In 1968, the American magazine Chess Review introduced Michael Basman as ‘another bright B’ in the tradition of famous British chess players represented by Bird, Blackburne and Burn. That’s some billing for a 21-year-old. Basman would never be the brightest chess star in this firmament…
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‘But Kasparov is not a man to limit his goals or his spheres of action. Stocky and strong, with black hair already streaked with grey by the pressure of his life-style, Kasparov lives in perpetual whirlwind of activity. Naturally this is reflected in his speech,…
Read More‘No game has bred more metaphors than chess, the royal game. Indeed, no game has a literature a thousandth the size of it. That is not really surprising; from the moment the board is set up, chess mimics humankind in countless ways. War, cunning, power,…
Read MoreAugust is the traditional time of year for such headlines, but it’s a convention rarely observed by the British tabloid press. For Rupert Murdoch and his phone-hacking chums every month is game. The ‘news story’ about Princess Anne appeared in fools’ April. April 1992, that…
Read MoreLeonid Stein (1934-1973), who died prematurely on this day 43 years ago, was one of the most dynamic attacking players of his generation. Krogius – Stein Kiev 1960 Black to play Stein – Petrosian Moscow 1961 White to play Gligorić – Stein Lvov 1962…
Read MoreYasser Seirawan Yasser Seirawan v Anatoly Karpov Phillips & Drew, London 1982 Queen’s Gambit White’s first move is very important! 1 d4 allows Karpov the more active Queen’s Indian (in comparison with the Queen’s Gambit). 1 c4 allows 1…e5, as Karpov played against Ribli…
Read MoreIn a wide-ranging interview in 2003 Loek Van Wely talked to Dutch journalist Renzo Verwer about his life. This excerpt reveals much about the pressures of playing chess at the highest level and the gamesmanship of leading players. ‘. . . Man, in those top…
Read MoreWhy Life Does Not Imitate Chess Part 3: The Visionary Followers of Garry Kasparov on Facebook will have noted that he has taken to styling himself as a ‘politician’. What’s his track record? All chess players will know about his campaign for FIDE president…
Read MoreWhy Life Does Not Imitate Chess Garry Kasparov is an archetypal winner: one that every ambitious person should learn from. So says Alastair Campbell. And he should know: he’s written a book on this subject!i ‘Running through everything Kasparov says is the idea that winners…
Read MoreWhy Life Does Not Imitate Chess King: How bloodily the sun begins to peer Above yon bosky hill! The day looks pale …
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Gary Kenworthy
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