Welcome Fall | Issue 46 | 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: George, Devansh, Karson & Yuchen.
Student Success🏆
Every month we’re highlighting some of the successes of our students. Proud of something chess-related? Send me photos! August has been slow!
“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 🖼️
Fun fact: most of my senior photos were taken with a chessboard. I still remember this game, where I played Qe2!!, my best move ever.
“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 18th, 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. In the last tournament, there were 18 students, both kids & adults!
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 September Arena.” The Zoom for the tournament is here.
Congrats last month to Sophie, Yoan & YGohan1! You rock, guys! 🏆
“Weak points or holes in the enemy position must be occupied by pieces, not pawns.”
-Siegbert Tarrasch
Chess News 📰
🏆 Magnus and Ding Lead the Charge in Astana! The World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships in Astana feature chess giants like Magnus Carlsen and Ding Liren. With a stellar lineup and exciting matches, this event is a fantastic way to inspire young chess players. Don’t miss the action!
👸🏻 Chess Mom Kashlinskaya Wins Big in Tbilisi! Alina Kashlinskaya clinched first place in the Women’s Grand Prix in Tbilisi, with her 10-month-old son cheering her on. Her victory against Mariya Muzychuk in the final round highlights her skill and determination. A great story to inspire young chess enthusiasts about balancing family and passion!
🏅 Hans Niemann Climbs to World No. 16: A Rising Star! Hans Niemann has soared to the 16th spot in the world rankings after a series of impressive matches. His victories against top players like Anish Giri and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave highlight his incredible talent. A great story to inspire young chess players about aiming high!
🙋🏻♀️ Budapest’s Chess Olympiad: Breaking Records and Inspiring Young Minds! The 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest will feature the highest number of teams in history, including a record number of women’s teams. Hungary’s three women’s teams will compete, showcasing the progress in women’s chess. A perfect event to motivate young chess enthusiasts!
🤔 Rook-tastic Endgames: Müller and Kähler’s Chess Magic! Dive into the latest episode of Endgame Magic with Karsten Müller and Arne Kähler as they unravel two thrilling rook endgames. Perfect for young chess enthusiasts to learn and enjoy!
“All I want to do, ever, is just play Chess”
– Bobby Fischer
Fun Facts💡
🧠Remembering moves and watching the board can help you remember things better, a superpower that comes in handy in school and even later in life!
🥱The "fool's mate" is the fastest way to checkmate someone in chess, but it only happens if the other player makes a big mistake. Imagine forgetting your king needs protection!
Here's how it goes:
White (the player starting) moves a pawn in an unusual way that weakens their king's side.
Black (the responding player) takes advantage by moving their queen right next to White's king – checkmate in just two moves!
♔The king is the piece with the longest life expectancy on the board. Not many give the right answer when asked why this is. In short: you never capture the king, just ¨corner¨ it, so the piece has a 0% capture rate.
🏠83% of households own a chessboard! Such a crazy statistic but when you think about it, almost every home you can visit has a chessboard somewhere, either dusting in an attic or put into use in the living room.