The role of computers in preparation

Being able to use a computer has become extremely important for today’s professional chess players. This technological development was described in an article at TechRepublic, focusing on the story of Kris Littlejohn, who is not a grandmaster but a successful second of top grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura nonetheless. Read more

The newspaper chess column goes extinct

These are hard times for newspapers, which have been struggling for years with the question how to adapt to the digital era. Almost all of them need to cut costs, and among the victims are the writers of chess columns. Yesterday, after 23 years, Lubosh Kavalek wrote his last column for the Washington Post. Read more

Carlsen also in the upcoming TIME

Remember the brief Q&A with Magnus Carlsen in TIME Magazine that we mentioned last week? Well, as it turned out that was just a ’stocking stuffer’ during the magazine’s quiet holiday period. TIME’s upcoming issue (US and international) will hit newstands in a few days, and this one contains a ‘full profile’ interview. Read more

Carlsen in TIME and the art of good journalism

Yesterday TIME featured a short interview with the new world’s new number 1 Magnus Carlsen. Despite the fact that there were only ten questions with relatively short answers, I liked it so much that it got me thinking about chess journalism in general. Why can’t interviews with chess players always be this sharp? Read more

‘Anand to have Carlsen as a second’

Two interviews with World Champion Viswanathan Anand have appeared in Indian newspapers this week, and in one of them he makes a remarkable statement. To the question whether GM Ganguly will again be in his team of seconds for the match against Topalov, the World Champion answers he’s doesn’t know yet. “But one thing is for sure, Magnus Carlsen (the world No. 2) will be one of the seconds.” Ehm… say again? Read more

Chess player wins Beauty and the Geek

Jeremy Reading, a 24-year-old chess player and coach from Canberra, last night won Beauty and the Geek Australia. Both Reading and his team mate Emma Cam cashed 50,000 Australian dollars (a bit over € 30,000). Read more

Abolishing women’s titles: a different perspective

I’ve been known to defend the position that women’s tournaments are all nonsense: after all, we don’t have math competitions especially for women, nor do we have girls-only musical concourses. But a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, pleading for abolishment of women’s FIDE titles, made me think again. Read more

Kasparov in WSJ and on BBC radio

Even when he’s not talking or writing about chess (which is just about all the time these days), many chess fans still like to follow Garry Kasparov closely. That’s why we gladly serve you with two links today: one to his latest Wall Street Journal article and one to a ‚Äì very personal ‚Äì BBC radio interview. Read more

50th anniversary Europe-Echecs

Not many chess magazines can boast about such a longstanding history as the French monthly Europe Echecs. The January 2009 issue celebrates half a century of chess news and stories in the French language, with 100 pages of looking back. Read more

In the meantime, Kasparov gives another simul

Last night, Garry Kasparov gave a simul in the Alfacom studios in Lint (close to Antwerp), Belgium. His opponents: 19 Belgian CEO’s and 7 primary school kids. His score: 26-0. The overall result: arguably the best broadcast of a chess event ever. Large pictorial report. Read more

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