File photo of Viswanathan Anand. (Getty Images)

I had come to Germany in February to play in the Chess Bundesliga for my team OSG Baden-Baden but the matches got cancelled because of the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak. Before returning to India, I decided to voluntarily isolate myself for some days, as a precaution and to be socially distant, in my apartment near Frankfurt. But by then the travel restrictions (by the Indian government) were in place, so it made sense to follow them rather than put yourself as well as your family at risk.

This is a very unusual experience for me as I am doing something like this for the first time in my life. I do keep in touch with my family and have a video chat with my son Akhil and wife Aruna daily. We try to get some happiness in these difficult times by talking to each other. I have been playing chess with Akhil too. Aruna tells me to as a dad!

ALSO READ:Coronavirus pandemic:Postponement an option for Tokyo Olympics - IOC

Basically I am staying in the apartment most of the time. To keep myself fit and engaged, I do a lot of exercises at home, like yoga and stretching. Plus, once in a day I go out for a short walk just down the block to get some fresh air. I avoid going to places where people congregate. If I need to buy a few things, then I visit the nearby grocery store but for the rest of the time, I stay indoors.

There are no problems in getting basic things here. Basic necessities are exempted from the shutdown, pharmacies are open, and people are trying to order in rather than going out to restaurants.

ALSO READ: Will take each day as it comes with the hope that this virus is wiped out

The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted my playing schedule, as the Bundesliga (chess) matches last weekend got cancelled. We are all waiting for the news of how the future of this tournament will shape up depending on the result of this outbreak. Even other tournaments are suspended or cancelled, so we will have to wait till things are in control to think of the chess circuit.

One thing that keeps me busy in the evenings is the online commentary for a chess website that I am doing for the Candidates tournament that is currently going on in Ekaterinburg, Russia. I am connecting with people from the website from Germany for commentary on the games. This is a new experience for me as its the first time that I am commentating at this scale (most other times, I have been involved as a participant).

As far as returning to India is concerned, we are following the travel advisories right now and based on what the government of India and Germany say, we will go with that. As of now, flights have been cancelled till March 28, so we will have to see post that what the scenario is.

This is a global issue and one thing that is very crucial in this is that no cure has been found for this virus. So all we can do is follow the advisories issued by the government and implement social distancing as much as possible. My wife always reminds me to keep indoors as much as possible and wash my hands at regular intervalsgenerally asking me to follow the dos and donts. Everybody has to follow what the authorities are saying so that we dont contribute in the spread of the outbreak. Lets all be safe and healthy.

As told to B Shrikant

Read more from the original source:

In times of coronavirus: Chess wizard Anand talks about life in lockdown in Germany - Hindustan Times

How to deal with a pandemic? The medievalAvignon Pope Clement VI allegedly surrounded himself with huge fires and retreated, splendidly isolated, to a throne in the centre of his great hall. Nobody (apart from those delivering nourishment) was permitted to approach him. As a historical fact, Pope Clement did indeed survive the Black Death of 1348. This wasin part due to the fact that, as it happens, in spite of the hit and miss nature of the Papal defences, and total lack of medicinal solutions, plague-bearing fleas really were deterred by the heat radiating from the flames.

In literature, Johann Wolfgang von Goethes epic Faust also engages at one moment with the helplessness of medicine when confronted by a tenacious disease, for which there is no known cure. The scene is the medieval university town of Wittenberg where the eponymous Faust, the revered doctor, is lionised by the locals for his efforts in suppressing the plague. Yet he knows that his remedies were useless at best and positively harmful at worst.

One of my ambitions has been to create a modern English version of both parts of Faust, which would normally take about nine hours to perform. My aim was to abbreviate andparaphrase, so this is how I conveyed the moral dilemma of Fausts treatment of the plague:

These peasants flock to praise mewith one breath,

Because they think I cured them of their ills.

They have no concept that the Plague Black Death

Did farless damage than my bogus pills.

A century and a half after Goethe wrote his Faust, another European artist of world stature again wrestled with the problem of the impotence of medicine in the face of raging pestilence. Ingmar Bergmans film The Seventh Seal (pictured) depicts the return to his native Sweden, of the Knight Antonius Block from the traumatic experience of the Crusades. In part inspired by Drers iconic masterpiece Ritter, Tod und Teufel (Knight, Death and the Devil), The Seventh Seal solves the problem of confronting the plague, by the desperate remedy of resorting to a game of chess against Death itself.

Block was memorably portrayed by the eminent Swedish actor Max von Sydow, celebrated also for his role as the eponymous Exorcist, not to mention King Osric the Usurper in Conan the Barbarian and Emperor Ming the Merciless in Flash Gordon. Von Sydow coincidentally died at a vast age earlier this month. Von Sydow always looked much older than his years and was, therefore, a perfect choice to embody the Scandinavian paladin, bearing the woes of the world on his shoulders.

The returning Knight discovers a blasted realm, villages deserted, so-called witches burnt in pointless expiation, propitiatory self-flagellation, ignored by an unresponsive cosmos and meanwhile, figuratively, the Devil is dancing wildly on the beach.

Amid the widespread collapse of the social order,under the unrelenting pressure of the Black Death, Antonius Block rescues a young family through the ingenious, if extreme, expedient of distracting the attention of Death by challenging the Grim Reaper to a game of chess. As Deaths attention is diverted by his inevitablevictory in the game, the young family makes their escape from the otherwise universal carnage. They are the only survivors.

I have attempted at great length to reconstruct the chess positions from the film, but I have reached the conclusion that the pieces are strewn on the board, more or less at random. The positions only make sense to the players themselves.

