David R. Sands
Articles by David R. Sands
DAVID R. SANDS: Magnus Carlsen, chess champ, comes up short in second straight event
It may not qualify as a slump yet, but Magnus has been just a bit less magnificent in recent days. Published September 8, 2015
China’s economic woes provide India with ‘great opportunity’
India's economy has long labored in the shadow of its great Asian rival, but now officials in New Delhi and private economists say Beijing's recent stumbles could provide a big opportunity for India to close the gap. Published September 3, 2015
Italian soccer league to introduce ‘green card’ for good behavior on pitch
Italian soccer players will soon be able to get a different kind of recognition from the referees. The Serie B will introduce a "green card" to recognize good sportsmanship and other "acts of virtue" on the pitch. Published September 3, 2015
China woes send U.S. stock markets plummeting
Fresh economic data showing softness in the Chinese economy sent U.S. and global stocks plummeting Tuesday, with the blue-chip Dow Jones index of top stocks down some 469 points, or 2.84 percent, to 16,058, and the broader S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq market also posting losses of more than 2 percent for the day. Published September 1, 2015
Vladimir Putin seeks to dump the dollar in regional trade
Russian President Vladimir Putin has a new target in the revived cold war with Washington -- the U.S. dollar. Published September 1, 2015
DAVID R. SANDS: Resurgent chess GM Levon Aronian claims Sinquefield Cup title
He was supposed to be an afterthought, the onetime No. 2 player in the world supplanted by a rising generation of Young Guns. Published September 1, 2015
China’s leaders on the spot after economic stumbles
Chinese officials say they know exactly who is to blame for a wild week that rocked global stock markets, battered the currencies of emerging markets around the globe, sent commodity prices lower and may have shaved a percentage point or two off of global GDP growth next year: anybody but China. Published August 30, 2015
Wall Street roars back with 619-point gain
Wall Street started strong Wednesday and this time didn't falter at the finish line, with the blue chip Dow Jones industrial average reversing six days of losses with a gain of 619 points, or 3.95 percent, to finish at 16,285. The daily increase was the third-biggest point rally in the market's history. Published August 26, 2015
Wall Street can’t sustain rally, suffers new losses
A hoped-for rally fell apart in the final hour of trading as U.S. stocks posted another day of losses Tuesday. Published August 25, 2015
DAVID R. SANDS: Woulda, coulda, shoulda — mourning chess matches that never came off
The history of chess is full of wished-for matches that never came off. Morphy never got a chance to challenge Staunton on his celebrated trip to Europe. World War I helped torpedo a match between world champion Emanuel Lasker and the star-crossed Polish great Akiba Rubinstein, his strongest rival. Published August 25, 2015
U.S., world markets pummeled by China fears
U.S. stock markets experienced one of the wildest trading day in years Monday, with the Dow Jones index losing nearly 1,100 points -- nearly 6 percent of its total value -- in the first few minutes after trading began, staging a spirited rally, but turning strongly negative again to finish off 588 points, or 3.58 percent. Published August 24, 2015
After opening plunge, Dow posts second straight 500-point-plus loss
The U.S. stock markets experienced their wildest trading day in years Monday, with the Dow Jones index losing nearly 1,100 points -- nearly 6 percent of its total value -- in the minutes after trading began, staged a spirited rally, but turned strongly negative again with an hour left in the session. Published August 24, 2015
As furor grows, U.N. watchdog defends Iran nuclear self-inspections
Amid growing anger on Capitol Hill and in Israel, the head of the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog on Thursday strongly defended the controversial methods that will be used to monitor possible cheating by Iran on the recently signed nuclear deal. Published August 20, 2015
DAVID R. SANDS: Gata Kamsky dominates the Washington International chess tourney
It was a wire-to-wire wipeout as U.S. GM Gata Kamsky dominated the fourth annual Washington International open tournament in Rockville last week. Published August 19, 2015
With deal in the balance, Iran plans schools to train more nuclear experts
As Congress weighs a deal designed to curb Iran's nuclear programs, a top official in Tehran this week announced plans to construct a string of special schools to train a new generation of nuclear scientists and technologists. Published August 19, 2015
Obama eases oil export ban with big swap deal with Mexico
In the latest move undercutting the longstanding ban on exporting U.S. crude oil, the Obama administration has approved a proposal that would trade American lighter sweet crude for heavier crude supplies from Mexico. Published August 14, 2015
DAVID R. SANDS: Alexander Shabalov bulldozes chess rivals on way to fifth U.S. Open title
In a dominating performance, GM Alexander Shabalov captured the 116th annual U.S. Open, held this year in Phoenix. Published August 12, 2015
DAVID R. SANDS: For summer’s dog days, keeping chess games short and sweet
With the mercury rising and attention spans wilting, we take our traditional midsummer break from rigorous opening analysis or tedious endgame play to focus on some lighter August fare — a collection of miniatures taken from recent tournament play. Published August 6, 2015
Bill would bounce bagels and burritos for borscht in Russian bistros
Reflecting in part a rising sentiment against all things foreign, a Russian lawmaker has proposed a bill that would require restaurant menus to devote at least half of their offerings to traditional Russian fare. Published July 28, 2015
DAVID R. SANDS: A Romantic chess opening gets a modern revival
It was the signature opening of chess's 19th century Romantic Era, but has become a rare visitor to modern tournament chess. Paul Morphy used it for some of his greatest wins, Bobby Fischer claimed to have refuted it, and even today, some key lines remain a subject of intense theoretical dispute. Published July 28, 2015
