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A proposal has been made to withdraw honorary membership of Northern Irelands leading chess organisation from a world-renowned Russian player over the war in Ukraine.

he Sunday Independent has learned a motion requesting the removal of Dina Belenkaya from the honorary position with the Ulster Chess Union (UCU) will be discussed at the organisations Annual General Meeting (AGM) tomorrow evening.

No reason for the proposal has been outlined in the agenda for the organisations AGM, but sources have said those behind the motion believe it will send a message of support to the people of Ukraine as the Russian invasion of their country continues.

However, Ms Belenkaya told the Sunday Independent she stopped representing Russia earlier this year and now plays chess for Israel.

Chess is a hugely important sport in Russia and its leading players are major stars.

Following Russias invasion of Ukraine in February, many Russian players were prevented from taking part in international tournaments in a sign of solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

However, many Russian chess players have also spoken out against the invasion.In April, 44 of the countrys top players published an open letter to Vladimir Putin, highlighting their opposition to the war and expressing solidarity with those suffering in Ukraine.

Ms Belenkaya is a Woman Grandmaster, the highest title awarded to female chess players. The 28-year-old was born in St Petersburg and has won a number of leading international tournaments.

She is also a popular online figure in the world of chess and has her own channels on the YouTube and Twitch platforms.

Her links with UCU, which has 12 affiliated clubs in Northern Ireland, began several years ago when she travelled to Belfast to play against some local chess players. Ms Belenkaya was made an honorary member of the organisation after this event.

Although some UCU members now want to end that relationship as a result of the conflict, it is understoodthere is little support within the organisation for the proposal.

UCU chair Mark Newman said members were allowed to propose motions of their choice.

These motions can lead to quite heated but friendly discussion. We are looking at ways we can support Ukraine, for instance, by welcoming Ukrainian chess players. We do welcome all chess players, said Mr Newman.

When contacted by the Sunday Independent, Ms Belenkaya said she was unaware of the motion to remove her honorary membership of UCU. However, she said she no longer represented Russia.

I suppose people willing to remove me are not aware that Ive changed federation to Israel in March 2022. Either way, its their call to decide, she said.

When asked if her decision to change affiliation from Russia to Israel was linked to the war in Ukraine, Ms Belenkaya said she did not wish to comment further because the situation is very delicate unfortunately.

Hopefully peace will come soon, she added.

The rest is here:
Ulster Chess Union has motion to cut ties with Russian Grandmaster over Ukraine conflict - Belfast Telegraph

When Cassa offers a gift, one must accept it. For the goddess is often vengeful towards those who fail to take advantage of her largesse.

The fifth round of the 2022 FIDE Candidatessaw two players GMs Hikaru Nakamura and Ding Liren failing to capitalize on significant advantages. With missed chances beginning to pile up, and with 16 of 20 games drawn thus far, one wonders who has causedCassa to turn her face from them, and who may yet claim her favor.

Image Caption

courtesy FIDE / Stev Bonhage

After grabbing an edge in a non-theoretical Petroff, Nakamura was unable to find key moves against current leader GM Ian Nepomniachtchi, and had to accede to a draw by repetition.

Nakamura was remarkably sanguine in his post-game recap, but the video title Dear Youtube, I Am Disgusted may be more indicative of his true feels. (Or it might be clickbait. Hard to say.)

Meanwhile, GM Ding Liren missed an opportunity to take the full point against tailender GM Teimour Radjabov. Our annotator GM Jacob Aagaard pulls no punches in his assessment of Dings performance thus far.

Ding Liren has disappointed. He lost with White against Nepomniachtchi and failed to convert a winning position against Rapport. But the idea that he would come out of isolation after two and a half years confinement in China and do amazingly well... it was perhaps too optimistic. I was slightly pessimistic about his chances, but I was also reluctant to say that he would fail. Which is funny, as my confidence in saying that Nepomniachtchi will not qualify has not been dented. I still predict a poorer performance in the second half of the tournament.

The game against Radjabov with black had to be won for Ding to remain within a reasonable chance of qualifying. A score of +3 has most often been enough to win the tournament, while +2 could possibly suffice. Getting back to 50% would be a desirable start.

This is the reasoning behind a lot of the unforcing moves by Black in the opening. Rather than seeking equality, Ding looks for a position to play. It is an old strategy: to win with Black, often you don't need to play sharper, but you need the game to be longer, so the opponent has additional chances of making mistakes.

Image Caption

courtesy FIDE / Stev Bonhage

GM Fabiano Caruana got the worse of things in his game against GM Richard Rapport, and almost as soon as the opening phase was over he had to pull the ripcord and head for a draw.

Despite wasting another turn with White, Caruana remains in clear second place after five rounds, trailing Nepomniachtchi by just a half-point. Theres still plenty of time for the American to make his move and overtake the Russian.

