A total of 20 tournaments have been played so far under the Khelo Chess India Series organized by ChessBase India in Bhopal, the state capital.

And now in this series, the first Khelo Chess India Inter School Trophy was organized. This one-day chess tournament was organized at St. Xavier's School in four different categories.

A total of 235 players from almost all the major schools of Bhopal participated in this inter-school chess tournament. The tournament was an individual Swiss chess tournament and individual medals were awarded. The team championship was decided on the basis of combined scores of top 5 players of each school in the boys category, and top 3 players in the girls category.

Carmel Convent School won the team championship trophy in the under-12 age group in the girls category.

In the individual event, Arna Chaubey (DPS Nilbad), Tanu Sinha (St. Xavier) and Mrida Singh (The Sanskaar Valley) won gold, silver and bronze medals respectively.

St. Xavier's School won the team championship trophy in the Under-12 Open Team Championship.

While in the individual event, Ishan Singh Khanuja (The Sanskaar Valley), Madhvendra Pratap Sharma (St. Xavier's), and Bhavya Agarwal (Sagar Public School) won the gold, silver and bronze medals respectively.

The Sanskaar Valley School won the team championship trophy in the Girls under-19 category.

While in the individual event, Purva Pachoria (St. Montfort School), Tanu Sinha (St. Xavier) and Mrida Singh (The Sanskaar Valley) won the gold, silver and bronze medals respectively.

St. Xavier's School won the Team Championship trophy in Boys Under-19 Team Championship.

While in the individual event, Iman Ahmed (St. Xavier), Aditya Singh Jaat (St.Xavier) and Shubh Jain (The Sanskaar valley School) won the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals respectively.

In the Under 15 age group, which was a part of the Under 19 team championship, the individual medals in the boys category were Abeer Dubey (Gold, The Sanskaar Valley School), Arnav B Kumar (Silver, St. Xavier's School) and Kavya Jain (Bronze, World Way International).

In the girls category, Kavya Jain (World Way School) and Ira Sharma (DPS Nilbad), Samriddhi Chandel (Sagar Public School) and Anvi Jalani (The Sanskaar Valley) won gold, silver and bronze medals respectively.

As a tournament director, this tournament was very special for me. Because, I believe that only chess in schools can take this game further in the country. It can also play an important role in forming good citizens of the country.

Siblings Aishwin Daniel and Aishwarya Daniel, who are not only FIDE rated players but also alumni of St. Xavier's School, played a special role in organizing this tournament. Apart from these two, many other alumni also played a very important role in this event.

St. Xavier School won two trophies and was the best school!

This article was translated to English by Himank Ghosh.

Original post:

St. Xavier, The Sanskaar Valley and Carmel Convent win Khelo ... - ChessBase India

Hoor Fatima is a remarkable chess prodigy, and her journey is nothing short of astonishing. At the tender age of just three, an age when most toddlers are learning to speak, Fatima embarked on her chess journey. What sets her apart is not just her early start but her remarkable accomplishment as the youngest champion in the 2nd Kashmir Open International FIDE Rated Chess Tournament. This year's tournament, organized by the Kashmir Chess Club, took place at the Indoor Sports Complex Polo Ground in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. Commencing on June 10 and concluding on October 12, the tournament spanned five intense days, drawing participants from various parts of India, including players from Russia. It may well mark the emergence of a new generation of sporting heroes in Kashmir. Hoor Fatima has garnered global attention, defying all expectations for someone her age. Her victory in the FIDE Chess Championship is truly exceptional. In the Kashmir community, she serves as a beacon of hope and motivation, particularly for children who find inspiration in her remarkable journey. Bilal Ahmad and Salam Ashai, recognizing the importance of education and chess in nurturing well-rounded individuals, have played a pivotal role in nurturing this three-year-old chess prodigy to reach the pinnacle of excellence in sports. Hoor's triumph also underscores the significance of nurturing young talents from remote parts of the country, such as Kashmir. The tournament is conducted in accordance with the rules of the Federation Internationale des Echecs (FIDE), employing the FIDE Swiss System with nine rounds. Fatima's historic win as the youngest champion of the 2nd Kashmir Open International FIDE Rated Chess Tournament has drawn widespread attention. Her story of resilience and brilliance has been covered by top outlets, including Kashmir Life and JK Chrome.

