Three wins on the fly for GM Daniel Naroditsky in October's Bullet Brawls have left the American commentator in clear second on the all-time leaderboard with seven wins and closing quickly on GM Hikaru Nakamura, who has won the two-hour arena 10 times since its inception in April.

Indonesia's IM Yoseph Taher won $250 for second place and forced Naroditsky to push all the way to the end after streaking to a score of 232, while GM Jose Martinez rounded out the podium and earned $150 for his efforts.

Fresh from her I'M Not A GM Speed Chess Championship group stage victory, IM Polina Shuvalova finished 32nd in the arena and picked up the top female prize of $100 with 80 points to her name. Aspiring master Jason Leverett managed to win the community event, amassing 65 wins along the way.

The next edition of Bullet Brawl will take place on Saturday, October 21, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET/19:00 CEST.

How to review games?The games from October's second Bullet Brawl can be found here.

Strong finishes have typically been the lynchpin in victorious Bullet Brawl performances; however, in October's second edition, it was a 19-game unbeaten streak to kick off the event that put Naroditsky in the box seat.

While the U.S. GM was the top seed, several dangerous GMs including Oleksandr Bortnyk, Matthias Bluebaum, Sergei Zhigalko, and Nihal Sarin, who played the event after drawing his fourth round against IM Aditya Samant at the Qatar Masters, opted to play.

Following his third-place finish in October's first Bullet Brawl, Taher was the only competitor capable of keeping pace with Naroditsky, though, in their games against one another, Naroditsky was able to win all three.

The Blockade Variation of the Old Benoni Defense was the battleground for one of these key top-of-the-table clashes and despite the opening's name, the middle of the board quickly opened up in favor of Naroditsky. With an eight-second advantage on the clock, the now seven-time victor hopped his knights toward Taher's king and won a full rook.

For Taher, the loss took a toll on his momentum and spelled a patchy period while Naroditsky continued steaming ahead.

The winner's run was characterized by high-accuracy games, his trademark tactical speed, and most notably, the ability to sense important moments against the field's highest-rated players. In a game against popular streamer GM Tuan Minh Le, Naroditsky spotted a timely queen move that changed the fate of a game that looked destined to be drawn.

Shuvalova's efforts on Saturday provided a glimpse into what viewers can expect come Monday when the aptly named "Flawless_Fighter" takes on IM Lawrence Trent in the I'M Not A GM Speed Chess Championship Semifinals. Playing NM Dimitry Korol, Shuvalova intuitively found a brilliant move in one second and secured a win up by 20 seconds on the clock seconds later.

A monopoly on October's Bullet Brawl titles would see Naroditsky move to within striking range of Nakamura's all-time wins record of 10. Following the conclusion of the Qatar Masters, it should come as no surprise to see Nakamura return to challenge Naroditsky and defend his mantle.

Standings

Bullet Brawl is an exciting new titled arena that features Chess.com's top bullet specialists and now takes place weekly on Saturdays. The format is a two-hour arena with a 1+0 time control; the prize fund is $1,000.

Much like Titled Tuesday and Arena Kings, Bullet Brawl often features top GMs, including Hikaru Nakamura, Daniel Naroditsky, Andrew Tang, Tuan Minh Le, and many more!

Previous coverage:

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Naroditsky Wins Third Straight Bullet Brawl - Chess.com

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) A Rutherford County man is leading the push to make chess an official sport in Tennessee schools.

"We have to do something to help our kids be successful," said Rob Mitchell. "This reaches and resonates with children."

Mitchell is currently the Property Assessor in Rutherford County and has been playing chess since he was 5 years old. He said the board game can teach players critical thinking, problem-solving and strategic planning skills. He said it also serves as a tool that can improve educational performance.

"They can learn to think before they move, and put some conscious effort into their decision making," said Mitchell.

Mitchell made his pitch in a letter to the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA). In the letter, he also stated the International Olympic Committee already recognizes chess as a sport. He said building programs in schools across the state would be cheaper than many other sports.

"We can get a program in statewide for less than it would cost to fund one 5A football squad," said Mitchell.

While he waits for a response from the TSSAA, Mitchell said for the last six months he has already been working to find ways to incorporate chess into more Rutherford County Schools.

"Im just excited about the opportunity of doing something that is novel and creative and inexpensive to change the lives of our communities," said Mitchell.

A spokesperson for the TSSAA said all rules and rule changes are made through member schools and the legislative process. Any member school can submit a proposal for a rule change to the legislative council. The proposal would then be discussed and voted on at a regional meeting, and then go in front of the legislative council.

Mitchell has also started a campaign to raise money to purchase chess boards for students: http://spot.fund/m1mrrsc [spot.fund]

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Should chess be an official sport in Tennessee schools? One man ... - News Channel 5 Nashville

Kazakhstan claimed a one-two finish with Kseniya Balabayeva winning by tiebreak score at the International Chess Federation World Junior Blitz and Rapid Chess Championships.

