David R. Sands

Two very different games showcase the infinite variety of chess

Sometimes one small mistake can sink your game. And sometimes you can survive a host of oversights and blunders and still take the point.

July 18, 2023

Lei draws first blood in tightly contested women’s world chess title match

Women's world chess champion GM Ju Wenjun and GM Lei Tingje, her Chinese compatriot and challenger in the 12-game title match now underway in Shanghai, are well matched.

July 11, 2023

Turkey drops objection to Sweden’s NATO membership on eve of summit

Sweden is on track to become NATO's 32nd and newest member after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan unexpectedly dropped his objections Monday on the eve of a summit of the Western military alliance's leaders in Vilnius, Lithuania.

July 10, 2023

U.S. says drone strike killed Islamic State leader in Syria

An American military airstrike has killed a senior Islamic State official in eastern Syria, the U.S. Central Command said in a statement released Sunday.

July 9, 2023

A tense France bans sale of Bastille Day fireworks

The French government on Sunday placed a ban on all non-official fireworks displays for the traditional Bastille Day celebrations on July 14, a reflection of the simmering tensions over the protests sparked by the killing of a teenager of North African descent by a police officer on June 27.

July 9, 2023

Double Dutch: Timman surveys the great Euwe’s chess career

It's hard to think of a better match in chess between author and subject than GM Jan Timman's new anthology, "Max Euwe's Best Games."

July 4, 2023

Kremlin hints at talks to free jailed U.S. reporter Gershkovich

The Kremlin acknowledged for the first time Tuesday that "contacts" with U.S. officials have begun over jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, imprisoned since March on what the Biden administration says are bogus espionage charges.

July 4, 2023

Kremlin says ‘contacts’ have been made over jailed U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich

The Kremlin acknowledged for the first time Tuesday that "contacts" with U.S. officials have begun over jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, imprisoned since March on what the Biden administration says are bogus charges of espionage.

July 4, 2023

Confusion, infighting plague Russian military in mutiny’s wake

Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to have survived -- for now -- the mutiny launched by onetime ally Yevgeny Prigozhin and his Wagner Group mercenaries.

June 29, 2023

An unsettled Russia as Prigozhin finds refuge in Belarus

Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin surfaced in Belarus Tuesday, days after leading the disruptive but aborted armed uprising that rocked the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

June 27, 2023

Lukashenko confirms Wagner chief is in Belarus, denies building new camp for mercenaries

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko on Tuesday verified that Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin had fled to his country, days after his mercenary force staged an abortive revolt in neighboring Russia.

June 27, 2023

Go team! Global Sports League kicks off inaugural season in Dubai

Having covered multiple Olympiads, college chess Final Fours and U.S. Amateur Team East blowouts over the years, I can personally attest that chess as a team sport is hardly a novel concept.

June 27, 2023

Uneasy calm, uncertain future as rattled Putin denounces ‘treacherous’ uprising

The only thing that seemed clear is that the fallout from the aborted, semi-coup staged by Wagner Group mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's forces is certain to be felt for months to come.

June 26, 2023

The last shall be first: Zatonskih scores surprise win in women’s chess tilt

There's still half a year to go, but IM Anna Zatonskih's victory in the 3rd annual Cairns Cup earlier this month looks certain to rank among the most unexpected results of 2023.

June 20, 2023

There from the start: Fathers, children and chess

They may not have been very strong players themselves, but many can claim credit for teaching the game's greatest stars how to set up the board and the difference between a pin and a fork.

June 13, 2023

Both sides seek high ground in PR wars as Ukraine offensive kicks off

It didn't take long for the fog of war to settle over Ukraine's long-awaited spring counteroffensive, with both sides claiming to see bright spots in the fighting Sunday. The clash could determine the fate of Russia's 16-month invasion.

June 11, 2023

Big guns in chess bring the firepower at strong Cherry Blossom Classic

Some of the game's big guns descended on Northern Virginia as a score of grandmasters and titled players battled it out at the 10th Cherry Blossom Classic at the Washington Dulles Airport Marriott.

May 30, 2023

Caruana turns back time — literally — in Superbet chess win

Time can pass awfully slowly when you're watching a chess game at classical time controls, but can it actually move in reverse?

May 23, 2023

Ding, Nepomniachtchi struggle in first outing after grueling chess title bout

New world champion GM Ding Liren of China and challenger GM Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia were back in action barely more than a week after their grueling, four-week match last month -- and it showed.

May 16, 2023