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FIDE
2017 Women’s World Chess Championship (Tehran, Iran)
The Women’s World Championship is underway in Tehran, Iran with 63 women vying for the world title. Apart from the pre-tournament controversy, the event would begin on a somber note after the unfortunate passing of Romanian Cristina Adela Foisor. She passed away just over two weeks ago on January 22nd…
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Tournaments
Despite ‘hijabgate,’ Iran ready to host women’s championship
On February 10th, the Iranian capital of Tehran will begin hosting the 2017 Women’s World Chess Championships months after the “hijabgate” firestorm led by current U.S. women’s champion Nazi Paikidze. Given the heightened political U.S.-Iran tensions after the election of Donald J. Trump, it is unlikely that the two boycotting…
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Media Stories
No #millionairechess for 2017… hopeful for 2018
The Millionaire Chess organization has released a press release announcing that there would not be a tournament in 2017, but there are possibilities for future events. Maurice Ashley and Amy Lee cited lack of sponsorship as the prime reason and appealed to the chess community for assistance in finding support.…
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Gibraltar
Nakamura three-peats at 2017 Gibraltar!
Hikaru Nakamura receives his winners cheque for £23,000 and trophy from Tradewise Chairman James Humphreys (left) and Tradewise Chess Festival Organiser Brian Callaghan. Hikaru scored 8/10 (+6 =4) and then won a playoff 1½-½ to take first prize. Photo © John Saunders. Hikaru Nakamura has won the Gibraltar Masters for…
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Drum Majors
TCD in “Best of U.S. Chess” 2016
U.S. Chess Line Online ranks its top articles each year and The Chess Drum’s feature on FM Josh Colas made the cut at #8. Colas is a freshman at Webster University and at the time of the article had just earned his first GM norm. The article features the evolution…
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Europe
Wesley So wins 2017 Tata Steel!
Wesley So was at a low point a couple of years ago placing last in the 2015 Sinquefield Cup. Now only 16 points behind Magnus Carlsen while bolting ahead of Fabiano Caruana. Caruana is currently playing in Gibraltar where he was upset by Nigel Short in the sixth round. This…
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Interviews
ChessBase with Neil deGrasse Tyson
Photo from Getty Images Dr. Neil Degrasse Tyson was in a recent ChessBase feature recounting an interview he granted during the World Chess Championship in New York. Sixteen years ago, he was voted, “Sexiest Astrophysicist Alive” and his appeal is also based on his down-to-earth approach to physics. He is…
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Caribbean
Deborah Richards-Porter making mark
Shayne Fairman, “Richards-Porter Happy Earning From Chess,” Jamaican Gleaner (jamaica-gleaner.com), 24 January 2017. WIM Deborah Richards-PorterPhoto by Ian Wilkinson While some Jamaicans may not earn a comfortable living from their professional sporting pursuits, Woman International Chess Master Deborah Richards-Porter says that chess has taken her places and has given her…
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Africa
Botswana’s Maruatona to end six-year reign
CALISTUS KOLANTSHO, “Maruatona’s chess reign castles to a satisfactory close ,” Mmegi Online (mmegi.bw), 20 January 2017. American actor, Robert Downey Jr. once said, “I think that the power is the principle. The principle of moving forward, as though you have the confidence to move forward, eventually gives you confidence…
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Africa
2017 Zanzibar Open
Zanzibar is a beautiful, historic semi-autonomous section of Tanzania famous for its spices. It has a combination of Africa, Indian and Arab influences. One of the traditions that came to the islands many centuries ago was chess, but it has failed to gain a foothold in the region. However, the…
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