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Chess generally hits the headlines only for reasons external to the game itself: Bobby Fischers eccentricity; Viktor Korchnois allegations that the Soviet Union was using hypnotism to undermine him in his 1978 world title match with Anatoly Karpov; the Toiletgate furore that marred the 2006 world championship. Now, the reigning world champion Magnus Carlsens airing of suspicions over the play of the 19-year-old US grandmaster Hans Niemann has put chess into the spotlight again.

Carlsen has been world champion since 2013. Niemann is a tyro who has made astonishingly rapid progress recently. Carlsen has publicly questioned that trajectory, saying on Twitter last week that his over the board progress has been unusual. These days, most elite players become grandmasters in their early teens Carlsen was 13. Niemann, a charismatic character who says his life has been devoted to proving critics who said he wasnt good enough wrong, was a late-developing 17, and his rise to super-GM level has been meteoric.

The controversy erupted when Niemann beat Carlsen last month in the Sinquefield Cup. Niemann said he had somehow guessed what opening Carlsen would play. It was Carlsens first defeat in 53 classical (long-form) games, and he reacted by withdrawing from the tournament, making gnomic references to something being not quite right. If I speak I am in big trouble, he tweeted. Some of his supporters filled in the blanks, with claims that Niemann had computer help. Elon Musk unhelpfully suggested that he was using unusual methods; Niemann countered by offering to strip naked.

Carlsen and Niemann met again last month in an online game, and the world champion sensationally resigned after making just one move. Carlsen said he was unwilling to play against people that have cheated repeatedly in the past, and that he believed the younger man had cheated more than he has admitted. Niemann has acknowledged cheating online as a teenager, but insists he has never done so in an over-the-board game and angrily denies the new claims. Once a cheat, always a cheat, chorus his detractors, but Niemann should surely not be condemned for youthful misdemeanours in games where little was at stake. There is no evidence that he cheated when he beat Carlsen.

The world champion is right to say that cheating poses an existential challenge to chess there have been many examples at less exalted levels of the sport. But he is wrong to muddy the waters around Niemann without substantive evidence. Britains former world title contender Nigel Short says that the young American is at risk of suffering death by innuendo. Experts reckon Carlsen played unusually poorly in his defeat to Niemann. Maybe it was just a bad day at the office. Or perhaps it was the result of paranoia: once a player believes their opponent is cheating, that inevitably affects their own play. Carlsen needs to produce concrete evidence ideally as part of the inquiry announced on Thursday by the International Chess Federation or let Niemann get on with his career. Only by playing over a long period will the latters true playing strength emerge while any repeated cheating in the rarefied conditions of elite tournaments would soon be exposed.

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The Guardian view on chess cheating claims: innocent until proven guilty - The Guardian

Chess history will be made this year at induction ceremonies recognizing several exceptional contributors to the iconic game as the newest members of the U.S. and World Chess Halls of Fame. The first ceremony will honor 2022 U.S. Chess Hall of Fame inductees Daniel Willard Fiske, James Tarjan and John Watson, as well as 2021 World Chess Hall of Fame inductees Miguel Najdorf and Eugene Torre. This ceremony will take place during the public opening ceremony of the 2022 U.S. Chess Championship and U.S. Womens Chess Championship, featuring the strongest chess players in Americaheld at the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station in Saint Louis, Missouri, on October 4, 2022, at 5:30 p.m. The tournament itself will be played at the Saint Louis Chess Club, which has hosted the U.S Chess Championships for the past 13 years. The second ceremony, which will honor 2021 World Chess Hall of Fame inductee Judit Polgar, will be announced at a future date.

Master Class Vol.1: Bobby Fischer

No other World Champion was more infamous both inside and outside the chess world than Bobby Fischer. On this DVD, a team of experts shows you the winning techniques and strategies employed by the 11th World Champion.

Grandmaster Dorian Rogozenco delves into Fischers openings, and retraces the development of his repertoire. What variations did Fischer play, and what sources did he use to arm himself against the best Soviet players? Mihail Marin explains Fischers particular style and his special strategic talent in annotated games against Spassky, Taimanov and other greats. Karsten Mller is not just a leading international endgame expert, but also a true Fischer connoisseur.