In the girls blitz tournament at Pula in Italy, there was a one-two for the nation with Balabayeva and Amina Kairbekova both finishing on 8.5 points out of 11.

Thanks to a better tiebreak score, gold went to Balabayeva.

Govhar Beydullayeva of Azerbaijan took the bronze medal with a score of 7.5 points.

The blitz open tournament was won by Mahammad Muradli of Azerbaijan.

Muradli won his opening six games and never looked like being caught from this point as he finished with 9.5 points out of 11 to take gold.

Kazakhstans Arystan Isanzhulov and neutral athlete Arseniy Nestorov finished tied on points behind Muradli, with Nestorov taking bronze courtesy of a better tiebreak score.

In the rapid events, the open category was won by Indias Raunak Sadhwani, who clinched a crucial win in his final game to take the title with 8.5 points.

Behind Sadhwani three players finished with 8 points, with Nesterov taking silver thanks to a superior tiebreak record, finishing as the only unbeaten player in the section.

Dimitris Alexakis of Greece took the bronze medal, while fourth on the same points total was Or Globus of Israel.

In the girls rapid event, victory went to Beydullayeva with a score of 9 points.

Kazakhstan claimed the second to fifth places, with Balabayeva second with 8.5 points.

The podium was completed by her compatriot Zeinep Sultanbek who finished with 7.5 points, holding off Nazerke Nurgali, who finished with the same score, by virtue of a better tiebreak record.

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Balabayeva beats compatriot to gold by tiebreak score at FIDE ... - Insidethegames.biz

The sugar and the flour or cornstarch in the custard will caramelize in the oven, and the result is a pie with a top that's a delicious golden caramel color and slightly crunchy, like a giant crme brle. Underneath the crackly top is a custard that tasteslike vanilla custard with a whisper of citrusy brightness.The buttermilk adds a tangy, unique flavor that balances the sweetness of the custard some recipes call for 2 to 3 cups of sugar. A flaky, buttery, slightly salty pie crust also works to balance the sweetness of a buttermilk pie.

For chocolate lovers, you can add cocoa powder to the custard, for a slightly sweet, deeply rich version of buttermilk chess pie that's almost like eating a brownie. The contrast between the richness of the chocolate and the lightness of the buttermilk is an ideal match. Both the lemon and chocolate versions wouldn't go amiss on a dessert table for the holidays. Luckily, you don't have to serve it warm. San Francisco baker Mary Denham of Blooms End likes chess pie room temperature or even chilled. For her chocolate chess pie, she amplifies the nuttiness of the chocolate with a whole wheat crust and tosses in some cacao nibs for crunch plus another dimension of cocoa flavor.

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What Is A Buttermilk Chess Pie, And What Does It Taste Like? - Daily Meal

Geostrategic chess over NepalKathmandu must deftly balance its own strategic and developmental imperatives as well as its ties with the big threeNew Delhi, Beijing, and Washington.

Last Updated 17 October 2023, 02:12 IST

Nepal's President Bidhya Devi Bhandari shakes hands with China's President Xi Jinping during a welcome ceremony at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal October 12, 2019.

The intense jostling for influence among the Great Powers in strategically located Nepal has once again gained momentum. While China was busy reiterating the benefits of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to visiting Nepalese PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda late last month, the US promptly dispatched Alice Albright, the head of its Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a counter to the BRI, to the Himalayan nation within days of his return from Beijing.

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For a country that adheres to a policy of non-alignment, Nepal increasingly finds itself in the midst of a geo-strategic contest. With its own high strategic stakes in Nepal, India is undoubtedly closely monitoring developments there. Having traditionally held sway over a country with whom it shares a long and porous border, India has seen a significant reduction of its strategic space in Nepal, with China making rapid inroads.

In this complex scenario, Kathmandu must deftly balance its own strategic and developmental imperatives as well as its ties with the big threeNew Delhi, Beijing, and Washington. During Prachandas visit to China, the two sides signed 12 MoUs, but the trip did not yield significant outcomes for either side. Nevertheless, India knows well that Beijings growing presence in the Himalayan nation poses a clear and present threat.

To New Delhis relief, its relations with Kathmandu in the 10 months since the Maoist leader took over as PM have remained stable. However, it understands the need to stay vigilant, as the tide can turn against it at any time. Fickleness and opportunism are the hallmarks of Nepals politics and politicians, adept at playing Beijing against New Delhi. This has complicated Indias position in a country it once considered its strategic backyard.

In an effort to counter Chinese influence in Nepal, Washington has also sought a firmer foothold there. The alignment of India and the US regarding Chinas growing belligerence in the region and the broader Indo-Pacific should aid their common cause to check Beijings expansionist moves in Nepal. Washington has reason to be pleased, having got Nepal on board the $500 million MCC Compact after strenuous efforts.