Finally, GM Alireza Firouzja failed to get anything out of the opening against GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda, with a fairly bloodless draw as the result.

Aagaard is blunt in his assessment of Firouzjas play thus far: You have to produce magic at some point to win the Candidates. The 19-year old super talent is not deliveringthe goods this time, but the tournament remains is a fabulous learning experience.

Thursday sees the sixth round of play, the third in three days, and the last before the second rest day on Friday. Play begins at 9 a.m. Eastern. Pairings for round six are:

Radjabov - RapportFirouzja - CaruanaNakamura - DingNepomniachtchi - Duda

FIDE Candidates homepageUS Chess Candidates homepageCandidates Overview (including streaming links)Lichess analysis study (Aagaard)Round 1Round 2Round 3Round 4

Originally posted here:
Missed Opportunities in Madrid | US Chess.org - uschess.org

The Cincinnati Bengals may have been a secret last year, but the cats out of the bag in 2022, as the targets are on their backs in the AFC. One of the teams looking for a redemption this season, oddly enough, are the always-competitive Pittsburgh Steelers.

Though they made the playoffs last year, the 2021 Steelers were a shell of other powerhouse teams weve seen up-close-and-personal in recent years. Who better to help us talk about the 2022 Steelers than a two-time Super Bowl Champion with the team in defensive back Ike Taylor, as well as his tag-team partner who has excellently covered the team for years in Mark Bergin?

Well, both join us for a chat this week, courtesy of the BLEAV podcast network. Larry Ogunjobi signed with the Steelers this week, so we cover that, as well as providing another Remember When...?.

Our thanks to those who joined us for the live recordingif you didnt you can now get it on your favorite audio platform!

Of course, go check out the great show from Mr. Bergin and Mr. Taylor on the BLEAV podcast network. The BLEAV in Steelers podcast can be found here!

If youre unable to join us live here at Cincy Jungle or YouTube for every episode, all of our podcast content is available here on CJ, the Stitcher, Spotify, iHeart Radio and Google Play Music apps, our Orange and Black Insider YouTube channel, as well as through Megaphone and, as always, on iTunes! Thanks for listening and go subscribe to our channels to be notified when were going live and when new episodes are available!

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The Orange and Black Insider Bengals podcast: Chess match on the Riverbanks - Cincy Jungle

The44th edition oftheChess Olympiad will be held inMahabalipuram, near Chennai, from July 28 toAugust 10. Today Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off thefirst-ever torch relay fortheChess Olympiad!

With animpressive ceremony attheIG Stadium inNew Delhi, India welcomed chess players andthechess fraternity from around theworld tocelebrate thevery first torch relay inaChess Olympiad. According tonews9live, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich handed over thetorch tothePrime Minister who gave it tothelegendary Viswanathan Anand.

Thetorch will be taken to75 cities inaspan of40 days before arriving inMahabalipuram, andatevery location, chess grandmasters ofthestate will receive thetorch. Theceremony started with thetraditional dances ofIndia depicting the64 squares, andduring theshow, thehosts showcased thehistory ofchess, its origin, andits evolution.

The44th edition oftheChess Olympiad was initially scheduled totake place inRussia. However, with thewar-like situation between Russia andUkraine, FIDE began searching fornew hosts andinvited new bidders. Thestrong efforts from thefederation andAll India Chess Federation Secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan brought theimpossible toreality asFIDE granted India therights tohost theOlympiad which has been taking place forthelast 95 years. So, innearly 100 years ofthehistory oftheChess Olympiad, its thefirst time that India will be hosting theprestigious event.

We are proud that thesport rose from its birthplace andhas made its presence felt all over theworld. We are delighted tosee chess return toits birthplace andcelebrate its success intheform oftheChess Olympiad. PM Modi said, adding: InIndia wrestling, kabaddi, malkhamb were played toremain fit andforanalytical skills, our forefathers invented chess. Chess traveled tothewhole world andbecame popular. Today chess has become aneducational tool, chess players are becoming problem solvers!

With 188 countries registered fortheOlympiad, India is set towitness ahuge congregation ofnations forasporting event forthefirst time on Indian soil.

Find more about the44th edition oftheChess Olympiad attheofficial website.

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The first-ever torch relay for the Chess Olympiad - World Chess

Chess can be a nearly silent game when two people are in the zone. Green felt quietly brushing against plastic or stone; perhaps a clock clicking back and forth as the time dwindles down.

But around New York City, chess often draws a rowdier audience. Trash-talking takes place above the sounds of funk, soul and rap songs that blast from portable speakers.

On Monday night, as a song ambled on about hustlers who were ready to play from night til day cause all of them wanted to win, the chess players of Union Square were talking commuters and tourists into playing a game or five.

