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Opinion/Editorials
The Marketing of Chess
Chess has become part of the mainstream of activities on the world stage as news stories are bombarded with quips and headlines using chess metaphors for marketing purposes. Does this mean that chess has become more approachable or is it merely a fashion statement that people make to associate with…
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Historic Moments: 1981 US Amateur Team Covington leads DC Capitol Punishers!
Chess in the Washington, DC area has a long history… particularly as it relates to the Black community. This fact was highlighted in an essay written by Gregory Kearse, “A Brief History of Black Chess Masters in America.” Charles Covington was mentioned as one of the pioneers of the 60s…
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The Chess Drum
White Supremacists discuss Black Chess
Part of my efforts in gathering information for The Chess Drum entails browsing the expanse of the Internet using search tools. Typically, I punch in words, combinations of words and full phrases to sift through the billions of pages and often cross some very interesting information. I often Google “www.thechessdrum.net”…
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Historic Moments: Stephen Muhammad at the U.S. Championships
FM Stephen Muhammad at the 2003 U.S. Chess ChampionshipPhoto by Daaim Shabazz IM-elect Stephen Muhammad faces eventual winner Hikaru Nakamura round 1 of the 2005 U.S. Chess Championship. Photo by U.S. Chessmaster Championships Stephen Muhammad’s consecutive appearances at the U.S. Championship will stand as a historic landmark for many years…
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Kujichagulia and Chess
Kujichagulia and Chess:Self-Determination vs. Resignation in a Bad Position!by Kimani Stancil, Ph.D. Before I begin, please remember that this article is a sharing piece directed to inspire, add insight, and to convince you that there is more to competitive chess than finding the best move. However, the truth behind the…
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Opinion/Editorials
Why Nakamura’s Victory is Good for Chess
The site champions the success of Black chess players, or those of African ancestry... includes interviews, playble chess games, puzzles, essays, and current chess news from around the world.
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Jamaica
Historic Moments: ‘Magnificence in Bled: The 35th Chess Olympiad’
“Magnificence In Bled: The 35th Chess Olympiad” Author: Ian WilkinsonPublisher: LMH Publishing LimitedReviewed by: Balford Henry For the past two years “chess don” Ian Wilkinson has not only served the Jamaica Chess Federation (JCF) as its president, but has worked feverishly on completing his book, “Magnificence In Bled: The 35th…
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Europe
Reflections on the Mallorca Olympiad
Looking back on my first Olympiad, it was by all counts a very positive experience. I got to reunite with a few chess friends, see players whom I have covered for the past four years and interact with some of the top chess personalities in the world. On the other…
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Tournaments
Historic Moments: African-American Unity Chess Tournaments (1992)
When those following chess in the Black chess community worldwide are asked about a famous tournament in Harlem comprising of strong chess players of African descent, they will invariably mention the Wilbert Paige Memorial. However, there was a precedent. Maurice Ashley (right) sent a provocative letter calling for an initiative…
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Confessions of a Former Chess Jerk
Confessions of a Former Chess Jerkby Steven B. Dowd, Ph.D. As we age, dates blend, so forgive me for not giving exact dates. I remember Judge George Leighton not because he was an African-American, but because of his sportsmanship. One day David Sprenkle, the future Illinois and now Washington FM,…
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