The Chess Drum’s Highlights of 2020!

The year was 2020. While the number is associated with clear vision no one could’ve seen this coming. The year was filled with hope just as “2000,” “2010” had before. Each decade we hope for a new era filled with hopes and dreams, but the first year of the decade was one that will go down in infamy. The emergence of the coronavirus resulted in untold numbers of death and despair and literally brought the global economy to a standstill.

To date, nearly 84 million have been afflicted with the deadly virus with the U.S. accounting for the largest percentage of the 1.8 million having succumbed (353,000+). However, there were some historic developments. The virus did delay the completion of the 2020 World Candidates tournament, but the elite players kept busy as there were a number of elite tournaments staged with Magnus Carlsen in the middle of the action hosting his own online chess tour. Maurice Ashley organized a new format with “Clutch Chess” in which the points had heavier weights as the tournament wore on.

Online activity exploded and the quarantine restrictions kept people in their homes and many adjusted to a hibernated lifestyle. For the chess community, it turned out to be a silver lining, and online chess activity increased dramatically. Streamers developed Twitch channels with Hikaru Nakamura leading the charge and making inroads for chess popularization.

In March, we ran an article here, “Will the coronavirus change OTB chess?” We already know that online chess had become a popular place for chess activity since the 1990s, but now organizations scrambled to convert their signature tournaments onto chess servers. On a positive note for chess we saw how chess communities like Ghana, Senegal and other regions were dealing with COVID-19.

Perhaps the second monumental event was the protest involving the death of George Floyd. The outrage in the aftermath of his death led to a worldwide outpouring of support in the fight against social injustice. The topic of racism became an international discussion and The Chess Drum made a few contributions including “George Floyd and the Right to Thrive.”

While we want to have an honest discussion on these issues, we have to be careful not to paint an overly dire or overly naive picture. FIDE’s Statement on Racism got a response here. On the issue of whether chess is a racist game? We covered that in “Is Chess Inherently Racist?”

On a lighter note we saw commercials on Maurice Ashley (Hennesey) and Watu Kobese (Mazda). Both highlight legendary figures, and Kobese’s story was especially touching.

We also found out what happened to Theophilus Thompson after I received a tip from a librarian in Fredericksburg, Maryland. Outstanding! A monument has been dedicated to this pioneering problemist with his classic book. Check out this wonderful development!

Speaking of books, there were few books we highlighted this year:

While online chess resulted in a “chess boom,” the run of the “Queen’s Gambit” took advantage of binge habits of quarantined families. The fictional Beth Harmon became a megastar and inspired girls worldwide to play chess. The TV fictional series was a sensation and put chess at the forefront in 2020. All types of initiatives have been launched as a result.

However, it is ironic that the the non-fictional Phiona Mutesi had no such impact in “Queen of Katwe.” The story was equally compelling but perhaps didn’t have the same relatability… two “Queens,” two different realities. Incidentally, Pearl Waligwa who taught a young Phiona the moves in the movie, succumbed to a brain tumour this year.

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We mourn the loss of our beautiful Nikita Pearl Waligwa. She was a ball of light in @queenofkatwemovie and in life. Her battle with a brain tumor was humbling to witness. Her light will live on. ?#rip

A post shared by David O (@davidoyelowo) on Feb 16, 2020 at 10:19am PST

Death was a overarching element that most of us had to confront. On a personal note, I lost both siblings (Abraham Jr. and Ahvia) to non-COVID illnesses. In addition, I also lost acquaintances and featured several profiles for chess players in 2020. They were:

The year 2020 was a challenge for many of us, but I am happy to say that The Chess Drum was chronicled in the latest New in Chess. The Chess Drum will be celebrating its 20th year! Thanks for the support all of these years.

Here are some of the moments to revisit…

December

• The Chess Drum’s Highlights of 2020! (31 December 2020)
• Susan Namangale: Malawi’s Chess Prez (31 December 2020)
• The History of Chess in Jamaica: 1834-1978 (31 December 2020)
• The Chess Drum in New in Chess! (29 December 2020)
• 2021 Tata Steel Chess (Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands) (29 December 2020)
• Husbands wins 2020 Michael Ford Memorial (27 December 2020)
• Kentucky hosts Chess-Kwanzaa celebration (27 December 2020)
• Bouah recounts S. African history in new book! (26 December 2020)
• Mazda ad features Watu Kobese (25 December 2020)
• Carlsson continues fight for social justice (25 December 2020)
• Caribbean vs. Chicago is a massive hit! (21 December 2020)
• Yakini Tchouka is 2020 Togolese Champion (19 December 2020)
• Orrin Hudson chats with Les Brown! (19 December 2020)

October

• NYC honors the life of Charu Robinson, 43 (31 October 2020)
• Jessica Hyatt making moves… nets $40K scholarship (28 October 2020)
• Pedro Aderito, Angolan IM, passes at 44 (18 October 2020)
• USCF Nominating Committee looking for Board Members! (17 October 2020)
• In Memory of Ahvia Maria (17 October 2020)

