David R. Sands

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

Russia wary of Trump talk of rejoining G-7

President Trump is ready to welcome them back, but Russian officials reacted warily to talk of rejoining the Group of Seven club of leading industrial powers. Published August 21, 2019

China’s military forms new ‘counterterror’ unit in restive Uighur region

China's military has set up a new counterterrorism special ops unit based in the restive Xinjiang province, home to the Uighur minority that has long chafed under the leadership of the Communist Party in Beijing. Published August 20, 2019

A chess columnist’s tribute to chess columnists

The estimable Chess Journalists of America has just handed out its 2019 awards and our humble little effort here has once again been named the "best regular newspaper chess column" in the country. Published August 20, 2019

Wilbur Ross: Hong Kong is ‘an internal matter’ for China

The Trump administration is watching the unrest in Hong Kong closely, but the pro-democracy protests that have rocked the city are an "internal matter" for China, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Wednesday. Published August 14, 2019

Illya Nyzhnyk shuts the door at U.S. Open with last-round chess win

The U.S. Open is looking pretty spry these days, considering it just turned 120. The nation's premier open chess tournament passed the latest milestone this month, providing a good bit of drama along the way. Ukrainian-born GM Illya Nyzhnyk claimed solo first and a spot in next year's U.S. Closed Championship with a dominating 8-1 result in Orlando, Florida. Published August 13, 2019