between three African nations and FIDE Accounts Office, Bermuda’s Nigel Freeman (FIDE Treasurer) has written a letter to Olympiad organizer banning Ethiopia, Uganda and Nigeria from the event in Dresden. In general, nations failing to meet financial obligations to FIDE and have been barred from rating lists [...]

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