In 2022, three candidates were selected for induction into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame by the US Chess Recognitions Committee and confirmed by the U.S. Chess Trust: Daniel Willard Fiske, a major pioneer in chess organization, journalism and more, who originated the idea of a nationwide American Chess Congress and helped make it a reality in 1857, in addition to influencing the creation of the American Chess Association (a precursor to todays US Chess) and playing an important role in standardizing the rules of chess; James Tarjan, who represented the United States in five Chess Olympiads, winning four team and three individual medals with a winning percentage that places him equal second to Bobby Fischer, and also achieved the best-ever rating performance by an American player aged 65 or older; and John Watson, one of the greatest writers in the history of American chess who authored many groundbreaking books during the past four decades including Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy (2002) and Chess Strategy in Action (2023), and was the first-ever US. National High School champion and a U.S. Chess Championship participant.

All three of this years inductees have made an incredible impact on the game and sport of chess, said US Chess Trust President E. Steven Doyle. Fiskes influence as an early U.S. chess journalist, Tarjans distinctive Chess Olympiad accomplishments and Watsons lifetime of chess instruction and coaching are accolades deserving of recognition in the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame.

In 2021, the International Chess Federation (Fdration Internationale des checs or FIDE) nominated three new members for the World Chess Hall of Fame. Inductees include Judit Polgar, who is universally considered to be the strongest woman chess player of all time and broke Bobby Fischers record as the worlds youngest grandmaster; Miguel Najdorf, whose name is associated with one of the most famous openings in chess, the Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defense, in addition to being one of the most successful performers in Chess Olympiad history; and Eugene Torre, a trailblazer for Asian chess for half a century, achieving a number of continental milestones including the first grandmaster, first to defeat a reigning world champion, and first to reach the Candidates stage of the World Championship.

The 2021 World Chess Hall of Fame inductees exemplify the global impact and inclusivity chess has to offer, and were honored to include their contributions to the games rich history, said FIDE Special Project Director Willy Iclicki.

Inductees of both Halls of Fame are chosen for their impact on the sport and have included players, authors, journalists, scholars, organizers and supporters of the game. Each player will be commemorated at the World Chess Hall of Fame (WCHOF) in Saint Louis with a plaque bearing their image and biography. Notable games and highlights will also be featured in a digital interactive gallery.

The World Chess Hall of Fame in Saint Louis commends all of the 2021 and 2022 inductees and we look forward to celebrating their unique achievements at their induction ceremonies, said Shannon Bailey, WCHOFs chief curator.

For more information about the Chess Halls of Fame, please visit the WCHOFs website at worldchesshof.org. For more information about the U.S. Chess Championship and U.S. Womens Chess Championship, please visit saintlouischessclub.org. To schedule interviews, please contact WCHOF Marketing Manager Brian Flowers at brian.flowers@worldchesshof.org or call (314) 243-1571.

Daniel Willard Fiske(1831-1904)

Daniel Willard Fiske was a major pioneer in chess organization, journalism, literature and historical preservation whose influence is still felt today. He originated the idea of a nationwide American Chess Congress and helped to make it a reality in 1857. Without this tournament, it is doubtful whether American chess star Paul Morphy would have achieved more than local fame. Fiskes massive book on the event not only gives the games of the Congress but also deals with the creation of the American Chess Association (a precursor to todays US Chess) and the authors important role in standardizing the rules of chess. He was also arguably the most influential early U.S. chess journalist, earning renown through his magazine The Chess Monthly and newspaper column in the New York Saturday Press.

James Tarjan(1952- )

Few have represented the United States in Chess Olympiads with greater distinction than James Tarjan. He played five times from 1974 to 1982, winning four team (one gold, three bronze) and three individual (two gold and one bronze) medals. His lifetime winning percentage of 75.5% places him equal second among Americans with Bobby Fischer and Arthur Dake. An active player from 1965 to his 1984 retirement, Tarjan returned to the game in 2014 with spectacular results. In 2017, he defeated former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik, then ranked number three in the world at 2803 FIDE, en route to a rating performance of 2671, to date the best ever result by an American player aged 65 or older.

