New in Chess Magazine 2020/8

Chess in Hell
A new exhibition at the World Chess Hall of Fame in St. Louis features artwork by Keith Haring, and newly-commissioned pieces by local artists paying homage to the pop culture icon.

NIC’s Café
Bruce Pandolfini’s pupil Oliver Boydell wrote a book. At the age of 10!

Your Move
A really weird game from McFarland’s Editor-in-Chief and a letter calling the historical Edo ratings ‘fairy-tale ratings’.

The Queen’s Gambit
The enthralling story of Beth Harmon’s stupendous rise in the male-dominated world of chess has stirred a veritable chess boom.

Memorable games
Erwin l’Ami traces Beth Harmon’s inspirations.

Skilling Open
Wesley So spoiled Magnus Carlsen’s party as he beat him on his 30th birthday to win the first leg of the new Champions Chess Tour.

Fair & Square
What was it that even Stephen King found ‘utterly thrilling’?

Interview Alireza Firouzja
Few doubt that the Iranian-born 17-year-old is World Champion material.

US Champions
Playing from his home in Minnesota, Wesley So became the 2020 US Champion with a massive 9/11 score.

Celeb64: Bobby Darin

Bobby Fischer Bible
An excerpt from John Donaldson’s magnum opus Bobby Fischer and His World, including hitherto unpublished games.

What would you play?
Test your decision-making skills with Thomas ‘Toolbox’ Willemze.

The Chess Drum
For almost twenty years now, The Chess Drum has been focusing on Black chess players and highlighting chess activities within the worldwide African Diaspora.

Maximize Your Tactics
Find the right moves.

Knight dances with Spassky
Judit Polgar fondly remembers her encounters with Boris Spassky.

Sadler on Books
Petrosian books aplenty! Our book reviewer points out that with his ‘shuffle’ chess the 9th World Champion was way ahead of his time.

Chess Pattern Recognition
The strength of the Catenaccio Bishop.

Levon Aronian
Jan Timman looks at the Armenian’s outstanding performance in Norway Chess.

They Are the Champions
Thuso Mosutha is the national champion of Botswana.

Just Checking
Who is the all-time favourite player of Mark ‘The Week in Chess’ Crowther?