Read more:

Meet Hoor Fatima, a three-year-old chess prodigy - IndiaTimes

On Oct. 5, Case Western Reserve Universitys Amateur Radio Club played a game of chess against The Ohio State University (OSU) over radio. This match was originally proposed in 1912, but was never formally hosted until a group of CWRU students found old newspaper clippings and decided to re-propose the tournament.

The Case Tech, the Case School of Applied Sciences student newspaperand one of the precursors to The Observerstated that Case students, lovers of chess, are planning to play the game wireless, with players attending Ohio State [U]niversity at Columbus with the news that the then Wireless Club had procured a Morse code transceiver.

Although we couldnt find any official records showing if the chess match ever happened, despite rumors of it happening in the 50s, it was confirmed in December 1912 that they got a wireless [Morse code transceiver] working, Adam Goodman, president of Case Amateur Radio Club, said about where the ideas for the tournament started.

When they found the old newspaper clippings, Goodman and his club reached out to OSU to re-propose the tournament. Though, unlike the previous attempt a century ago, many other schools, as far away as Texas, wanted in on the tournament.

Goodman discussed this project with other collegiate radio clubs who expressed interest.

We figured it would be nice to add them into the fun, he said.

In terms of how the competition works, he notes that players are encouraged to play over Morse code, the same way clubs would have done over 100 years ago.

Goodman also explains additional rules to ensure fair matches during the tournament. Clubs are allowed to ask any university-affiliated human for help. However computers are not allowed to be used for anything except communication. Otherwise, all standard chess rules apply.

The tournament started in a round-robin phase and plans to move into an elimination phase in mid-October.

CWRU started the tournament off strong with a win against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) on Sept. 26. Unfortunately, CWRU lost in the long anticipated game against OSU.

This tournament is important for anyone interested in ham radio, chess, weird CWRU lore and supporting the university, Goodman says about the importance of the tournament. He stresses the tournaments importance to technicians in his club.

Overall it was quite a unique experienceIve played chess for many years, but never over the radio, first-year student Andrew Stappenbeck, main chess player for the tournament, said about participating in the competition. The atmosphere in the radio shack was positivewe were excited after beating RPI, but everyone was still pretty positive after losing to OSU. Regardless of the results of the matches, radio chess was a great time.

We are excited to celebrate ham radios rich legacy on campus by keeping a, quite literally, century-old tradition alive, Goodman said.

Read more from the original source:

110 years in the making: Radio chess competition against The Ohio ... - The Observer

You then need to be able to juggle these and other skills in a timed game and make value judgements about when to think, and when to just react. Sounds easy, right?

RadioTimes.com ranks the 10 best chess players in the world, as well as a few of their distinguishing characteristics.

The Filipino/American star is known for a practical rather than dazzling approach to the game, and particularly excels at Chess960 a version of chess where the pieces start on randomised squares. This version of chess is becoming more popular because it limits the influence of computer preparation.

The Hungarian born Rapport is now based in Romania. Richie is known for innovative choices in the opening phase of the game and tactical creativity, often sacrificing pieces in order to go for checkmate.

One of the many young Indian talents breaking into the chess elite. Gukesh was the third youngest Grandmaster in chess history at age 12, and shows no signs of slowing his ascent. He is known for a well-rounded approach and a cool-headed demeanour.

An amusing social media star known for some of the most nuanced opening knowledge in the world. The Dutch veteran is a perennial top 10 player who still trains hard, hoping to find another gear.

The Russian video game whiz often plays quickly and instinctively. This style leads to some spectacular wins, but also the occasional amateurish oversight. Nepo has twice come runner-up in the chess World Championship cycle and will have at least one more shot to attempt to challenge for the crown.

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Alireza is razor sharp, boasting a dazzling tactical acumen that especially propels his speed chess skills. The young Iranian-born Paris resident is interested in fashion as well as chess, but in the fashion realm, it would be tough to top the style and panache that his chess moves display.

This American chess icon is one of the best speed chess players of all time who has become a Twitch superstar in recent years due to his chess, communication, and multi-tasking prowess. At an age when many chess elites start to decline, Hikaru stays at the top of the chess world, all while insisting that Twitch is his job and competitive chess is now just a hobby.

The reigning World Champion is the first champ to hail from China. Ding won the title, in part, because the #1 player abdicated his crown, but nonetheless is a dazzling player. All of the chess elites are versatile in how they can play, but Ding is best known for a harmonious chess style and a gentle demeanour.