John Watson(1951- )

John Watson is one of the greatest writers in the history of American chess. Among the many important books he has authored during the past four decades are the groundbreaking Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy (2002) and Chess Strategy in Action (2003). He authored seminal works on the English Opening and French Defense. A frequent contributor to Chess Life since the 1970s, Watson is well-known for his insightful book reviews. He was a pioneer in early internet journalism, with weekly shows including Chess Talk with John Watson for the Internet Chess Club. An international master, Watson was the first U.S. National High School champion and a U.S. Chess Championship participant. He has a lifetime of experience in chess teaching and coaching.

Judit Polgar(1976- )

Judit Polgar is universally recognized as the strongest female player of all time. She was first rated in the top 100 players in the world at age 12 when she won three gold medals at the 1988 Olympiad in Thessaloniki. This performance also catapulted Judit to the world's number 1 ranking for women, a position that she maintained for the next 26 years. Judit broke Bobby Fischers record as the youngest grandmaster in 1991. Polgar is the only woman to have ever reached the Candidates stage in the world, and to have been rated over 2700, reaching a peak of 2735 in 2005. During her career, she defeated 11 current or former world champions in rapid or classical chess. Polgar was a member of the 2014 silver medal-winning Hungarian Olympiad team and won seven other medals in Olympiads.

Miguel Najdorf(1910-1997)

Miguel Najdorf, whose name is associated with one of the most famous openings in chess, was one of the top players in the world in the 1940s and 1950s. Born in Poland, he settled in Argentina after playing in the 1939 Buenos Aires Chess Olympiad. He was also one of the most successful performers in Olympiad history, winning seven team (four silver and three bronze) and four individual medals (three gold and one silver) in 14 competitions over four decades. In 1947, he faced 45 opponents in blindfold chess, setting a record that stood until 2011.

Eugene Torre(1951- )

Philippine grandmaster Eugene Torre has been a trailblazer for Asian chess for half a century, achieving a number of continental milestones including first grandmaster (1974), first to defeat a reigning world champion (Anatoly Karpov in 1976) and first to reach the Candidates stage of the World Championship (1982-1983). A member of the Philippine Olympiad team a record 23 times, Torre won three individual medals on board one (silver at Nice 1974 and bronze at Malta 1980 and Dubai 1986). He also won a bronze medal on board three at Baku 2016 at the age of 64. Torre was the official second of Bobby Fischer in his 1992 rematch with Boris Spassky.

The World Chess Hall of Fame (WCHOF) celebrates the accomplishments of the game's greatest players from the United States and across the globe. The institution houses both the U.S. and World Chess Halls of Fame. New inductees are honored in an annual ceremony, which has been held in Saint Louis, Missouri, since 2011. Since 2012, the inductions have been held during the opening ceremonies for the annual U.S. Chess Championship and U.S. Womens Chess Championships.

The Saint Louis Chess Club (STLCC) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to making chess an important part of our community. In addition to providing a forum for the community to play tournaments and casual games, the Club also offers chess improvement classes, beginner lessons and special lectures.

Recognizing the cognitive and behavioral benefits of chess, the Saint Louis Chess Club is committed to supporting those chess programs that already exist in area schools while encouraging the development of new in-school and after-school programs. For more information, visit saintlouischessclub.org.

Each year, candidates for induction to the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame are nominated by the US Chess Recognitions Committee. which includes leading chess historians. The Committees selections are sent to the US Chess Executive Board for review, and the Board's recommendations are then forwarded to the US Chess Trust. whose Trustees have the official authority to determine inductees into the US Chess Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony takes place at the World Chess Hall of Fame or at the annual US Chess Awards luncheon. A representative of the US Chess Trust performs the official induction, using the official Hall of Fame gavel.

Representatives of the World Chess Federation (Fdration Internationale des checs, or FIDE) nominate and select new candidates for induction into the World Chess Hall of Fame. Members of the World Chess Hall of Fame are chosen for their total contribution to the sport. Players as well as others who have made an impact as authors, journalists, organizers and in other ways are eligible for induction.

The US Chess Trust is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization. Through the Trust, the Samford Fellowships have helped develop our nations top young chess players. Typically, nine of 12 players in the U.S. Championship are former or current Samford Fellows.

The Trust sponsors the senior, junior and girls national invitational events for state champions at the annual U.S. Open and provides numerous college scholarships. For more information, visit uschesstrust.org.

