Perpetual Chess Linkfest #106, December 20, 2024
Rf2 Revisited
The chess year is winding down, although next week’s FIDE World Rapid & Blitz will likely be a 2024 highlight. I will be attending the event and covering it in some fashion, so there will be no linkfest until January 3, 2025. I may pop in with a few photos or stories from the tournament though. Happy Holidays and see y’all in 2025! (if not sooner) - Ben
News
Looking for an overview to the 2024 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz complete with restaurant recommendations for NYC? CLO has you covered. (Rick Massimo for Chess Life Online)
Nepo and Magnus will face off in the Champions Chess Tour Final (NM Anthony Levin for Chess.com)
How big a blunder was Ding’s 55. Rf2 anyway? Jennifer Shahade explored this question with her chess-loving 7-year-old son. (Jennifer’s Substack)
Books-
NIC shared GM Matthew Sadler’s rave reviews of a few new books, including the excellent, advanced-level book Tiger’s Chaos Theory (NIC Blog)
Misc.
Dr. Alexey Root shared some takeaways from a new 48-page research paper about gender equality in chess. (Chessable Blog)
Podcasts/Videos
My washed-up friend FM Donny Ariel is prepping an OTB chess comeback and pretending like he will make GM in order to get clicks. The clicks might happen, but the GM title won’t! “The #1 most important thing in chess- you’ve gotta concentrate” (Improve Your Chess with Donny Ariel)
I also just dropped a FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Preview with IM Eric Rosen & FM Alisa Melekhina. Both are playing as wildcards in the event and discussed how they prepare for a World Championship event as extremely accomplished, but part-time, chess players. (Perpetual Chess Podcast)