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March 15, 2024
2024 African Individual Chess Championships (Accra, Ghana)
The 2024 African Individual Chess Championships (AICC) have begun! Twenty-four countries have assembled in Accra-Ghana to compete for glory, titles,…
March 15, 2024
With two GM norms, Hardaway charts course
Brewington Hardaway is coming off of his second GM norm in the New York Invitational. The 14-year old International Master…
March 15, 2024
13th All-African Games (Accra, Ghana)
The recently concluded All-African Games were held in Ghana’s capital, Accra, and chess was one of the events. The last…
March 14, 2024
“Jayvon Davis Express” wins in Delaware!
Jayvon Davis won the under-1600 section of the Delaware State Open last weekend allowing him to use his winning method…
February 27, 2024
Tani Adewumi gets required IM norm!
Tani Adewumi earned his fourth IM norm at the Southwest Open in Irving, Texas (outside of Dallas) last weekend. It…
February 25, 2024
Rochelle Ballantyne on chess career, new path
Rochelle Ballantyne has come a long way since starring in “Brooklyn Castle.” In a recent article on chess.com, she reflects…
February 24, 2024
Shakira Luster: Marist’s Chess Queen
Shakira Luster recently captained the Marist chess team at the Illinois State High School team championship scoring a sparkling 7/7.…
February 19, 2024
Black History Month 2024 Tribute: Week 3
Greetings everyone! I hope you have enjoyed the first two sets of puzzles for this year’s Black History Month tribute.…
February 14, 2024
How Will Chess Address Cyberbullying?
Online bullying or “cyberbullying” has become a household term to describe a dangerous social interaction that may involve degrading insults,…
February 12, 2024
The Chess Drum is 23!
Hello everyone! The Chess Drum has covered a lot of chess events over the past 23 years. This coverage has…
February 12, 2024
Black History Month 2024 Tribute: Week 2
Greetings everyone! As we continue to celebrate Black History Month, February 12th marks the 23rd anniversary of The Chess Drum.…
February 6, 2024
Black History Month 2024 Tribute: Week 1
During this Black History Month 2024, The Chess Drum will present four videos featuring puzzles of several of the chess…
February 1, 2024
Chess24.com shuts down!
In a very surprising move, chess24.com has begun the process of closing the domain despite a popular following for nearly…
January 14, 2024
Is Chess a “Life Game”?
The African-American Chess Association (Facebook) recently posted a podcast conversation of hip-hop artists discussing chess. Chess and hip-hop have a…
January 6, 2024
Joseph Methu wins Kenyan Chess Championship… and car!
Joseph Methu won the 2023 Kenya National Chess Championship, and with it, drove away with a new car (worth 1.3…
December 31, 2023
The Chess Drum’s Highlights of 2023
Our chess highlights of 2023 will show how controversy served as the mainstay of headlines. We even saw a player…
December 26, 2023
Wafa, Djeroud win African Juniors 2023!
Over a week ago, Africa crowned its Junior champions, with Hamed Wafa (Egypt) and Chahrazed Djeroud (Algeria) earning the continental…
December 24, 2023
Has cheating (accusations) in chess gone too far?
Cheating has remained in the chess headlines since the Carlsen-Niemann controversy in September 2022. In the past two years, chess…
December 22, 2023
11-year-old Deborah Quickpen, Nigerian Chess sensation
Deborah Ebimobo-ere Quickpen, Nigerian Women’s National ChampionPhoto by Botswana Chess Federation Nigeria’s Deborah Quickpen recently earned acclaim after winning the…
December 21, 2023
UAE to host 2028 Chess Olympiad
FIDE General Assembly determined that the 2028 Chess Olympiad will be held in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Some 42 years after…
December 18, 2023
FM Jimmy Canty on Chessable!
FM Jimmy Canty III has become one of the most popular and visible online chess personalities. His rise to stardom…
November 30, 2023
Hardaway gets 1st GM norm, clinches IM title
Brewington Hardway earned his first Grandmaster norm at the U.S. Masters in Charlotte. The 14-year-old had a blistering month of…
November 24, 2023
Odafe Efemuai… from Delta State to New York State
Odafe Benedict Efemuai is a long way from the Delta State region of Nigeria. The 2016 Nigerian champion has found…
November 11, 2023
When will the U.S. host a Chess Olympiad?
Back in 2002, The Chess Drum ran a short article by Dan Lucas that mentioned the U.S. possibly being the…
October 31, 2023
Classical Chess is still King… Here’s Why
In post-quarantine times, chess has returned to its classical roots, but quick chess has surged and even surpassed all forms…
October 5, 2023
Turks & Caicos on chess map!
Ian Wilkinson leaving the Women’s World Cup held in Australia. The Jamaicans made the round of 16.Photo courtesy of Ian…
September 30, 2023
“The Final Attack,” Chess Teachings of Emory Tate
FM Todd Andrews recently released a manual, The Final Attack a tribute to the lessons of International Master Emory Tate.…
September 23, 2023
After World Cup, Where is African Chess?
One month ago, African Chess was on display. Twenty-two of Africa’s finest chess players (17 Open and 5 Women) participated…
September 4, 2023
Aftermath of Niemann/Chess.com/Carlsen agreement
One week ago, Chess.com released a statement announcing the reinstatement of Hans Niemann on chess.com and an end to the…
August 25, 2023
Carlsen wins 2023 FIDE World Cup!
Magnus Carlsen added another accolade to his already storied career by winning the World Cup. He overcame a wonderful performance…