David R. Sands
Articles by David R. Sands
SANDS: Exchange rate in chess fluctuates for rooks, minor pieces
Through centuries of theoretical investigation and practical results, the relative value of the pieces on the board has been pretty firmly established. If the pawn has a value of one, then the minor pieces (knights and bishops) are worth a little more than three pawns, the rook five, and the queen somewhere between 9.5 and 10. In many games with players of even moderate strength, a material edge of plus-one — a single pawn — is enough to produce a winning advantage. Published October 2, 2012
The Washington Times: A ‘miracle’ that has endured for 30 years
Starting a newspaper "is worth doing, and we make our first public appearance with a heady sense that we can do it. Our confidence rests in part on the zest and skills of the staff we have recruited. Just as importantly, it rests on the need we find expressed all over Washington for a new perspective on local, national and world events." Published October 1, 2012
SANDS: Olympian efforts abound on Istanbul’s lower boards
Just as in the five-ring Olympics where athletes compete in track events and on the ski slopes, many of the competitors and countries that show up at the biennial chess Olympiad arrive knowing they have little hope of earning a medal. Men’s and women’s teams from more than 150 countries took part in the recent 40th Olympiad in Istanbul, which once again was dominated by the globe’s long-standing chess powerhouses: Russia, China, Armenia, Ukraine and the U.S. Published September 25, 2012
Funeral for Rev. Moon a time of reflection for church
Hak Ja Han Moon, widow of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, told 15,000 Unificationists on Monday that she will "be faithful" to his life and tradition and that the worldwide movement should "march forward without pausing" to build God's ideal world. Published September 16, 2012
Unification Church faithful gather in South Korea to mourn Rev. Moon
Tens of thousands of mourners descended on this remote rural retreat to pay their final respects to Unification Church founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon in a solemn two-and-a-half hour ceremony Saturday. Published September 14, 2012
Rev. Moon lauded for efforts to reunify Koreas
It's just one floral tribute among hundreds here, but the stand of white paper chrysanthemums draped by a ribbon of Korean characters bears some unique political and diplomatic weight. The wreath expresses the condolences of new young North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for the death of Unification Church founder and spiritual guide the Rev. Sun Myung Moon. Published September 13, 2012
Milingo: Rev. Moon’s legacy is in religious unity
Unification Church founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon's work on behalf of harmony among the world's great faiths will be among his most lasting achievements, Emmanuel Milingo, the onetime Zambian Catholic archbishop defrocked for taking a wife in a ceremony presided over by Rev. Moon in 2001, said in an interview Thursday. Published September 13, 2012
Unification Church is poised for new era, officials say
The Unification Church is strongly positioned to preserve and expand both its global spiritual outreach and its commercial holdings as tens of thousands of believers gather to say a final goodbye to founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon, two top church officials said this week. Published September 12, 2012
SANDS: Armenia edges Russian to claim Olympiad gold in chess
The Little Country That Could did it again as tiny Armenia on Sunday won its third gold medal in the past four years, nipping mighty Russia on tiebreaks after the two chess powerhouses finished 9-1-1 at the 40th biennial Olympiad in Istanbul. Published September 11, 2012
Democrats’ rhetoric driven by auto bailout
Democrats here clearly think they have a political winner in President Obama's decision to bail out the American auto industry, but numbers on the bailout's cost released this week suggest that the move could pose some political potholes for both presidential campaigns this fall. Published September 6, 2012
Obama scrubs stadium speech over weather concerns
There will be no replay of Denver 2008 as organizers of the Democratic National Convention announced Wednesday that President Obama's planned outdoor acceptance speech at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., has been moved indoors because of threatening rain in the forecast. Published September 5, 2012
SANDS: Young Hua schools his elders on way to chess victory
He’s an excellent student, has played a piano recital at Carnegie Hall and just scored an unexpected triumph in one of Washington’s signature chess tournaments. It will be interesting to see what David Hua will achieve when he’s old enough to drive. Published September 4, 2012
SANDS: Hua holds on to score upset in chess Atlantic Open
Congratulations to New Jersey high schooler David Hua, who outran of a pack of pursuers to win this weekend's 44th Atlantic Open premier section. Published August 28, 2012
Arpaio pulls in $7.5 million for re-election bid
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, seeking re-election to his sixth term as the chief law enforcement officer in Phoenix, has raised more than $7.5 million in campaign contributions, including more than $600,000 over the past two months. Published August 22, 2012
SANDS: Chess world mourns loss of Serbian great Gligoric
The game lost a true superstar last week with the death of Serbian GM Svatozar Gligoric at the age of 89. Published August 20, 2012
SANDS: Hoyos paces the field to capture chess U.S. Open
Mexican national champion Manuel Leon Hoyos can add a major north-of-the-border title to his resume after winning the 113th U.S. Open Sunday in Vancouver, Wash., in a playoff over veteran Illinois GM Dmitry Gurevich and surprising California FM John Daniel Bryant. All three finished at 8-1, with Bryant reeling off five straight wins to close out the tournament and claim a share of first. Published August 14, 2012
SANDS: Kamsky captures first Washington International chess tourney
The inaugural Washington International produced a worthy winner as former U.S. national champion Gata Kamsky triumphed over a strong field in the ambitious nine-round open event sponsored by the Maryland Chess Federation. Kamsky, a onetime candidate in the world championship cycle, was undefeated at 7-2 and won $5,000 for his efforts. Published August 7, 2012
SANDS: Bodek 1st among equals in U.S. Cadet chess tourney
New Rochelle, N.Y., 10th-grader Michael Bodek claimed bragging rights as a quartet of young stars shared first place in the U.S. Cadet Championship invitational tournament for the nation’s top players younger than 16, an event that returned to the Washington area for the first time in more than a quarter-century. Published July 31, 2012
SANDS: Future is bright for U.S. chess as prospects shine
The future is now — right now — for American chess, as New York IM Marc Arnold has claimed his first U.S. Junior title, and the U.S. Cadet Championship, featuring the country’s top players younger than 16 years old, is wrapping up in Rockville. Published July 24, 2012
Politics takes a back seat as Obama, Boehner appeal for unity after shooting
Politics was put aside for a day as President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner both called for the nation to come together in the wake of the Colorado movie theater shooting Friday that took the lives of 12 people and wounded dozens more. Published July 21, 2012
