David R. Sands

SANDS: Grand milestone: Indispensable ‘Week in Chess’ turns 1,000

The Internet chess community marked a major milestone this month with the publication of TWIC 1000. Published January 14, 2014

The late Ariel Sharon is admired for his unwavering defense of Israel

Israelis great and small lined up to say a final goodbye Sunday to the flag-draped coffin of Ariel Sharon, as the country, the region and the rest of the world struggled to come to grips with the complicated legacy of one of Israel's most towering and divisive figures. Published January 11, 2014

Ariel Sharon, former Israeli prime minister, dies at 85 after long illness

Ariel Sharon, a pivotal figure in Israel's history from his days as a foot soldier in the country's 1948 war for independence to his final years as a prime minister seeking a permanent peace in one of the world's toughest neighborhoods, has died after a lengthy illness. He was 85. Published January 9, 2014

SANDS: Now an underdog, UMBC snares a place in collegiate chess Final Four

It's a measure of how good the college game has become that the University of Maryland-Baltimore County's second-place finish in last month's Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Championship, hosted by Texas Tech in Lubbock, ranked as at least a mild upset. Published January 7, 2014

SANDS: Iran’s Pouya scores breakthrough during World Youth Championship

Young Iranian IM Idani Pouya was the surprise winner of the Under-18 open tournament at the just-concluded World Youth Championships held in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, becoming in the process the first player from his country to claim a world title. Published December 30, 2013

SANDS: Double-dipping: Winning and losing at chess the Basque way

In Basque chess, revenge apparently is a dish served piping hot. Basque chess — a format I had never heard of before — pits two players against each other in a pair of simultaneous rapid (Game/25) games, with each player playing White in one game and Black in the other. Published December 24, 2013

SANDS: Anand returns, Nakamura shines in London rapid chess battle

Viswanathan Anand made a comeback and Hikaru Nakamura made a statement in the premier event at the 5th London Chess Classic that ended Sunday, a rapid tournament pitting 16 of the world's best players in a star-studded knockout tournament. Published December 17, 2013

SANDS: Nelson Mandela at the chessboard: A prisoner’s solace

It's only a footnote to his monumental legacy, but there's a chess angle to the story of the life of Nelson Mandela, the great South African leader who passed away last week at the age of 95. Published December 10, 2013

SANDS: Shark attack: Miami wins first U.S. Chess League title

As the chess world gets used to a new champion, the everyday machinery of tournaments and matches is clanking back to life. New Norwegian world titleholder Magnus Carlsen is promising to be an active and visible champion, but is understandably taking a little personal "me time" after his decisive win last month dethroning India's Viswanathan Anand in Chennai, India. Published December 3, 2013

SANDS: Magnus Carlsen’s future bright as the new king of chess

What next for Magnus the Magnificent? The victory of the young, dynamic Norwegian GM Magnus Carlsen in dethroning world champion Viswanathan Anand in their title match last week has sent an electric thrill through fans of the game worldwide. Published November 26, 2013

Norway’s Magnus Carlsen wins world chess title

Norway's Magnus Carlsen is the new world chess champion, dethroning Indian titleholder Viswanathan Anand with a draw in the 10th game of their scheduled 12-game match in Chennai, India, Friday. Published November 22, 2013

Magnus Carlsen on verge of world chess title with quick win over champion

Norwegian challenger Magnus Carlsen is on the brink of becoming his country's first world chess champion following a stunning 28-move victory over Indian champion Viswanthan Anand Thursday in the ninth game of their scheduled 12-round match in Chennai, India. Published November 21, 2013

SANDS: Carlsen close to chess title as Anand cracks under endgame pressure

The outcome of the world championship match now just past the halfway point in Chennai, India, may have been sealed in Saturday's Game 6 in what rates as a truly multicultural moment: a Norwegian defeating an Indian in a Spanish Game through the use of the Chinese water torture. Published November 19, 2013

Game 8 a draw: Magnus Carlsen moves closer to world chess title

World champion Viswanathan Anand of India and challenger Magnus Carlsen of Norway played to a quiet 33-move draw in their match now underway in Chennai, India, bringing Mr. Carlsen closer to the world title as the match enters its final stages. Published November 19, 2013

Carlsen closes in on world chess title with Game 7 draw

Challenger Magnus Carlsen moved one step closer to becoming Norway's first world chess champion with an easy draw with the Black pieces in Game 7 of his scheduled 12-round title match against Indian world champion Viswanathan Anand in Chennai, India, on Monday. Published November 18, 2013

Carlsen grinds out win for two-game lead in world chess championship

Published November 16, 2013

In a first, EPA cuts ethanol standard

In a move likely to anger corn farmers and their congressional representatives, the Obama administration Friday proposed the first-ever cut in the amount of corn-based ethanol and other biofuels that must be mixed into the nation's gasoline, with the Environmental Protection Agency concluding that the mandate set by Congress just six years ago is proving difficult and perhaps impossible for gas producers to meet. Published November 15, 2013

Challenger Carlsen breaks through with first win in chess title match

Norwegian challenger Magnus Carlsen has drawn first blood in the world chess championship match now underway in Chennai, India, defeating world champion Viswanathan Anand of India Friday in the fifth game of their scheduled 12-round match. The previous four games had all ended in draws. Published November 15, 2013

Viswanathan Anand barely holds on for draw in chess championship Game 4

Challenger Magnus Carlsen of Norway came close to a breakthrough in the world chess championship match now underway in Chennai, India, pressing world champion Viswanathan Anand before conceding a draw in the fourth game of the scheduled 12-round title match Tuesday. Published November 13, 2013

Viswanathan Anand vs. Magnus Carlsen: Chess title match tied with draw in Game 3

World champion Viswanathan Anand held the advantage but was not able to score the full point as Game 3 of his title defense against Norwegian challenger Magnus Carlsen ended in a draw Tuesday in Chennai, India. Published November 12, 2013