In sharp contrast, Nepal and China have been unable to finalise the text for the BRI Implementation Plan even six years after the former joined the initiative. Prachandas visit saw the two sides resolve to accelerate discussions on it. Not a single project under BRI has taken off in Nepal since 2017. Under pressure from both the US and India, the realisation that BRI projects often lead to significant debt traps may also be weighing heavily on Kathmandus mind.

New Delhi would also be wary of Beijings latest initiatives: the Global Security Initiative (GSI), the Global Civilisation Initiative (GCI), and the Global Development Initiative (GDI). Mindful perhaps of Indian security interests, Kathmandu has not joined either the GSI, seen as an attempt by Beijing to forge its own security architecture, or the GCI. However, Beijing managed to nudge Nepal into backing the GDI with a joint statement, stating that Nepal supports it and will consider joining it. But this can only be seen as a face-saver at best for Beijing, as Kathmandu has not made a commitment to join it.

Both India and China are also seeking to push ahead with energy cooperation and connectivity projects with the landlocked nation. Nepal, having suffered during the unofficial economic blockade imposed by India in 2015, is keen to explore connectivity projects with China that would reduce its dependence on India. A feasibility study is on for the proposed Jilong/Keyrung-Kathmandu cross-border railway network, despite its seeming impossibility. A beginning has also been made enabling Nepal to receive transhipments from a third country using Chinese portsit got turmeric from Vietnam via the Tianjin port last month.

Redoubling its efforts to keep Nepal within its orbit, India has agreed to import 10,000 MW of power from Nepal in the next decade, even as it invests in the countrys hydropower sector. But the 6,480 MW Pancheshwar hydropower project remains in limbo over a quarter of a century after it was first mooted with the preparation of its feasibility report, headed nowhere.

The fragile coalition Prachanda leads is perhaps one reason for him to be more amenable to New Delhis overtures. With his party, the CPN (Maoist Centre), winning merely 32 seats in the 275-member Parliament, Prachandass government is dependent on the support of the pro-India Nepali Congress, which got 89 seats, for survival. Perhaps it explains why New Delhi-Kathmandu relations have not encountered stormy weather yet. But India can ill-afford to lose steam in Nepal.

(The writer is a senior Delhi-based journalist)

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Geostrategic chess over Nepal - Deccan Herald

by Linda Hubbard on October 16, 2023

We first met Menlo Park resident Jim Eade in 2020 when we talked about his long-time interest in chess. He received his U.S. Chess Master title in 1981 and U.S. Correspondence Chess Master in 1984. He earned his WGO Chess Correspondence Master title in 1990, and his WGO Chess Master title in 1993. He is the author of the best-selling Chess for Dummies.

Hes now penned a very different book Freedom: Your Path to Recovery. He explains the basis for the book:

Alcohol almost cost me my life, but I was also addicted to nicotine and used marijuana every day for a number of years.

My ah-ha moment came was when I was in the hospital on death watch. I had an awakening at the moment when I became conscious again. I was different. It was aspiritual awakening. I chose to live. That awakening changed me. I wasable to do things, particularly humanitarian work.

The point of the book is one of hope. Live a life worth living and help others.

Jim said it was important to him to find people I could talk to openly without shame and fear and have them accept me.My trap was isolation.

And while he says Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) was essential, he found two other groups Refuge Recovery and Recovery Darma, both Buddhist based, were a better fit for him.

The point I try to make over and over: Find what works for you.Keep seeking is the primary message.

Jims book is available on Amazon.

Photo courtesy of Jim Eade.

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Chess master Jim Eade writes book on addiction and recovery - InMenlo

The Farmington Recreation Department plans to hold its first-ever Farmington Open Chess Tournament from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, coinciding with National Chess Day.

The event, to be held at the Farmington Community Center at 127 Middle St., marks a milestone for the centers new Farmington Chess Club, now one of the most active clubs in Maine, according to a news release from the club.

Players of all skills across the region can compete for trophies, medals and cash prizes. Additional awards will go to the top-scoring scholastic, senior and female participants. Whether one is a tournament veteran, ambitious beginner, or thinking about getting back into the game after a long hiatus, this tournament offers an opportunity to showcase ones skills, to meet fellow chess enthusiasts, and to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the club.

This official tournament, to be rated by the United States Chess Federation, requires entrants to provide a USCF membership to register. Spectators can attend, free of charge.

Tournament Format: Four rounds, Swiss system pairing players are matched against opponents of similar skill levels in every game in a 30 minutes plus five-second time control.

Advance registration is encouraged at farmingtonchess.org.

For more information about the Farmington Open Chess Tournament, including registration details, prizes, and entry fees, visit the clubs website or email Farmington Chess Club President Glenn Miller at farmingtonchessclub@gmail.com.

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Farmington to host inaugural open chess tournament Oct. 14 - Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel

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.

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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.

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