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.

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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

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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.

We are the only publication thats committed to covering every angle. We have an important contribution to make, one thats needed now more than ever, and we need your help to continue publishing throughout these hard economic times. So please, make a donation.

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The grand old man of chess journalism - TheArticle

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

Vagabond Players will begin its 108th season with the highly acclaimed musical CHESS - music by Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, lyrics by Tim Rice (based on an idea by Tim Rice) and directed by Stephen Deininger.

During the height of the Cold War, the renowned game of chess becomes a battleground for romantic rivalries, super-power politics, and international intrigue as two great chess masters, an American and a Russian, meet to fight it out for the world championship and the love of one woman. From Tyrol to Thailand, the players, lovers, politicians, and spies manipulate and are manipulated to the pulse of a monumental score by the ABBA team that includes such classics as One Night in Bangkok an Heaven Help My Heart.

CHESS opens Friday, Oct. 20 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 19, with weekly performances Fridays/Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., and a special $16 Thursdays on Broadway performance on Nov. 16 at 8 p.m.

For tickets and show info visit http://www.vagabondplayers.org. Special group rates are available online.

Located at 806 S. Broadway in historic Fells Point, the Vagabond Players is easily accessible to patrons CHESS is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. http://www.concordtheatricals.com.

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CHESS Kicks-Off Vagabond Players 108th Season - BroadwayWorld

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In many countries around the world, community health workers play a unique role in establishing a link between the healthcare system and society. Today, development and transformation of social health needs have resulted in the development of health programs and management of unpredictable cases. Therefore, selection and employment of suitable people who can fulfill the assigned tasks and roles and also meet the needs of the society are among the main priorities of the healthcare system.

The present study explored the perceptions and experiences of health system stakeholders at different levels, based on the criteria used for selecting and employing CHWs to help identify qualified people and provide effective community-based services. The present findings are promising due to the localization of employment criteria in order to select highly qualified people. Moreover, instructional barriers to selecting competent people were highlighted according to the perspectives and experiences of DBTC managers and supervisors (Table2). The exploratory themes extracted in this study and their relationships are presented as concepts and sub-themes.

Some of the general requirements based on the MOH instructions are the lack of addiction to cigarettes, narcotics, and psychotropic substances, lack of a history of criminal offenses or convictions, having physical and psychological health, and not being banned from employment in governmental institutions according to legal organizations. The findings of the present study showed that all the participants had a positive attitude toward the general requirements in the MOH instructions. However, the some sub-themes identified in this study did not fulfill some of these general requirements; these sub-themes could not be evaluated when completing the registration form.

The participants believed that providing community health services was one of the difficult tasks of the CHWs, who were required to have physical and psychological agility. Some individuals may choose this occupation just to have a source of income and may be less motivated, which contributes to their poor performance. All the participants believed that the CHWs should be interested in their job, besides being compassionate, inspired, reliable, responsive, and sociable. An ample amount of evidence suggests that these features should be considered when employing people as social service providers [1819]. Studies have also shown that confidentiality and poor trust are among key barriers to hiring CHWs who can provide maternal and pediatric health services [20].

In a previous review, the most important criteria for the employment of CHWs were their personal characteristics, such as interest in the field, willingness to learn, and compassion. It has been also reported that non-financial incentives, such as trust, respect, familiarity with the community, and self-esteem, are among the potential triggers of favorable performance. In this regard, Mishra et al., in a study in India, explained that CHWs should be more interested in their job than money [21,22,23].

The primary education level is one of the specific requirements for being accepted as a CHW; therefore, all candidates need to have at least 12 years of academic study [15]. According to the sub-themes identified in this study, the participants believed that the quantity and quality of education were associated with competency-based selection. Common people stated that the CHWs should have a high level of education to be trusted. Interestingly, common people also cared about the university where the CHWs had studied.

According to the supervisors and managers of the CHW training schools, a persons basic education, including the field of study and academic records, was an important criterion. They believed that people graduating with a diploma in experimental sciences were better prepared to receive the necessary health education and were usually more successful than their graduated counterparts. Another important background factor was the persons records in their last educational course. People with poor academic records usually face more problems in the CHW training courses. The importance of the basic educational level of CHWs, as highlighted in this study, has been also reported in previous research. Evidence shows that the CHWs inadequate education or certifications can negatively influence the communitys belief about their effective response and reaction to their needs. Besides, CHWs with higher educational levels may become convinced to quit their job after being employed [22, 2425].

In Uganda, the community had lower acceptance for people with low education levels [26]. In Brazil, having a formal educational degree boosted the acceptance of CHWs in the society, as well as peoples trust in them. Moreover, the professional activity of CHWs in cooperation with other health workers increased their social credibility [27]. A study in Bangladesh showed that less literate people did not receive the required training for their occupation, contributing to their poor functionality [2528]. However, conflicts and instability in the work environment of CHWs generally impede recruiting people with a specific level of education. This challenge is heightened in critical situations, such as the outbreak of diseases, or when there is a shortage of human resources [24, 2930].

