David R. Sands

Germany punts on Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine

Germany said Friday it needed more time to decide whether to let its coveted Leopard 2 battle tanks be sent to Ukraine, putting off pleas from the government in Kyiv and disappointing U.S. and NATO allies eager to bolster Ukraine's forces against a possible new Russian advance.

January 20, 2023

A Romantic chess opening that gets few dates these days

The most romantic of chess openings doesn't get many dates these days.

January 17, 2023

Viennese hits and misses from storied chess tournament 150 years ago

It's a new year, and for a chess columnist that means a whole bunch of anniversaries and milestones to celebrate in 2023.

January 10, 2023

One head, three crowns: Champ Carlsen adds blitz, rapid chess titles

It's the equivalent of the Grand Slam or Triple Crown of chess, and Magnus Carlsen has just done it for a hard-to-believe third time.

January 3, 2023

Key Republican steps up warning on China’s TikTok, calls it ‘digital fentanyl’

The Wisconsin lawmaker expected to be the new House Republican point man on China voiced fresh concerns Sunday about TikTok, the Chinese-owned social media site that has become wildly popular with America's youth but which many see as a major security danger.

January 1, 2023

Bolsonaro bolts from Brazil ahead of rival’s inauguration

Outgoing conservative populist President Jair Bolsonaro has abruptly flown out of Brazil, just two days before his rival and leftist successor, President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, was set to take office.

December 30, 2022

For the holidays, chess stars rise in the East

It is that time of year again when we start looking for that star out of the East. Right now, we have a whole constellation full of them.

December 27, 2022

Putin recruits military bloggers to sell mobilization drive toward criticized war effort

While supporting Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, many of the bloggers have emerged as among the harshest domestic critics of the Kremlin's prosecution of the war.

December 21, 2022

Zelenskyy eyeing trip to Washington as Pentagon plays down Belarus threat

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is traveling to Washington perhaps as soon as Wednesday for talks with Biden administration officials and an address to Congress on the state of the 10-month war with Russia, according to multiple news reports.

December 20, 2022

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy reportedly headed to Washington for meetings, congressional address

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is traveling to Washington perhaps as soon as Wednesday for talks with Biden administration officials and an address to Congress on the state of the 10-month war with Russia, according to multiple news reports.

December 20, 2022

D.C.-area scholastic chess tournament smashes attendance records

The DMV represented, and the future of American chess is blindingly bright. That's two easy conclusions in the wake of the U.S. Chess Federation's record-shattering 2022 National K-12 Grade Championships, held Dec. 9-11 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.

December 20, 2022

Bipartisan push to clip TikTok gains momentum in Washington

In Washington, the move to curb U.S. operations of the Chinese-controlled social media site is gaining new adherents every day, with both conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats expressing concern the popular platform represents a major security risk.

December 18, 2022

Vatican defrocks leading U.S. pro-life priest Frank Pavone for ‘blasphemous communications’

Frank Pavone, a leading U.S. Catholic voice against abortion and founder of the group Priests for Life, has been defrocked on direct orders from the Vatican for disobeying his superiors and "blasphemous" comments on social media.

December 18, 2022

Putin’s war is a disaster, but peace talks not in the offing, says CIA chief William Burns

Russian President Vladimir Putin is digging in and not looking for a cease-fire deal with Ukraine despite many battlefield reverses, CIA Director William Burns said in an interview over the weekend.

December 18, 2022

Dealing with imperfection at the chessboard

Chess is not a game of perfect. If every move were impeccable, every game would end in a draw. Very often, it's what the player does after he screws up that determines the outcome.

December 13, 2022

No questions, please: Putin nixes traditional year-end press conference

The Kremlin said Monday that President Vladimir Putin would not hold his traditional late December marathon press briefing.

December 12, 2022

Kremlin: Zelenskyy pick as Time’s ‘Person of the Year’ is Russophobic

The Kremlin has a bone to pick with the editors of Time magazine, contending Thursday that the choice of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as their 2022 "Person of the Year" was an exercise in Russophobia.

December 8, 2022

Young or old, chess is a game for the ages

You're only as old as you play. The prime playing years for chess players are said to be one's 20s and 30s, but one great thing about our game is that it can be enjoyed and played skillfully by anyone at any age who can push a pawn, punch a clock and record the moves.

December 6, 2022

Putin: Ukraine’s ‘aggression’ led to infrastructure attacks

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered a new justification Friday for a campaign of bombing strikes on Ukrainian power lines and other civilian infrastructure that threatens to leave the country without power or heat as the winter comes on: Ukraine started it.

December 2, 2022

A rich history of 125 years of holiday chess at Hastings

The annual Christmas holiday tournament held in the Sussex town of Hastings, England, may have peaked a little early, but it's still been a reliable producer of top-flight chess in the 125 years since its unforgettable opening act.

November 29, 2022