However, in its place here is a brilliant victory by the outstanding British chess exponent Joseph Henry Blackburne, victor or co-victor at such illustrious tournaments as Vienna 1873 and Berlin 1881. So deadly an opponent was Blackburne that he earned himself the soubriquet, The Black Death. This weeks game helps to explain why.

As I write, the Candidates Tournament to decide the challenger to World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen is under way in Ekaterinburg, the site of the slaughter of the Russian Imperial family during the Russian Revolution. This is one of the few sporting events to proceed during the Coronavirus crisis, but as a precaution, the customary pre game handshake has been suspended and all competitors will be tested twice a day for the virus.

Paradoxically, I expect some brilliant games to be played in Ekaterinburg, since the presence of the plague appears to be no bar to creativity. Sir Isaac Newton developed his theory of gravity while self-isolating during an outbreak, while Shakespeare used similar seclusion to write King Lear.

Read more:

Chess: The Black Death - TheArticle

Given that chess is an indoor sport, the Candidates tournament is on in Russia even though sporting events around the world have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. But, contrary to general belief, not all chess players, confined indoors, can continue working on their game on the computer.

Ask World rapid champion Koneru Humpy, for instance. You cannot afford any sort of distractions when training. And, this is different. A lockdown where everyone is forced to stay at home. Since I have to take care of my 30-month-old Ahana, it is not easy to spare time for chess, she told The Hindu from Vijayawada. Our normal daily schedule meant dropping her at my parents home and carry on the training. Now, since she cannot go out due to precautionary measures, it is a 24x7 job for Anvesh Dasari [her husband] and me, she said.

Though this is not the first time I have had to take such a long break (the last one being when she was pregnant), this is different. There is uncertainty with whats is happening around the world and in our country, the 32-year-old Humpy said.

The Candidates tournament notwithstanding, chess too is badly affected as Europe has been the hub of the activity with many Indians featuring in the leagues there, especially in Spain.

With Italy being the worst-hit, Humpy is not sure if the FIDE Womens Grand Prix Series scheduled there in May will be held.

Though there is no official communication, given the grim scenario, it seems unlikely that it will be on, the World No. 2 said.

The other major events lined up for her are the Olympiad in August in Moscow and the World knock-out championship for women in Belarus in September.

About these two events we can be optimistic as things might improve by then given the measures being taken by the Governments here and elsewhere. Humpy appealed to every citizen to be responsible and follow the guidelines of maintaining social distancing.

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Chess | Koneru Humpy on the difficulties of training in the times of COVID-19 lockdown - The Hindu

3

A LOT of us will be trying to social distance at the moment but that doesn't mean we can't connect with friends virtually.

Facebook Messenger has lots of games you can play remotely and we've rounded up a few of them below.

3

You'll need to make sure you and the people you want to play with are using the latest version of the Facebook Messenger app.

If not simply update in the Google Play or App Store.

Next you'll need to launch the Messenger App and open the chat with the friend you want to play against.

3

Click the game controller icon, which should be located down near the camera icon.

Alternatively, tap the "More" button in the toolbar, and then click the controller icon.

Once here you can select a game.

Then send your friend a request to start playing.

Facebook has a number of games on offer.

Here's some of the games you could be playing:

There are certain messages you can send that unlock hidden games.

Send a basketball emoji then tap it to unlock a game.

Or send a football emoji to unlock a keepy-uppy mini game.

You can also type "@FacebookChess" to launch a chess challenge.

Get the latest coronavirus news, facts and figures from around the world - plus essential advice for you and your family.

To receive our Covid-19 newsletter in your inbox every tea time, sign up here.

To follow us on Facebook, simply 'Like' our Coronavirus page.

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In other news, experts have spotted a new coronavirus phishing email to watch out for.

WhatsAppcoronavirus text hoaxesare spreading like wildfire.

And, your internet may be gettingslower as the coronavirusoutbreak causes a huge surge in daytime traffic.

Do you have any social distancing entertainment tips? Let us know in the comments...

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at tech@the-sun.co.uk

More here:

Facebook Messenger games you can play with pals including Space Invaders, chess and Words With Friends - The Irish Sun

The eight-man world championship Candidates has begun this week in Ekaterinburg, Russia, amid controversy over whether it should have been postponed and doubts as to whether it will survive the virus until its planned finish on April 4.

Three Russians, two Chinese, and one each from the US, Netherlands and France are competing in the 500,000 event for the right to meet Norways Magnus Carlsen for the global crown at Dubai in December.

Even before a pawn was pushed, Azerbaijans Teimour Radjabov withdrew after his request for a postponement was refused. Chinas world No3 Ding Liren arrived two weeks early for the mandatory quarantine, while his compatriot Wang Hao came from Japan but arrived without his aides due to quarantine and visa problems.

Wang Hao had also wanted a postponement, so was not in the best mental state for the first round, when the rules stipulate that compatriots should play each other. But contrary to expectations, Ding mishandled the white pieces and was convincingly beaten, a big blow to his chances even though there are still 13 rounds to go.

The games are free and live to watch online daily with move by move grandmaster and computer commentary, starting 11am GMT.

Fabiano Caruana, the US world No2 and Candidates favourite, has made a good start with a draw with Black against Frances Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and a convincing round two win against the Russian wild card Kirill Alekseenko.

2359

White (to move) is threatened with instant mate by Qh2 or Qh1. How does he turn the tables and win? This ancient puzzle is from the 1745 book The Noble Game of Chess, whose author Philipp Stamma liked victories from seemingly hopeless positions.