According to studies in some countries, people do not believe that the CHWs should have a basic level of literacy, as they can receive the necessary training after employment. Evaluation of healthcare delivery by illiterate and less literate people in countries, such as Nepal, shows that these individuals receive effective and need-oriented training by their supervisors after employment [13, 31]. A study concluded that completion of primary school education should be considered as the minimum educational requirement for the CHWs to meet the care needs of underprivileged and remote communities [3233].

In Iran, the CHWs are employed by the government and are paid monthly, which is a relatively strong motive for entering this occupation and performing well [15]. The findings of this study showed that the type of employment (contractual or permanent) was an influential factor in the CHWs motivation for self-improvement and self-learning to remain in the system. The participants of this study believed that people who were hired officially and permanently had less motivation for self-improvement and delivery of quality services. However, the CHWs on contract tried to exhibit better performance to maintain their status and acquire the approval of the system. Ample evidence suggests that financial incentives are among factors improving the performance of CHWs. Today, health systems are moving in this direction to increase the CHWs motivation and durability in the system by offering them financial advantages [34].

According to national instructions, one female CHW and if required, one male CHW should be employed for every 1000 villagers. Based on the findings of this study, the participants assumed that women and married CHWs would provide more efficient services. In various countries, such as India, Brazil, Pakistan, and Nepal, which have a reputation for community-based plans, two factors, that is, female gender and being married, were the main criteria for hiring the CHWs. In these countries, community-based services focused on the family, children, and women and were tailored to the cultural framework; also, stranger men were not allowed to enter peoples homes [13].

Generally, recruitment of female CHWs is challenging in countries, such as Afghanistan, where women are not allowed to travel unattended; therefore, one woman and one man are always selected as CHWs to provide healthcare services. Similarly, in Kenya, both males and females were recruited for this purpose [13, 15, 35]. Since some services are more easily delivered by females in some countries, women are mobilized and encouraged to choose this occupation. In some underprivileged communities, the CHWs are selected among women for empowerment [30, 36].

The MOH instructions have determined a specific age range for employing the CHWs; the maximum age should not exceed 30 years. According to the codes extracted in the present study, age was recognized as an influential criterion in the effectiveness of services provided, learning ability, and capability to fulfill responsibilities and duties defined for the CHWs. Findings show that age is an important factor in hiring the CHWs in many countries, where a certain age range has been specified [13, 15].

In many countries, selection of CHWs from the community where they are expected to serve is one of the basic principles for providing community-based services; this principle has been strongly recommended by the WHO [13, 15]. In the rural regions of Iran, selection of CHWs is strictly based on the WHO recommendations (i.e., selection of CHWs from the community where the service is to be delivered); this is one of the specific criteria that candidates need to fulfill before registration. According to the instructions, if there are enough candidates (usually three people with High school diplomas) from the main village, they will be selected and hired after passing the exam and interview. And if there is not enough candidate from the main village, candidates from the neighbouring villages can register to take the exam and get hired [15].

One of the challenges of DBTC managers and supervisors was that candidates coming from the main village did not obtain the required credit score in the written entrance exam (i.e., selection of incompetent people). Moreover, the present findings showed that inflexible adherence to the core instructions of MOH, besides the restricted selection of candidates from the main village, hindered the employment of qualified people from nearby villages or other areas. Overall, it is important to explore the perceptions of stakeholders, including the managers and supervisors of DBTCs (as service providers) and the society (as a service demander). The managers stated that employing incompetent people caused many workers to be either fired from their job due to poor performance or resign themselves; this turnover imposed high costs on the system and led to the waste of resources. Supervisors also complained about the difficulty of teaching people with low capabilities.

Evaluation of common peoples perception showed that they did not care if the selected CHW was a native of the village or not. Instead, they preferred highly literate and skilled people for employment to support them and respond to their needs; substantial evidence from different countries supports this finding. According to previous research, the CHWs, by participating in the community they serve, can mobilize the community to improve a wide range of health practices. However, this goal is only achievable when the community has a positive attitude toward the CHWs and accepts them. Studies show that many parameters can affect the social acceptance of CHWs. The priority of these factors may vary in different societies, depending on the cultural, economic, and climatic conditions. The critical importance of this parameter lies in the acceptance of CHWs by the community where they serve, besides increasing the motivation, responsiveness, and accountability of the CHWs [24, 37]. A report from Ghana and Rwanda indicated that being chosen by the community boosted the CHWs sense of responsibility, motivation, and pride when fulfilling their roles [3839].