The US Chess Federation (US Chess) is the official governing body and nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization for chess players and chess supporters in the United States. Our mission is to empower people, enrich lives, and enhance communities through chess. Our vision is that chess is recognized as an essential tool that is inclusive, benefits education and rehabilitation, and promotes recreation and friendly competition.

US Chess represents the United States in the World Chess Federation (FIDE), connecting our members to chess players around the world. Founded in 1939 with the merger of the American Chess Federation and the National Chess Federation, US Chess has grown to serve over 93,000 members and 2,000 affiliated chess clubs and organizations today. For more information, visit uschess.org.

The World Chess Hall of Fame (WCHOF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to building awareness of the cultural and artistic significance of chess. It opened on September 9, 2011, in the Central West End after moving from previous locations in New York; Washington, D.C.; and Florida. The WCHOF is located at 4652 Maryland Avenue, housed in a historic 15,900 square-foot residence-turned-business, featuring World Chess Hall of Fame inductees, United States Chess Hall of Fame inductees selected by the U.S. Chess Trust, displays of artifacts from the permanent collection and exhibitions highlighting the great players, historic games and rich cultural history of chess. The WCHOF partners with the Saint Louis Chess Club to provide innovative programming and outreach to local, national and international audiences. For more information, visit worldchesshof.org.

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Chess legends to be inducted into the U.S. and World Chess Halls of Fame - ChessBase

A recent chess cheating controversy made headlines on many of the major news outlets. It was a great (or at least public) moment for a game that often doesnt get mainstream attention. But when chess does make headlines, many cant help but notice its often about male players. So where are all the female players that were all the buzz following The Queens Gambit? Was that just a minor blip of interest or has the game actually been reaching females?

Good news, said Jennifer Shahade a two-time U.S. Womens Chess Champion, woman grandmaster, director of the womens program at the United States Chess Federation and author of several books on chess. There are more women playing and yes, that is partly due to The Queens Gambit, she added. Before the drama aired, just 22 percent of incoming members on chess.com, a website used by more than 20 million people to play chess, were women, compared to 27 percent after the show aired.

But the portion of female players playing the game has been growing steadily for a while, she said, even before the show.

Still, she said, disparities do exist: At this point, just 10.7 percent of 40,000 ranked players with a standard rating, one of several ratings based on the games length, are female, according to Grid analysis of the Federations data. And of the 1,700 chess grandmasters the highest title awarded by the International Chess Federation only 39 are women.

Grid spoke with Shahade about how the chess community is trying to diversity and the stigma female players still have to battle. The text has been edited for length and clarity.

G: Where does interest in chess start and how are girls being encouraged to play?

Jennifer Shahade: Theres a lot of investment in scholastic chess for school-age children, who, while they might go on to do other things, keep their understanding of and passion for the game. There are nonprofits all over the country that have the philosophy that if you give chess to kids, it will kind of equalize education and give opportunities to kids who might not be as good at some traditional subject. The surge is fueled by a lot of those people who learn chess as a kid and now have like a lifeline to continue exploring it online.

The two biggest factors for the emergence of stronger female chess players are classic chess programs, and in particular, the United States Chess Federation, which I work for, and the Saint Louis Chess Club. It has a big budget to do innovative chess work, which has been really helpful to the rise of chess.

G: During the pandemic, many chess players turned to online streaming as a source of income. Has streaming chess games brought more women into the fold?

JS: There are a lot of really popular women streamers, including the Alexandra and Andrea Botez [the Botez sisters], Anna Cramling, Anna Rudolph and Nemo Qiyu Zhou. These are really big names who are not only making money from their channels, but also from endorsements. You generally have to be very good at chess and have a strong personality, though there are some streams where part of their shtick is that they learn chess with the viewer, which is cool.

Thats been really inspirational to new generations because they see that you can succeed in multiple ways as a chess player. You could become really successful as a grandmaster, or you could become a chess coach or a chess streamer there are all these different and interesting career paths that didnt exist before.

G: Are underrepresented chess players stigmatized at all for being in a mainly male field?

JS: While harassment and abuse of female chess players online is still regrettably pervasive, there are more tactics used against it than there used to be.