Click here for solution

Original post:

Chess: controversial world Candidates starts in Ekaterinburg but will it finish? - Financial Times

[Event "FIDE Candidates Tournament"] [Date "2020.03.22"] [Round "5.4"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Wang, Hao"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2774"] [BlackElo "2762"] [Annotator "Aagaard"] [PlyCount "85"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Russia"] [BlackTeam "China"] [WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"] [BlackTeamCountry "CHN"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bf5 {This is the current trend in the Petroff.} 7. O-O Be7 8. Re1 O-O 9. Nbd2 Nd6 10. Nf1 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 c6 {[#] Black has achieved a solidity in a symmetrical structure. But his development is a bit behind and White is more active. White will continue to apply pressure and it will then be up to Black at some point to play a few good moves in order to equalise. In short, both players were heading here and knew what they were heading for. It is quite common that players want to apply pressure with White and are OK trying to neutralise it with Black.} 12. Bf4 Na6 {Almost everything has been played here. Nepomniachtchi plays an obvious novelty, recommended by Stockfish.} 13. h4 $5 $146 {A generally sensible move.} Nc7 ({Black’s other natural move} 13... Ne4 {is met with a nice refutation:} 14. Ng3 $1 f5 {Without this move it makes no sense to play …Ne4.} 15. Qb3 $1 Qb6 16. c3 {White has a nice advantage. He will continue with Ne2, h5, Ne5 with a nice advantage. There are several reasons why White is better. Most obviously that he will be able to play f3, while Black cannot repair the damage done to the e5-square.}) 14. Ng5 $1 {[#] The key idea. Black will have to make a concession of some sort.} Bxg5 ({The real alternative was} 14... g6 15. Ne3 h6 16. Nf3 h5 17. Re2 $14) (14... f5 $6 {looks bad, on account of} 15. Qg3 $1 {, when White has managed to create tactical threats already.} Rf6 16. Re2 {leads to a big advantage for White. You can easily see things go wrong for Black tactically. There are too many threats.} h6 $6 17. Rae1 $1 hxg5 $2 ( 17... Bf8 18. Nf3) 18. hxg5 Ne4 {[#]} 19. gxf6 $5 {This queen sacrifice is not necessary, but it is very compelling.} ({The simpler} 19. Rxe4 {just wins a piece.}) 19... Nxg3 20. Rxe7 Nxf1 21. Rxg7+ Kh8 {[#]} 22. Ree7 {Threatening mate in three.} Ne8 23. Rh7+ Kg8 24. f7+ Kxh7 25. f8=Q+ {With mate looming.}) 15. Bxg5 f6 {The necessary concession.} 16. Bf4 Qd7 {This is a typical scenario in the plus equal mode. White has to work out how he can improve his position and keep up the pressure. The worst placed pieces are the a1-rook and the f1-knight. As Black is planning to play …Rae8 and exchange rooks, there is little point to playing Re2. So White needs to bring the knight to f5. But which path it takes is not obvious.} {[#]} 17. Ng3 $6 {An incurracy of no importance to the course of the game, but it did offer Black a chance to equalise immediately.} ({The correct path for the knight to f5, was} 17. Ne3 $1 {, when Black should play 17…Rae8, transposing to the game, as} g6 $6 { does not work here.} ({And} 17... Ne4 $2 {would leave Black under pressure after} 18. f3 Ne6 19. Bh2 Nd6 20. Re2 $16) 18. h5 {and after} Kg7 {or} (18... Kf7 {White has} 19. Ng4 $1 {, when the Black position is crumbling.})) 17... Rae8 $6 {Allowing White to occupy the f5-square with the knight.} ({Black here had a chance to reduce the pressure with} 17... g6 $1 18. h5 Kf7 {. White has no serious way to apply real pressure here. As we shall see, Black has a number of chances to defend in this game, but the failure to take the easy ones, means that he will later have to defend difficult positions.}) 18. Bxd6 Qxd6 19. Nf5 Qd7 20. Qh3 {Threatening Nh6+, gaining an important tempo to make it possible to apply pressure. [#]} Kh8 $1 {The only move. Nepomniachtchi said he remembered his preparation to around here.} (20... Re6 {could be considered. Black is intending to play …g6 or …Rfe8.} 21. h5 $1 g6 {Without this, nothing makes sense.} (21... Rfe8 {also} 22. Re3 $1 {does not allow Black to relieve the pressure.}) 22. hxg6 hxg6 {[#] Black is threatening to take the knight and retreat would relieve the pressure. White has to find a way to increase the pressure.} 23. Re3 $3 Qh7 (23... gxf5 24. Rg3+ Kf7 25. Qh5+ Ke7 26. Rg7+ {wins the queen.}) 24. Rg3 Rfe8 (24... Qxh3 {is met with an intermediate move.} 25. Rxg6+) 25. Rf1 $1 Re1 26. Nd6 Qxh3 27. gxh3 $16 { Black is under serious pressure with two pawns currently hanging.}) ({Black had another option.} 20... Ne6 $2 {, which is unpleasant for Black after} 21. h5 g6 22. Nh4 $1 $14 {Putting pressure on the weak squares g6. The best move is to take on h5, but this has clearly gone wrong.} Kf7 $6 {is the critical move. [#] Here the strongest move is:} 23. f4 $1 {One of the most important attacking techniques is to bring more wood to the fire whenever you can. Black now has to play the very sad} (23. Re3 Qd6 24. Rae1 Ng5 {holds, althogh Black is still under some pressure.