Media comments on chess

[J T Melsom]

A number of university chess groups are styled 'society' rather than 'club'.

[Kevin Thurlow]

The Government Code and Cypher School (GC&CS) at Bletchley Park was informally known as the "Golf Club and Chess Society"

[Tim Spanton]

I used to play for Doncaster Chess Society which, according to the ECF grading database, has 26 graded players and 41 ungraded

[Neil Graham]

We were treated to some chess tactical points by the commentary team in the ongoing F.A.Cup match between Newcastle United and Manchester City as they discuss Pep Guardiola.

Martin Keown "He plays football like chess doesn't he? He tries to gain an advantage over the opposition; where he can see a change he tries to make it"

Guy Mowbray " The chess analogy is right. He's a keen chess player who struck up a friendship with Gary Kasparov - he's a grandmaster isn't he - while he was on a sabbatical in New York before taking the Manchester City job"

Martin Keown "You could say the full backs were like rooks couldn't you? (De Bruyne pumps a long ball forward to Gabriel Jesus) Look at him! Is he the queen or the king?

Manchester City have just scored a second goal so I've given up watching. They'll probably win by three or four now.

[Angus French]

Martin Keown "You could say the full backs were like rooks couldn't you? ..."

Not heard that before and I think I like it.

[Mick Norris]

Particularly as there didn't appear to be any reference to new castles

Football without fans is dire, though

[J T Melsom]

Eric Dier is one of my favourite examples of nominative determinism.

[Paul Robert Jackson]

In The Independent yesterday:
A damning article by veteran reporter Carl Bernstein quotes sources describing Trump as “delusional” and jeopardising America’s national security and place on the global stage by surrendering political advantage to Putin, who is likened to “a chess grandmaster” making short work of “an occasional player of checkers”.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Spotted in an advert, and wondered if anyone here is familiar with the salt and pepper mills from a company called Millstone Mills:

https://millstonemills.com/product-cate ... -grinders/

As you can see, made in the shape of chess pieces.

https://millstonemills.com/about-us/

In 1989 Millstone made the first of their iconic Chess Piece shaped salt and pepper mills. Frustrated with buying countless mills that just didn’t work, we set about producing an efficient and highly functional mill that would not only look great but would also out-perform other mills on the market. Crafted from solid beech in the joinery shops of the family construction business, itself founded in 1845, Millstone have built on over 170 years of family history to forge a reputation as the makers of some of the worlds best and most desirable mills.

They make mills (in black, natural, walnut colours) in the shape of a king, a queen, a bishop, a castle (rook) and a pawn.

No knight for some reason.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"Spotted in an advert, and wondered if anyone here is familiar with the salt and pepper mills from a company called Millstone Mills:"

Yes - they actually attended a tournament I was at and tried to sell them to the players. Good luck with that. It might have been 4NCL some years ago? The salt/pepper mills were very well-made, expensive for their stated function, but reasonably priced for ornaments.

[Roland Kensdale]

Netflix's 'homemade' series of short films made during lockdown includes 'Casino' where the actor/film-maker (Sebastian Schipper) plays 3 parts. At one point he plays chess against a version of himself with shorter hair etc.
At least 2 further chess boards are seen against the wall. The board was the right way round and the position appeared sensible. That's probably the most you could reasonably hope for.

[JustinHorton]

Vanity Fair has a nice picture of Ghislaine playing chess with her dad

[Geoff Chandler]

Re the salt and pepper mills, this one on E-Bay is £16.99



I had the Avon Rook bottle of aftershave, when it was empty I filled it with cheaper stuff.



The next picture is a holiday souvenir Knight.

[JustinHorton]

The Observer informs us:

...as chess players know, every piece in play deserves respect. Left unchallenged, any pawn can go the length of the board and become a queen.

[Geoff Chandler]

Hi Justin,

The wife said that Serpentine was a good each way bet, usually I pay heed to her as she knows a thing or two
about the horses and can spot good bets in the parade ring, it's something about the way they act she spots.
Very rarely fails and had 7 seven winners a few weeks back, but not in a roll up, she has to see them prior to the race.

But I had put all my online account on a four team roll up (need Man City to win today and I'll be plenty of quids in)
I had nothing left. (probably jinxed them, put your money on Southampton.)