Want to play some chess? a man whos known in that corner as Johnny the loser asked anyone who lingered there for a second too long. Ladies can play chess, too!

Another man, Alfred, did a lap several minutes later as a Roy Ayers song floated through the air, offering to teach people how to play. How long has he been playing, you may ask?

Longer than youve been alive, he said as he sized up me and a photographer, both in our twenties. Combined.

John Hill, 61, sat at his table in a track jacket and a beanie, bantering back and forth with a man named Adam.

Why are you trying to fight me? Mr. Hill asked his opponent as pieces got picked off the board.

Why are you trying to fight? Adam replied.

Because I know how, Mr. Hill said as he held court at his table. I know how; Im a bully.

Nearby, as Michael Jackson and Marvin Gaye sang about grooving and being in love, Russian Paul, 58, sat at his table decimating one opponent after another.

First I think about the money, he said. But because I have skills, I dont have to worry about losing money.

Paul said that he stayed with a friend who lives nearby, and hed sometimes stop by the Trader Joes on 14th Street to grab a lime-flavored sparkling water to mix with some vodka. Though he plays chess in the park nearly every day, how long hes there and how much he makes fluctuates.

Theres no good days or bad days, he said. Sometimes it could be $10, sometimes it could be $200, $300 or $400.

I dont have an ego, he added. I come here and money is number one.

Once darkness had settled over Union Square, chess and backgammon players began to depart. After the music stopped and only Paul remained, he walked several blocks away to lock up his table and folding chairs.

Closer to midnight in Washington Square Park, the sounds of Thelonious Monk were floating from the stone chess tables in the southwest corner.

Pete Quainoo, 34, nervously shuffled his red Puma slides under the table while a man who called himself Eric from the park calculated his next move.

Checkmate, man, Mr. Quainoo said more than 20 minutes into the game.

I got to give him a rook! Eric said, before affirming to himself, No, its not checkmate I got this.

Youre going to take the rook, and then Im going to be out of all this trap, Eric continued, narrating how he hoped the rest of the game would play out. How are you going to take it? With the queen? Thank you. Thank you very much. Its the nicest thing that anyones ever done for me. Better be careful. You understand me?

Soon enough Eric won, but Mr. Quainoo kept his eyes fixed on the board, asking to replay the last moves so he could figure out where he went wrong.

Several blocks away on Thompson Street, players at the Chess Forum also stayed late into the night to battle over the sounds of WQXR, New Yorks classical music radio station.

Classical music is playing because it sets the mood to play, said Sebastian Montalvo, 22, who posts videos of many of his games around the city on his TikTok. If you were to play like, dubstep here, itd be really hard to focus.

Mr. Montalvo, who started playing chess at 18, said that he became obsessed with the game after a friend brought a chess board to school.

He completely destroyed me, Ive never been so embarrassed, he said. Id never lost like that.

Soon he got into the rhythm of playing games at Union Square, Washington Square, Bryant Park and the Chess Forum.

Ive never been as obsessed with anything in my life other than chess, Mr. Montalvo said. And you meet so many people. The people you meet, you never would have thought of.

Jim Ferraiuolo, 71, was playing against Jason Puello, 27, on one side of the narrow room while Luke Scarpa, 30, and Michael Bloom were playing each other on the other side.

These guys are my cronies, Mr. Ferraiuolo said as he gestured to Mr. Scarpa and Mr. Bloom. Weve been playing together for years.

Mr. Ferraiuolo said he learned to play chess while on the road as a touring musician and started coming to the Chess Forum about 20 years ago. He said hes also a member at the nearby Marshall Chess Club on 10th Street.

Mr. Bloom said hes usually at the Chess Forum eight days a week, and Mr. Scarpa joked that theyve only played 3,000 or 4,000 games.

Mr. Scarpa said that the space, which feels like someones endearingly cramped living room, is a great place to find camaraderie, as well as a few celebrities.

You know J. Cole? I saw him here once, I played with him, Mr. Scarpa said, referring to the rapper who famously went platinum with no features. He wanted to play with a white dude.

Mr. Scarpa later discovered that the other man was another rapper who goes by Logic.

Really nice, very into the game, Mr. Scarpa said before adding: That guy did not know how to play.

A few tables over, Jacqueline Black, 29, and Calil Arguedas-Russell, 23, were playing chess and drinking a bottle of wine.

Mx. Arguedas-Russell, who uses they/he pronouns, said that they play chess every day.

I play chess with a person over the board four days a week at least, they said. And then I play online every day, like multiple times.

They said that sometimes theyll play with the Bushwick Chess Club at Nook, but the Chess Forum is where Mx. Arguedas-Russell usually ends up.

Even on my days off Ill come play, Mx. Arguedas-Russell said, adding that they spent Christmas Day at the Chess Forum. The chess-obsessed dont care.

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Chess in the park in NYC - The New York Times