}) 23... gxh5 {, when after} 24. Re3 {Black is unlikely to resist the pressure.}) 21. h5 $1 {Keeping up the pressure and preventing …g6.} Rxe1+ 22. Rxe1 Re8 {[#]} 23. Rxe8+ {This move seems entirely natural, but a deeper investigation of the position reveals that both kings are currently out of the game and that both players should have aimed at improving them.} ({Strongest was therefore} 23. Kf1 $1 {, when after} Rxe1+ 24. Kxe1 Ne8 25. Kd2 {White has a serious advantage. Against 25…Qf7 White has 26. Qh2! and after} Qe6 26. b3 $5 Qe4 27. f3 Qf4+ {[#]} 28. Kd3 {White is threatening h6 and also Ne3 followed by an invasion of the white queen.} Qc7 { is therefore forced, after which} 29. Ne3 $16 {White is ready to increase the pressure. Next comes Qe6 or Qc8.}) 23... Nxe8 24. g4 $2 {This move looks entirely natural, but the logic has not changed since the previous move. White is better after} (24. Kf1 $1 Qe6 (24... Nc7 {does not work. White has} 25. Qa3 $1 Kg8 26. Qxa7 $1 {and White is on his way towards the full point, although there is a lot of play left.}) (24... a5 $5 {is possible though.}) {[#] White has a number of decent moves here. I quite like} 25. b3 {, just slowly improving the position. White has a real advantage, but it is not clear to me how serious this advantage is. A key point is that the counterplay does not work for Black.} Qe4 $6 26. Ne3 $1 Qxd4 (26... Qe7 27. Qc8 $16 {is very unpleasant.}) 27. Qd7 Qa1+ (27... Qe5 28. Qxb7 {gives White a winning advantage. Black has too many weaknesses.}) 28. Ke2 Qe5 {[#]} {White will first remove the counterplay, then start picking out the weak pawns one by one. } 29. f4 $1 Qe4 30. c3 $1 h6 31. Qxb7 Qxf4 32. Qxc6 Nc7 33. Qd7 {White has a winning advantage. Long term he will advance the pawns on the queenside.}) (24. Qa3 {is premature. After} Kg8 {Black is OK.}) {[#]} 24... a6 $2 ({In the same way Wang Hao fails to equalise.} 24... Kg8 $1 {improves the worst placed piece. The king, which is not only not contributing, but also in risk for his life in the corner.} 25. Qh2 (25. g5 Qf7 {is not dangerous. More about this below.}) 25... g6 $1 {Black is able to push back the knight and thereby equalise.} 26. hxg6 hxg6 27. Ne3 Qc7 28. Qh6 Qg7 {and it is easy to see a possible draw by repetition arising.}) (24... Qe6 25. Qa3 {would however be good for White.}) 25. b3 $6 ({Nepomniachtchi explained after the game that he played too rashly here, missing the necessity for playing} 25. Kf1 $1 {. The key idea is that 25. ..Kg8 has been prevented. After 26.g5! the Black king is forced back into the corner, which is hardly ideal. The tactical point to justify 25.Kf1 was 26… Qf7? 27.g6!, when the pawn cannot be taken with check, meaning White wins.} Qe6 {is therefore better. After} 26. Qh2 Kg8 27. Qb8 g6 28. hxg6 hxg6 29. Nh4 Qf7 30. Ng2 {White retains just a little bit of pressure.}) 25... Qe6 (25... Kg8 $1 {would have equalised. After} 26. g5 Qf7 $1 {[#] White no longer has g5-g6, as the pawn would be taken with check. Instead White would probably try} 27. f4 { , but after} Kf8 {Black is fully OK.}) 26. Ne3 Nd6 $6 ({Both Nepomniachtchi thought that White would be better after} 26... h6 {. Nepomniachtchi had considered playing 27.Qg3 Nd6 28.Qf4 with a slight pressure. Wang Hao had considered the following variation:} 27. Nf5 Qe1+ {This was Wang’s idea.} ( 27... Nd6 $5 28. Qe3 Qd7 $1 {was also possible. After} 29. Qe7 Qxe7 30. Nxe7 Nb5 31. Nf5 Na3 32. c3 {Stockfish says that Black draws with any which move, but in reality he will have to play a good deal of decent moves to do so.}) 28. Kg2 Qe4+ 29. Qf3 Qxc2 30. Qe3 Qe4+ $1 31. Qxe4 dxe4 {[#] But he felt that the endgame was risky. It is, but Black can hold a draw with extremely accurate play.} 32. Kg3 Nc7 33. Nd6 b6 34. Kf4 Nd5+ 35. Kf5 $1 e3 36. fxe3 Nxe3+ 37. Ke6 Nxg4 38. Nf5 Kh7 39. a4 (39. Ne7 f5 $1 40. Nxf5 Nf6 41. Ng3 b5 42. Kd6 g6 { gives Black enough counterplay on the kingside.}) 39... g6 40. Nh4 $1 {Keeping the Black king out of the game.} gxh5 41. Kd6 {[#] White’s position looks very dangerous. For example 41…c5 42.a5! with a breakthrough.} Ne5 $3 {This piece sacrifice saves the day.} 42. dxe5 (42. Kc7 b5 43. Kb6 bxa4 44. bxa4 Nd3 45. Kxa6 c5 {with a draw is another line.}) 42... fxe5 43. Kxe5 Kg7 {Black draws. If the white king eliminates the kingside, Black will eliminate the queenside.} ) ({Although this draws, it is a very straight and narrow path. Much better is for this reason} 26... Kg8 $1 27. h6 g6 {with a decent position, based on} 28. Qg3 Qd6 $1 {and Black is fine.}) 27. h6 $1 {This leads to an advantage quite similar to the games by AlphaZero and later Magnus Carlsen. The latters coach, Peter Heine Nielsen wrote a nice article about the strategy behind this idea in the latest New in Chess magazine. Yesterday Caruana used the same idea of advancing the h-pawn against Nepomniachtchi and missed a chance to win the game at an opportune moment.