David R. Sands
Articles by David R. Sands
DAVID R. SANDS: Resurgent chess GM Levon Aronian claims Sinquefield Cup title
He was supposed to be an afterthought, the onetime No. 2 player in the world supplanted by a rising generation of Young Guns. Published September 1, 2015
China’s leaders on the spot after economic stumbles
Chinese officials say they know exactly who is to blame for a wild week that rocked global stock markets, battered the currencies of emerging markets around the globe, sent commodity prices lower and may have shaved a percentage point or two off of global GDP growth next year: anybody but China. Published August 30, 2015
Wall Street roars back with 619-point gain
Wall Street started strong Wednesday and this time didn't falter at the finish line, with the blue chip Dow Jones industrial average reversing six days of losses with a gain of 619 points, or 3.95 percent, to finish at 16,285. The daily increase was the third-biggest point rally in the market's history. Published August 26, 2015
Wall Street can’t sustain rally, suffers new losses
A hoped-for rally fell apart in the final hour of trading as U.S. stocks posted another day of losses Tuesday. Published August 25, 2015
DAVID R. SANDS: Woulda, coulda, shoulda — mourning chess matches that never came off
The history of chess is full of wished-for matches that never came off. Morphy never got a chance to challenge Staunton on his celebrated trip to Europe. World War I helped torpedo a match between world champion Emanuel Lasker and the star-crossed Polish great Akiba Rubinstein, his strongest rival. Published August 25, 2015
U.S., world markets pummeled by China fears
U.S. stock markets experienced one of the wildest trading day in years Monday, with the Dow Jones index losing nearly 1,100 points -- nearly 6 percent of its total value -- in the first few minutes after trading began, staging a spirited rally, but turning strongly negative again to finish off 588 points, or 3.58 percent. Published August 24, 2015
After opening plunge, Dow posts second straight 500-point-plus loss
The U.S. stock markets experienced their wildest trading day in years Monday, with the Dow Jones index losing nearly 1,100 points -- nearly 6 percent of its total value -- in the minutes after trading began, staged a spirited rally, but turned strongly negative again with an hour left in the session. Published August 24, 2015
As furor grows, U.N. watchdog defends Iran nuclear self-inspections
Amid growing anger on Capitol Hill and in Israel, the head of the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog on Thursday strongly defended the controversial methods that will be used to monitor possible cheating by Iran on the recently signed nuclear deal. Published August 20, 2015
DAVID R. SANDS: Gata Kamsky dominates the Washington International chess tourney
It was a wire-to-wire wipeout as U.S. GM Gata Kamsky dominated the fourth annual Washington International open tournament in Rockville last week. Published August 19, 2015
With deal in the balance, Iran plans schools to train more nuclear experts
As Congress weighs a deal designed to curb Iran's nuclear programs, a top official in Tehran this week announced plans to construct a string of special schools to train a new generation of nuclear scientists and technologists. Published August 19, 2015
Obama eases oil export ban with big swap deal with Mexico
In the latest move undercutting the longstanding ban on exporting U.S. crude oil, the Obama administration has approved a proposal that would trade American lighter sweet crude for heavier crude supplies from Mexico. Published August 14, 2015
DAVID R. SANDS: Alexander Shabalov bulldozes chess rivals on way to fifth U.S. Open title
In a dominating performance, GM Alexander Shabalov captured the 116th annual U.S. Open, held this year in Phoenix. Published August 12, 2015
DAVID R. SANDS: For summer’s dog days, keeping chess games short and sweet
With the mercury rising and attention spans wilting, we take our traditional midsummer break from rigorous opening analysis or tedious endgame play to focus on some lighter August fare — a collection of miniatures taken from recent tournament play. Published August 6, 2015
Bill would bounce bagels and burritos for borscht in Russian bistros
Reflecting in part a rising sentiment against all things foreign, a Russian lawmaker has proposed a bill that would require restaurant menus to devote at least half of their offerings to traditional Russian fare. Published July 28, 2015
DAVID R. SANDS: A Romantic chess opening gets a modern revival
It was the signature opening of chess's 19th century Romantic Era, but has become a rare visitor to modern tournament chess. Paul Morphy used it for some of his greatest wins, Bobby Fischer claimed to have refuted it, and even today, some key lines remain a subject of intense theoretical dispute. Published July 28, 2015
DAVID R. SANDS: Chandra, Eswaran take the honors at U.S. junior chess events
The future of American chess was on display as the country recently crowned its male and female junior champions, with rising Indian-American stars taking the honors in both events. Published July 21, 2015
DAVID R. SANDS: Alex Lenderman represents U.S. in capturing World Open chess honors
It was a highly appropriate Fourth of July weekend result. Just one U.S. player was among the eight grandmasters who tied for first in the 43rd World Open, held at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City from June 30 through July 5, but it was the American — New York GM Alex Lenderman — who took the official title and a small cash bonus by winning an "Armageddon" playoff match against Azerbaijani GM Rauf Mamedov. Published July 14, 2015
Iran caviar and pistachios could be on the way
Whatever else the Iranian nuclear deal does or doesn't do, America's caviar lovers and pistachio fans have reason to celebrate. Published July 14, 2015
‘Glitch’ shuts mighty New York Stock Exchange for much of trading day
The New York Stock Exchange had to shut down trading abruptly shortly before noon Wednesday over what officials said was a technical malfunction that froze computers on the market's fabled trading floor. U.S. officials said they saw no signs of a cyberattack, and the market was able to reopen for the last 50 minutes of the trading day. Published July 8, 2015
DAVID R. SANDS: Maghami doubles up as D.C. International, World Open chess tourneys come to town
Crystal City just had a golden moment as two of the best open tournaments on the American chess calendar took over the close-in Virginia suburb for the past two-plus weeks. Published July 7, 2015
