David R. Sands

Chess world kept busy during Carlsen-Caruana clash

The chess world -- and this column -- have been understandably consumed for the past month with the drama in London, where American challenger Fabiano Caruana came up just short in his world title fight with Norwegian champ Magnus Carlsen, losing the rapid playoff after their 6-6 standoff (all draws) in the classical portion of the match.

December 11, 2018

Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Merkel ally, wins fight to head CDU in Germany

A key ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel has won the hotly contested battle to head the center-right Christian Democratic Union, narrowly defeating a rival who pledged to take the party in a more pronounced conservative direction.

December 7, 2018

China state press reacts furiously to arrest of top Huawei exec on U.S. order

China's state-controlled press is reacting with undisguised fury to the arrest of a top officer of telecom giant Huawei Technologies Co. in Vancouver, Canada, detained reportedly at the request of the Trump administration over suspected illegal trading with Iran.

December 6, 2018

Fabiano Caruana doomed in chess title fight by drawn-out duel, rapid downfall

He fought the champ to a draw -- literally and figuratively -- in their grueling 12-round, three-week title match, but American challenger Fabiano Caruana -- literally and figuratively -- saw his chances rapidly fall apart in extra time in his bid to dethrone Norwegian champion Magnus Carlsen.

December 4, 2018

Carlsen holds off U.S. challenger Caruana to retain world chess crown

Norwegian world chess champion Magnus Carlsen has retained his crown, decisively defeating St. Louis Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana in a rapid playoff Wednesday in London after their 12-game title match this month failed to produce a decisive result.

November 28, 2018

Mike Pompeo warns Senate that Yemen vote could harm U.S. security, boost Iran

A congressional push to limit U.S. support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen would do "immense damage" to U.S. interests in the region, leave Iran in a stronger position, and do nothing to alleviate the humanitarian crisis generated by the war, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is warning lawmakers Wednesday.

November 28, 2018

Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana face playoff after a dozen draws in world chess title fight

In a baffling end to a less-than-stellar match, world champion Magnus Carlsen offered a draw in a superior position to American challenger Fabiano Caruana on Monday, marking the 12th and final consecutive draw in their title match and setting up a rapid chess playoff for the crown Wednesday in London.

November 27, 2018

One more Magnus Carlsen-Fabiano Caruana draw sends tied chess title match to rapid playoff

In a baffling end to a less-than-stellar match, world champion Magnus Carlsen offered a draw in a clearly superior position to American challenger Fabiano Caruana Monday, marking the 12th and final consecutive draw in their title match and setting up a rapid chess playoff for the crown Wednesday.

November 26, 2018

Iranian minister mocks Trump, calls Saudi statement ‘shameful’

Iran's foreign minister denounced as "shameful" President Trump's statement saying the U.S. will maintain ties with Saudi Arabia despite the international furor over Riyadh's role in the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

November 20, 2018

Draw play: Carlsen, Caruana struggle for a breakthrough in knotted chess title fight

Chess fans these days are sounding like those soccer aficionados who try to tell us those 0-0 ties are actually gripping entertainment.

November 20, 2018

Fabiano Caruana just misses win against champ in world chess title fight

American challenger Fabiano Caruana pressed hard but came up just short as his title match with world chess champion Magnus Carlsen as Norway saw its sixth draw in the first six games Friday in London.

November 16, 2018

Novel opening produces another draw in Carlsen-Caruana world chess match

Game 5 of the chess world championship match in London between titleholder Magnus Carlsen of Norway and American challenger Fabiano Caruana took a highly offbeat path in the opening, but the result was yet another draw in a 12-game match that has yet to produce a decisive result.

November 15, 2018

Taut battles but no breakthroughs as Carlsen-Caruana title match kicks off

Three games, three draws in the scheduled 12-game world championship match in London between champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway and American challenger Fabiano Caruana, but it hasn't exactly been dull as the two prepare for Tuesday's Game 4.

November 13, 2018

Third draw in world chess title match as Magnus Carlsen presses Fabiano Caruana again

It's three draws in three games to open the world chess championship title match in London, as world champ Magnus Carlsen of Norway pressed once again with the Black pieces Monday but could not break through against American challenger Fabiano Caruana.

November 12, 2018

Amnesty International strips Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi of award

The human rights groups Amnesty International announced Monday it was rescinding its highest honor given a decade ago to Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, citing her role in the government's pressure campaign against hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslim residents.

November 12, 2018

U.S. challenger Caruana saves draw in epic first game of chess title match

World chess champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway pressed hard but could not crack the defenses of American challenger Fabiano Caruana, agreeing to a draw after a hard-fought 115 moves in the first game of their scheduled 12-game title match in London Friday.

November 9, 2018

Pompeo abruptly cancels meeting with North Korean diplomat over nukes

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has postponed without explanation a planned meeting with a top North Korean official in New York Thursday meant to pump new momentum into talks over Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal.

November 7, 2018

James Carville: Democratic wave ‘dissipating’

Longtime Democratic strategist James Carville said early results from Tuesday's midterm elections suggest the vaunted blue Democratic wave is not materializing.

November 6, 2018

Chess title match offers window on the state of the game

One can always hope, but don't look for nail-biting, scintillating chess when world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway and American challenger Fabiano Caruana sit down Nov. 9 for the first game of their 12-game match in London.