For instance, most streamers have moderators who are really good at shutting down abusive comments right away. There are a lot of tools for temporary bans or banning specific words that have allowed women to take up that space without constantly being harassed.

Its really wonderful to see because when I was doing a lot of streaming in the past, some of the comments were just so horrible and they can be very discouraging to women to continue doing chess or to doing chess entertainment.

There is also more interest in keeping people, including children, safe. A few years ago, the U.S. Chess Federation implemented the safe play policies, modeled after the SafeSport policies, which most Olympic sports use. Having an official way to report any kind of abuse you might encounter is important.

Finally, in 2018, the U.S. Chess Federation instated a gender affirming transgender policy. This summer, the French Chess Federation has changed its policies, which are close to the U.S. version and recognized transgender players.

G: Has the chess community tried to be more inclusive of underrepresented groups, such as girls?

JS: In chess, theres often this debate about whether or not there should be the womens grandmaster title, which doesnt require as high a rating as the grandmaster title.

It can help people understand why it exists if you look at the history: There are countries where theres never been a woman grandmaster, and when one is crowned it spurs a lot of initiatives to help girls.

In chess, a lot of girls drop out in junior high school a lot of kids, period, drop out in junior high school. But for girls you see a more precipitous dip. Thats because they sometimes become the only girl of their age group who plays chess.

Sometimes that can be lonely or even logistically problematic, in terms of sharing a hotel or traveling together. Its a self-perpetuating situation because there are fewer girls in chess, so its harder for them to multiply.

Im the director of the womens program at U.S. Chess Federation, where we have a girls club to encourage more girls to get into the game and to retain the ones who are already there.

G: Part of your program is about creating an actual physical space just for girls at competitions. Can you talk about why?

JS: There are usually live events, where both boys and girls play in the same sections. The girls are going to be outnumbered when they play in a tournament, and the girls club is a place for them to go after the round to socialize and meet other girls.

Theyre still competing in this mixed field while creating bonds with the other girls in the tournament. Its kind of like a kids version of a lounge. There are also organizers around the country who create girls events. When people first hear about them, sometimes they ask why should girls play in separate tournaments in chess? But in reality, girls love it because it allows them to compete against their friends or make friends that they can travel with to other tournaments.

G: On a very basic level: Why should people learn to play chess?

JS: The number one reason is to lose yourself in a state of total flow. Chess is almost like an aquarium it pulls you in and you sink into it. Its a gateway to flow experiences for young people. Even if they dont continue playing chess forever, they understand what its like to not be thinking about hundreds of notifications because something about the mental challenge and the size of the board draws people in.

A lot of research shows that people are really happy when theyre able to focus on one thing. It can really be the happiest part of someones day to be meditating or exercising or playing chess, where theyre not thinking about all of the worries of the world.

Number two is international networking possibilities with people that are different from them whether they are from different countries, from different socioeconomic backgrounds or are different genders all sorts of different people that you meet from chess that you might not ordinarily find in your circles.

And there is decision making that youre able to make your own decisions and live with the results, and also that youre going to make mistakes and you have to forgive yourself. If you want to play a mistake-free game, then you basically cant make any moves. That is a really good lesson for life.

Thanks to Alicia Benjamin for copy editing this article.

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Jennifer Shahade on the rise of chess and its gender disparities - Grid

Rochester, NY, Oct. 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CHESS Health, the leading provider of evidence-based digital health solutions addressing the individual and societal crisis of substance use disorder (SUD), today announced the launch of Conexionesthe Spanish-language edition of its Connections smartphone app. With Conexiones, individuals in Hispanic, Latin(a/o), Latinx communities can directly access personalized recovery support resources to complement SUD treatment any time of the day or night.

CHESS Health aims to increase support for every individual with SUD, wherever they are, and improve overall outcomes, said Hans Morefield, Chief Executive Officer, CHESS Health. A key aspect of the Conexiones app is based on peer-reviewed research that demonstrates the lasting effect of connectedness on long-term recovery from SUD by reducing feelings of isolation that can contribute to relapse. We are incredibly proud to offer Spanish-speaking individuals a safe, supportive peer community, where viable options did not exist before.

