6 The Chess Buzz
The FX sitcom It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia has an episode with a ‘chess plot’ that is hard to believe.
8 NIC’s Café
From a Cinderella story at the Cairns Cup to the Triveni Continental Kings. And what did 12-year-old Tani Adewumi cheekily suggest to Roger Federer when he beat the tennis legend at chess?
12 Your Move
Can a graphic novel capture the complexity of Bobby Fischer’s life? No way. And is there a striking resemblance between a disgusted Magnus and a Francis Bacon painting?
14 A Classical Hikaru Show
In a super-strong Norway Chess, Hikaru Nakamura picked up the winner’s cheque of $75,000 and rose to second place in the world rankings. The report includes the winner’s revealing game notes to his victory over Fabiano Caruana.
19 Home, not always so sweet
Tarjei Svensen looks at Magnus Carlsen’s mixed results in Norway Chess.
35 Fair & Square
To who said Groucho Marx that the only fun he had in a game was cheating?
36 Maximum Magnus
Showcasing his passion for blitz, Magnus Carlsen pulled off two dazzling streaks (11/11 and 9/9!) in one week.
40 Interview: Hikaru Nakamura
The star streamer speaks about the rapidly changing chess landscape, the all-important role of the average chess enthusiast and much more – for example, Magnus. And Gukesh.
50 Stars, legends and futures
In one of his rare appearances outside the United States, Ray Robson claimed top honours in the Prague Masters. The prize for the Festival’s best game was won by a very promising 13-year-old.
53 Celeb64: Rainn Wilson
66 Michael Basman
Stuart Conquest portrays one of the most original chess minds ever. A rebel, a freethinker, a passionate promotor and an ‘überpositive’ inspirer with an endless supply of innovative ideas in the opening.
78 Adult Improvement
James Altucher longs back to the late 90s when his US rating hit 2200...
81 Maximize Your Tactics
Find the right moves.
82 Dynamic and fearless
In a short span of time 17-year-old Gukesh seems to have become the undisputed leader of the new generation. Judit Polgar is a fan.
87 What would you play?
Test your decision-making skills with Thomas ‘Toolbox’ Willemze.
92 Sadler on Books
Matthew Sadler believes he has found the chess book he always wanted to give to non-chess players.
98 Euwe’s blunders
For 14 months he topped the world rankings, yet the fifth World Champion Max Euwe is often remembered for his blunders. Jan Timman delves into the matter.
105 They are The Champions
Vignir Stefansson is the national champion of Iceland.
106 Just Checking
Who is Tarjei Svensen’s favourite player of all time?
