"Did you know that "[a]bout 70% of the adult population (US, UK, Germany, Russia, India) has played chess at some point in their lives, 605 million adults play chess regularly."

"Chess for Recovering Better
Throughout history, games and sports have helped humanity to survive times of crisis by reducing anxieties and improving mental health. While the coronavirus outbreak has forced most gaming and sports activities to scale down, chess has demonstrated remarkable resilience, adaptability and a very strong convening power in time of pandemic.
Over the past few months, the overall interest in chess is reported to have doubled, with more players than ever coming together to participate in chess events that are being increasingly held through online platforms."









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​"Chess for Sustainable Development
The United Nations recognizes that sports, the arts and physical activity have the power to change perceptions, prejudices and behaviours, as well as to inspire people, break down racial and political barriers, combat discrimination and defuse conflict, and therefore contribute in promoting education, sustainable development, peace, cooperation, solidarity, social inclusion and health at the local, regional and international levels.
Chess is one of the most ancient, intellectual and cultural games, with a combination of sport, scientific thinking and elements of art. As an affordable and inclusive activity, it can be exercised anywhere and played by all, across the barriers of language, age, gender, physical ability or social status.
Chess is a global game, which promotes fairness, inclusion and mutual respect, and noting in this regard that it can contribute to an atmosphere of tolerance and understanding among peoples and nations.
Chess also offers important opportunities in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, including strengthening education, realizing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls and fostering inclusion, tolerance, mutual understanding and respect."

Source: United Nations. (n.d.-b). World Chess Day 20 July. Retrieved July 21, 2021, from https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-chess-day 

Interviewer: In your view and experience, what are some of the benefits of learning and playing chess?  

Aidan: Firstly, scientific studies show that chess significantly improves rapid critical thinking among players.  Secondly, chess can give one insight into other occurrences in life that seem unresolvable.  Thirdly, the game itself is fun to play and is a great source of entertainment.


Interviewer: I have read some chess articles discussing whether chess is a sport, art or science?  In which category do you believe chess fits and why?  

Aidan: I think chess is a sport, but not the normal, athletic type (though the exhaustion is real).  Chess is a mental sport: you sit down at a table in front of a problem and think deeply for hours on end about how to solve it.  This can leave you mentally fatigued.


Interviewer: In 1996, Garry Kasparov, then World Chess Champion, won a chess match against an IBM supercomputer called “Deep Blue.”  One year later Deep Blue won the rematch 4 – 2.  What is your opinion of computer chess software?  Are they good for chess or not? If so, how?  

Aidan: I think they are somewhere in between.  Computers certainly have contributed to deep position analysis, opening novelties, and endgames, but they also open the door for accessible cheating.  For one, computers can now fit into extremely small containers – some as small as a thumb drive – and still are able to defeat even the strongest players.


Interviewer: I understand that former World Chess Champions had other talents and expertise besides playing chess.  For example, Vassily Smyslov was also an opera singer and Max Euwe was a mathematician.  In your view, are any of those disciplines, music or mathematics, compatible or naturally connected with chess?  If so, how?  

Aidan: I think chess has deep connections to mathematics, especially in statistics and graph theory.  Graph theorists commonly pose questions or examples in the form of a chessboard and a certain type of piece.  For example, how many queens can fit on an 8x8 chessboard without attacking each other?


Interviewer: I understand that you have an interest in space.  Do you believe that humans will ever play chess on Mars, and how much longer would you estimate before that happens?  

Aidan: I certainly think that humans will play chess on Mars at some point in the future, although how far in the future is up for debate.  NASA’s Artemis program is a precursor to their humans-to-Mars goal, but SLS has not even launched once yet, and the program is likely to extend into the 2030s before completion.  SpaceX’s aspirational goal for crewed Starship landings on Mars is in the late 2020s or early 2030s.  Only time will tell how long it will be.

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Interviewer:  Lastly Aidan, how has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your chess playing activities and do you plan on playing any tournaments this summer?

Aidan: During the pandemic, I stared actively playing on online platforms, Lichess especially.  I've continued to play over-the-board games to keep in practice for in-person tournaments and I definitely plan to participate in tournaments this summer. 

 

In January this year, the United Nations focused on the global learning disruption that is occurring in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The learning disruption is compounded by the digital divide between urban and rural communities, and inequalities.  

In addition to the learning disruption, summer vacation is approaching for many students which is associated with the well-known "summer slide".  Summer slide is the tendency for students to lose some of the achievement gains they made during the previous year. 






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​Besides reading, educational, fun enrichment activities like chess should help reduce the dreaded summer slide. We intend to offer online chess classes and activities this summer starting July.

If you are interested, then let us know.  The intake will be small, and spaces will be limited since existing students will be given the firsts right of refusal.

Send inquiries to kean@nimblemindschess.org

Vasily Smyslov took chess as a hobby until the age of 14.  He was inspired by the appearances of Jose Capablanca and Emanuel Lasker in Moscow to pursue competitive chess.  As Smyslov improved he won the All-Union Boys’ Championship and the Moscow City Championship in 1938. 

Smyslov finished third in 1940 USSR Championship and second in 1944.  

He began to attract international attention when he defeated Samuel Reshevsky twice in the famous U.S.-USSR radio match of 1945. His first of eight Candidates Tournament appearances came in 1948, where he finished third. He would advance to and win the World Championship on his fourth attempt, in 1957. Though he held the title for only a year—losing to former champion Botvinnik in 1958—the success of his career both before and after this period testify to Smyslov’s greatness as a chess player.

