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Few up-and-coming actors can pull off an intense, unnerving stare like Anya Taylor-Joy, and so naturally shes found herself playing a chess prodigy. Taylor-Joy stars in Netflixs new limited series The Queens Gambit, based on Walter Teviss 1983 novel, which follows an orphan in late-1950s Kentucky named Beth Harmon who discovers that she has an incredible talent for chess. She also develops an addiction to tranquilizers, which were then used as sedatives for children. Haunted by her personal demons and fueled by a cocktail of narcotics and obsession, according to a Netflix synopsis, Beth transforms into an impressively skilled and glamorous outcast while determined to conquer the traditional boundaries established in the male-dominated world of competitive chess.

Scott Frank, of Logan and Godless, co-created, executive produced, directed, and wrote the series, with Allan Scott, who also co-created and executive produced it, and William Horberg, who executive produced. The rest of the cast includes the director Marielle Heller as a housewife who takes in Beth as an adopted daughter, Game of Thrones Thomas Brodie-Sangster as a chess competitor of Beths, Moses Ingram as a fellow orphan who befriends Beth, Harry Melling as another chess player, and Bill Camp as a janitor who introduces Beth to the game.

Taylor-Joy, who was recently seen in Regency England in Emma. and appears in New Mutants, which is somehow coming to theaters after an extensive set of delays apparently studied her characters subject in-depth in the process of shooting the series. I learned more about chess than I ever thought I would in my life! Taylor-Joy told Vulture in a statement. I love a challenge and it gave me such a sense of accomplishment. I fell in love with the game. That was my main adjustment because I spend a lot of time in my characters heads and thats where my research comes from for me. Its about understanding them, but obviously, when youre playing chess, you actually need to know the rules of the game and you need to know what youre talking about. So I have lots of really niche knowledge on chess now that Im very proud of. You can watch Taylor-Joy deploy that chess knowledge when The Queens Gambit premieres October 23.

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The Queens Gambit Teaser: Anya Taylor-Joy Dives Into Chess, Drugs, and More Chess - Vulture

Garry Kasparov will make a rare cameo appearance when the legend, now aged 57, takes on the reigning champion, Magnus Carlsen, in the 10-player Champions Showdown invitation organised by St Louis from 11-13 September.

This will be an historic clash, even though it is only online random chess. The two world champions, widely considered the best players of all time, have faced each other in only one previous official event. That was at rapid and blitz chess in 2004 in Reykjavik, when Carlsen was aged 13 and Kasparov 41, a year before his retirement.

Carlsen, understandably nervous, was crushed in the first and second games but was pressing in the drawn third.

There is more history between the two icons of modern chess. In summer 2009 the Russian briefly became the Norwegians coach but owing to a personality clash between Carlsens laid-back attitude and Kasparovs intensity they soon parted ways. They played several informal blitz games then, which were ultra-competitive. As Carlsen put it: Neither of us likes losing, him especially.

Since 2017 the 1985-2000 world champion has taken part only in games using FischerRandom, also known as Chess960 or Chess9LX, where a computer makes a random choice of the back row starting array.

Besides Kasparov and Carlsen, the field includes Americas world No 2, Fabiano Caruana, who defeated Kasparov 5-1 at blitz in 2019, the US champion, Hikaru Nakamura, whose match with Carlsen last week drew record audiences, and the prodigy Alireza Firouzja, 17, who Kasparov has never met.

China, the 2018 Olympiad double gold medallists and tournament favourites for the current 163-nation online version, were knocked out 7-6 by Ukraine on Thursday after a match that will leave their team selectors with some serious questions to answer in Beijing.

The knockout format was a double round six board match where a match points tie would be broken by a single Armageddon game. China were lucky to score 3-3 in the first round where Natalia Zhukova drew by perpetual check in a winning position against the world woman champion, Ju Wenjun.

For the second round China dropped both Ju and the world No 1, Hou Yifan, their replacements scored only half a point, the match went to 6-6 and Ukraine won the Armageddon game. Earlier, Hungary v Germany also went to Armageddon and the German lost on time with the Hungarian having less than a second left. In Armageddon, White has five minutes on the clock to Blacks four but a draw on the board counts as a win for Black in the scores.

