Media comments on chess

[JustinHorton]

I doubt anybody will trace an analogy back to 600 AD. Chess is the oldest sport still extant.

Horse racing

[Geoff Chandler]

The book, 'Raise the Titanic' by Clive Cussler.

The USA want to raise the Titanic and have this coded as 'The Sicilian Project'.
The Russians are trying to figure out what this may mean.

Page 41:

"Issak Boleslavski (sic), was one of out greatest chess masters......he conceived
many great variations of the game. One of them was the Sicilian Defence."

(Next chapter begins: "Mel Donner routinely checked the room for electronic eavesdropping equipment ...")

Good book, enjoyed it. I'm thinking the hero, Dirk Pitt, is modelled on me.

Not seen the film but apparently it's awful. Clive Cussler himself panned it.

[Gerard Killoran]

Lew Grade was the producer, and when the film bombed he said, "Raise the Titanic? It would have been cheaper to lower the Atlantic!"

[LawrenceCooper]

Hoffenheim-Man City second half "has been a bit more of a chess match" commented ian Darke seconds before the Man City keeper needlessly charged way out of his goal.

[John Clarke]

At first glance, this (from today's Dominion Post) looks like another chess cartoon drawn by someone ignorant of the rules ....

[Reg Clucas]

At first glance, this (from today's Dominion Post) looks like another chess cartoon drawn by someone ignorant of the rules ....

Or maybe it's the player who is ignorant of the rules!

[Nick Grey]

I can't believe that chess is the oldest sport. Greeks had the Olympics BC. And Olympiad is derived from that.
Expecting more chess analogies on the Messi masterclass at Wembley in tomorrow's papers.

[Geoff Chandler]

Hi John,

"At first glance, this (from today's Dominion Post) looks like another chess cartoon drawn by someone ignorant of the rules .... "

'At first glance....' Because we cannot see the rest of the board checkmate is possible.

1BK4r/6r1/2n5/8/8/8/8/7k w - - 0 1

The Knight was on d8. That is the only square if can come from to give mate.
Maybe the cartoonist is into retrograde analysis

[Michael Farthing]

Personally, I think that the most distant square visible is black, suggesting that the mate has occurred on the a file rather than rank 8. There also appears to be something on (what would then be) b1.

Nevertheless, I'm sure the essence of Geoff''s elegant interpretation must be correct!

[Geoff Chandler]

Hi Michael,

I did look at the a8 square and decided to give benefit to the cartoonist that there is a white square there.
I'm following, perhaps wrongly, John saying at first glance it does look illegal but infact need not be.

[Mark Ashley]

Just saw on Twitter that Alexander Arnold Trent, a young promising right back for Liverpool is a keen chess player and the Daily Mail have interviewed him. He's due to play Magnus Carlsen next week and is being mentored by Shreyas Royal and Kyan Bui!

https://twitter.com/TarjeiJS/status/1048203873603768326

[JustinHorton]

Just saw on Twitter that Alexander Arnold Trent, a young promising right back for Liverpool

You may mean Trent Alexander-Arnold

[Roger de Coverly]

You may mean Trent Alexander-Arnold

A more coherent version of the story is in the local press.

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/f ... e-15241454

[Mark Ashley]

Just saw on Twitter that Alexander Arnold Trent, a young promising right back for Liverpool

You may mean Trent Alexander-Arnold

hahha yes, i always make that mistake, thanks for picking me up on it.

[J T Melsom]

Mortal Causes : Ian Rankin p265 of my paperback edition

'two unemployed youths shooting pool and trying to make each game last, their pauses between shots the stuff of chess games'

This is shortly after Rebus has paid his first visit in the book series to Sandy Bells, though the chess players were obviously not in at the time.

Strip Jack an earlier book contains a scene in a secure unit - the patient is described as good at chess or similar