} g6 28. c4 {[#]} dxc4 ({If you look at the computer evaluation, you may think that} 28... Kg8 29. cxd5 cxd5 30. Qf3 Ne4 31. Qf4 Qd6 32. Qxd6 Nxd6 33. Nxd5 Kf7 {equalises. Well, you are both right and wrong. White’s best try is probably} 34. Kg2 $1 {, with ideas such as} Nb5 35. Kf3 Nxd4+ (35... Ke6 $2 {does not work here because of} 36. Nf4+ {, but it can be played on the previous move.}) 36. Ke4 Nc6 37. f4 Ke6 38. f5+ gxf5+ 39. gxf5+ Kf7 {This knight ending is a draw, but Black still have to play some accurate moves to prove it.}) 29. bxc4 Kg8 $6 (29... Nxc4 $2 {would lose directly to} 30. Nxc4 Qxc4 31. Qh2 $1 {, where the queen plans to penetrate the black position, while keeping the defence of the h6-pawn up.} Kg8 {The only move.} (31... Qg8 32. Qd6 $1 {leads to a direct mate.}) 32. Qb8+ Kf7 33. Qxb7+ Ke6 34. Qxh7 Qxd4 35. Qxg6 {and White wins.}) ({The best way to neutralise the pressure was} 29... Nf7 $1 {. The knight is ready to deal with the main problem in Black’s position, which is the strong h6-pawn. If White plays Qh2, Black has …Qd6 with full equality. Thus the most dangerous option is} 30. c5 $5 {, where Black is entirely OK in many ways. The most direct is} Qxa2 31. Qh2 Qa1+ 32. Kg2 Qxd4 33. Qb8+ Qd8 34. Qxb7 Qe8 {and White has no advantage at all.}) 30. Qh2 $1 Kf7 31. c5 Nb5 ({Black also had a fantastic active defence with} 31... Ne4 $5 32. Qb8 (32. Qf4 Ke7 $1 33. a4 Kd7 {also holds. Apparently.}) {[#]} 32... Qxa2 $3 {This is a bit surprising. But White cannot defend f2 conveniently after he pics up the h7-pawn with check.} 33. Qxb7+ Kf8 34. Qg7+ Ke8 35. Qh8+ Ke7 36. Qxh7+ Kd8 37. Qh8+ Kc7 38. Qg7+ Kd8 39. Nd1 Qe2 40. Qxg6 Qxd1+ 41. Kg2 Qxd4 {and Black survives because of the counterattack against f2.}) 32. Qb8 {Black has plenty of problems left to solve. The fact that they can be solved is of much less importance. In the game Wang Hao tried his best and failed.} Qd7 $2 {Finally the pressure leads to a decisive mistake. Black had two ways of saving the game, but both required some accuracy and understanding. Spending the last five minutes of his time, Wang Hao was not able to see in which direction he had to go.} ({ Black had another computer defence after} 32... Nxd4 $5 33. Qxb7+ (33. Qh8 { leaves Black with two defences. The smartass one has a very important illustrative point that I saw in another game yesterday, where it really was the only option available to hold the game.} Ke7 $3 ({The human defence is obviously} 33... Nf3+ 34. Kg2 Ng5 {, defending the h-pawn, whereafter} 35. Qg7+ Ke8 36. Qxb7 Qe4+ {it is not surprising that Black makes the draw with a combination of counterplay and perpetual check.}) 34. Qxh7+ Qf7 35. Qh8 Qf8 { Black draws.}) 33... Qe7 34. Qxa6 Qe4 $3 {Nepomniachtichi was a true professional, telling the journalists exactly what he was thinking, holding nothing bad.} (34... Qxc5 35. a4 {is unpleasant for Black, although} f5 $1 { still offers him counterplay.} 36. a5 fxg4 37. Qb7+ Ke6 38. a6 g3 $1 {Black has enough counterplay, even though White can still create problems for him.}) 35. Qb7+ Ke6 36. Qxh7 {Nepomniachtchi believed that there was no way Black could deliver a perpetual with the knight on e3 defending everything. But actually, there are several ways for Black to create the necessary counterplay. …Qb1+ and …Ne2. 36…Nf3+ 37.Kf1 Nd4 and finally} Ne2+ 37. Kf1 {and the knight can retract to threaten …Qh1 mate. But nicest is} Ng3+ $1 38. fxg3 Qf3+ {with a draw.}) ({The more human attempt was} 32... Qe7 {, where White could still create problems for his opponent.} 33. Nc4 (33. Qh8 Ke6 34. Nc2 $1 {is dangerous for Black, but accurate defence hold.} Nc3 35. Qg8+ Kd7 $1 (35... Qf7 $2 36. d5+ $1 Nxd5 (36... cxd5 37. Nd4+ Ke7 38. Qc8 $18) 37. Nd4+ Ke7 38. Qb8 Qe8 39. Qxb7+ Qd7 40. Nxc6+ Ke8 41. Qa8+ Kf7 42. Kh1 {where White is close to winning, as Black cannot play} Qxg4 {on account of} 43. Nd8+ {and 44.Qxd5.}) 36. Qb3 Nb5 37. a4 Nc7 38. Ne3 f5 $1 39. Qg8 f4 40. Nc4 Qe1+ 41. Kg2 {[#]} f3+ $1 {Black survives by perpetual check.} 42. Kxf3 Qd1+ 43. Ke4 Qxg4+ 44. Kd3 Qf5+ 45. Ke2 Qg4+ 46. Ke3 Qg5+ $11) 33... Qe1+ 34. Kg2 Qe4+ 35. Kh2 {looks bad for Black, but after} Qf3 $1 {Black has enough counterplay to ensure the draw.} ) 33. Qh8 $1 Ke6 34. f4 $1 Nxd4 (34... Qxd4 35. Qe8#) (34... Qe7 35. f5+ Kd7 36. Kf2 $1 {leaves Black utterly lost. The main threat is 37.hxg6 fxg6 38.Qg7! and the h-pawn queens. And if Black plays 36…g5, he will face down the secondary threat 37.Nc4! when it is at least checkmate.} {So he has to play} gxf5 {, when after} 37. Nxf5 Qf7 38. a4 {Black’s position is disintegrating. He cannot allow the knight to land on d6. It will hurt too much.}) 35. Qg8+ Qf7 (35... Ke7 36. Qxh7+ {and the h-pawn queens.}) 36. Qc8+ Qd7 (36... Ke7 37. Qxb7+ Kf8 38. Qb8+ Qe8 39. Qd6+ {and White picks up the knight.}) 37. Qg8+ ({ At first Nepomniachtchi believed that he was winning after} 37. f5+ gxf5 38. gxf5+ Ke7 39. Qh8 {, but then realised that Black can defend the pawn with} Nf3+ $1 40. Kf2 Ng5 {and Black is not worse at all.}) 37... Qf7 {[#]} 38. Qd8 $1 {Wang Hao had missed this move. With the threat of mate on d6, Black has no options left.} Qd7 (38... Nb5 39. a4 {also wins a piece.}) 39. f5+ gxf5 40. gxf5+ Nxf5 41. Qxd7+ Kxd7 42. Nxf5 Ke6 43. Ne3 1-0