This American star fell just short of winning the World Championship in 2018 but is a constant threat to retake the crown. Fabiano is known for deep opening preparation, and what is known as a concrete style- meaning that he can envision potential sequences with uncanny accuracy, and relies on this skill more than intuition.

The Norwegian legend is the best modern player by far, and many consider him to be the G.O.A.T. Magnus is so far ahead of his peers that he vacated his World Championship title in order to train less rigorously. Nonetheless, Magnus is still comfortably ranked the highest, and plays frequently in non-World Championship events.

You dont get to be #1 without excelling at all aspects of chess, but Magnus is particularly known for his endgame prowess, and for an intuitive and practical style that enables him to effortlessly spot better moves, faster even than his elite peers. Young upstarts like Gukesh, Firouzja, and Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa (another Indian wunderkind) may someday supplant Magnus, but for now he is still the king of the game.

Ben Johnson is the author of new book Perpetual Chess Improvement: Practical Chess Advice from World-Class Players and Dedicated Amateurs. Available from November 2023 on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.

If you're looking for something else to watch, check out our TV Guide or Streaming Guide, or visit our Sport hub for all the latest news.

Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only 10, PLUS a 10 John Lewis and Partners voucher delivered to your home subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

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Best chess players in the world 2023 - Radio Times

On a busy Saturday afternoon at a Starbucks in Garden City, as customers ordered pumpkin spice and strawberry acai drinks, Alexis Crisps black knight and rook chased Kat Hankinsons white king into a corner and finally to checkmate.

The Long Island Womens Chess Club was in session.

Hankinson, 59, a writer from Huntington, and Crisp, 45, a church administrative coordinator from Roosevelt, played on a soft roll-out chessboard whose corners drooped over the edges of a round table.

On this day, the turnout was just these two, but since Hankinson launched the club in early spring at a Starbucks in Melville, she said, it has attracted as many as six women. Players meet on weekends at coffee shops in Nassau and Suffolk and periodically online. They say chess offers 64-square therapy that both challenges and relaxes their minds.

We can slow it all down and analyze it, Hankinson said.

The clubs members are among the many chess players caught up in a global fervor for the 1,500-year-old game not seen since Brooklyns Bobby Fischer became world champion in 1972.

The U.S. Chess Federation, which governs competitions, saw member numbers plunge from a high of 97,000 to 52,000 when the pandemic halted in-person tournaments, and then rebound to 112,800 today. Membership at chess.com, the biggest chess website, has multiplied fourfold from 35 million in June 2020 to 140 million today.

Online chess, which was already becoming popular even without the pandemic, it started to really surge because, obviously, people were stuck at home, said Neal Bellon, founder of the Long Island Chess Club. Many thought, Were bored out of our minds. Lets dust off the chess set, he said.

And on Long Island, Bellon and others involved in the local chess scene say they have seen an uptick in interest this year, with more people turning out to compete or signing up for lessons.

The Queens Gambit TV series, about the rise of a fictional female chess star, has helped fuel the fascination. So have plentiful instructional videos and popular internet streamers such as U.S. grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, the worlds No. 3-ranked player, who engagingly discusses and plays chess for 2.13 million followers on YouTube.

Scott DeMoore, left,of Amityville, makes a move during a game against Ira Hester, of West Babylon,at Tullulah's Restaurant & Bar in Bay Shore. Credit: Jeff Bachner

In Nassau and Suffolk counties, the surge has spawned new groups and energized an existing assortment of clubs and school and library programs.

At Tullulahs Restaurant & Bar in Bay Shore, owner Steven Scalesse livens up Wednesday nights by setting up chess clocks and boards for games among all comers.

Everyones welcome, all levels, he said. No ones the best, no ones the worst ... Im definitely seeing more people coming in.

Hankinson, meanwhile, said The Queens Gambit inspired her to take chess lessons online. Early this year, she used social media to launch the Long Island Womens Chess Club.

Were still a small group, but were always open and inviting more people, she said. Its for women only because I think chess has been very male-dominated.

Hankinson said the women feel comfortable socializing and discussing basics: Develop your pieces, control the center, get the king to safety.

The day at the Starbucks in Garden City, a few men stopped to watch. Some men come up to us and are very nice, Hankinson said. Some start mansplaining.

They come up and tell us where we should move, Crisp said. Im not kidding.

