Opinion/Editorials
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After the Carlsen-Niemann firestorm, what now?
The cheating scandal that dominated the 2022 Sinquefield Cup saw GM Hans Niemann fall into controversial spotlight in his first supertournament. The incident was precipitated by Magnus Carlsen’s withdrawal from the tournament and a tweet that included a reference to cheating. Many commenting on the matter did not understand the…
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The Importance of Analytics for Chess Federations
Data can be represented in so many forms, but its proper use can make a major difference in an organization’s productivity. Following is an op-ed piece highlighting the importance of data and its use in serving the chess community. The era of “big data” is upon us and being able…
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Geopolitics and the Diverse Voices in Chess
The Russian incursion into Ukraine is still burning up the news cycle more than two months after the geopolitical conflict began. The constant display of the horrid images of battle and scenes of death has filled our consciousness. The reaction was swift as FIDE condemned the act and decided to…
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Promoting to a Black Chess Queen
In 2010, I wrote an article titled “Baraka Shabazz: Black Queen of Chess.” Seven years later came “Revisiting Baraka Shabazz,” in which I cited the brutally candid 1988 article titled “Ex-Queen’s Gambit.” That article was long before the “Queen’s Gambit” miniseries but had some eerily similar themes. While the series…
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Diverse ideas needed in chess policy decisions
Dear Chess Community, As a state delegate and a former board member of the Florida Chess Association, I have had the honor to participate in the decision-making process of our governing body. The Executive Board and Delegates meetings are exciting arenas for exchanging ideas about chess and learning how the…
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Is Chess Inherently Racist?
One of the most intriguing questions of late pertains to the chess rule of white moving first. With the introduction of this convention in the mid-1800s, was there some type of insidious plot to reinforce white’s superiority and black’s inferiority?
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Response to FIDE’s Statement on Racism (2020)
Dear Chess Family, A few mornings ago, I read FIDE’s statement condemning racism. While it does provide the ideas of unity and equality, there are issues I would like to bring to the organization’s attention. There was an air of idealism in the letter that may be a bit presumptuous…
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George Floyd and the Right to Thrive
The United States of America that you once knew, has been changed forever. That America has fallen. Many of you have stayed close to home due to the global pandemic that we are facing. You have no doubt seen the outpouring of anger in the aftermath of the George Floyd’s…
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Will coronavirus change OTB chess?
Viswanathan Anand with the traditional handshake with Sergey Karjakin at the 2016 Candidates tournament. Fabiano Caruana, the top 2020 Candidates contender, looks on. On the eve the 2020 Candidates tournament in Moscow, how will things change in the face of the global pandemic known as the “coronavirus”? Photo by Amruta…
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Playing Chess to Death
Readers, This is a personal reflection on a topic that I believe needs to be discussed for the good of chess. While chess isn’t a physically violent encounter, there are times in which the tragic end of one’s life occurs during a game of chess. I explain this in the…
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