by scribe | May 9, 2018 | current news, off-topic, ruminations
The countdown to my book’s launch is on in earnest now: only six more days! Such metaphors as “countdown” and “launch” seem very apropos to me, because I feel like an astronaut strapped in his chair, with only ten minutes to go until...
by scribe | May 3, 2018 | chess clubs, current news, games, people, positions, ruminations, tournaments
For the Aptos Library Chess Club this week I wanted to teach a lesson based on one of Sam Shankland’s games from the recently concluded U.S. Championship. I think that the kids should know who the best players are … especially when one of them came from...
by scribe | Apr 29, 2018 | current news, people, tournaments
All in a day’s work for Sam Shankland: Wins his sixth game in the U.S. Championship against no losses. Wins his last three in a row, when even a single draw would have dropped him into a tie for first. Finishes a half point ahead of Fabiano Caruana, who will...
by scribe | Apr 28, 2018 | current news, people, ruminations, tournaments
In the spring of 2006, I organized a team of mostly Santa Cruz players to compete in the East Bay Chess League (also known as “Liga”). My team, called “Eight is Enough,” had two masters alternating on top board — Robin Cunningham, with...
by scribe | Apr 8, 2018 | current news, people, positions, PRO Chess League
Season two of the PRO Chess League has now ended, and the Armenia Eagles are the champions! In fact, the championship match went exactly as Hikaru Nakamura predicted. He said in an interview before the match that he expected an 8-8 tie and then expected Armenia to win...
by scribe | Apr 7, 2018 | current news, people, positions, PRO Chess League
Today was a very exciting day in the history of the PRO Chess League: the day of the first in-person playoffs. Four teams — the Chengdu Pandas, Ljubljana Turtles, Armenia Eagles, and St. Louis Arch Bishops (the defending champions) came to San Francisco to face...
