Magnus Carlsen unbeatable
Carlsen’s choice
- Just like two years ago in New York, Magnus Carlsen steered for a tiebreak in the World Championship match against Fabiano Caruana in London. A choice that was widely criticized, but again proved highly effective.
AlphaZero’s thoughts
- And what would the strongest program around think about the match that was held at a stone’s throw from DeepMind’s headquarters in London? Matthew Sadler reports.
Short Stories
- Nigel Short wonders what changes are needed to keep the World Championship attractive for a broad audience.
FIDE Presidents
- Arkady Dvorkovich is only the seventh FIDE president.
So happy together in Isle of Man
- Radek Wojtaszek was the sensation of the 2018 edition of the Chess.com Open in Isle of Man, taking home £ 38,000. His wife, Alina Kashlinskaya, added another £ 7,000 to their celebration day by winning the top women’s prize.
MVL Master of Shenzhen - breaks Ding Liren's Century
- At the Shenzhen Masters, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave ended Ding Liren’s unbeaten streak of 100 games and took the title on tiebreak.
Opera Game
- Paul Morphy’s rise from child prodigy to the ‘pride and sorrow of chess’ forms the backdrop to a new movie.
NIC’s Café
- A chess-themed pub in downtown Oslo, Maurice Ashley on ‘The Daily Show’ and a revisited flyover in Kolkata.
Your Move
- Not everyone rejoiced when a rapid tiebreak decided the world title.
Celeb64: George C. Scott
Chess Pattern Recognition
- Why not gain some space while advancing a pawn for a fianchetto?
Judit Polgar
- Crucial moments can dramatically change the course of a game. Or can even have far-reaching consequences for a player’s career.
Maximize Your Tactics
- Find the right moves.
Miraculous Escapes
- After many years of absence, Hans Ree ventured to enter a serious tournament again.
The Blitz Whisperer
- Reaching a winning position is one thing, bringing home the bacon another, especially in blitz. Maxim Dlugy looks at the art of ‘closing’ ‘totally won’ games.
Sadler on Books
- Before he delves into middlegames and openings, Matthew Sadler shares his enthusiasm for the first part of a 3-volume biography of second World Champion Emanuel Lasker.
Just Checking
- What is Alina Kashlinskaya’s favourite square?
Fair & Square
- Theresa May hopes for the endgame.