David R. Sands
Articles by David R. Sands
Ukraine ready to talk peace as Russia fumes; Zelenskyy to brief Biden, Harris, Trump on proposal
Ukraine, having seized the initiative on the battlefield against Russia with its recent sortie deep into enemy territory, is looking to go on the offensive diplomatically as well. Published August 28, 2024
Brilliancies and blunders as Sinquefield Cup nears the finish line
The 11th Sinquefield Cup is rounding the final turn at the St. Louis Chess Club, with some of the world's top grandmasters still in the running for the top prize. Published August 27, 2024
Celebrating D.C.’s role as the ‘cradle of Black chess in America’
"As a matter of fact, one can claim the greater Washington D.C. metropolitan area was the cradle for Black chess in America." Local writer and two-time D.C. chess champion Gregory Kearse made that claim in a seminal 1998 article for Chess Life, which noted that the thriving local area chess scene in the 1960s helped develop the first officially rated African American chess masters -- Walter Hill. Ken Clayton and Frank Street -- and helped nurture a new generation of strong Black players such as William Morrison, Vincent Moore, Emory Tate and Baraka Shabazz. Published August 20, 2024
Keep it short: A late summer bouquet of chess miniatures
For the DMV chess community, the mid-August lull puts us in that nice pocket between the very successful, just-completed U.S. Open hosted by Norfolk and the end-of-summer milestone that is the District's 56th Atlantic Open, which starts Aug. 23 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. Published August 13, 2024
J.D. Vance defends Trump’s handling of dictators after rally comment
Former President Trump's occasional praise of authoritarian leaders such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping makes him "more effective diplomatically," Sen. J.D. Vance, Mr. Trump's running mate, argued Sunday. Published August 11, 2024
Ex-nuclear negotiator tapped to be Iran’s next foreign minister even as pressure to hit Israel grows
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has nominated a diplomat who was involved in the negotiations for the now-defunct 2015 Iran nuclear deal to serve as his foreign minister, even as the new administration faces growing domestic pressure to respond to a suspected Israeli strike that killed a Hamas leader in Tehran last month. Published August 11, 2024
With Walz pick, both parties have a military vet on the ticket for the first time in 2 decades
Veterans are back on the tickets. Vice President Kamala Harris' choice of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her Democratic running mate means both major parties will include a military veteran for the first time since 2004, when President George W. Bush faced Sen. John Kerry. Published August 6, 2024
With Norfolk as host, Khanin claims hard-fought U.S. Open
It was a fight to the finish as grandmasters from Russia and China topped the leaderboard at the 124th U.S. Open, which wrapped up play in Norfolk, Virginia, with a scintillating final round and playoff Sunday. Published August 6, 2024
A trio of champs: Yoo, Lee, Akopian claim U.S. national chess titles
The U.S. has a generation-spanning trio of new champs as the U.S. Senior, Junior and Junior Girls Championships were all decided at the Chess Club of St. Louis last week. GM Vladimir Akopian picked up his first American senior title in style, dusting a field that included such veterans as GMs Joel Benjamin, Alex Shabalov and Gregory Kaidanov and clinching the title with a round to spare with an undefeated 7-2 score. Published July 30, 2024
An Olympic Games debut for chess in Paris — 100 years ago
Chess won't be winning any medals at the Paris Olympic Games that open later this week, but it was a very different story at the Paris Games 100 years ago. The 1924 Paris Games played a little-known role in kicking off one of the great international traditions in the game, a tradition that is still going strong. Published July 23, 2024
European leaders praise Biden as he steps aside, while Russia holds its fire
Praise -- and a few early notes of caution -- poured in from friendly world leaders Sunday in the wake of the news that President Biden is quitting the race against former President Donald Trump. Published July 21, 2024
Israeli president praises Biden as Netanyahu prepares to meet lame-duck U.S. leader
Israel's nonpartisan President Isaac Herzog hailed President Biden as a "true ally of the Jewish people" as leaders around the world struggled to process the news Sunday that the U.S. president was stepping down when his term ends in January. Published July 21, 2024
Trump, Zelenskyy talk by phone amid questions over future of U.S. support for Ukraine
Former President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held their first telephone conversation Saturday. Published July 21, 2024
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu confirms meeting this week with Biden before speech to Congress
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with President Biden on Tuesday, a day before giving a much-anticipated speech to Congress on the war in Gaza and the crisis in the Middle East, the prime minister's office confirmed Sunday in a statement. Published July 21, 2024
Silver hair, gold medal: U.S. men repeat at world senior team chess event
It was a senior moment -- in a good way -- for the U.S. as American squads took home a gold, silver and bronze medal at last week's 2024 FIDE World Senior Team Championships, held in Krakow, Poland. Published July 16, 2024
Friends, foes of Trump around the world rush to condemn assassination attempt
World leaders, including many who had been critical of former President Donald Trump and his policies, were quick to express sympathy for Mr. Trump and condemn the assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. Published July 13, 2024
Amid doubts, Biden tries to showcase foreign policy strengths at press conference
President Biden made no major news but avoided major gaffes as he handled a number of hot-button foreign policy issues during his much-anticipated solo press conference Thursday evening. Published July 12, 2024
Biden, Yoon praise moves to strengthen U.S. nuclear commitment to deter North Korea
U.S. and South Korean officials say they made significant progress this week on a new pact to strengthen the U.S. nuclear umbrella to defend Seoul in the event of an attack from North Korea. Published July 12, 2024
Ukraine on ‘irreversible’ path to NATO membership, chief Stoltenberg says
NATO leaders gave the clearest sign yet that Ukraine will one day be a part of the world's most powerful military alliance, with Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg telling reporters at NATO's 75th anniversary summit in Washington Wednesday that Kyiv's acceptance into the club is now "not a question of if, but when." Published July 10, 2024
Quick thinking: Caruana aces rapid playoff to capture Superbet Romania chess title
If he could have played this well this fast before, he might well have won it all. At 31, GM Fabiano Caruana is in danger of going down as this generation's greatest chessplayer never to have captured the world title, a title many think he richly deserves. Published July 9, 2024