He would qualify as a Candidate on four more occasions, including the 1985 tournament at age 64! 
He was earned a record 17 Chess Olympiad medals and won the inaugural World Senior Chess Championship title in 1991.

In addition to being a World Chess Champion, Smyslov was an opera singer.

Click here for additional information.

(content of this post was taken substantially from World Chess Hall of Fame.

By Resolution A/RES/67/296, the United Nations General Assembly established the International Day of Sports for Development and Peace.  The Resolution was adopted on 23 August, 2013.

"Due to its vast reach, unparalleled popularity and foundation of positive values, sport is ideally positioned to contribute towards the United Nations’ objectives for development and peace." (https://www.un.org/en/observances/sport-day/background)







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​"As vaccines spread hope and spectators begin to return to arenas, the world of sport has crucial contributions to make in forging a safe and sustainable recovery.  [...]  We will play and cheer again when everyone is safe from the pandemic." - António Guterres, UN Secretary-General


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On 11 March, 2020 the World Health Organisation, WHO, declared COVID-19 a pandemic. 
On 8 July, 2020 the World Chess Federation, FIDE, published its COVID-19 protocols for over-the-board chess events.







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​The protocols that are specific to chess are shared at the link below for your information.
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Click here to view the FIDE COVID-19 protocols. 

Mikhail Botvinnik was crowned the 6th World Chess Champion in 1948. He would attain the title twice more, regaining it from Smyslov in 1958 and Tal in 1961. 

As the first in a long line of Soviet world champions, Botvinnik was a respected figure even within an already strong Russian field.  His intense training regimen distinguished him from his peers. He advocated logic, extensive theoretical research, and a strong degree of both physical and mental discipline. While these attitudes were novel at the time, his writings on the subject became legendary and eventually served as a model for a new generation of players. His scientific style emphasized whole systems of play that extended from the opening to the endgame.  Botvinnik mentored and trained numerous young Soviet players, including a young Garry Kasparov.

Botvinnik retired from competitive chess play in 1970.

For more information click here to see a short biography of Mikhail Botvinnik.

(content of this post was taken substantially from  World Chess Hall of Fame)

“To truly leave no one behind in pursuit of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, we must realize the rights of all persons with disabilities, including persons with autism, ensuring their full participation in social, cultural and economic life.” - António Guterres

“The United Nations General Assembly unanimously declared 2 April as World Autism Awareness Day (A/RES/62/139) to highlight the need to help improve the quality of life of those with autism so they can lead full and meaningful lives as an integral part of society."

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Photo by Félix Prado on Unsplash


What is autism?
"Autism is a lifelong neurological condition that manifests during early childhood, irrespective of gender, race or socio-economic status. The term Autism Spectrum refers to a range of characteristics. Appropriate support, accommodation and acceptance of this neurological variation allow those on the Spectrum to enjoy equal opportunity, and full and effective participation in society.
Autism is mainly characterized by its unique social interactions, non-standard ways of learning, keen interests in specific subjects, inclination to routines, challenges in typical communications and particular ways of processing sensory information.” – (https://www.un.org/en/observances/autism-day/background)

Tournament
The 1st FIDE World University Individual Online Rapid Championship 2021 was held on 20, 21 and 25,  March.  This event was organised by The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in consultation with the FIDE Global Strategy Commission. 

The event was open to students who met the following  requirements:
a) Have their secondary education completed;
b) Are currently officially registered as proceeding towards a degree or diploma at a university;
c) Were born in 1995 or later; and
d) Are not banned by the Hosting Internet Platform

884 university students took part in this first time chess event.  According to GM Bartlomiej Macieia, Tournament Director, students from about 100 countries participated.  

The top three finishers in the Open and Women's sections were as follow:

1st FIDE World University Online Chess Championship (Open Section)
GM Shevchenko Kirilll (UKR) - 4.0/5.0 pts.
Ivan Boberskyj Lviv State Universit

GM Antipov Mikhail AI (RUS) - 3.0/5.0 pts
University of Missouri

GM Oparin Grigoriy (RUS) - 3.0/5.0 pts.
University of Missouri

1st FIDE World University Online Chess Championship (Women Section)
WIM Antolak Julia (POL) - 4.0/5.0 pts.
University of Texas Rio Grande Vall

WGM Sargsyan Anna M. (ARM) - 3.5/5.0 pts.
Armenian State Institute of Physica

IM Badelka Olga (BLR) - 2.5/5.0 pts.
University of Missouri


Controversy of disqualified players
Twenty (20) players from the World University Individual Online Rapid Championship were disqualified for breach of Fair Play.  The disqualification of players by the Fair Play Panel (FPP) of the FIDE World University Chess Championships took place after investigating and reviewing 5,036 games.  

It is being reported that IM Iujila Osmak, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, who finished first place before the review of games by FPP was one of the 20 players disqualified.  One of the most controversial issues about this investigation is that the decision of FPP to disqualify players for suspected fair play violation is final and is not subject to any appeal, review or other challenge.  Furthermore, the disqualified players have lost their right to participate in the next events of the 2021 Online University Championships.  

In its statement FPP indicated that "[n]either FIDE, nor the Hosting Internet Platform claims that the determination of a suspected fair play violation is proof of actual cheating or an admission of guilt by the disqualification player." (FIDE World University Online Chess Championship 2021 Fair Play - 26 March 2021)

Being disqualified without an appeal process must be for the players a very "bitter bill to swallow".