Hankinson said every girl should be taught chess because of what many learn growing up or at least in her generation. You know, she said, look pretty, be nice, be pleasing. There was nothing in the list of priorities about sharpening your mind, being able to make good decisions, planning strategy, prioritizing. These are all intellectual mental skills that we practice and sharpen when were playing chess, and its very empowering.

Sophia Serigano ponders her next move during a meeting of the Long Island Chess Club at the United Methodist Church in East Meadow. Credit: Jeff Bachner

One girl learning those skills is Sophia Serigano, 13, a freshman at North Babylon High School. At a recent Thursday night meeting of the Long Island Chess Club, on the second floor of the United Methodist Church in East Meadow, Serigano was the only girl among more than two dozen men and boys peering over 13 boards.

This was serious chess, with clocks, score sheets and shhh! no talking. Game results can affect U.S. Chess Federation ratings of each players strength.

The Queens Gambit also piqued Seriganos interest, and after playing at home and in a school club, she joined the East Meadow club this summer. As for being the only girl in the room, she said, Sometimes it is a bit intimidating, but its kind of nice at the same time. No one really knows me yet, so everything is like a surprise.

She enjoys concentrating on the board. Its really calming to me, she said. Its like living in a different place just in a couple hours and minutes.

Club founder Bellon, 51, a music teacher at Berner Middle School in Massapequa who also hosts a weekly beginner-friendly podcast called The Chess Angle, said the group started with about a dozen players in 2007 and grew to about 20 regulars. He shut it down for six months during the pandemic but is delighted that participation this year has sometimes reached around 40 players.

We got a surge of newer players, and its still going strong, he said.

Long Island Chess Club members Howard Foster of Smithtown, Daniel Levin of Lindenhurst, and Vincent Giambalvo of West Babylon analyze moves from a previous game. Credit: Jeff Bachner

Another Long Island chess hive is the Bellport Chess Club, where kids ages 6 to 18 play at various sites on Saturdays. Jason Neal, 47, a management consultant from Brookhaven, started the club in 2014.

When they were students at Bellport High School, Neal said he and his twin, Brandon now a retired Suffolk County police officer played on magnetic chess sets during long rides to cross-country meets.

Jason Neal was also a member of the school chess team. He said the game helped him organize his thinking. You have to prioritize your order of movement and consider what your next steps are going to be in anything, not just in chess, but in life, he said.

Two members of the Bellport club are siblings Kevin and Chelsea Gonzalez of East Patchogue, both students at Bellport High School. Kevin Gonzalez, 16, echoed Neals feelings about chess. It helps me think ahead about what I need to accomplish, what I need to do beforehand, so my end goal is easy to achieve, he said.

Kevin Gonzalez plays chess against his sister, Chelsea, at a Bellport Chess Club meetingin East Patchogue. Credit: Kendall Rodriguez

Chelsea Gonzalez, 14, said her brother usually wins their games, but she proudly showed a cellphone photo of a chessboard from the one moment in a decade that she beat Kevin 1:33 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. If I beat him once, she said, I can definitely beat him more!

Said her brother, I was happy for her because it means shes getting better.

Both said they see classmates playing chess on their phones and computers at school.

The game appears to have shaken off its nerdy reputation: You have people who might be a five-star athlete in high school and college or might be someone who doesnt really like to play sports, Kevin Gonzalez said. Everyone can enjoy chess.

The same observation was made by Weijie-Jay Li, 17, a senior at Jericho High School. He is an officer on Jerichos chess team, which has a national reputation as a perennial powerhouse. And he is president of Chessanity, a nonprofit that organizes monthly U.S. Chess-rated tournaments at the George A. Jackson Elementary School in Jericho. Chessanity was formed in 2014 by Warren and Wesley Wang, then high-level players at Jericho.

Every month we see a lot of new players join in, but this year it has been particularly eventful, Li said. We have seen a lot of new faces.

Grandmaster Gennady Sagalchik, who has coached many top scholastic players, including the Wang brothers, runs Long Island ChessMates. It is one of a few instructional organizations that conduct weekly afternoon and evening programs at local schools. Students typically pay about $35 per ChessMates class during a 10-week session.

Sagalchik said he has noticed a very unusual trend this fall in which students are enrolling at advanced ages.

