India is #1! | Issue 47 | MM Chess
The best monthly chess newsletter you receive.
We’re so close to our 4th birthday! It’s been quite a ride so I think it’s the perfect time to spice things up before the summer. Before we start, there’s a little favor I’d like to ask you🙏. We’re in the process of growing and improving our service, and we need to hear from you first, so if you don’t mind, please fill out this form and help us grow!
Let’s welcome the newest MM students: Ryall, Ben, Donald, Christopher, Sophie, Liam, Alexandre, Lee, Karson, Cyrus, Tom, John & Karyn.
Student Success🏆
Every month we’re highlighting some of the successes of our students. Are you proud of something chess-related? Send me photos!
Fabian Viva’s student, William, enjoyed his first-rated tournament, and boy did it go well for him.
Yeison’s student, Rory, won a trophy from her last tournament. Her rating improved from 488 to 642.
“Chess is so inspiring that I do not believe a good player is capable of having an evil thought during the game.”
– Wilhelm Steinitz
My story 🖼️
I was tabling at Hawthorne Academy in Chicago earlier this month and Sparky, the mascot for the Chicago Fire Soccer Team comes over… that’s checkmate. Maybe there’s a grandmaster hiding inside :)
“I go over many game collections and pick up something from the style of each player.”
– Mikhail Tal
Monthly Tournament♟️
📅 This month’s tournament will take place on Wednesday 16th, at 7:00 pm EST (6:00 pm CT, 5:00 pm MT, 4:00 pm PT). Most of the players will be rated from 500-1800. This event will be the perfect opportunity for students to prepare for our upcoming Halloween Tournament!
To Play: Reply to this email or press the big green button here. If you haven’t already, you must join the MM team and press the “MM October Arena.” The Zoom for the tournament is here.
Congrats last month to Connor, Sophie & Srithan! You rock, guys! 🏆
Intrigue and Mystery Get ready for a spooktacular chess showdown! Join us for our Halloween Tournament and experience something truly chilling. We've got some spine-tingling surprises in store. Don't miss out!
“Weak points or holes in the enemy position must be occupied by pieces, not pawns.”
-Siegbert Tarrasch
Chess News 📰
🏆 Historic Double Gold for India at Chess Olympiad! India made history at the 45th Chess Olympiad by winning gold in both the Open and Women’s sections. The stellar performances of players like Gukesh D and Divya Deshmukh were celebrated in a grand closing ceremony.
🐙 Kasparov’s Gambit: The Octopus Knight Strikes! Dive into the legendary 1985 match where Garry Kasparov’s daring gambit led to the famous “Octopus Knight” victory against Anatoly Karpov. Stockfish revisits this classic, analyzing the brilliance and controversy of Kasparov’s bold moves.
🖥️ ChessBase - Chess Lessons from Legends: Carlsen, Kasparov, Anand! ChessBase brings you thousands of games commented by top players. With insights from Carlsen, Kasparov, and Anand, your child can enjoy engaging and educational chess lessons in no time!
🤓 Endgame Secrets Revealed: What They Say About Your Chess Skills Chris White, a beloved elementary school teacher, is also a top-notch chess coach. With over 20 years of teaching experience, he runs the Novice Chess Channel on YouTube, helping beginners and intermediates alike. His passion for chess and dedication to his students make him a standout coach!
💥 Chess Titans Collide: Gukesh Challenges Ding! This November, watch as 18-year-old chess sensation D Gukesh faces off against China’s Ding Liren for the world title. Gukesh, fresh off a gold-winning performance, is set to give the seasoned champion a run for his money. Excitement guaranteed!
“All I want to do, ever, is just play Chess”
– Bobby Fischer
Fun Facts💡
🤯 Did you know the title "Grandmaster" wasn't official until the 1950s? FIDE dropped this bombshell on the chess world by awarding it to that year's world championship candidates and some legendary players who were already past their peak!
🔥 This quick visualization shows the most popular chess openings. The top 5 are more popular than the next 45 combined! Amazing!
🧠 Chewing gum can boost your chess game! It can improve focus and concentration, which can lead to better moves. Even Magnus Carlsen chews gum during games! Researchers think it might increase blood flow to the brain, but I'd love to hear from a doctor!
💪 Former world champion Mikhail Tal only had 3 fingers on his right hand! Some people joke that he was made for chess, with just the right number of fingers to grab the pieces. Here's a photo of him looking like a chess supervillain!
