David R. Sands
Articles by David R. Sands
South Korea at last minute reverses plan to nix intelligence deal with Japan
South Korea announced a temporary truce in its escalating feud with Japan, saying just before the deadline for a decision that it would not cancel a key intelligence-sharing pact between the two U.S. allies. Published November 22, 2019
Benjamin Netanyahu indicted for corruption, rocking Israeli political landscape
Israel's attorney general has lodged formal corruption charges against longtime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, threatening to end the hawkish prime minister's long career at a time of deep political uncertainty in Israel. Published November 21, 2019
A proper send-off for Shelby Lyman, an unlikely chess media star
It got a little lost in the shuffle, but we should give a proper send-off to fellow chess columnist and unlikely public television superstar Shelby Lyman, who died in August at the age of 82. Published November 19, 2019
Finding Feffernitz — chess as a game and a geography lesson
It's been hailed as a way to teach our youth math, pattern recognition and good sportsmanship, but has anyone ever touted chess as an aid in learning geography? Published November 12, 2019
Germany to meet Trump’s NATO funding demand — in 2031
Germany' defense minister acknowledged Thursday that the country will miss a 2024 NATO deadline to devote at least 2% of its GDP to the military, despite heavy criticism from President Trump that European allies are not contributing enough to the common defense. Published November 7, 2019
In European chess fight, Daniil Dubov proves a team player, brilliantly
Team chess -- in which the "how many?" matters so much more than the "how?" -- would not seem a fertile format for brilliant play. Risking a precious half-point on a speculative attack or unclear gambit is not exactly taking one for the team. Published November 5, 2019
Halloween hallucinations at the chessboard
We write this two days before Halloween, a celebration of disguise, delusion and things unseen that haunt the mind. Chess may be a rigorously logical game, but one also prone to phantasms and hallucinations in the heat of battle. Published October 29, 2019
Wang Hao second Chinese grandmaster to join 2020 chess title hunt
There will be at least two Chinese grandmasters in the hunt for the right to challenge world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway next year. Published October 22, 2019
Fifty years ago, it was Boris Spassky’s turn to shine at the chessboard
It didn't enthrall the world like a moon landing, didn't define a generation like Woodstock, didn't stun the experts like the Mets' World Series win. But there was also a compelling world chess championship match during that packed year of 1969, one that is worth celebrating 50 years later. Published October 15, 2019
Russian, North Korean media outlets in pact to fight ‘fake news’
President Trump has two new allies in his fight against fake news -- the state-controlled news agencies of Russia and North Korea. Published October 9, 2019
Tough battle: Close but no medal for U.S. at NATO chess tilt
It's the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen, dominating on land, sea, air, cyberspace and even outer space. But the U.S. military still can't seem to break through on the most important battlefield of all -- the chessboard. Published October 8, 2019
Finns praise president, question Trump after raucous reception
The Finnish press Thursday were giving generally positive reviews for President Sauli Niinisto's stoic but highly meme-worthy performance beside President Trump the day before at a pair of raucous sparring sessions between the U.S. president and the press over impeachment, Democratic perfidy and media corruption. Published October 3, 2019
TWIC at 25: How Mark Crowther’s brainchild changed the world of chess
This column kicked off on Sept. 18, 1993. Some 364 days later, it got a lot easier to write. Published October 1, 2019
U.S. chess future looks bright as Jeffery Xiong, Ray Robson shine
The kids are gonna be all right. It may not be fully appreciated, but we are living in a golden age for the U.S. game, with a breadth and depth of chess talent that can stand with any era of the past 150 years. Published September 24, 2019
Three Americans still in the hunt at FIDE World Cup chess knockout fight
The field has been winnowed, and three of the six Americans have already been sent home at the 128-player FIDE World Cup knockout tournament, now entering the third round of matches in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Published September 17, 2019
Vladimir Belous shines, Joshua Altman soars at 51st Atlantic Open chess clash
Russian GM Vladimir Belous captured last month's 51st annual Atlantic Open, the D.C. region's traditional late-summer chess blowout, but D.C. expert Joshua Altman stole the show. Published September 10, 2019
Pal Benko lived a full life at the chessboard — and away from it
The blessing/curse -- "May you live in interesting times" -- just may have been conceived with Pal Benko in mind. The storied Hungarian American grandmaster and problemist, who died last week at the age of 91, lived such a full life at and away from the chessboard that one column cannot begin to do justice to his ordeals and achievements. Published September 3, 2019
Fighting chess at Korchnoi Memorial proves worthy of its namesake
At the recent Viktor Korchnoi Memorial in St. Petersburg, Russian GM Vadim Zvjaginsev tied for first with compatriot Maksim Chigaev and American GM Gata Kamsky, helped in part by a fine mating attack against Russian FM Yury Prokopchuk. Published August 27, 2019
Military resists push to open CBD products to U.S. service members
Cannabidiol, the commercially red-hot hemp derivative known as CBD, remains a no-no for America's soldiers, sailors, Marines and Coast Guard. Published August 22, 2019
Baby Trump blimp visits Copenhagen despite cancellation by president
President Trump has canceled his visit to Denmark early next month in a spat over his spurned offer to buy Greenland, but Baby Trump will still be making an appearance in Copenhagen. Published August 21, 2019
