David R. Sands

Julio Sadorra, Mark Paragua sail to victory in the chess Chesapeake Open

There was some real Filipino flavor atop the leaderboard at the ninth annual Chesapeake Open this month at the Rockville Hilton.

January 25, 2017

Hillary Clinton gets a pass among the Trump faithful

Their hero's motorcade was just pulling up to the other side of the Capitol, but there was a clear surge of anticipation and electricity among Donald Trump's supporters when rival Hillary Clinton first appeared on the giant television screens.

January 20, 2017

One supporter already revving up the 2020 Trump re-election campaign

Thomas C. Mendenhall, who says he spotted the Trump phenomenon far earlier than most people, now is trying to get the jump on the new president's re-election campaign.

January 20, 2017

From the Informant team, a fine new American chess magazine

In the world of chess publishing, we have a 50-year anniversary and news of an ambitious start-up, and both are an occasion for celebration.

January 18, 2017

Russian foundry mints commemorative ‘In Trump We Trust’ silver coin

Donald Trump's persistent calls for better relations with Russia are already paying off -- literally.

January 18, 2017

Xi vs. Trump: Chinese leader praises globalization, warns of trade wars at tony Davos summit

The forces of free trade, open markets and globalization have a new champion: Chinese President -- and Communist Party chief -- Xi Jinping.

January 17, 2017

Webster dominates but UMBC’s Tanguy Ringoir shines at college chess clash

It's as if Alabama's football team found itself in the college Final Four lining up against Alabama, Alabama and some random fourth entrant.

January 10, 2017

Aleksandr Lenderman outlasts Alex Shabalov for third Eastern chess crown

It was a familiar pair of front-runners entering the home stretch, with past winners GM Aleksandr Lenderman and GM Alex Shabalov pulling away from the field at last week's 42nd annual Eastern Open. In the end, Lenderman collected his third sole first in the event (he was Eastern champ in 2009 and 2010) by drawing his main rival and winning the rest of his games for a 61/2-1/2 winning score.

January 3, 2017

Rapid reverse as Magnus Carlsen tries to defend another chess title

When last we wrote about Magnus Carlsen, he was sacrificing his queen to clinch his world title defense last month over Russian challenger Sergei Karjakin in New York City.

December 28, 2016

Wesley So leads Yank brigade to chess dominance in London

The just-concluded Eighth London Chess Classic featured an elite field of players from around the world, but it was the Americans who provided most of the drama and the fireworks.

December 20, 2016

Greek minister sees progress despite latest debt drama

It was a chain of events which neatly captured the grinding economic crisis that plagues Greece: Just as a light appeared at the end of the tunnel, the train broke down once again.

December 16, 2016

Fighting seniors lead the way into busy holiday chess season

Happens every year — when the rest of the world is going over the meadow and through the snow for a well-earned holiday rest, the chess world is gearing up for perhaps its busiest season.

December 13, 2016

James Mattis pick emboldens Iran hawks eager to press Tehran on nuclear violations

Hawks critical of the Obama administration's outreach to Iran over the past eight years were in a distinctly upbeat mood as they took over an ornate Senate caucus room Thursday to promote their cause. The incoming Trump administration, many said, understands their case and the threat posed by the regime in Tehran far better than President Obama ever did.

December 8, 2016

Sergey Karjakin made Magnus Carlsen work to keep chess crown

The champ earned his triumph, but let's give it up here for the loser.

December 6, 2016

Magnus Carlsen retains world chess crown with brilliant playoff wins over Sergey Karjakin

World chess champion Magnus Carlsen retained his crown by the narrowest of margins, defeating dogged challenger Sergey Karjakin of Russia in a four-game rapid playoff Wednesday in New York City by a score of 3-1.

December 1, 2016

Carlsen, Karjakin head to playoff as chess title match ends in 6-6 tie

Norwegian world chess champion Magnus Carlsen and Russian challenger Sergey Karjakin will take their chances in a one-day playoff for all the marbles after Monday's 12th and final game of their championship match left the two players knotted at six points apiece.

November 28, 2016

Magnus Carlsen, Sergey Karjakin tied as world chess title match heads for last-game showdown

Playing the Black pieces, Norwegian world chess champion Magnus Carlsen easily held the draw in the penultimate game of his 12-game title match with Russian challenger Sergey Karjakin Saturday, leaving the two players tied at 5 1/2-5 1/2 with just one more round to go.

November 27, 2016

Donald Trump will undo Cuba deal absent major changes, Reince Priebus says

Incoming White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus says Donald Trump will undo the Obama administration's diplomatic reset with Havana unless Cuba addresses rampant human rights abuses.

November 27, 2016

Longtime Cuban dictator Fidel Castro dead at 90

Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, who dominated his island-nation for nearly a half-century and defied U.S. presidents from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Barack Obama, died late Friday evening in Havana at the age of 90.

November 26, 2016

Magnus Carlsen evens chess championship with grueling endgame win over Sergey Karjakin

With time running out, champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway finally broke through the defenses of Russian challenger Sergey Karjakin to win Game 10 Thanksgiving Thursday in New York, tying their scheduled 12-game match at 5-5 with just two games to go. It was the champion's first win of the match and a strong rebound from a painful loss in Game 8.

November 24, 2016