David R. Sands

DAVID R. SANDS: Magnus Carlsen clings to lead in world title chess match after epic draw

It took 122 moves of grinding defense, but Indian challenger Viswanathan Anand may have claimed a little momentum Monday in drawing Game 7 with world champion Magnus Carlsen in their scheduled 12-game title match in Sochi, Russia. With the draw, Carlsen now enjoys a 4-3 edge, with two wins, four draws and a loss in the match's first seven games.

November 19, 2014

Carlsen keeps chess title match lead with quiet draw in Game 8

World chess champion Magnus Carlsen came up with a much better defense to his opponent's Queen's Gambit opening and secured an easy 41-move draw in Game 8 of his title match with Indian challenger Viswanathan Anand in Sochi, Russia Tuesday.

November 18, 2014

Anand holds Carlsen to draw in epic 122-move game

It took 122 moves of grinding defense, but Indian challenger Viswanathan Anand may have claimed a little momentum Monday in drawing Game 7 with world champion Magnus Carlsen in their scheduled 12-game title match in Sochi, Russia.

November 17, 2014

Carlsen wins error-filled game to seize chess title match lead

The grandmasters proved they were human as world chess champion Magnus Carlsen defeated Indian challenger Viswanathan Anand in a blunder-filled Game 6 of their championship match in 38 moves Saturday in Sochi, Russia.

November 15, 2014

Chess title match remains knotted as Carlsen, Anand draw in Game 5

Navigating a few tricky middle-game shoals, world chess champion Magnus Carlsen held challenger Viswanathan Anand to a 39-move draw Friday in Game 5 of their scheduled 12-round title match in Sochi, Russia.

November 14, 2014

Chess match still tied as Anand, Carlsen draw Game 4

World chess champion Magnus Carlsen pressed but was unable to break challenger Viswanathan Anand's defenses, as Game 4 of their scheduled 12-game title match ended in a 47-move draw. The result leaves the match knotted at 2-2, and represented a moral victory of sorts for the Indian challenger, who was playing the Black pieces and faced a champion eager for revenge after a bad loss in the previous game.

November 12, 2014

DAVID R. SANDS: Ominous echoes for Anand as Carlsen takes chess title match lead

Two games into the world title rematch between now-champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway and now-challenger Viswanathan Anand of India is already looking an awful lot like their first match one year ago when the roles were reversed.

November 11, 2014

Champ Carlsen draws first blood in chess title fight

Using the same blueprint which won him the title a year ago, Norwegian world chess champion Magnus Carlsen pressured challenger Viswanathan Anand of India into a critical mistake to win the second game of their scheduled 12-round match in Sochi, Russia Sunday.

November 9, 2014

Anand, Carlsen battle to draw in first game of chess title match

World chess champion Magnus Carlsen and challenger Viswanathan Anand battled to a hard-fought draw in the first game of their scheduled 12-game title match in Sochi, Russia Saturday.

November 8, 2014

SANDS: Challenger faces long odds trying to reclaim chess crown

The world chess championship — it's hard enough to win it, let alone win it back.

November 4, 2014

SANDS: Ahead of 2014 chess title match, 2016 hopefuls battle it out

With world champion Magnus Carlsen and challenger Viswanathan Anand prepping furiously for their title match in Sochi, Russia, starting a week from Friday, some of their top peers are already battling for a chance to play in the next title match two years from now.

October 28, 2014

SANDS: The bigger the chess stakes, the bigger the mistakes

More money, more mistakes. By the American game's (low) standards, the Millionaire Chess Open in Las Vegas this month offered a massive jackpot.

October 21, 2014

Obama’s credit card rejected on New York trip

President Obama came perilously close to having to wash some dishes on his recent trip to New York.

October 17, 2014

SANDS: From Lasker to Larsen, chess games that link the generations

For such an ancient and venerable game, chess offers some surprisingly direct links to its distant past.

October 14, 2014

SANDS: Ashburn’s Yu brings home gold in chess World Youth Championships

The DMV has a new world chess champion. Ashburn, Virginia, middle-schooler Jennifer Yu, fresh off a fine performance at last month's Virginia Closed Championship, is the new world girls' under-12 champion, bringing home the gold medal at the World Youth Championships in Durban, South Africa.

October 7, 2014

SANDS: In a digital age, chess writers still go by the book

There are software programs that can beat the strongest grandmaster in history. Videos of top grandmasters explaining the secrets of their favorite openings are big sellers. The lowliest club player can purchase databases with millions of searchable games dating back to when Ruy Lopez was still in the seminary.

October 1, 2014

Turkey builds massive pipeline to send drinking water to thirsty Cyprus

An ambitious pipeline project linking reservoirs in Turkey to the parched, isolated Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is on track to bring much needed drinking water to the island by year's end.

September 30, 2014

Turkey builds innovative pipeline to Northern Cyprus

It won't carry any oil, but an ambitious pipeline project linking reservoirs in Turkey to the parched, isolated Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus could prove as politically charged as any project now underway in the region.

September 28, 2014

SANDS: Surging Anand could pose problem in chess title rematch

Don't write off the ex-champ so fast. GM Viswanathan Anand is a distinct underdog as he tries to reclaim the world title he lost last year to Norwegian star Magnus Carlsen, with the rematch set for November in Sochi, Russia.

September 23, 2014

SANDS: Schuyler reclaims chess crown in Virginia title tournament

Congratulations to Virginia FM James Schuyler, who captured his third state title — and third in the past four years — at the traditional Labor Day closed state championship tournament in Glen Allen.

September 16, 2014