Dozens and dozens of middle school and high school students are signing up for the beginner classes, and we have not seen this in the past, Sagalchik said. I dont know whether its an effect of the pandemic and they just missed those years when they could do it and its a delayed, sort of pent-up demand, so to speak, or whether this is just an online chess phenomenon where the young players are joining chess.com ... and therefore they just want to catch up.

The largest of the local instructional groups is Long Island Chess Nuts, launched in 1996 by Margarita Lanides of Garden City. She said Chess Nuts is teaching in 45 schools this year. Fees run about $15 a class. All children should be exposed to chess, Lanides said. If they want to continue with it, great, but if they dont, at least they know its out there.

Back at the Starbucks in Garden City, Crisp had lost several pieces in the second game. In a last gasp, she checked Hankinsons black king three times before her white king fell.

In a thoughtful moment afterward, Crisp said blunders at the board have helped her endure blunders in life. You dont have to be perfect, she said.

Are you a longtime chess player, or want to learn the game? Here is a sampling of chess clubs, organizations and meetups on Long Island. Contact each for attendance requirements, equipment needs, fees and tournaments:

Lawrence Striegel

More:

Chess on Long Island has risen in popularity, with fans of all ages playing the game - Newsday

The Tamil Nadu State Chess Association (TNSCA) is set to organise 50 IM norm closed circuit tournaments across the state in the next year, it was announced at a press conference here on Saturday.

The schedule for the first ten tournaments was released. Each tournament will be of nine rounds and comprise ten players - likely four or five foreigners and six or five Indians. Among the Indians, three or four players will be from TN, and the rest will be fielded from the other States by the All India Chess Federation (AICF).

Players with an existing IM norm and a 2150 Elo rating will be eligible for the tournaments. The first tournament will take place from October 16 to 21 at Hotel Abu Sarovar Portico here.

READ MORE: India pulls out of World Cadet Chess Championship in Egypt amid Israel-Gaza conflict

The six Indian players participating are S. Harshad from Coimbatore, R. Ashwath from Chennai, Srija Seshadri from Neyveli, H. Goutham Krishna from Kerala, L. Srihari from Pondicherry, and International Master (IM) K. Murugan.

The four foreigners are Grandmaster (GM) Raset Ziatdinov (USA), IM Asylbek Abdyzhapar (Kyrgyzstan), IM David Gochelashvili (Russia), and Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Ayan Allahverdiyeva (Azerbaijan).

Maybe, we can get about 20 IMs in one year. That itself will be a big achievement. Right now, TN has 39 IMs. So, if this 39 becomes 59, it will be a big jump in one year! Of course, we are very hopeful that we get more. But minimum I think well be able to achieve 20, said the TNSCA President M. Manickam.

To become an IM, a player should secure three IM norms and an Elo rating of 2400.

October 16-21, Chennai

October 23-28, Pollachi

October 30-November 4, Madurai

November 6-11, Kodaikanal

November 12-17, Kodaikanal

November 19-24, Chennai

November 26-December 1, Coimbatore

December 3-8, Erode

December 10-15, Salem

December 17-22, Sivakasi

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Chess: TNSCA set to host 50 IM norm closed circuit tournaments in a year, schedule for first 10 announced - Sportstar

Ambit Pvt. Ltd.

Vidit Gujrathi, a prominent figure in the world of Chess, brings a wealth of expertise and a sterling reputation to brand Ambit as one of the youngest GMs of India. With an illustrious career marked by numerous titles and accomplishments, Vidit embodies excellence, accountability and integrity that aligns perfectly with some of Ambits values.

Ashok Wadhwa, Group CEO, Ambit commented on the announcement, "Our passion for Chess runs deep. We believe that it is not just a game, but a profound art form that epitomizes intellect, strategy, and acumen. We are delighted to welcome Vidit to the Ambit family. His dedication to Chess and the ability to think strategically align perfectly with our business values. Having Vidit as a brand ambassador not only adds a new dimension to our marketing efforts, but also reflects our dedication to supporting and celebrating achievements in the world of Chess."

Vidit expressed his enthusiasm about this partnership, stating, "I am truly excited to collaborate with Ambit, a brand known for its unwavering commitment to strategic thinking and excellence. Chess and business share common ground in the pursuit of strategy, and I believe this partnership will be a win-win. I look forward to representing Ambit and contributing to its continued success."

