David R. Sands
Articles by David R. Sands
Pressure grows on challenger Anand after draw in chess title match
Time may be running out for Indian challenger Viswanathan Anand after he and defending champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway agreed to a draw after just 20 moves in Game 9 of their scheduled 12-game title match in Sochi, Russia Thursday. Published November 20, 2014
DAVID R. SANDS: Magnus Carlsen clings to lead in world title chess match after epic draw
It took 122 moves of grinding defense, but Indian challenger Viswanathan Anand may have claimed a little momentum Monday in drawing Game 7 with world champion Magnus Carlsen in their scheduled 12-game title match in Sochi, Russia. With the draw, Carlsen now enjoys a 4-3 edge, with two wins, four draws and a loss in the match's first seven games. Published November 19, 2014
Carlsen keeps chess title match lead with quiet draw in Game 8
World chess champion Magnus Carlsen came up with a much better defense to his opponent's Queen's Gambit opening and secured an easy 41-move draw in Game 8 of his title match with Indian challenger Viswanathan Anand in Sochi, Russia Tuesday. Published November 18, 2014
Anand holds Carlsen to draw in epic 122-move game
It took 122 moves of grinding defense, but Indian challenger Viswanathan Anand may have claimed a little momentum Monday in drawing Game 7 with world champion Magnus Carlsen in their scheduled 12-game title match in Sochi, Russia. Published November 17, 2014
Carlsen wins error-filled game to seize chess title match lead
The grandmasters proved they were human as world chess champion Magnus Carlsen defeated Indian challenger Viswanathan Anand in a blunder-filled Game 6 of their championship match in 38 moves Saturday in Sochi, Russia. Published November 15, 2014
Chess title match remains knotted as Carlsen, Anand draw in Game 5
Navigating a few tricky middle-game shoals, world chess champion Magnus Carlsen held challenger Viswanathan Anand to a 39-move draw Friday in Game 5 of their scheduled 12-round title match in Sochi, Russia. Published November 14, 2014
Chess match still tied as Anand, Carlsen draw Game 4
World chess champion Magnus Carlsen pressed but was unable to break challenger Viswanathan Anand's defenses, as Game 4 of their scheduled 12-game title match ended in a 47-move draw. The result leaves the match knotted at 2-2, and represented a moral victory of sorts for the Indian challenger, who was playing the Black pieces and faced a champion eager for revenge after a bad loss in the previous game. Published November 12, 2014
DAVID R. SANDS: Ominous echoes for Anand as Carlsen takes chess title match lead
Two games into the world title rematch between now-champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway and now-challenger Viswanathan Anand of India is already looking an awful lot like their first match one year ago when the roles were reversed. Published November 11, 2014
Champ Carlsen draws first blood in chess title fight
Using the same blueprint which won him the title a year ago, Norwegian world chess champion Magnus Carlsen pressured challenger Viswanathan Anand of India into a critical mistake to win the second game of their scheduled 12-round match in Sochi, Russia Sunday. Published November 9, 2014
Anand, Carlsen battle to draw in first game of chess title match
World chess champion Magnus Carlsen and challenger Viswanathan Anand battled to a hard-fought draw in the first game of their scheduled 12-game title match in Sochi, Russia Saturday. Published November 8, 2014
SANDS: Challenger faces long odds trying to reclaim chess crown
The world chess championship — it's hard enough to win it, let alone win it back. Published November 4, 2014
SANDS: Ahead of 2014 chess title match, 2016 hopefuls battle it out
With world champion Magnus Carlsen and challenger Viswanathan Anand prepping furiously for their title match in Sochi, Russia, starting a week from Friday, some of their top peers are already battling for a chance to play in the next title match two years from now. Published October 28, 2014
SANDS: The bigger the chess stakes, the bigger the mistakes
More money, more mistakes. By the American game's (low) standards, the Millionaire Chess Open in Las Vegas this month offered a massive jackpot. Published October 21, 2014
Obama’s credit card rejected on New York trip
President Obama came perilously close to having to wash some dishes on his recent trip to New York. Published October 17, 2014
SANDS: From Lasker to Larsen, chess games that link the generations
For such an ancient and venerable game, chess offers some surprisingly direct links to its distant past. Published October 14, 2014
SANDS: Ashburn’s Yu brings home gold in chess World Youth Championships
The DMV has a new world chess champion. Ashburn, Virginia, middle-schooler Jennifer Yu, fresh off a fine performance at last month's Virginia Closed Championship, is the new world girls' under-12 champion, bringing home the gold medal at the World Youth Championships in Durban, South Africa. Published October 7, 2014
SANDS: In a digital age, chess writers still go by the book
There are software programs that can beat the strongest grandmaster in history. Videos of top grandmasters explaining the secrets of their favorite openings are big sellers. The lowliest club player can purchase databases with millions of searchable games dating back to when Ruy Lopez was still in the seminary. Published October 1, 2014
Turkey builds massive pipeline to send drinking water to thirsty Cyprus
An ambitious pipeline project linking reservoirs in Turkey to the parched, isolated Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is on track to bring much needed drinking water to the island by year's end. Published September 30, 2014
Turkey builds innovative pipeline to Northern Cyprus
It won't carry any oil, but an ambitious pipeline project linking reservoirs in Turkey to the parched, isolated Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus could prove as politically charged as any project now underway in the region. Published September 28, 2014
SANDS: Surging Anand could pose problem in chess title rematch
Don't write off the ex-champ so fast. GM Viswanathan Anand is a distinct underdog as he tries to reclaim the world title he lost last year to Norwegian star Magnus Carlsen, with the rematch set for November in Sochi, Russia. Published September 23, 2014
