North America
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Judge George Leighton, chess veteran, passes at 105
We have lost another legend, a sage, a walking library, legal scholar and an avowed chess enthusiast. George Neves Leighton has passed away on June 6, 2018 at the age of 105 at Veteran’s Hospital in his home state of Massachusetts. The cause was pneumonia. He practiced law in the…
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Great Moves by Sunil Weeramantry
Paperback: $35.00TO ORDER NOW… CLICK HERE! FM Sunil Weeramantry’s reputation precedes him. The famed scholastic coach has gained his notoriety by his writings and coaching a generation of chess players including his stepson, Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura. Years ago he authored the popular Best Lessons of A Chess Coach which has…
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Nyzhnyk triumphs at 2018 World Open
More than 1,000 players and a few hundred spectators came to the Downtown Marriott in Philadelphia to compete in the 46th World Open. As much as journalists struggle with correctly writing the name of “Illya Nyzhnyk,” they will have plenty of practice after his topping the field at the 2018…
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2018 World Open (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
The 46th edition of the World Open is currently taking place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the iconic home of the tournament. While the final count is unknown, the tournament typically draws about 1300 competitors from around the country and world. Philly’s newly-unveiled emancipation exhibit Some interesting new sites around Philadelphia. The…
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Kassa Korley earns first GM norm!
Duke alumnus Kassa Korley went back to his stomping grounds to take a shot at a GM norm. Since his graduation the the Raleigh-Durham campus a few years ago, Korley has been seeking invitationals, both at home and in Europe. The New York native currently plays under the Danish flag,…
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Shimanov wins 2018 Chicago Open
The Chicago Open has become a marquee tournament in its 27-year history and the 2018 edition was about exciting as any of the previous tournaments. The tournament is traditionally held in eight sections with the Open Section drawing the “big guns.” GM Aleksandr ShimanovPhoto courtesy of SPICE (Paul Truong) A…
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Chicago Open starts today!
One of the marquee tournaments starts today in Wheeling, Illinois a quiet town just outside of Chicago. The Chicago Open is in its 27th year and once drew the likes of Hikaru Nakamura and top tier players from overseas. These days the tournament is a hot ticket for hungry norm…
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Homegoing for Herminio Baez Jr. (1954-2018)
Herminio Baez On yesterday I received the unfortunate news that Herminio Baez, Jr. passed away on Wednesday morning May 2nd. He was 63. The proud chess-playing father left was survived by his loving soul mate of 38 years Daniella Baez, four children including his three sons Antonio, Steven, Chris and…
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Justus Williams at 2018 Bangkok Open
FM Justus WilliamsPhoto by Daaim Shabazz FM Justus Williams of Webster University has spent the semester abroad in Thailand at the satellite campus. He is finishing his second year and appears to be having a great time thus far. He told me back in February, “Thailand has been great so…
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Chicago’s Cops & Kids Chess initiative
America is on fire once again. Another death of an unarmed man at the hand of police officers has evoked nationwide protests. In that aftermatch of numerous similar incidents, organizations are attempting to affect change to prevent these types of tragedies from recurring. Chicago’s David Heiser of Renaissance Knights Chess…
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