#CheckmatetoSuccess

Ambit is one of India's premier providers of financial advice and capital, known for its business acumen. Ambit comprises Investment Banking (Corporate Finance & Equity Capital Markets), Asset Management, Institutional Equities (Research, Sales & Sales Trading), and a Non-Banking Finance Company (SME Lending). We are focused on delivering tailor-made financial solutions suitable to our clients needs. These are based on our deep understanding of the Indian economy and market forces, unmatched research, and client-focused approach. Ambit is headquartered in Mumbai, with offices in key cities in India, Singapore, and New York. To learn more, check regulatory licenses and further information, please visit http://www.ambit.co.

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Ambit Signs Indian Chess Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi as Brand ... - Business Wire India

Leonard Barden, the worlds longest-serving chess journalist, recently celebrated his 94th birthday. He was born Leonard William Barden in Croydon, London on August 20th 1929. He was joint British Champion in 1954 and was 1st= in 1958 but lost to Penrose in the play-off. In 1952 he was 1st at Paignton, ahead of Grandmaster Daniel Abraham Yanofsky, and at Bognor 1954 he was 1st= with Grandmaster Alberic OKelly de Galway. At Hastings 1957-58 he finished fourth, behind three leading grandmasters from the eastern bloc: Keres, Gligoric and Filip. At that time he was at least International Master strength, but was never awarded the title.

He represented the British Chess Federation in four Olympiads between 1952 and 1962, but then shifted his emphasis to writing, grading and junior chess. In 1956 Barden became and still remains, 67 years later chess correspondent for the Guardian, which had only just ceased to be the Manchester Guardian in 1959. His Evening Standard column, begun in the same year, ran for more than 63 years and holds the world record for the longest-running daily chess column by a single writer. He has also authored a number of highly entertaining popular chess books.

Unlike others of his generation, Len had more or less given up competitive chess after an unfortunate performance at Hastings 1961/1962 that is, apart from his swansong in early 1962, when he utterly demolished me in a simultaneous display. I had earned my slot in the simul by coming second in the London under-14 championship. Len hardly paused for thought after the opening moves 1. Nc3 Nf6 2. e4 d5 3. e5 d4 4. exf6 dxc3 5. bxc3 gxf6 6. Qh5 and Len never looked back. Then he gave up tournament chess to concentrate on his journalism.

Although I played many games against Lens contemporaries, such as Jonathan Penrose, Peter Clarke, John Littlewood, Mike Franklin, Bob Wade (thirteen wins to me, two losses, I mention immodestly), Len remained an elusive figure. He was largely noted for his enthusiastic encouragement of the financier Jim Slater (who famously saved the Fischer-Spassky world championship match in 1972), and for promoting and tracking promising British juniors in his Evening Standard, Financial Times and Guardian chess columns.

Then, in 1969, to considerable fanfare, Len, like a Phoenix, burst onto the now thriving UK weekend tournament circuit. The emergence of such a celebrated quasi-veteran British champion was a sensational occurrence. The openings theorist, author, journalist, promoter of tournaments and enthuser of sponsors (such as Sir Jeremy Morse of Lloyds Bank) was a larger-than-life figure. Everywhere you looked in British chess, the giant handprint of Len Barden was to be found. But had he lost his over the board sparkle? Not a bit of it!

In the final round of the 1969 Glasgow International, Len was leading, but we still had to play our game. After a mighty struggle I managed to avenge my rout in Lens simul from seven years earlier. Our paths crossed again at the Hammersmith Open in 1974, when Len adjudicated my victory in a last round unfinished game against Jon Speelman, again guaranteeing me 1st place in the tournament. It was a controversial decision from a position which hinted strongly towards a draw. Of course, that was in the Cretaceous period, when adjudications were still the approved way of deciding unfinished games.

Finally, when it came to the distribution of the munificent Slater prizes for Britains first Grandmasters, Len came to my rescue. He proved to the Committee that my rating was also sufficient to earn the 2500 prize, as well as my acquisition of the GM title at the Haifa 1976 Olympiad.

In conclusion, Len is ubiquitous, Len is a survivor and Lenpossesses that quintessential instinct for a journalistic story, which marks him out as the worlds longest serving and most widely read chronicler of the royal game.

Our featured game demonstrates how Len wrought an exemplary win and comprehensive revenge, over his arch-rival from the 1958 Hastings tournament, the record-breaking ten-time British Champion, Jonathan Penrose, in the following years British Championship.