Conexiones is based on CHESS Healths original Connections app, which uniquely blends digital recovery tools with compassionate peer support. The app has been proven to help individuals maintain long periods of abstinence, improve patient retention, reduce the risk of relapse, and result in cost of care savings. The new Conexiones app provides the same evidence-based features available in the original app, while addressing particular challenges often faced by members of Latinx communities.

Collective experiences are essential to healing from SUDs, said Dr. Anna Lee, DSW, MSW, LCSW, Director of Innovation at Social Model Recovery Systems, an early adopter of the Conexiones app. By providing Conexiones, were equipping our Spanish-speaking participants with culturally mindful resources and support. These are critical components that will enhance their recovery experience while reducing disparities in treatment that exist today.

The 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health finds that 7.1 percent of Hispanic Americans have a substance use disorder, and 3 percent of Hispanic Americans have an illicit drug use disorder. While these rates do not differ greatly from the overall U.S. population, there is a gap when it comes to treatment. Studies show Hispanic Americans have less access to SUD treatment and must wait longer to access such services when compared to non-Hispanics. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 91 percent of Hispanic Americans are unable to receive SUD treatment at a specialty facility.

CHESS Health partners with healthcare providers, community organizations, state and local government, and health plans to deliver the Conexiones and Connections apps to help increase access to patient-centered care. At the heart of these apps is a team of certified peer recovery support specialistsall with lived experiencewho moderate online discussion groups and provide one-on-one support for individuals who may be feeling at risk for relapse. In addition to live support, the app features daily motivations, digital cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) programs, sobriety and recovery tracking, journaling, educational content, and appointment reminders.

The new Conexiones app offers culturally appropriate content and peer support from native Spanish speakers; strategies to support special or high-risk populations, such as those with co-occurring mental health disorders, pregnant women, parents, and caregivers; and individuals in need of occupational and social support, including immigration. The app has been designed to help patients strengthen their recovery between visits, provide confidential support that extends beyond traditional therapy, help reduce isolation while building confidence and motivation, and provide a clear path to follow throughout recovery, with affirmative checkpoints.

Conexiones represents a significant component within the CHESS Health suite of solutions, which span the entire lifecycle of SUD managementfrom prevention and intervention to treatment and recovery, said Morefield. Together, we can break the stigma, tear down barriers, and support every individual with SUD in finding their path to long-term recovery.

# # #

About CHESS Health

CHESS Health is the leading provider of evidence-based digital health solutions addressing the individual and societal crisis of substance use disorder (SUD). Solutions are offered in partnership with healthcare providers, community organizations, state and local government, and health plans. The CHESS Health platform spans the entire lifecycle of SUD managementfrom prevention and intervention to treatment and recoveryand is proven to achieve higher abstinence rates, reduce the risk of relapse, and lower the overall cost of care. Through CHESS Healths current partnerships, statewide initiatives have been implemented across New Mexico, Oklahoma, and West Virginia. For more information, visit http://www.chess.health.

Media Contacts

Tracy Simon Barbara Link

267.679.2774 610.668.2855

tracy@albertcommunications.com barbara@albertcommunications.com

Jennifer Russo CHESS Health 2019564860 jrusso@chess.health

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CHESS Health Introduces Spanish Language Edition of its Successful Connections App Supporting ... - The Bakersfield Californian

Having grown up in the era when the USSR dominated world chess, I must admit that the subtle distinctions between Russian, Soviet and Ukrainian were largely lost on me. Whether they were Latvian (Mikhail Tal), Armenian (Tigran Petrosian) Estonian (Paul Keres) or Ukrainian (Leonid Stein) they all ended up representing the virtually unconquerable Soviet team. Having in an earlier column pronounced Stein to be the best of the Ukrainians, I have now been reminded that both David Bronstein and Isaac Boleslavsky also hailed from Ukraine.

David Ionovich Bronstein was born on February 19, 1924 in Bila Tserkva, Ukraine. When Bronstein was six, his grandfather taught him how to play chess. Later, his family moved to Kiev (now Kyiv); there he joined the city Chess and Draughts Club, soon winning the Kiev Schoolboys Championship. At the age of 16,he was invited to the 12th Ukrainian Championship, again in Kiev, where he took the silver medal behind the established GrandmasterIsaac Boleslavsky. This fine resultqualified the young Bronstein both for the Soviet national master title and a place in the USSR Championship semi-final in Rostov-on-Don. Thatwas never concluded, due to the German invasion of the USSR on June 22, 1941.

