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David R. Sands

David R. Sands

dsands@washingtontimes.com

David R. Sands covered numerous beats, including international trade, banking, politics and Capitol Hill, and spent eight years on the foreign desk as senior diplomatic correspondent. He has authored The Times' weekly chess column since 1993.

Articles by David R. Sands

Pachman-Ujtelky after 34...Rcc8.

Pachman at 100: Czech writer’s impact on chess still being felt

The debate over the principles of sound chess play has been an enjoyable conversation that's been going on for centuries. A civilized and essential voice in the debate was Czech-German GM and author Ludek Pachman, born 100 years ago this year.

November 12, 2024
Jeselon-Aagaard after 26...Qd8.

Greece dominates, U.S. leaves it all on the battlefield at NATO Chess Championship

Our defense budget may be second to none, but when it comes to chess, the U.S. still lacks the firepower of some of our closest NATO allies. The 34th NATO Chess Championship, one of our favorite annual events, concluded last month on the island of Rhodes, with the Greek hosts taking home the title they first won in 2022.

November 5, 2024
Tabatabaei-Praggnanandhaa after 31...h5.

Class acts: Caruana, Yip defend chess titles at U.S. national championships

U.S. national champion GM Fabiano Caruana and U.S. women's national titleholder IM Carissa Yip successfully defended their crowns at the national championship tournaments that ended last week at the Chess Club of St. Louis. It was the fourth open American title belt for Caruana, the country's highest-rated player, and the third for Yip.

October 29, 2024
Krush-Yip after 43...Ne5.

Yoo’s outburst casts a shadow over U.S. chess title tourney

In an incident that generated national headlines, 17-year-old GM Christopher Yoo, upset over a painful Round 5 loss to top-seeded GM Fabiano Caruana at the ongoing U.S. Championship Tournament in St. Louis, ripped up his scorecard, abruptly left the board and -- worst of all -- struck a female videographer from behind as he left the tournament hall. The U.S. Chess Federation, rightly, immediately disqualified the young California GM, and his games -- including the loss to Caruana -- will not count toward the final scores.

October 22, 2024
A demonstrator holds a sign about the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar during a protest calling for a cease-fire deal and the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Tel Aviv, Israel. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

After Hamas leader’s death, Israel faces key decision on Gaza campaign

The death of Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas and the architect of the Palestinian militant group's Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist rampage across southern Israel, raised fresh questions about which direction the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would take after the security triumph.

October 17, 2024
Fischer-Bisguier after 33...Re8.

Fischer’s ‘prize’ once again goes unclaimed at U.S. national chess title fight

When it comes to prizes, Alfred Nobel has nothing on Bobby Fischer. Sure, you have to end a war or cure a disease or solve some esoteric problem in particle physics, but it's a sure bet that every year at least six people -- often more -- will get some face-time with the king of Sweden for winning a Nobel. By contrast, the lucrative bonus that comes with matching Bobby's epic 11-0 sweep in the 1963-64 U.S. national championship has been offered every year since 2009 and not a single player has come close to claiming the Fischer Prize.

October 15, 2024
People protest on the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel and call for the release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's house, in Jerusalem, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

On attack’s anniversary, Israel takes the fight to its foes

Oct. 7, 2023, ranks as the bleakest day in modern Israeli history, when a massive Hamas surprise attack killed more than 1,200 civilians, captured hundreds of hostages and humiliated the country's vaunted intelligence and military services. But a year later, it's a very different picture.

October 6, 2024
Saraci-Sihlongonyane after 29...Kf8.

Hundreds of teams and thousands of storylines at 45th Chess Olympiad

With some 357 open and women's teams and more than 7,700 games played, let's just concede right at the top that it's impossible to keep up with even a fraction of the storylines from the recent 45th Chess Olympiad hosted by Budapest, which drew the largest turnout in the event's history.

October 1, 2024