David R. Sands
Articles by David R. Sands
A Hail Mary leads to answered prayers at the chessboard
A "Hail Mary," as ecstatic Minnesota Vikings fans could tell you this week, is one of those last-second, throw-it-and-hope football plays that miraculously works out, where your guy comes down with the ball to score the winning touchdown. There are no wide receivers in chess, but the idea of snatching victory from defeat with a high-risk, long-odds final play is a very familiar one. Published January 16, 2018
Levada Institute, best-known Russian pollster, to stop releasing results
Russia's best-known independent polling shop said Tuesday it will stop publishing the results of its surveys, citing the legal risk after it was officially listed as a "foreign agent" by the government. Published January 16, 2018
Webster University again the definition of excellence in college chess fight
There were 58 teams entered in last month's Pan-American Intercollegiate Championships held in Columbus, Ohio, but the match everyone was waiting for came in Round 5. Published January 9, 2018
U.S. House to take up resolution slamming Iran for protest crackdown
Two top House Republicans have introduced a resolution supporting the Iranian people and condemning the regime in Tehran after a week of street protests that have resulted in more than 20 deaths across the country. Published January 5, 2018
Alexander Shabalov dominates chess field in 44th Eastern Open
It was the "Shabba Show" as GM Alexander Shabalov ran away with the 44th annual Eastern Open, the traditional local year-ending tournament held last week at the Westin Hotel in Tysons Corner. Published January 2, 2018
Spending the holidays with some dear old chess friends
It's Christmas week, so we don't plan any heavy lifting today. No breaking news, no cutting-edge opening theory, just a little quality time with some old, comfortable companions. We start with the clever little six-move mate in today's diagram by Swedish composer V. Ropke. Even the most eggnog-addled problem-hater should have no trouble solving this one. Published December 26, 2017
Despite Trump, Haley threats, U.N. overwhelmingly opposes U.S. Jerusalem move
Brushing aside threats from President Trump and America's U.N. envoy Nikki Haley, the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a resolution effectively condemning Mr. Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and calling on Washington to rescind plans to move the U.S. Embassy there. Published December 21, 2017
Have yourself a very merry war on Christmas — over the chessboard
A war on Christmas? Bring it on. D.C.'s traditional Eastern Open, which starts next Tuesday, is just one of a number of popular events traditionally held around this time of year. Published December 19, 2017
A rowdy chess game beyond the ken of our silicon overlords
Two of the strongest players in the history of chess just played an epic 100-game match -- and hardly anyone noticed. Published December 12, 2017
Shivering Chinese cities allowed to turn back to coal
Chinese environmental regulators said this week that northern cities facing a winter freeze and a lack of electricity and natural gas can use coal to keep warm. Published December 8, 2017
U.S. escalates feud with Russia over suspected INF treaty missile violations
The Trump administration is planning new diplomatic, military and economic steps to pressure Russia after concluding earlier this week that Moscow had violated the landmark Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty by deploying a new missile that U.S. military officials say is not allowed under the 1987 deal. Published December 8, 2017
London calling — a rich legacy for the 2018 chess championship host city
The 2018 world championship match will return to a city that is no stranger to hosting the game's ultimate event. Published December 5, 2017
London to host Magnus Carlsen’s 2018 world chess championship defense
London will once again host a world chess title match as organizers announced Wednesday that Norwegian champion Magnus Carlsen will defend his title against a yet-to-be-determined opponent in the British capital in November 2018. Published November 29, 2017
Chess candidates lineup set; Norway gets another world champ
Without pushing a pawn, Azerbaijan's Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Russian Alexander Grischuk last week booked a berth to the 2018 world championship hunt. Published November 29, 2017
Jerome Powell, Federal Reserve chair nominee: No more ‘too-big-to-fail’ banks
President Trump's pick to head the Federal Reserve set a steady-as-she goes course for the nation's central bank and said he does not believe there are any U.S. financial institutions whose collapse would pose a systemic risk to the economy. Published November 28, 2017
Russian lawmakers eye McDonald’s as ‘foreign agent’
Perhaps the golden arches are bugged. Perhaps the "special sauce" in the Big Mac is a secret helping of espionage. Published November 24, 2017
Tom Carper: Gary Cohn, Trump’s top economic adviser, faked bad connection to end call with boss
President Trump's top economic adviser pretended to have a bad connection in order to cut short a telephone conference call with his boss, a Democratic senator told CNN Wednesday, an account the White House quickly labeled as "completely false." Published November 22, 2017
!["It has been clear from the outset [of his presidency] that President Trump is willing to do what it takes to bring the North Koreans to the negotiating table," said Choo Mi-ae, a leader of South Korea's Democratic Party. (Associated Press/File)](https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2017/11/21/AP_16335090236890_c0-101-1707-1095_s652x380.jpg?f78b7ec5a5355a8534ba91a6c99268a63b117384)
Choo Mi-ae, South Korean party leader, sees promise in Trump’s hawkish stand on North Korea
NEWSMAKER INTERVIEW: President Trump has broken with his predecessors in making North Korea's nuclear programs a priority from the first day of his administration, improving the prospects for a negotiated solution to the crisis on the Korean Peninsula despite the angry rhetoric and provocative moves from both Washington and Pyongyang, the head of South Korea's ruling Democratic Party said in an interview. Published November 21, 2017
Levon Aronian wins big in Spanish chess tourney
The two most dangerous opponents in chess are those who are desperate for a win and those who have nothing to lose. Armenian star GM Levon Aronian falls into the latter category right now, which may explain his strong start at the final FIDE Grand Prix event now underway in the Spanish city of Palma de Mallorca. Published November 21, 2017
Robert Mugabe resigns as Zimbabwe’s president after 37 years
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe agreed to step down Tuesday in the face of crumbling support and a "soft coup" engineered by the military, ending 37 years of autocratic rule in the southern African nation. Published November 21, 2017
