David R. Sands
Articles by David R. Sands
Naroditsky’s death casts pall over U.S. title tournaments
It was a wrenching week of the familiar and the unfathomable for American chess. Published October 28, 2025
Fierce fights as U.S. title tourneys near climax
It's just past the halfway point in the U.S. open and women's national championship tournaments, with fierce fights for the crown still very much up in the air at this point. Published October 21, 2025
An Oktoberfest toast to a German chess breakthrough
Appropriately for this Oktoberfest season, German chess is having a moment. Published October 14, 2025
Two very different glimpses into the future of chess
We have just been given a peek at the possible future of chess -- in more ways than one. Published October 7, 2025
At 100, an iconoclast’s ‘System’ still packs a punch
In 1925, the German-language edition of Aron Nimzowitsch's "Mein System" hit the bookstores, laying out for the first time in comprehensive fashion the key principles of the newfangled hypermodern school of chess. Published September 30, 2025
Young U.S. stars shine in FIDE Swiss battle
There has been a lot of buzz recently (including in this space) about a rising generation of young Indian chess stars poised to dominate the game in the coming years. Published September 23, 2025
Playing down for a shot at chess’ highest prize
The road to the chess world championship just may wind through New Orleans and Iowa City. Published September 16, 2025
Plucky U.S. squad shares third in NATO chess tilt
NATO has had its issues in recent times, but fortunately, the U.S. and its military allies are still able to come together for some friendly skirmishing at the chessboard. Published September 9, 2025
Peddi, So shine during a busy August for chess
August is the month when the world shuts down and the chess scene heats up. Published September 2, 2025
A defensive master’s attacking masterpieces
It may sound like the chess equivalent of "Babe Ruth's Best Bunts," but Swedish IM Thomas Engqvist's new book "Ulf the Attacker" shines an unexpected light on one of his country's best and most popular players of the modern era. Published August 19, 2025
Swiercz’s surge leads to U.S. Open title
There was some heartbreak and last-round drama at the 125th annual U.S. Open in Middleton, Wisconsin, last week, with Missouri GM Darius Swiercz emerging from the pack to take solo first and punch his ticket for a berth in the next U.S. national championship tournament. Published August 12, 2025
Remembering when the Raging Rooks took down a chess barrier
It might have been the biggest U.S. chess story in the mainstream press since Bobby Fischer's world championship win two decades earlier, and one still worth recalling today for its impact on the direction of American chess. Published August 5, 2025
Late-round heroics secure U.S. championship titles
There were some late-round dramatics and down-to-the-wire battles as the 2025 U.S. junior, junior girls and senior championships wrapped up last week at the St. Louis Chess Club. In all three events, the margin of victory was a mere half-point. Published July 29, 2025
Seniors, juniors battle for U.S. titles in St. Louis
The boomers and the Gen Zers are in the spotlight this week as the St. Louis Chess Club plays host to the U.S. Junior, U.S. Junior Girls and the U.S. Senior Championships. Published July 22, 2025
Fireworks dazzle at Philly, D.C. Independence Day events
The tactical bombs were bursting in air and the positional purple mountains were majestic as area players celebrated another Fourth of July by doing battle at the chessboard. Published July 15, 2025
Brilliancy loss, tournament win for ‘Pragg’
Young Indian GM Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa scored a rare double at the 2nd UzChess Cup Masters Tournament in the Uzbekistan city of Tashkent -- taking first place against a world-class field while losing a game during the tournament to Hungarian GM Richard Rapport that could very well be remembered as the brilliancy of the year. Published July 8, 2025
Coming to America: Honoring the overlooked Lipschutz
As the country prepares to celebrate its 249th birthday later this week, it is worth noting that immigrants have enlivened and enriched American chess virtually from the time the colonies first gained their independence from Britain. Published July 1, 2025
Upstart American claims the chess laurels at Cairns
When organizers go to the trouble and expense of hosting a major international chess tournament, it's customary to reserve a slot or two in the field for a local favorite who may not have qualified by rating or reputation alone. The courtesy invitees are expected to boost local interest and maybe give the top seeds the occasional tough fight. Published June 24, 2025
Lee shines in early Cairns action
The late, great D.C. chess champion Oscar Shapiro, the oldest player ever to earn the master's title and still a dangerous pairing in local tournaments well into his 90s, once told me he bore down especially hard when playing against promising junior players zooming up the ratings charts. Published June 17, 2025
Tantrum aside, Carlsen dominates in Norway
Overcoming a table-thumping tantrum viewed 'round the globe, Norwegian former world chess champion Magnus Carlsen captured his sixth Norway Open title in the past seven years. Published June 10, 2025