The game is analysed below, but for those who just wish to play through this delight, as always, the link follows.

Leonard Barden vs. Jonathan Penrose

British Championship (1959), York ENG, rd. 3, Aug-12

1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O

This early castling (the standard continuation is 7 d6) threatens the dreaded Marshall Attack, characterised by 8. c3 d5!?. Barden does not shrink from that possibility.

8.c3 d6 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Be6 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Ng5

A move championed by the great Isaak Boleslawsky, who used this line extensively, and in particular against Evgenny Zagoriansky during the 1940s.

14 Bd7 15. Nf1 Rad8 TN

Penroses novelty. Previously, 15 h6 had been the theoretical line.

16.Qe2 g6 17. Ne3 Bc8 18. a4 c4 19. axb5 axb5 20. Rd1

Perhaps re-routing the knight was marginally preferable, with 20. Nf3.

20 Rxd1+ 21. Qxd1 Rd8 22. Qe2

The engines prefer 22. Qf3 when, if 22 h6? 23. Nd5 threatens to win the f6 knight.

22 b4

This delivers White a slight advantage. Preferable were either, a) 22 Bb7, or b) Kg7, both of which enable Black to maintain an equal position.

23.Rxa5!!

This brilliant exchange sacrifice demolishes Blacks position with venom.

23 Qxa5 24. Qxc4 Rf8 25. Nxf7 Kg7 26. Nf5+ gxf5

26 Bxf5 is even worse. After 27. Bh6+ Kg8 28. Nxe5+ Kh8 29. Nf7+ Kg8 30. Ng5+ Kh8 (30 Nd5 31. exf5 Qc5 32. Qxc5 Bxc5 33. Bxf8 Bxf8 34. Bb3) 31. Bxf8 Bxf8 32. exf5 Qa1+ 33. Kh2 Qa7 34. Qf4, White is close to winning.

27.Bh6+ Kg6

Certainly not 27 Kg8 28. Nd6+ Nd5 29. Nxc8 Bf6 (29 Qc5 30. Qxd5+ Kh8 31. Nxe7 Qxe7 32. Bxf8 Qxf8 33. Qxe5+) 30. exd5 Qd8 31. d6+ Kh8 32. d7 Bg7 33. Bxg7+ Kxg7 34. Qd5 bxc3 35. Qxe5+, when White is winning.

28.Bxf8!?

Even more powerful was 28. exf5+ Bxf5 (28 Kh5?? 29. Bd1+ Ng4 30. Qxg4 checkmate) 29. Bxf8 Bxf8 30. Nh8+ Kg5 31. h4+ Kh6 32. Bxf5 Qc5 33. Nf7+ Kg7 34. Qxc5 bxc5 35. cxb4 Bxb4 36. Nxe5, and again, White is winning.

28 Bxf8 29. Nh8+?!

A mistake in concluding the contest. Unequivocally conclusive was, 29. cxb4 Qa1+ 30. Kh2 Qxb2 31. Nd8 Qxb4 (31 Qc1 32. exf5+ Kh6 33. Qh4+ Nh5 34. g4 Qf4+ 35. Kg2 Bb7+ 36. Nxb7 Qg5 37. Qxg5+ Kxg5 38. Nc5 Nf4+ 39. Kg3) 32. Qxc8 fxe4 33. g4 Qe7 34. Qf5+ Kg7 35. Ne6+ Kg8 36. g5 Nd7 37. Bb3 Kh8 38. Ba4 e3 39. Bxd7 e2 40. Qxe5+ Kg8 41. Qxe2 Qxd7 42. Qe4, when Whites additional material ensures the eventual win as the outcome.

29 Kh6 30. Qxc8 Kg7 31. Qe6?

Another mistake, and a serious one. Necessary was, 31. Qxf5 Qa1+ 32. Kh2 Qc1 33. Bb3 Qf4+ 34. Qxf4 exf4 35. e5 Ne4 36. Nf7 bxc3 37. bxc3 Bc5 38. g3, with the win still available.

31 Qa1+ 32. Kh2 Qxb2??

An awful blunder. After 32 Qa7 33. Qxf5 Qe7 34. cxb4 Kxh8 35. b5 Qd6, Black is level.

33.Bb3 h5 34. Qf7+ Kxh8 35. Qxf8+ 1-0

Grandmaster Raymond Keenes 206th book, Chess in the Year of the King (forewordbyTheArticles regular contributor Patrick Heren, written in collaboration with former Reuters chess correspondent Adam Black) has just appeared.