September

• Thank you Drum Community! (7 September 2020)

August

• The Chess Drum on Bishop Chronicles: “Hip-Hop, Chess & Race” (7 August 2020)
• Jim Eade’s “Chess Without Borders” hosts Daaim Shabazz! (6 August 2020)

July

• Pitterson’s Twitch hosts The Chess Drum! (31 July 2020)
• Bob Wheeler, Pioneer of Jamaican Chess, dead at 70 (25 July 2020)
• “International Chess Day” July 20th (13 July 2020)
• Is Chess Inherently Racist? (5 July 2020)

June

• Adu’s living nightmare after zonal 4.2… now stranded! (28 June 2020)
• Bert Scott’s book on Jamaican Chess History! (24 June 2020)
• Col. Michel Nguele Viang Cameroon’s 1st Chess President dies (22 June 2020)
• Orrin Hudson’s virtual summer camp (22 June 2020)
• Trinidadian chess princess Della-Marie remains comatose (21 June 2020)
• Response to FIDE’s Statement on Racism (2020) (16 June 2020)
• Life Lessons from Anand in “Mind Master” (10 June 2020)
• NBA Champion Craig Hodges on Chess Stream (8 June 2020)
• George Floyd and the Right to Thrive (2 June 2020)

May

• ‘Clutch Chess’ features America’s top brass in online battle! (26 May 2020)
• Pan-African Chess thrives in 2020! (24 May 2020)
• Ghana Chess on GBC News during COVID-19 (7 May 2020)
• Senegalese chess forging ahead during crisis (6 May 2020)

April

• The Mystery of Theophilus Thompson Solved!! (19 April 2020)
• Arianne Caoili, a sweet soul who gave a chess king his lucky stars (8 April 2020)
• New York chess loses Beejay Hicks to COVID-19 (8 April 2020)
• Grand Chess Tour cancels 2020 season (4 April 2020)

March

• 2020 Jamaica Nat’l Age Championships (31 March 2020)
• Candidates 2020 postponed halfway through (29 March 2020)
• 2020 African 4.2 Subzonal (Freetown, Sierra Leone) (16 March 2020)
• 2020 World Candidates Tournament (Yekaterinburg, Russia) (16 March 2020)
• Will coronavirus change OTB chess? (13 March 2020)
• Tani Adewumi vaults over 2000! (8 March 2020)
• As Candidates 2020 approaches, Coronavirus rocks chess world (8 March 2020)
• 90th FIDE Congress (Abu Dhabi, UAE) (2 March 2020)
• Armand Kelley Memorial in April! (2 March 2020)

February

• Tani Adewumi book coming in April! (17 February 2020)
• Queen of Katwe actress Nikita Pearl Waligwa dies at 15 (16 February 2020)
• Ethiopia’s Daniel Shawul Abdi breaking codes in computer chess (16 February 2020)
• 19 years for The Chess Drum! (12 February 2020)
• Chess Reflections in Black History (2020) (8 February 2020)
• Daniel X Jones bags Master’s title! (5 February 2020)
• After Tata victory, Caruana eyes Candidates 2020 (2 February 2020)

January

• Kobe Bryant’s Chess Mind (30 January 2020)
• Ju Wenjun beats Goryachkina… retains world crown! (26 January 2020)
• 2020 Women’s Chess Championship: Game #12 (26 January 2020)
• 2020 Women’s Chess Championship: Game #11 (23 January 2020)
• 2020 Women’s Chess Championship: Game #10 (20 January 2020)
• 2020 Women’s Chess Championship: Game #9 (19 January 2020)
• 2020 Women’s Chess Championship: Game #8 (19 January 2020)
• Levon Aronian in South Africa! (18 January 2020)
• 2020 Women’s Chess Championship: Game #7 (16 January 2020)
• Ju-Goryachkina even 3-3 in title match (13 January 2020)
• Thomas Saah, Liberia’s National Champion (13 January 2020)
• 2020 Women’s Chess Championship: Game #6 (12 January 2020)
• 2020 Tata Steel Chess (Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands) (12 January 2020)
• 2020 Women’s Chess Championship: Game #5 (11 January 2020)
• 2020 Women’s Chess Championship: Game #4 (9 January 2020)
• 2020 Women’s Chess Championship: Game #3 (8 January 2020)
• Michael Abron’s 50-state U.S. voyage complete! (8 January 2020)
• 2020 Women’s Chess Championship: Game #2 (6 January 2020)
• 2020 Women’s Chess Championship (Ju vs. Goryachkina) (5 January 2019)

Index of Stories (2001-2020)

The Chess Drum, LLC is a publisher of chess news content and literature. The organization’s website has continued to demonstrate the universality of chess by covering a variety of topics through news stories, essays, interviews, and photos since 2001. Visit The Chess Drum at thechessdrum.net and follow the beat on Facebook and Twitter!

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