Nevertheless, after 1945 Bronsteins immediate career was meteoric. With FID, the world chess federation, now running the world championship along regular three year cycles, Bronstein won the 1948 Interzonal, a key qualifier on his path to the supreme title. He went on to share 1st in both theUSSR Championship (1948)and theUSSR Championship (1949), then tied with Boleslavsky for 1st in theBudapest Candidates (1950), winning the subsequent playoff match. Bronstein had now earned the right to face the Red Czar of Soviet Chess, Mikhail Botvinnik in a world championship bout.

This match turned out to be one of the most controversial in the entire history of world championship chess. Indeed, it may have fuelled Bobby Fischers later accusations of match fixing by Soviet players. The enigma here is why either player should engage in a fixed result, when the chief prize, the accolade of world champion, outweighed any possible alternative compensation which might have been on offer? First, heres some family background.

According to Chessgames.com, the NKVD(later the KGB) had arrested Bronsteins father in 1935 because he had tried to defend peasants who were put under pressure by corrupt officials. Bronsteins father was released after serving seven years in a gulag, and only rehabilitated in 1955. Bronstein never joined the Communist Party, nor any organisations associated with it, such as the Communist Youth Party, the USSR Writers Union, or the USSR Journalists Union.

With two games to go in the 1951 title match against Botvinnik, Bronstein was leading by one point, yet in the 23rd and penultimate game the young challenger mysteriously resigned in a position in which even modern computers have failed to prove a conclusive win for Botvinnik.

The latest modern computer analysis indicates that Bronstein (from the diagram position where he actually resigned and thus more or less abandoned all hope of winning the match) could probably have held on for draw with this cunning defence. Blacks pawn sacrifice on move 57 (instead of resigning) is necessary in order to be able to continue with 58b6, thus eliminating the vulnerable target on b7.

57b558. axb5 b659. Kd3 Ng860. Bxd5 Nf661. Bc6 Kf562. Kc4 Nd6+63. Kb4 Ke6 . And Black may be able to establish a fortress. At the very least this should have been given a try.Although more recent analysis establishes an arguably superior line for white57b5 58. axb5 b6 59. Kd3 Ng8 60. Ke3!Nf6 61. Kf4 Nd6 62. Be2 Nfe4 63. Bd3 Kg7 64. Be7 Nc8 65. Bd8 Nc3 66. Ke5 Kf7 67. Bf5 Na7 it remains inexplicable why Bronstein resigned at the point at which he did.

The 24th and final game fizzled out, the score was 12-12 and Botvinnik retained his title. Did Bronstein fear official repercussions if he won? Concern at that outcome seems very unlikely. Destiny had called out to Bronstein, but when the celestial phone rang, he hung up.

As a player Bronstein, with his brilliant combinational and sacrificial gifts, was a true heir of Alexander Alekhine. The Russian migr had died as undefeated champion in 1946, thus giving FID its chance to seize democratic control of the championship.

Bronstein also made considerable creative contributions to theory in openings such as the Ruy Lopez (for example, against Paul Keres), the Kings Indian, which he virtually invented in its modern form (two seminal examples: against Frantisek Zita and against Ludek Pachman) and the Caro-Kann (e.g. the Bronstein-Larsen variation 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.c3 dxe4 4.xe4 f6 5.xf6 gxf6). (Once again, two examples: against Istvan Bilek and also Nikolay Bakulin).

Bronstein once said that: The art of a chess player consists in his ability to ignite a magical fire from a dull and senseless position.I conclude with a final facet of Bronsteins genius, his ability to strike at the optimal psychological moment. In the following game against Smyslov, Bronstein isbeing gradually worn down, until he ingeniously muddies the waters with the wild sacrifice Nb4.

So rich is the fantasy portfolio of Bronstein, there are yet many more games that arouse both admiration and inspiration. Try the following for sheer dazzle.

Bronstein vs. Keres

Bronstein vs. Geller

Raymond Keenes latest book Fifty Shades of Ray: Chess in the year of the Coronavirus, containing some of his best pieces from TheArticle, is now available from Blackwells .

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David Bronstein: the chess dynamo of Kyiv - TheArticle