It’s the 38th issue of the Mindful Masters Newsletter, the best (and only?) monthly chess newsletter you receive. I cover chess culture and relevant wisdom I've collected along the way. Please let’s welcome the newest MMChess.org students: Sophie & Hunter.
Current students: refer your friends with our “give a lesson, get a lesson” coupon! If they sign up for classes, you get a free lesson credit!
Student Success🏆
Every month we’re highlighting some of the successes of our students. Proud of something chess-related? Send me photos!
Congrats to Edwin’s student Vihan, who won 1st place under 900!
My story 🖼️
While it isn’t exactly my tradition, the Orthodox Jewish group Chabad has a holiday called Nittel Nacht every Christmas Eve. Chabadniks have a custom of playing chess and card games. This year, I was invited to the Bnei Ruven synagogue to play chess. Of the 40 games we played, I lost one when I blundered a bishop!
Monthly Tournament♟️
📅 This month’s tournament will take place on Tuesday, January 16th, at 7pm EST (6pm CT, 5pm MT, 4pm PT). Most of the players will be rated from 500-1800. In the last tournament, there were 26 students, both kids & adults!
To Play: Reply to this email or press the big green button here. If you haven’t already, you also have to join the MM team and press the “MM January Arena.” The Zoom for the tournament is here.
Congrats last month to Boruch, Sophie & Ezra! You rock, guys!
(Jaden with his prize!)
Chess News 📰
👩 With three world youth titles in different types, Bodhana Sivanandan is an eight-year-old chess sensation. She also entered the European Blitz Championship and clinched the best woman trophy, surpassing many experienced competitors. Her chess strategy is esteemed by many fans for being reasonable and exquisite. She is a chess hero and a ChessKid ambassador.
💣A Game of Thrones: Chess Edition. The chess world is in chaos as some top players accuse each other of cheating online. The latest feud is between Hikaru Nakamura, a chess star and influencer, and Vladimir Kramnik, a former world champion. Kramnik claimed that Nakamura was cheating on Chess.com, but Nakamura denied it. Chess.com investigated and found Nakamura innocent. Kramnik was angry and wanted Chess.com to apologize.
💸 Carlsen pays the price for quitting the Sinquefield Cup. The world chess champion Magnus Carlsen was fined 10,000 euros by FIDE’s Ethics and Disciplinary Commission for withdrawing from the Sinquefield Cup after losing to Hans Niemann. Carlsen had accused Niemann of cheating, but FIDE found no evidence to support his claim. Carlsen was cleared of other charges, such as disparaging FIDE’s reputation and undermining Niemann’s honor.
💂🏻♀️ The veteran and the youngster: Adams and Royal Dazzle in London Chess. Age was no factor for Michael Adams, 52, and Shreyas Royal, 14, in the London Classic chess tournament. Adams dominated with 6/9, outplaying world champions and young hopefuls. He said it was his best-ever result (in recent years - he was a world championship contender). Royal earned his second grandmaster norm and will seek his third at Hastings. He could make history as the youngest British grandmaster.
👭 How two sisters are taking the Australian chess scene by storm. Charlotte and Cindy Chen are 10-year-old chess prodigies who have won national and state titles.
🤷🏻♂️ The Missing Champion: Ding Liren. The World Chess Champion 2023, vanished for 200 days after a poor performance at the Superbet Grand Chess Tour. IM Sagar Shah interviewed him and found out about his match preparation, his break activities, and his plans. Ding also shared his post-match life. He came back on 30th October, commenting on the Chinese national mind games, looking relaxed and confident.
🏆 Chess Tour ends with Carlsen's third win and So's defeat. GM Magnus Carlsen dominated the 2023 Champions Chess Tour, winning his third title in the December 16 finals. He beat GM Wesley So 2.5-1.5 in a close match that was decided in the last game. Carlsen said he exploited So’s lack of aggression and broke his opening. Carlsen was the sole champion of the tour since 2021, netting $200,000. The final game was a thriller, with Carlsen winning a queenless middlegame.
Fun Facts💡
🤨
🕵️
😵
🤖
🌎