David R. Sands

Sergey Karjakin holds tough draw against Magnus Carlsen to keep chess match level

His trademark tenacity failed him as Norwegian world champion Magnus Carlsen was unable to grind down challenger Sergey Karjakin of Russia in a favorable endgame in Monday's third game of their scheduled 12-game $1.1 million title match in New York City. Following two uneventful draws, the 78-move, seven-hour struggle leaves the match tied and could provide a psychological boost to the underdog challenger.

November 15, 2016

Magnus Carlsen settles for draw in World Chess Championship Game 3

His legendary tenacity let him down for once as Norwegian chess champion Magnus Carlsen missed a clear endgame win against Russian challenger Sergey Karjakin, conceding a draw in the third game of their scheduled 12-game title match in New York after 78 moves and seven hours of grueling play Monday.

November 14, 2016

Second game of Carlsen-Karjakin chess title match produces second draw in NYC

Two games, two draws as world chess champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway easily held the half-point as Black against challenger Sergey Karjakin of Russia.

November 13, 2016

First game of world chess title match drawn in NYC

Champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway and Russian challenger Sergey Karjakin of Russia agreed to a draw after 42 moves in the first game of their 12-game world chess championship match that started Friday in New York City.

November 12, 2016

Clinton wins! Trump wins! (At least at the chessboard)

Stressed voters are making some momentous choices as this column is being written, but today we offer an oasis of unity in a parched desert of partisanship. For one column at least, both Clinton and Trump (or "Trumpf") can be winners.

November 8, 2016

When a single oversight in chess spells instant doom

Those who don't appreciate the mental stress of top-level chess should consider that every single position offers the opportunity for disaster.

October 26, 2016

Going beyond the chess rules to get the win

This just in from our Other Board Games Bureau: The Japan Shogi Association will soon ban players from bringing any electronic devices with them to matches, and players will have to go through metal detectors before they can enter the playing hall. Starting Dec. 14, leaving the tournament room in midmatch will also be forbidden, and those caught cheating will be permanently expelled from the association, the BBC reported last week.

October 18, 2016

U.N. agency pushes global soda taxes to curb obesity, fight disease

The United Nations jumped into the soda wars Tuesday, urging the nations of the world to start taxing everything from Pepsi to papaya juice as a way to trim expanding global waistlines and fight diseases such as diabetes.

October 11, 2016

A busy calendar as the world title chess match looms

Just because there's this big showdown next month doesn't mean the rest of the world is on hold until a winner is declared.

October 11, 2016

Prestige foreign policy journal makes first-ever endorsement — HIllary Clinton

Foreign Policy, the influential journal that is one of the establishment's favored debating grounds on international politics, economics and diplomacy, is the latest media publication to break with tradition and endorse a presidential candidate -- Democrat Hillary Clinton.

October 9, 2016

U.K. Independence Party at war with itself after Brexit triumph

It's been an abrupt fall -- figuratively and literally -- for the U.K. Independence Party, which this summer saw its dream of a British withdrawal from the European Union come to pass but Thursday saw its would-be next leader laid out cold on the floor after a fistfight with a rival over the party's next act.

October 6, 2016

Antonio Guterres set to become U.N. secretary general as push for first female head falls short

Under pressure to open up the process and break with seven decades of tradition, the United Nations is set to elect a white, male Western European insider as its top diplomat for the next five years.

October 5, 2016

Battle of the exes — a great game from former chess champs

Way back in the day, it was a very rare sighting: a game pitting two ex-world champions.

October 4, 2016

Thoughts from champ Magnus Carlsen on chess, intuition and fashion

It was the first visit by the world's greatest chess player to the world's most powerful city. After a traditional Norwegian repast of cod and red wine hosted by Ambassador Kare R. Aas last week, world chess champ Magnus Carlsen met with a small group of reporters at the Norwegian Embassy here to talk chess, intuition, fashion, and his upcoming title defense match starting Nov. 11 at the Fulton Market building in Manhattan's Seaport District.

September 27, 2016

North Korea cyber leak exposes reclusive nation’s registered websites — all 28 of them

North Korea does not exactly enjoy a reputation for openness, but this week the regime of Kim Jong-un became the first government in history to reveal every officially registered website operating in the country -- all 28 of them.

September 21, 2016

Eugenio Torre, a tower of strength, taking gold at 42nd Chess Olympiad

It's the ultimate team competition, but that doesn't mean there wasn't a little individual glory to be had at the just-concluded 42nd Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan.

September 20, 2016

Obama honors celebrity chef Jose Andres who is feuding with Donald Trump

He still isn't welcome at Donald Trump's brand spanking new Trump International Hotel, but celebrity chef Jose Andres will soon be honored at another famous Pennsylvania Avenue address -- the White House.

September 14, 2016

U.S. wins first gold in four decades at chess Olympiad

Add another gold medal to the U.S. haul this summer. The U.S. "Dream Team" came through in the clutch to claim the first American gold medal in 40 years at the 42nd Olympiad that concluded Tuesday in Baku, Azerbaijan.

September 13, 2016

Big chess matches loom as U.S. fights for Olympiad gold

The early rounds of the biennial Olympiad tournament are in the books in Baku, Azerbaijan, and the highly touted Americans have so far avoided stepping on any major landmines.

September 6, 2016

Not waiting for U.S., Canada signs up for Chinese investment bank

The Obama administration increasingly finds itself on the outside looking in as Canadian officials announced Thursday plans to apply for membership in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the first North American country to join the China-founded development bank.

August 31, 2016