However, outcomes vary from one country to another, as selection does not always proceed according to the instructions. The results of an ethnographic study by Rafiq et al. in Tanzania, investigating the relationship between professional outcomes and the CHWs personal and social identity, showed that distinguishing personal identity from professional identity was difficult in CHWs working in rural regions. This study also demonstrated that the CHWs personal identity sometimes prevented them from talking about issues related to family planning and sexual health [40]. Moreover, the findings of a study from Kenya revealed that CHWs, selected by the community, as well as those whose selection was not related to the community, showed similar adherence to the instructions [41]. Besides, reports from India and Ethiopia indicated that the CHWs were selected without seeking the communitys opinion; however, in Uganda, some community members preferred non-natives as CHWs [4243].

The results of the present study revealed that people sometimes avoided sharing their physical and psychological problems with native CHWs due to concerns over confidentiality issues, fear of information disclosure, and social stigma. Several studies from different countries reported problems when hiring natives in places where there was stigma over a certain disease, for example, AIDS in African countries. Therefore, it is preferable to employ non-native CHWs for these people and sometimes for male immigrants [33, 4445].

Discrimination in offering services and paying special attention to relatives by native CHWs were among factors that challenged the communitys trust in them; nevertheless, findings are controversial. Some studies carried out in different countries have reported the positive effects of kinship ties on the professional roles of CHWs working in rural communities. Other studies in Nigeria and South Africa have also confirmed the central role of kinship and self-identity in the positive and trusting relationship nurtured between the CHWs and the community where they work [33, 46]. The results of an ethnographic study in Tanzania also revealed that the use of kinship terms, such as father and mother for male and female CHWs, could facilitate the interaction between personal and shared roles and professional duties to build trust and a sense of ownership in health-related programs [40].

On the other hand, the communitys participation in the selection of CHWs can also cause several problems. When the selection process is not transparent, there may be misinterpretations in supporting certain groups, which can hurt the community emotionally and make them lose the spirit of cooperation. When the selection of CHWs is managed by traditional kinship structures, despite the increased social participation and effectiveness of interventions in the kinship group, it can lead to the exclusion of other community groups and discrimination against them. Conflicting findings have been reported in Uganda and India [47, 48].

Based on previous findings, local hiring and increased access to health services may not always yield desirable outcomes. Many factors related to both suppliers and demanders should be addressed to achieve equity. According to previous studies, deprived and underprivileged groups are usually less capable of adhering to the CHWs recommendations due to economic and non-economic reasons [37, 45, 49].

Some findings suggest that selection of CHWs from communities living in suburb and remote areas can improve access to health services. Also, according to previous reviews, selection and employment of low-educated CHWs from communities with low literacy levels or poor people in poor communities can improve access to health services and lead to the fair distribution of these services. Moreover, home visits can be helpful for people who are prevented from visiting health centers due to cultural obstacles. The engagement of traditional healers can help provide services to groups with certain cultural traditions [45, 49].

Based on the findings of the current study at the macro level and exploration of concepts and codes extracted at the micro level, it is obvious that the societys expectations of service providers are increasing, the importance of attention to the health of villagers, being supportive, providing high-quality services, and CHWs ability to provide new and diverse services. The participants also believed that CHWs with higher levels of literacy and capability could perform better in establishing vertical equity and mobilizing at formal levels [37]. The present findings about CHWs indicate the expansion of professionalization, increased service quality in scale and variety, transforming roles, and coping with unpredictable situations [24]. In recent years, professionalization has expanded due to increased interactions between communities and health systems and increasing demands for diverse, high-quality, and up-to-date services, provided by more professional individuals [50, 52,53,54,55].

For health programs to be effective, selection and employment of CHWs should be tailored to the societys needs and underlying conditions. Even in a single country, the criteria for selecting CHWs may vary from one place to another. Therefore, CHW recruitment programs are recommended in various regions for comparison to optimize relevant policies; otherwise, challenges are unavoidable. Therefore, it is important for managers to show flexibility to upgrade and expand the CHW recruitment strategies [13, 33].

Iran is a country with great diversity in terms of climatic, geographic, cultural, social, and economic conditions in different areas. In some regions of the country, villages are far from cities and other villages, while in some regions, cities and villages are interconnected; therefore, people living in different regions may have variable access to facilities. The present study was conducted in Golestan Province in north of Iran; therefore, generalization of the findings to other parts of the country with different backgrounds may be challenging. It is necessary to modify the CHW selection and recruitment criteria in a way that guarantees the employment of most suitable individuals who can fulfill the assigned roles, address the communitys needs and demands at the place of service, and minimize depreciation in the system.

One of the limitations of this study was the small number of samples. Although, based on the current guidelines sample size for qualitative studies is varied. Data saturation is a significant measure to determine a sufficient sample size in qualitative studies. Given that each study has a unique characteristic and the saturation point can vary, it is also possible that no data is truly saturated. In any case, the study should be carried out with more samples to discover the dimensions of the subject [56].

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