Perpetual Chess Linkfest #28, March 10 2023
Another week of chess, and life, is nearly in the books! Top competitive chess was relatively quiet, with the Pro Chess League proceeding apace, and legends like Ivanchuk and Gelfand in action OTB as they try to qualify for the FIDE World Cup. Many more alarming details have emerged about the allegations of sexual assault against GM Alejandro Ramirez, and he has resigned from the St. Louis Chess Club. This appalling story highlights the need for major changes in the chess world. Of course, chess itself is still an engrossing activity, and on that note, we have lots of good chess advice, reflections, and book reviews to share with you. Have a good weekend everyone!
Book Reviews
IM Junta Ikeda shares His 10 Most Memorable Books (Infinite Chess Blog)
Richard James reviews Kupreichik: The Maestro from Minsk. âAll in all, itâs a delightful book: 85 games brimming with exciting tactics and sacrifices as well as reminiscences of someone who was a much loved human being as well as a highly creative player.â (British Chess News)
Chess Improvement
Sam Asaka shares some good advice for combatting materialism in chess âMost players would rather play it safe and lose slowly, than to take a risk and (potentially) lose quickly.â (Road to Infinity Blog)
Kyle Boddy, founder of Driveline Baseball and Chess Enthusiast reflects on his First Year of Tournament Chess âChess is exhausting! I thought for sure that a lifetime of playing Magic: The Gathering at premier events, 12+ hour long poker slugfests, and overnight sessions at the blackjack tables would have prepared me to play a few (tournament) chess games in one day, but it absolutely did not.â (LiChess Blog)
GM Alex Colovic on the Risks of Getting Addicted to Playing Online Chess. âWhen looking at it from a distance I realised that I was in fact wasting my time and not improving at chess at all.â (GM Alex Colovicâs Substack)
Dr. Nick Vasquez is back with more insights from 5 years of Working Hard on His Chess âChess at its heart is a game of timed decision making. â (Nickâs Substack)
As someone who started serious chess as an adult, âTheOnoZoneâ shares his hard won wisdom on limiting blunders. (LiChess Blog)
Tournament Chess
Ivanchuk, Gelfand and others are in action in the European Championship, with the goal of earning Spots in the World Cup (Colin McGourty for Chess24.com)
Magnus lost a game! In the Pro Chess League (Anthony Levin for Chess.com)
GM Alejandro Ramirez Allegations
A comprehensive Wall Street Journal Report by Andrew Beaton and Joshua Robinson details Extensive Allegations of Sexual Assault by 8 Women. (Peter Doggers for Chess.com)
US Chess issued a Statement Attempting to Clarify their Lack of Prior Action in Response to Complaints about Ramirez (US Chess Statement)
Chess General Interest
Whatâs it like to attend a Q & A luncheon with Kasparov? Filmmaker and chess instructor Dylan Quercia takes you behind the scenes (Chess.com Blog)
Filmmaker Dr. Howard Burton on the Supposed âtransferable skillsâ of chess âPromoting the merits of chess via some alleged âfar transfer benefitâ implies that, left up to its own devices, chess is not sufficiently attractive to gain our attention, which is manifestly false even during times when there is no âchess boomâ. (Chess.com Blog)
Registration is Open for the Biel Chess Festival in July. Looks fun. Which of you will watch my kids so I can go? (Shahid Ahmed for Chessbase India)