Issue 16 | MM Chess
Welcome back. It’s the 16th 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. This month’s edition is focused on Ukraine and Russia, as well as an amazing young Indian player that beat the world champion.
In March we welcome the newest MMChess.org students: Ray, Moheb, Glenn, Nikhil, Evangeline, Rivin, Elliot, Aryeh, Erin, Sana & Pranav, Kai, Ondo, Bella, and Michael!
My story 🖼️
Last month, I told you about one of my proudest moments: winning the Denker Tournament of US State Champions in 2011 (this put me in the top-10 under 18 in the US!). This time, I share my embarrassing comeback to chess in 2021, when I played for the Chicago Chess Blitzers and only scored 6/21 points.
🇺🇦 I want to take a second and acknowledge that we have two coaches from Ukraine: Maria Efimenko and Zahar Efimenko (my coach), who live in Mariupol. Please keep them in your thoughts, as the heavy battle is waging at the time of writing (February 28th). If you’d like to help, please let me know.
Chess News This Month 📰
🟥 Russians and Ukrainians Are Amazing Players. They both were trained in the rich style of the Soviet Chess School. As of 2011, Russia had 240 grandmasters, and Ukraine had 87. Many Russians and Ukrainians also live abroad in Spain, Israel, the USA, UAE, and elsewhere.
💣 Ukrainian Chess Grandmasters Are On The Front Lines. Many, like the captain of the Ukrainian Team Oleksandr Sulypa, are fighting (Image below).
🇷🇺 The Top Chess Players, Including Russians, Are Denouncing War. Generally, chess players are apolitical. But the 2021 World Championship Runner-Up Nepo, the current Russian Champion Nikita Vitiugov, and many others are speaking up.
⁉️ There’s A Big Question Mark About If Russian Chess Players Will Be Able To Leave Russia Under Sanctions. The EU and US are imposing strict sanctions on those close to the Putin regime, including former world champion Anatoly Karpov.
⚔️A 16-Year-Old Indian Prodigy Beat Magnus Carlsen. In other news…. this was celebrated all over the world by Indian chess players—he even got a shoutout from Prime Minister Modi! High hopes for Pragg!
✨ It’s Hard For Chinese Players To Play Outside Of China. Because of China’s strict COVID regulation, Ding Liren (world #3) and others couldn’t obtain visas to play the Grand Prix. Hopefully, the country opens us soon and allows these grandmasters to play.
🏆Magnus Carlsen Wins….Again. This month, he won a Grand Prix event and the Airthings Masters. This is arguably the best player of the generation.
Fun Facts💡
💥 Yuri Averbakh, The Oldest Living Grandmaster, Turns 100. He was the 1954 and 1956 USSR champion.
💪 18-Year-Old Firouzja is World #2. This is his rating progress compared to World Champion Magnus Carlsen.
👑 When Hikaru Became The Younger Master Ever. The famous chess player and US Champion Hikaru Nakamura became a young master in 1998. Here’s the cover of an American chess magazine!
🧠 Want To Learn The Fried Liver? Last Year, I created this resource for those that want to learn a new opening. Check it out.