Media comments on chess

[Stewart Reuben]

PARSLEY BOX ad on TV.
Two people are playing chess. tag.
"It gives you time to do the things you want to do."

[Geoff Chandler]

Magbus Carlsen and his Puma trainers will be an advert coming our way soon.



"A new chess-themed edition of PUMA’s iconic Clyde sneaker featuring five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen’s signature is about to hit the streets.

The limited run Magnus Carlsen x PUMA CLYDE Chess sneakers will be debuted on the Champions Chess Tour broadcast on May 22 and then be immediately available to buy on puma.com.

PUMA, the world’s leading sports brand, signed up Carlsen and the Champions Chess Tour for a long-term partnership in February last year."

Since then, the Norwegian has acted as a PUMA Ambassador and taken part in its ‘Only See Great’ campaign. Carlsen is regularly seen in competition wearing PUMA clothing.

[Joey Stewart]

I wonder if puma included a get out clause for if Magnus inexplicably relinquished the world championship and ruined their branding

[Wadih Khoury]

A long article on hip hop and chess
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/ ... -australia

[Stewart Reuben]

Sunday 21 May. Sky Witness at 8pm.
BLUE BLOODS. Lost Ones
Danny and Baez investigate a CHESS hustler's death.
I have no further information. Apologies for no more advance notice.

[Matt Mackenzie]

I wonder if puma included a get out clause for if Magnus inexplicably relinquished the world championship and ruined their branding

Is there any evidence that is actually the case, though?

[Stewart Reuben]

The chess content in that episode of Blue Bloods was very minor. Some play did take place in Washington Square Park in Manhattan. The person who died did play there. Whether he was a hustler was unclear to me. I didn't bother to record it for my dvd collection.

Joey Bishop and Matt Mackenzie wrote just above about Puma and Magnus Carlsen. If there was a clause in the contract, I am sure it isn't common knowledge.
I don't think Magnus relinquishing the World Championship is inexplicable. Though any opinion I have would be purely speculation.

[Matt Mackenzie]

My query was really about the idea MC giving up the world title would "ruin their branding". I rather doubt this would be the case.

[Geoff Chandler]

The wording of the advert; '...five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen’s signature...' appears to be wrong. Magnus was one time world champion and defend it four times. Do you think if I pointed this out to Puma I'd get a free pair of Clyde-Carlsen Plimsolls?

[Kevin Thurlow]

Here they are...

https://uk.puma.com/uk/en/pd/clyde-ches ... &swatch=01

They don't seem to be stressing the player's name... I see "Clyde" is not the orangutan in Clint Eatswood movies.

[John Upham]

I see "Clyde" is not the orangutan in Clint Eatswood movies.

Nor the erstwhile friend of Bonnie?

[Matt Mackenzie]

The wording of the advert; '...five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen’s signature...' appears to be wrong. Magnus was one time world champion and defend it four times. Do you think if I pointed this out to Puma I'd get a free pair of Clyde-Carlsen Plimsolls?

Well, it could be claimed he is a 20 times (or something like that) World Champion.....

[Peter Hornsby]

Last night I was on Midnight Mastermind with OJ Borg on BBC Radio 2 about the rules of chess:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001lz4c

26 minutes in to 38 minutes.

He did so well I had to upgrade the questions!

[Roger Lancaster]

Last night I was on Midnight Mastermind with OJ Borg on BBC Radio 2 about the rules of chess:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001lz4c

26 minutes in to 38 minutes.

He did so well I had to upgrade the questions!

It's funny how you can be dealing with a journalist and, coincidentally, find he or she knows more about chess than you'd expect. A few months back, I was on local radio when the BBC presenter mentioned that her brother was a keen chess player - so she knew her subject!

[Peter Hornsby]

Last night I was on Midnight Mastermind with OJ Borg on BBC Radio 2 about the rules of chess:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001lz4c

26 minutes in to 38 minutes.

He did so well I had to upgrade the questions!

It's funny how you can be dealing with a journalist and, coincidentally, find he or she knows more about chess than you'd expect. A few months back, I was on local radio when the BBC presenter mentioned that her brother was a keen chess player - so she knew her subject!

Absolutely! These were the questions I submitted:

1. Which piece is more valuable, a Queen or a Castle?

2. What happens when a pawn reaches the end rank of the board?

3. What does it mean when you have 'checkmated' your opponent?

4. The King is only allowed to move one square at a time. What is the name of the one exception to this rule where the King can move two squares?

5. If one player runs out of time on their clock, but their opponent does not have enough pieces on the board to checkmate them, what is the outcome of the game?

6. The Knight is a unique piece. What can it do that all the other pieces can't?

7. What is the French name of the special move a pawn can do to capture another pawn?

8. True or false: In a game of chess, the two kings are not allowed to be placed on squares next to each other.

9. How many squares can a pawn move on its first go (as long as there is not an opposition piece in front of it)?

10. What is the only direction a bishop can move in?

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I think it was a reasonable mix, the producer chose 2, 6 and 10. He got 2 and 6 pretty much right, so I changed 10 to 7 to make it more challenging!