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Aagaard on the Candidates: Round 5 - uschess.org

Like most of us, young Americans face the prospect of being physically detached for a long time.

A young chef is honing his online chess game. A copywriter is meditating to battle isolation anxiety. And many are spending even more time on social media to stay connected.

American millennials, young adults in their 20s and 30s, who are under "shelter-at-home" orders in major cities from New York to California are facing the prospect of being physically detached, but this generation is the one most prepared for the long lonely slog, experts said.

"They are the core group that will stop this virus. They're the group that communicates successfully, independent of picking up a phone," Deborah Birx, coronavirus response coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force, said this week.

California areas under a shelter-in-place order all have the same rule: Vulnerable populations must stay home and anyone else can only leave to get food, care for a relative or friend, get necessary health care or work an "essential" job.

Taking a walk or bike ride outside is okay as long as people are not in groups and stay 1.8 metres away from one another.

SEEKING SOLIDARITY

"I've been communicating with friends and family a lot more than I ever did in the past," said Chef Kyle McBride, 32, in San Francisco. "It's been a moment for sharing a lot and reaching out to people."

McBride and 15 other friends refashioned a WhatsApp messaging group created to plan a Costa Rica vacation into a forum for sharing news and commiserating about the pandemic.

"A lot of people are really tuned into social media and news right now just because of sheer boredom and wanting to stay connected to the latest," he said.

Increased online connections will be critical for millions of Americans as they retreat into their homes for an indefinite period.

"A focus can be the potentially good feeling of solidarity, that we're looking our for each other in this pandemic," said Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a psychology and neuroscience professor at Brigham Young University and a top scholar on loneliness in the United States.

"Look at the Italians out singing on balconies and communicating across distances. That is communicating to others that 'we're in this together' despite the distance."

Holt-Lunstad said most people in a shelter-at-place situation need to focus on increasing contact with the outside world to stay mentally healthy.

"Some research also suggests that engaging in creative arts would be helpful, so this is potentially a time when people could try that," she said. "It could be anything from poetry to cooking to any number of ways to creatively express yourself."

'ON THE BRINK'

World events for the last two decades have prepared young adults for crisis.

"Being a millennial, we've seen a lot of scary things. I grew up in New York during 9/11," said Miles Gamble, 32, a New York City employee who works on federal compliance. "I grew up in New York during swine flu, during West Nile virus, during the second and third Ebola outbreaks."

Gamble celebrated his birthday this week in his studio apartment.

"Our generation particularly are not worried enough," he said. "We have been a generation that has literally been on the brink of the end of the world for like now, arguably 20 years."

Public health officials have been urging young adults to take the disease seriously. Americans aged 20-44 represented one in five of the cases hospitalized with the disease from Feb 12-March 16, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For Timothy J. Seppala, a 35-year-old copywriter in the Detroit area, his first week working at home made it hard to exercise, but he was meditating to keep anxiety at bay.

He echoed others about going online to stay in touch and keep spirits up, but that can only go so far.

Seppala, who is single, could not meet up with a potential date he was set up with.

"I don't know if anyone is feeling ready to go out," he said. "Right now the vibe is just we all stay home."

(Source: Reuters)

Read the rest here:

Online chess, meditation: What US millennials are doing while isolated at home - CNA

3/23/2020 Ian Nepomniachtchi goes into the second rest day of the Candidates Tournament leading by a full point after beating Ding Liren with White on Monday. The only other player with a plus score is Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, who was worse but managed to hold a draw against Wang Hao. Anish Giri defeated Kirill Alekseenko in a game that lasted over seven hours, while Alexander Grischuk had to be precise to split the point with Fabiano Caruana. Express report. | Live games and commentary from 11:00 UTC (12:00 CET / 7:00 EDT). | Photo: Lennart Ootes / FIDE

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The eight-player Candidates tournament is one of the most prestigious global chess events, held every two years. The event will determine who will challenge the defender Magnus Carlsen for the title of the World Chess Champion. This years event has a prize fund of 500,000 Euros, which is the highest ever in the history of the Candidates tournaments.

Previous reports: Round 1| Round 2| Round 3| Round 4| Round 5

The tournament is approachingits half-way point, and a player has emerged as the clear leader in Yekaterinburg. Ian Nepomniachtchi scored his second straight win to get a full-point lead over Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. The Russian grandmaster beat Ding Liren, who entered a strategically risky position in the middlegame and soon found himself on the ropes against an in-form opponent. Ding threw in the towel on move 40.

