Opinion/Editorials
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Carlsen-Niemann… good for chess?
Today, one of the most anticipated events will take place in Paris, France, with Magnus Carlsen facing nemesis Hans Niemann. The two will be battling in a semifinal match in chess.com Speed Chess Championship. Hikaru Nakamura will play Alireza Firouzja in the other match. The buzz centers around the 2022…
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Why are numbers declining in Black Chess?
There seems to be a decline in the number of Black players participating in major U.S. tournaments. The World Open is one of America’s marquee events and is typically a chess tournament where many players want to make magic happen. It is also the tournament that acts as a sort…
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The Rise of Deborah Quickpen
In the aftermath of the “Battle of the Ages” match between Nigerians Tunde Onakoya and rising star Deborah Quickpen, we are possibly witnessing the beginning of a new era in African chess. While many are raving about the top-level prodigies from around the world (specifically Asia), Africa has yet to…
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Reflections on the 2024 HBCU Chess Classic
Nearly a month has passed since the HBCU Chess Classic ended in Atlanta, Georgia. Held April 20th and 21st, it was the second edition of an important movement for chess at “HBCUs” or Historically-Black Colleges & Universities. Certainly, getting chess on more HBCU campuses may help students see the intrinsic…
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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, false characterizations, extortion, blackmailing and predatory stalking. On January 31, 2024, there was a U.S. Senate Judiciary hearing on child safety. It focused on social media platforms with the idea…
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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 long history and are heard in many classic songs. Young Guru (Gimel Keaton) weighed in on whether chess is a metaphor for life or if it is a strategy game.…
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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 has continued to grab international headlines. This is not because of the new World Champion, Ding Liren, or all the rising young players gracing the scene. It is not because…
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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 host of the 2004 Chess Olympiad. It was during a time of transition for U.S. Chess and at the time, Florida was vying to become the center of U.S. and…
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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 of chess in terms of sheer popularity. Popular streamers like Hikaru Nakamura and Levy Rozman have amassed huge followings and the online platform has made chess accessible to a wider…
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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 in the World Cup tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan. Magnus Carlsen scored a historic victory winning the final over phenom Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa. The results of the tournament clearly showed that a…
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