David R. Sands

World Open drama, success goes beyond top boards

Early reports say the District of Columbia's tourism sector had a banner Fourth of July to mark the nation's 250th birthday, and the world's chess players certainly did their part.

July 14, 2026

Three share World Open chess honors after final-round dogfight

Let's hope the World Cup finale comes close to matching the drama of the finale of the World Open.

July 7, 2026

A 250th birthday salute to America’s rich, complex chess legacy

We've had nearly 250 years of trying, but it's still hard to pin down an identifiable "American" style of chess.

June 30, 2026

Second chances: Niemann, Yoo rebuild their chess careers

It's said you get only one chance to make a first impression, and two promising young American chess talents badly botched their audition.

June 23, 2026

A father’s inspiration, a lifetime of chess

Like many of you, I suspect, I learned how to play chess as a young boy from my father.

June 16, 2026

Young stars shine in top women’s chess events

Next week, we'll explore how great the chess dads are, but we thought we'd beat the pre-Father's Day rush with a couple of superb recent performances from the ladies.

June 9, 2026

A packed summer of fun awaits Washington area chess fans

The Hot Girl Summer of 2025 is giving way to the Sizzling Chess Summer of 2026, at least for fans of the Royal Game here in the DMV.

June 2, 2026

Chess in uniform: A celebration of those who serve

As we marked Memorial Day this week, let us also remember the ways chess has done its part to cheer and console those who go to war.

May 26, 2026

Argentine prodigy Oro secures GM rank in near-record time

They grow up so fast these days. The world will soon have its first grandmaster born in the Obama administration's second term, as talented Argentine prodigy Faustino Oro secured the third and final norm this month to qualify for the game's most prestigious title.

May 19, 2026

Pipe dreams: The Washington Plumbers got the job done

They took their name from one of the city's most notorious scandals, but for one brief, shining moment, the Washington Plumbers made this city proud.

May 12, 2026

Dismantled dynasty: Webster University shutters chess program

One of the most dominant dynasties in college chess history won't be coming back for the fall semester.

May 5, 2026

Sindarov stumbles in first post-Candidates test

In chess, the downside of a sensational result is that it makes it harder for a player to sneak up on his next opponent.

April 28, 2026

Candidates’ winners defy ratings handicap

The modern chess ratings system has proven a highly useful way of judging the relative strength of players at all levels of the game.

April 20, 2026

Sindarov on the brink of historic win in Candidates tournament

One race is all but decided and one is set up for a thrilling stretch run as the FIDE Candidates and FIDE Women's Candidates tournaments approach the finish line in Pegeia, Cyprus, this week.

April 14, 2026

Sindarov, Muzychuk set the pace in FIDE Candidates’ battles

A young dark horse and a last-minute sub are setting the pace as the FIDE Candidates and FIDE Women's Candidates tournaments hit the halfway point this week in Cyprus.

April 7, 2026

Caruana bests Nakamura in epic Candidates’ kickoff

There was no easing in to the fight as the FIDE Candidates tournament kicked off Sunday to pick the next challenger to reigning Indian world chess champion GM Dommaraju Gukesh.

March 31, 2026

Lone Pine, California, has lots of fans in chess world

Little places can loom large in the mental geography of a chess fan. Relatively obscure cities such as Linares, Spain, and Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands, have a secure claim to global renown because some great chess has been played there over the decades.

March 24, 2026

George MacDonnell and the skill of the Irish

Their poets, golfers and alemakers may be world-class, but Ireland doesn't really rank as a powerhouse on the global chess scene. The Emerald Isle boasts just one grandmaster, Russian-born Alexander Baburin, who earned his title nearly three decades ago, while the highest-rated Irish player, IM Sam Collins, sits at 852nd in FIDE's ranking of the active players around the globe.

March 17, 2026

George Washington, Manny Pacquiao and the art of chess branding

Along with its multitude of other virtues, chess can be a great opportunity for personal branding.

March 10, 2026

American rivals set for early Candidates’ clash

The battle to pick the challengers for the open and women's world championship title moves into high gear this month as top chess players gather in Paphos, Cyprus, at the end of the month for the FIDE Candidates and FIDE Women's Candidates Tournaments.

March 3, 2026