The remaining three games saw one of the players trying to squeeze slight advantages after the time control. Alexander Grischuk survived time trouble and managed to find plenty of only moves to hold Fabiano Caruana to a draw, while Vachier-Lagrave survived anendgame a pawn down against Wang Hao.

The one that got to score a win from what seemed to be a holdable position for his opponent was Anish Giri. Playing Black against Kirill Alekseenko, he was pressing in a queen and knight endgame. Alekseenko strangely rejected capturing a pawn on move 38 and later found himself defending a 3 v 2 knight ending. Giri continued to tighten the screw until his opponent failed to play a simple forcingline that secured a draw moreover, the move simply gave the game away. Thus, Giri scored his first win after 98 moves and over seven hours of play.

Replay the games with computer analysis. Full report to follow shortly.

Players receive100 minutes for 40 moves, then 50 minutes for the next 20 moves, then 15 minutes for the restof the game, plus a 30-second bonus per move starting from move 1. No draw offers are allowed prior to move 40.

Commentary byEvgenij Miroshnichenko and Daniil Dubov

As available.

Press release

The opening ceremony took place at the Ekaterinburg Expo congress center and was hosted by the renowned Russian film actress Alena Babenko and sports commentator Viktor Gusev. Speakers at the Opening Ceremony were Evgeny Kuyvashev (Governor of the Sverdlovsk Oblast (Region)), FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, former World Champion Anatoly Karpov, the President of the Sverdlovsk Chess Federation AndreySimanovsky as well as the Regional Corporate Sales Head at Kaspersky Marina Usova.

Evgeny Kuyvashev, the Governor of the Sverdlovsk Oblast (Region) said that it is the first time this region is hosting a FIDE Candidates tournament and added: Our region considers itself one of the leaders of the home [Russian] chess movement and the center for the development of the chess thought. Today some 20,000 people professionally play chess in the Sverdlovsk Region, including 2.500 children and teenagers. We are proud of our chess masters and our young chess talents.

Arkady Dvorkovich| Photo: Lennart Ootes / FIDE

Congratulating the players and chess fans across the world on the start of the FIDE Candidates Tournament in Yekaterinburg, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich pointed to this event being the most important stage in the qualifying cycle for the World Chess Championship, as it will determine the opponent of the current world champion Magnus Carlsen. In the coming weeks, we will witness epic battles between eight world's leading chess players. They went through the toughest selection process in the previous few months to compete for the right to challenge for the world chess crown in Yekaterinburg.

FIDE president also reflected on the fact that the Tournament is held in the environment of an alarming situation with the spread of COVID-19. I would like to note that in terms of medical safety measures, the Tournament organizing Committee fully follows the recommendations of the World Health Organization, the IOC and Rospotrebnadzor and fulfils all the prescribed requirements. We also ask for maximum support from the chess community, the media, and all of you.

Once again, I would like to welcome the participants of the FIDE Candidates Tournament and wish them memorable combinations and spectacular victories. And let the Tournament bring only joy and new positive emotions to all the fans, Dvorkovich concluded.

The mayor of Yekaterinburg, Alexander Vysokinsky highlighted the importance of this event for the local community, adding we will try to do everything in our power so that this event is held according to highest standards, so everyone could enjoy!

Press conference| Photo: Lennart Ootes/ FIDE

One of the speakers at the ceremony was Grandmaster Anatoly Karpov, the 12th World Champion in chess, who himself comes from the Ural region. Karpov emphasized the uniqueness of the tournament for the region and spoke about efforts made to develop chess education, including at the Ural Federal University.

Anatoly Karpov (middle) | Photo: Lennart Ootes/ FIDE

The President of the Sverdlovsk Chess Federation Andrey Simanovsky, as well as the Regional Corporate Sales Head at Kaspersky Marina Usova joined the speakers in wishing the players good luck in the tournament.

The medal awaits| Photo: Lennart Ootes/ FIDE

The official part of the Opening ceremony was followed by a concert by the famous Russian violinist and conductor, Yuri Bashmet and his Moscow Soloists Chamber Orchestra. The concert featured other renowned Russian classical music artists such as Bolshoi Theatre soloist Alina Yarovaya and opera singer Vassily Gerello. The musical event also included a performance of the top stars of the Bolshoi Theatre.

Colourful performances courtesy the Bolshoi Theatre | Photo: Lennart Ootes/ FIDE

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The Candidates Round 6 LIVE - Chessbase News

The FIDE Candidates Tournament was officially opened on Monday evening at theEkaterinburg Expo Congress Center in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The participants of the tournament did not attend, in order to avoid exposure to the more than a thousand attendees.

You can follow the FIDE Candidates Tournament with Chess.com commentary on Chess.com/TV during each round. The first round is on Tuesday, March 17 at 16:00 local time which is 12:00 Central Europe, 7 a.m. Eastern and 4 a.m. Pacific.You can follow the games live on our dedicated page on Chess.com/events. Find all the information about the Candidates Tournament in our info article.

Attended by over a thousand guests fearless of coronavirus contamination,the opening ceremony was hosted by the renowned Russian film actress Alena Babenko and sports commentator Viktor Gusev. Speakers included the governor of the Sverdlovsk region Evgeny Kuyvashev, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, and the 12th World Champion Anatoly Karpov.

The participants were not present at the opening of the tournament, which is one of the few sports events in the world that were not canceled due to the coronavirus this month. The topic that dominates the news couldn'tbe ignored on this evening either. Dvorkovich said:

"I would like to note that in terms of medical safety measures, the tournament organizing committee fully follows the recommendations of the World Health Organization, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Rospotrebnadzor [the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing - PD] and fulfills all the prescribed requirements."

