David R. Sands
Articles by David R. Sands
DAVID R. SANDS: Walter Browne’s genius lives on in great chess games
Suddenly and far too soon, America lost one of its colorful and most combative champions with the passing of six-time national champion GM Walter Browne last week at the age of 66. Published July 1, 2015
China celebrates Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank charter signing with U.S. allies
The United States won't be there, but dozens of Washington's closest friends and allies will be on hand Monday as China celebrates a diplomatic and economic triumph with the signing of the formal charter for its proposed new Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Published June 28, 2015
Walter Browne, six-time U.S chess champ, dies suddenly at 66
Walter Browne, a fearless attacker and indomitable competitor who dominated the American chess scene in the years after world champion Bobby Fischer retired from the game, died suddenly in his sleep Wednesday at the age of 66. Published June 25, 2015
DAVID R. SANDS: In the 64-square chess universe, home-field advantage hard to find
It's a game played on an unchanging battlefield of 64 squares with a fixed array of forces, so it would make sense that there's not much of a home-field advantage in chess. Published June 23, 2015
DAVID R. SANDS: When real-world wars intrude on chess battles
Chess is a war game that doesn't do well in wartime. Published June 16, 2015
DAVID R. SANDS: The double-edged immortality of your own chess opening
When world champion Magnus Carlsen sits down to defend his crown early next year, it's a near certainty he won't be trotting the "Carlsen Opening," or even the "Carlsen Variation" against his still-to-be-determined challenger. Published June 10, 2015
Russia bans baby detergent from Ukraine
The standoff between Russia and neighboring Ukraine reached new heights -- or depths -- Tuesday as health officials in Moscow announced a ban on baby laundry detergent made by Ukraine's leading producer, citing what they said were violations of sanitary and epidemiological regulations. Published June 9, 2015
DAVID R. SANDS: Xiong, Wei fuel youth movement in chess events an ocean apart
There was some strange karma going on in two chess tournaments a world apart last week. Published June 6, 2015
U.S. allies not waiting for Iran’s sanctions to come down
Italian oil executives visit Tehran, scouting out deals. French farmers and fisheries discuss technological exchanges with their Iranian counterparts. Pakistan prepares to lay down a major oil pipeline through Iran, while rival India opens talks with Iranian officials about developing a major port in the Gulf of Oman to ship Indian goods to Afghanistan. Published May 27, 2015
DAVID R. SANDS: For military men, a mixed record on the chessboard
It's the world's greatest war game, but that doesn't mean that generals and admirals are natural stars at chess. Published May 26, 2015
A Doolittle Raider offers some long-distance healing
One last bit of healing from a long-distant war played out this month at Taiwan's diplomatic outpost in Washington in the run-up to this year's Memorial Day celebrations. Published May 22, 2015
Russia closes NATO supply corridor to Afghanistan
The Russian government has closed down a key military transport corridor that allowed the U.S. and its NATO allies to supply forces serving in neighboring Afghanistan. Published May 19, 2015
DAVID R. SANDS: Coming home, Fabiano Caruana adds pop to U.S. chess lineup
It's become a paradox of modern sports: Choosing up sides has become as big a draw as the games themselves. Published May 19, 2015
Iranian ayatollah: U.S. ‘hallucinating’ about access to military nuke sites
Iranian top officials are vowing that the country's military bases will not be opened to international inspectors under any deal to curb Tehran's nuclear programs, throwing a major potential roadblock in President Obama's hopes of concluding a breakthrough deal by next month's deadline. Published May 15, 2015
Fabiano Caruana, top chess grandmaster, applies to play for U.S.
Fabiano Caruana, the U.S.-born Italian chess grandmaster now ranked third in the world, is coming home. Published May 12, 2015
DAVID R. SANDS: Yochanan Afek scores unprecedented fourth chess title
In the hallways of Chess High, the over-the-board stars and the problemists tend to run in sharply separated cliques. Published May 12, 2015
Diplomatic diss to Obama: Russia, China step up ties with new investment bank
In just the latest sign of warming bilateral ties, Russian and Chinese officials announced plans Friday to form a jointly-run investment bank designed in part to funnel Chinese investor money into Russian companies. Published May 8, 2015
Periscope chief: Live-streaming app not about piracy
The co-founder of Periscope Inc. said the new live videostreaming app is "unequivocally" opposed to pirating after the company faced complaints that users were effectively stealing and instantly re-broadcasting video of the recent Mayweather-Pacquiao boxing match on pay-per-view. Published May 6, 2015
DAVID R. SANDS: China rules, young Americans shine in world team chess battle
China extended its impressive, run but there was a bright silver lining for the young American squad at the just-finished FIDE World Team Championships in Armenia. Published May 5, 2015
New Russia-China alliance latest diplomatic, strategic blow to Obama
From the moon to the Mediterranean to the heart of Moscow, China and Russia in recent days have announced a striking number of moves to strengthen military, financial and political ties, raising the specter of a deeper alliance between the U.S. rivals. Published April 30, 2015