Results: Hungary 7-6 Germany. Ukraine 7-6 China, Armenia 8-4 Greece, Poland 7.5-4.5 Bulgaria. Fridays quarter-finals: India 9.5-2.5 Armenia (Armenia lost a game in a drawn position through disconnection and forfeited the second match when their appeal was rejected); Russia 8-4 Hungary; United States 8.5-3.5 Ukraine; Poland 6.5-6.5 Azerbaijan (Poland won the Armageddon game). Saturdays semi-finals: India v Poland; Russia v United States.

England were at full strength and scored a shock win over the strong Armenians, but finished only sixth in their group as they lost 5-1 to Russia, Bulgaria and Croatia while struggling to beat weaker teams. The womens boards did well, though three of the four juniors had minus scores overall while the normally reliable Michael Adams and Luke McShane dropped points in critical matches.

Some of the best Olympiad moments have been where strong grandmasters won elegantly against lesser lights. One such creative performance came from Alexey Shirov, author of the classic Fire on Board, who qualified for a world title match with Kasparov in 1998 but missed out due to lack of financial support. Shirovs attacking play is a pleasure to watch.

Wolfgang Uhlmann, who died on Monday aged 85, was the former East Germanys best player and a world title candidate in 1971. His opening repertoire was strikingly narrow for a top grandmaster. As Black, he almost always used the French 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 and the Kings Indian Nf6 g6 and Bg7.

A vintage Uhlmann performance came in 1958 when the biennial Olympiad was held in Munich, then in West Germany, and Uhlmann led his young GDR team to a 3.5-0.5 victory over the host nation. I was present in the playing hall that day and remember the stunned silence from the large patriotic audience. True to himself, Uhlmann won against Wolfgang Unzicker with a classically styled Kings Indian.

3686 1...Re1+ 2 Kf2 Qh4+ 3 g3 Qxh3 4 Rxe1 Qh2+ 5 Kf1 Qh1+ 6 Qg1 Rxe1+ and wins.

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Chess: Garry Kasparov and Magnus Carlsen to meet for first time in 16 years - The Guardian

Written by Shivani Naik, Edited by Explained Desk | Mumbai | Updated: September 2, 2020 4:57:34 pmKoneru Humpy won in an Armageddon against Poland's Monica Socko to take India into its first possible Top 2 finish and finals of the first-ever online Chess Olympiad. (Representational)

It was an Armageddon that saw Koneru Humpy take India into the final of the first-ever online Chess Olympiad. India play Russia at 4.30 pm on August 30.

Koneru Humpy won in an Armageddon against Polands Monica Socko to take India into its first possible Top 2 finish and finals of the first-ever online Chess Olympiad. India play Russia in the finals at 4.30 pm on Sunday (August 30).

Chesss version of the penalty shootout can get exciting, and Koneru held her nerve in the cliffhanger.

Heres more about Armageddon.

What is an Armageddon in chess that Koneru Humpy won to take India into the finals?

Its similar to a Super Over in cricket or a penalty shootout in hockey or football. At times it sees players nervously slap on the clocks, fumble with their pieces, and generally hurry through their moves. The online version, of course, wouldve simply seen quick clicks.

The Armageddon is the final decisive clincher and at the Online Chess Olympiad, set out the rules as, White gets 5 minutes, Black gets 4, but a draw would suffice for the latter.

Humpy kept her ice-cool composure to snick a sensational win when even a draw wouldve been enough against Polands Monika Sacko in the semifinal. She had lorded over Socko in the two rounds of rapid earlier.

How did it whip up excitement at the online chess Olympiad semis?

Black, considered at a disadvantage, is given a minute less to process the game and the handicap effectively puts the onus of a win on White.

At that moment, in those 4 minutes, whole of Indias expectations hinged on Koneru Humpys shoulders. But the moment I knew she was playing, I was sure India was winning. Her temperament is exceptional, Prof Anantharam, chess arbiter and raconteur, said.

Prior to that, lots were drawn to pick which of the categories would contest the Armageddon among mens, womens, and juniors. Once it was ascertained that the women would contest, Koneru Humpy was asked to fight the shootout for Indias attempt to get into Top 2 contention for the first time ever.

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Why was it a stunning come-from-behind win?

India was trailing after losing the first round 2-4 where Polish GMs Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Radek Wojtaszek nicked a full point each off Viswanathan Anand and Vidit Gujarati despite some aggressive play from Vidit, while Koneru and Harika Dronavalli drew on the third and fourth boards with Nihal Sarin winning on the penultimate board. Divya Deshmukh had good positional advantage, but couldnt capitalise.