Earlier, Chess.com reported that everyone involved in the tournamentplayers, seconds, arbiters, organizers, and officialsare being medically checked twice per day. On top of that, everyone was tested for the coronavirus upon arrival in the official hotel and will be tested again on day 10.

Another health and safety measure is that spectators won't be allowed in the playing hall, and all additional mass events such as side tournaments and simuls have been canceled. Those measures are difficult to rhyme with the big crowd that gathered at the opening ceremony.

The official part of the ceremony was followed by a concert by the famous Russian violist and conductor Yuri Bashmet and his "Moscow Soloists" Chamber Orchestra. The concert featured other renowned Russian classical music artists such as Bolshoi Theatre soloist Alina Yarovaya and opera singer Vasily Gerello. The music event also included a performance of the top stars of the Bolshoi Theatre.

Somewhat ironically, it was during the opening ceremony that phones of some attendees started buzzing as the Russian Ministry of Sports canceled all international sports competitions in Russia until further notice. A FIDE source soon confirmed that the Candidates Tournament is not affected by the measure.

Earlier in the day, a press conference for the local media was held at the Sverdlovsk Journalists' Union. The building is located along the Iset river, across the Hyatt Regency (the tournament venue) and a stone's throw away from the famousChurch of All Saints, built on the location where Tsar Nicholas II and his family were shot by the Bolsheviks in July 1918.

Dvorkovich and Karpov were prominent speakers at the press conference, and they were joined by one of the Russian participants, GM Kirill Alekseenko.

Dvorkovich pointed out that the tournament might get more exposure than in normal times: "This is a big event not just for the chess world but, possibly, for the whole sporting community since almost all international competitions have been canceled due to the spread of the coronavirus."

Wildcard Alekseenko put smiles on the faces of the media as he not onlyexpressed his gratitude for being invited, but also stated that he is playing the tournament to win it: "Only the first place gives a chance to challenge Magnus Carlsen."

The Candidates Tournament has a prize fund of 500,00 euros ($557.720,00). Eight players will fight for a chance to play World Champion Carlsen at the World Chess Championship later in the year.

You can play in Chess.com's Candidates Fantasy Contest during the tournament for your chance at a share of $5,000 and premium memberships. Draft your team now and follow the action live on ChessTV.

Read more:

FIDE Candidates Tournament Officially Opened In Absence Of Participants - Chess.com

IM Anna Rudolf

Kosteniuk at the 2020 Cairns Cup, Photo STL Chess Club

Looking for a Candidates Chess aftershow this weekend? We got you. On Saturday, March 21st, US Chess Women will continue our partnership with Alexandra Botez with an even bigger and better event to celebrate all the female chessplayers hanging out at home this week. The Isolated Queens Swiss starts at 1 PM ET on Saturday, and will feature over $2000 in prize money for participating streamers. The ten round Swiss will be played in 3 minute games (plus a two second increment.)

Confirmed players include two Grandmasters: Alexandra Kosteniukof Russia and Marie Sebag of France.Famous commentator, YouTuber and IM Anna Rudolf will also be playing. Many top American players will also be in the hunt, including US Womens ChampJennifer Yu, IMCarissa Yip, IMDorsa Derakhshani and WGM Tatev Abrahamyan.

IM Dorsa Derakhshani

IM-elect Carissa Yip

Popular streamers who are improving at chess by the day will also be in the mix, including Andrea Botez and Gold Dust Tori. There are class prizes for top Under 2000, Under 1800 and Under 1400 (chess.com blitz ratings.)

Jennifer Shahade and Alexandra Botez will host live commentary.

Alexandra Botez

For anyone interested in playing the event you have to join the BotezLive Female Players Club on chess.com. On Saturday go tohttps://www.chess.com/liveandlook for the event in the tournament tab. Make sure to click join! No late entries, so register before 1 PM EDT. Checkout the full rules on this google doc.

Details:

When: March 21, 1 PM ET, Saturday

Where: Stream ontwitch.tv/botezlive,play on chess.com

Prizes for streamers*

Top 3 finishers: 1) $700 2) $500 3) $300

Top finishers under 2200, under 1800, and under 1400*: $250

Donors: Ian Maprail Silverstone ($1000), Open Field Media ($500) and Kevin Wong ($250). Alexandra Botez has kicked in$500from previous donations to the prize fund.

Commentary: WGM Jen Shahade and WFM Alexandra Botez will be following the event and doing live coverage on twitch.tv/botezlive

Donations: 60% of on stream donations will go to US Chess Women Programs, while 40% will go to supporting future matches and events.

*Non-streamers also welcome to play, but the prizes are only for those streaming the event on twitch.

**Provisional ratings do not qualify for class prizes

*** You must be 13 or older to sign up for twitch. Minors can use chess.com or Twitch under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian.

Special thanks to Maprail, who sponsored this US Chess Women series since the beginning of the year and was also a major donor in our first Femme Fatale, devised by Chessbae. Speaking of which.Mark your calendars: March 28th we will be hosting a special fundraiser for Coronavirus Relief. This will take the place of our usual US Chess Women programming and will also be hosted on chess.com and Botez Live.

Take advantage of a new offer:using the code USWOMEN,youll receive 15% off any merchandise at US Chess Sales,including the US Chess Women hat Alexandra is wearing above.

Alexandras channel is attwitch.tv/botezlive.Find out more aboutAlexandra in our premiere Ladies Knight episodeand ina recent NBC articlewithvideo about the streaming boom.

Find out more about our Womens Programs atuschesswomen.organddonate here.

See the article here:

Isolated Queens: US Chess Women and Botez Live Host 2K Saturday Swiss - uschess.org