New Chess Fiction Review: Queen Sacrifice by Tony Riches

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Chess Fiction Review by Zainab Raza Undulusi

Fierce loyalty, treachery, love and palace intrigue woven into 10th Century Welsh history with a chess thread make 'Queen Sacrifice' the hot new chess fiction of the season. 

Tony Riches is a full-time author and chess player from Pembrokeshire, one of the most unspoilt areas of the United Kingdom. Best known for his non-fiction books, Tony told Chess Magazine B&W that he was exploring the early history of Wales. Suddenly he realised how the battles between rival kings reminded him of chess. There were bishops and early knights supporting both sides with ‘bondsmen’ as the pawns in their civil wars.

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Carlsen 'Chuks' It; Karjakin is World Rapid Chess Champion 2012

World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen going into the third day at the Astana World Rapid Chess Championship 2012 'chuk'ed his title win with back-to-back losses to Vassily Ivanchuk and Alexander Grischuk in the 12th and 13th rounds. In fact, he came close to losing the last round as well against Veselin Topalov.

The three winners: Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria (third), Sergey Karjakin of Russia (World Champion) and Magnus Carlsen (second).

Russia's Sergey Karjakin - with only one loss to Magnus Carlsen - steady performance and quality chess is the new World Rapid Chess Champion. Karjakin quickly got over his Carlsen debacle to post four wins on the final day!  

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Magnus Carlsen Unstoppable at World Rapid Chess Championship in Astana

World No. 1 Norway's Magnus Carlsen is going to run away with the World Rapid Chess Championship currently on in Astana, Kazakhstan. Magnus Carlsen is leading with a massive 1.5-point lead with 8.5/10. Five games had been played on Day. Karjakin and Carlsen were in joint lead at the beginning of second day's play. By the end of the day, Karjakin had lost two games against Mamedyarov and Carlsen. Carlsen, earlier in the day, drew with Gelfand and Dreev, but beat Mamedyarov and Tkachiev as well.

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Saturday Chess Puzzles - White Checkmates in Two

Making a habit of solving chess puzzles is one of the best things you could do to improve your chess. Chess magazine B&W presents weekend edition of two chess puzzles. Have fun.

1. White to play and checkmate in two.

Check your answer with Chess King.

2. White to play and checkmate in two.

Check your answer with Chess King.

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Pakistan Chess Champion Mahmood Lodhi Retains National Title With One Round to Go

Pakistan National Chess Champ Mahmood Lodhi

This chess news comes from the beautiful city of Karachi. Defending chess champion Mahmood Ahmed Lodhi won the 28th National Chess Championship with a round to go after a draw  with Waqar Ahmed Madni in the 10th round at Beach Luxury Hotel Hall here on Friday.

Lodhi, Pakistan’s highest rated chess star ever, however, failed to break the 50-year-old record of securing all a perfect 11 points. With nine and half points, Lodhi was assured of the 13th national title. With one round on Saturday, Lodhi was one and a half point ahead of the trio of Anwar Qureshi, Waqar Ahmed Madni and Asif-ur-Rehman, who got seven points apiece.

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World Rapid Chess Championship Day 1 Today: Karjakin, Carlsen Lead After Five Rounds

The world's best players are in Astana for the first-ever World Rapid Chess Championship that began today in Kazakhstan. Five rounds were played on the first day of the tournament. Sergey Karjakin and Magnus Carlsen both notched up four wins and a draw each to lead the field with 4.5 points each.

Karjakin's wins came against Gelfand, Tkachiev, Ismgambetov and Grischuk plus a draw against Topalov in round 5. Carlsen picked up wins against Kazhgaleyev, Morozevich, Bologan, Kurnosov and a draw against Svidler in the third round.

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