In Round 2, India came back fighting, Anand canny in his opening to strike back against Duda and Vidit driving the knife in after an even opening against Gajewski who turned up to sub Wojtaszek. Koneru and Harika both won as India levelled to win Round Two 4 1/2 1 1/2. Then came the Armageddon.

How did Koneru win the Big A?

It has been dubbed as one of the most exciting Armageddon shootouts of recent times. Socko is a similarly experienced player and did not carry her two losses into the shoot-out showing early aggressive intent with a pawn gambit.

Until moves 35 or 36, things were pretty even, but Sockos pawn move to e5 was a visible tripping after which Konerus superior queen manoeuvring and counter attack saw her stomp through to the finish, as she bulldozed out the bishop.

Also read | Not as grand as it seems: Indias historic showing at Chess Olympiad, explained

What are the most recent instances of the Armageddon?

Four top level online tournaments featuring chesss biggest name Magnus Carlsen were held this year, with the first of those triumphs coming from the Armageddon. But the most exciting one saw the world champion on the losing side against the maverick Hiraku Nakamura in the Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals which saw a tennis-like set format.

Set 5 had seen four uneventful draws in the rapid. GM Yan Nepomniachthi had quipped watching: Ok, four draws in rapid section, so theres nothing to tweet about. On cue, things began to sizzle as Carlsen won the fifth Game, with Nakamura responding to rally from behind to win in the forced decider after Carlsen had chosen white.

Giving yourself the time edge also means equipping yourself with the best sword while backing into a corner. Nakamura didnt settle for the winning draw that Armageddons offer, but went for the win. Fun was had by all. Until the next A.

On the final day of the final faceoff, Carlsen won his own tour against Nakamura (who played a stunner till the last 10 minutes) by drawing on black in an Armageddon. The brutality and the epic injustice of it all, was lamented by everyone online.

Of late, which have been the most dramatic Armageddons?

At an Aronian-Grischuk game in Norway last season, the terms were set at 10 minutes vs 7, after classical games were capped at 4 hours, followed by the Armageddon. The vanquished was inconsolable, calling it one of the three biggest disappointing results of his life.

Why do classical romantics frown upon the Armageddon?

It has been said that many chess enthusiasts are critical of Armageddon and/or the scoring system, which downgrades classical games. The Aronian-Grischuk meltdown post the cruel shootoff drew a lot of scornful Internet traffic Armageddons way.

It is seen as an unwelcome disruptor corrupting the classical pace and rhythm with its restless impatience. Some would say chess is clucking at the hyper hand activity involved. Carlsen had weighed in favourably; The Guardian quoted him as saying: There has been plenty of fight in the classical games, and having Armageddon just gives it an extra dimension. Its just extra excitement every day. I am sure there are people who like it, people who dont like it, but I think its been very exciting so far and I look forward to the future. The fact that a coin flip decides time odds, drives critics nuts.

What are the oddest things to happen during an Armageddon?

Yan Nepomniachtchi and Nakamura faced off in a World Cup quarters in 2015 where Nakamura won in an Armageddon. But the Russian protested belatedly that Nakamura had used both hands to make a single move on the rook and king allusion to a form of penalty invoking act, while castling the king.

Its a typical error that can happen with the clock breathing down the earlobe menacingly. But the appeal was denied after a microscopic interpretation of sub-clauses of rules. In a blitz/rapid World Mind Games at Birds Nest in 2008, K Sasikiran rightly pointed out that should a piece be knocked out, it should be adjusted on own clock by the opponent. But a rematch was ordered, which India lost. Time control pressures can wreak havoc, and Armageddons typically see pulse rate soaring as the game is spiced up.

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Explained: Armageddon, the penalty shootout of the chess pieces - The Indian Express

Two traditional tournaments organized by the Saint Louis Chess Club will be held online next month: the Champions Showdown: Chess 9LX (Sept. 11-13) and the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz (Sept. 15-19). The first tournament is a round-robin this year, meaning that GM Garry Kasparovand GMMagnus Carlsenwill meet in an official event for the first time since 2004.

When the Grand Chess Tour was canceled due to the coronavirus crisis, many tournaments suddenly disappeared from the calendar. One of the tour's events has been re-instated as an online edition: the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz (more on that below).

The club also hosts a Chess960 event each year (mysteriously calling it Chess9LX), and it's nice to see that this wasn't canceled eitherif only for the fact that GM Garry Kasparov will again participate!

Online chess was never a big thing for The Boss during his career, partly because there were far fewer online events organized in the first place. This tournament seems to be his first official online event since his retirement.

