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David R. Sands

David R. Sands

David R. Sands covered numerous beats, including international trade, banking, politics and Capitol Hill, and spent eight years on the foreign desk as senior diplomatic correspondent. He has authored The Times' weekly chess column since 1993.

Articles by David R. Sands

Kosteniuk-Krush after 21...f5.

Scintillating attack helps Russia to gold in Online Olympiad

While some traditional over-the-board tournaments are now coming back to life, the COVID-19 scare is still proving too much for the biennial Chess Olympiad, given the logistical and safety concerns of hosting nearly 200 open and women's teams from around the world. Published September 21, 2021

In this image taken from video provided by the South Korea Defense Ministry, South Korea's first underwater-launched ballistic missile is test-fired from a 3,000-ton-class submarine at an undisclosed location in the waters of South Korea, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021. The rival Koreas test-launched ballistic missiles hours apart from each other on Wednesday in a display of military assets that came amid a faltering diplomatic push to strip North Korea of its nuclear program. South Korea's presidential office said it conducted its first underwater-launched ballistic missile test on Wednesday afternoon. It said a domestically built missile fired from a 3,000-ton-class submarine flew a previously set distance before hitting a designated target. (South Korea Defense Ministry via AP)

North, South Korea trade charges after dueling missile tests

North and South Korea are trading rhetorical volleys just hours after the hostile neighbors staged near-simultaneous missile tests that sent tensions surging once again on the divided Korean Peninsula. Published September 15, 2021

Karjakin-Carlsen after 23...Ra4.

Chess champ, challenger square off in rare pre-match battle

Another week, another unwritten rule of the game thrown on the ash heap of history. We wrote last week of the unusual sight of world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway and challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia actively competing on the world chess scene with their title match barely more than two months away. Time was when the prospective gladiators would withdraw totally from the arena, working in secret with seconds and trainers in preparation for the Big Match. Published September 14, 2021

Dissident summit sparks Iran regime’s ire

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a parade of former officials and current lawmakers told a mass virtual gathering of Iranian exiles over the weekend that the regime in Tehran was weak, illegitimate, incompetent and not long for this world. Published September 13, 2021

Marshall-Lasker after 19. Kxf1.

Carlsen stays in the arena with chess title match looming

That he won another chess tournament doesn't surprise anyone. But that world champion Magnus Carlsen is even playing these days -- just over two months before the Norwegian great makes his fourth title defense against Russian challenger GM Ian Nepomniachtchi -- might have a few old-school masters turning over in their grave. Published September 7, 2021

In this handout photograph released by the Taliban, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, center left, senior Haqqani group leader Anas Haqqani, center right, Abdullah Abdullah, second right, head of Afghanistan's National Reconciliation Council and former government negotiator with the Taliban, and others in the Taliban delegation, meet in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021. The meeting comes after the Taliban's lightning offensive saw the militants seize the capital, Kabul. (Taliban via AP) **FILE**

Taliban spokesman says new government coming within days

A top spokesman for the triumphant Taliban movement said Tuesday a new Afghan government will be formed in very short order, even as celebratory gunfire marked the final exit of U.S. troops and diplomats from Kabul a day earlier. Published August 31, 2021

Shirov-Masague Artero after 20...Bd7.

‘MV-L’ the MVP at powerful Sinquefield Cup chess clash

Fittingly, it was an encore for the Frenchman. GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave became the first two-time outright winner of the prestigious Sinquefield Cup, topping a world-class field earlier this month at the St. Louis Chess Club. Vachier-Lagrave is France's strongest player of the modern era and just missed out to Russian GM Ian Neopomniachtchi for a chance to challenge world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway this fall. Published August 31, 2021

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to the media after Friday prayers, in Istanbul, Friday, Aug. 20, 2021. The European Union should assist Afghans both inside Afghanistan and in neighboring countries in order to avoid a new migration wave, Erdogan told Greece's Kyriakos Mitsotakis in a telephone call Friday. Erdogan and Mitsotakis discussed developments in Afghanistan in a rare call as both countries raise concerns about a potential major influx of people fleeing the Taliban.(Turkish Presidency via AP, Pool)

Turkey’s Erdogan hints at bigger buy for Russian defense system

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he is prepared to buy more units of a Russian-made air missile defense system, even though Ankara's initial purchase of the S-400 sparked sharp divisions within NATO and sanctions from the U.S. government. Published August 30, 2021

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street, making his way to Parliament to debate the situation in Afghanistan, in London, Wednesday Aug. 18, 2021. Johnson is set to update lawmakers Wednesday about the evacuation of British nationals and local allies from Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Like Biden, world leaders face blowback from Afghan debacle

President Biden isn't the only world leader facing blowback from the stunning collapse of the government in Afghanistan and the desperate struggle to evacuate stranded citizens as the Taliban consolidate control in Kabul. Published August 18, 2021