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Long before Netflix turned The Queens Gambit into a sensation, the seeds of the idea were sown. Heath Ledger desperately wanted to bring the story to life as a director with the help of the talented Elliot Page, who was then known as Ellen Page in the lead, back in 2008. The actors battle with addiction made him relate to the novel which was first published in 1983 and thus felt a compelling need to bring Beth Harmon on screen.

Thus, the creator of the blockbuster Netflix show, Allan Shiach revealed all the plans that Heath Ledger had made before his unfortunate and untimely death.

Also Read: I knew he was gonna win an Oscar: Joaquin Phoenixs Terrifying Performance Convinced His Joker Co-Star That He Was the Perfect Heath Ledger Successor

Allan Shiach took charge of scripting The Queens Gambit movie back in the day, while directors Michael Apted and Bernardo Bertolucci joined initially along with Shiach who uses the pen name Allan Scott, but departed early in the process. Later, Heath Ledger expressed enthusiasm about directing the film adaptation, marking a series of notable shifts in the projects creative journey.

In an interview with The Independent, the creator of the show revealed,

Of the three of them I found Heath was the one I wanted to work with,He was passionate about it; he was an intense, interested young man and I was drawn to him immediately. We spoke and spoke about the project over the phone, and then eventually got round to meeting up over it towards the end of last year.

In addition to expressing a sincere desire to direct the project, he also delved into casting suggestions for the film. The actor pictured Elliot Page, formerly recognized as Ellen Page before his transition, as the ideal choice for the lead role.

Shiach further stated,

We spent a lot of time over the last three months working on his vision,I did draft after draft and he gave his input and we met several times in New York and here, where he was spending a lot of his time. We had got to the stage where we had sent the script to Ellen. Heath was full of ideas for the other cast, mainly from his list of acting friends. We were planning to make a movie at the end of 2008.

Despite all preparations being in place and the project on the verge of production, the world tragically lost Heath Ledger due prescription drug overdose in early 2008. This heartbreaking event indefinitely halted the progress of the project.

Also Read: The role leaks into the man: Morgan Freeman Debunks Theory That Romanticized Joker Actor Heath Ledgers Death as Being Caused By Too Much Evil

After immersing himself in both the script and the novel centered around the character Beth Harmon, Heath Ledger, who battled addiction in his youth, felt a profound connection to the story. Recognizing the importance of shedding light on this narrative, he considered himself the ideal candidate to explore the projects essence to its deepest core as a director. Shiach in the same interview stated,

Everyone knows Heath was a user of prescription drugs; and that he had addiction issues when he was a young man,The movie business lost a real talent. I think he would have been an extraordinary director.

The mastermind behind the immensely popular Netflix series believed the actor would have been a perfect fit for the role. Consequently, he feels a profound sense of gratitude for being able to resurrect the project after so many years, finally breathing life into it once more in 2020, but this time in a series form.

All episodes of The Queens Gambit are available on Netflix.

Also Read: Ryan Gosling is like the perfect man: Dune Star Timothe Chalamet Swoons Over Oscar-Nominated Barbie Actor After Watching $145M Rom-Com

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Heath Ledger Was So Obsessed With Chess He Wanted to Direct ... - FandomWire

by Daniel Fernandez

GM Daniel Fernandez is an expert using the Caro Kann for his own repertoire so he knows which systems can cause trouble for Black.

In this video course he explains the ins out of his favourite systems. In modern times it gets more and more important to have several ways to counter an opening as you might want to surprise your opponent or even use different lines for different players or time controls.

This video course is helpful to find the system thats suits you best as White, but also for Caro-Kann players themselves as the author explains what are the best ways for Black to fight for equality.

This volume features the Panov Attack (3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4) and the Two Knights (2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3)

Having enjoyed the videos, you can practice your freshly acquired repertoire in the Opening trainer. This will make sure you remember the important lines - and youre well prepared to use them in your own games.

In modern times it gets more and more important to have several ways to counter an opening as you might want to surprise your opponent or even use different lines for different players or time controls.

This video course is helpful to find the system thats suits you best as White, but also for Caro-Kann players themselves as the author explains what are the best ways for Black to fight for equality.

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Daniel Fernandez: Weapons against the Caro Kann - Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 - ChessBase