Among Kasparov's rivals will be the world number one and two of classical chess, GMs Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana, as well as the reigning Chess960 World Champion Wesley So and the Iranian prodigy GM Alireza Firouzja.

Last year the format was one-on-one matches, but this year the tournament is a round-robin. This means Kasparov will be playing against all nine participants, including Carlsen. This will be a historic clashalbeit online, albeit Chess960as the two world champions only faced each other in one previous event. That was also rapid and blitz chess, and it took place back in 2004 in Reykjavik, when Carlsen was 13 years old and Kasparov 41, a year before he would retire.

In 2017, when Kasparov played in the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz tournament, he could have faced Carlsen as well, but it happened to be an event in which the Norwegian didn't play, coincidentally or not.

In Chess960, the starting position is different than in regular chess.While the pawns' positions remain the same, with White's pawns all on the second rank and Black's pawns on the seventh, minor (knights and bishops) and major pieces (rooks, king and queen) are placed semi-randomly on the first and last ranks.More about Chess960 (or Fischerrandom) can be found here.

The tournament will be held online on September 11-13 with three rounds per day. The players will learn what starting position they'll play only three minutes before the round.The time control is 20 minutes plus a 10-second increment. The total prize fund is $150,000.

Champions Showdown: Chess9LX | Participants

Right after this tournament, the Saint Louis Chess Club continues with another event, and for that, it's back to regular chess.

The Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz will be held September 15-19 and follows the standard schedule of such events in the Grand Chess Tour: first, three days of rapid with three rounds per day (25 minutes plus a 25-second increment) followed by two days of blitz with nine rounds per day (five minutes plus a three-second increment). The total prize fund is $250,000.

Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz | Participants

Games will start daily at 1:00 p.m. St. Louis time (GMT-5) which is 11:00 a.m. Pacific time and 20:00 Central European time.Both tournaments will include expert commentary to choose from:

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Carlsen, Kasparov Will Clash For The 1st Time In 16 Years - Chess.com

8/27/2020 Besides the Biel Triathlon played in July, no elite over-the-board tournament has been organized after the coronavirus crisis prompted the chess world to focus on online events. In a little over a month, however, we will get to see a strong field fighting over the board. The Altibox Norway Chess Tournament with Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Levon Aronian, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Alireza Firouzja and Aryan Tari kicks off October 5! | Photo: Lennart Ootes

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Press release

The world as we know it has changed and people all over the world are facing challenging times. Sport events of all types have been cancelled as we together have been distancing ourselves to avoid the spread of the virus. For chess, this has been the case as well, where tournaments all over the world have been cancelled. However, online chess has grown exponentially during this period as tournaments and other chess events have been organized on different online platforms. This has certainly been positive for chess, as it is a perfect sport to follow online!

The time for chess across the physical board is back!

This years Altibox Norway Chess tournament will be different, but nothing short of exciting! It will be a double round-robin tournament with six players:

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The first round starts October 5 and the tournament ends on October 16. There are two free days (October9 and 14).

We cant wait to bring these incredible chess players back together for some exciting chess matches! The Armageddon games that we introduced last year will continue as theyturned out to be a major success.

Players will get the following points per round:

The team of theAltibox Norway Chess have ensured that the tournament willbe safe for players, teams and other crew members.

[Magns Carlsens photo: Lennart Ootes]

[Originally, the lineup included Dutch grandmaster Anish Giri. On August 25, it was announced that Jan-Krzysztof Duda would replace him.]

Anish Giridecided to withdraw due to growing concerns around the Covid-19 situation in the Netherlands.

Now, the Altibox Norway Chess team is thrilled to announce that Polish Grandmaster Jan-Krzysztof Duda has accepted the invitation to play in this historic edition of the tournament. It will be Dudas first time playing in Altibox Norway Chess. Duda is a very interesting player and will be a great addition to the tournament.

Duda noted:

I must admit that I was surprised by the proposal to play in the tournament in Stavanger, which I got on my way to Ustro for the MOKATE tournament. However, I did not even think about declining this offer for a moment. Extremely interesting and, for me, a strong line-up of the tournament promises great emotions, and for me it will be another opportunity to test myself with the best chess players in the world. For my part, I promise what Im known for courage, uncompromising play and fight to the very end. I intend to use the possible quarantine for broadening my knowledge about Norway and preparing for the tournament.

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Altibox Norway Chess with Carlsen and Caruana returns in October - Chessbase News