From one legend to another!

Vishy Anand congratulates Koneru Humpy on winning the Cairns Cup 2020:

"Congrats to Koneru Humpy. An impressive performance! Seems like she is enjoying her chess and the moves flow easily!!"

Grandmasters and upstarts are reinventing the game of chess online, becoming its most visible ambassadors – and arguably its first entertainers. https://nbcnews.to/37xtEUc

Alireza Firouzja almost won one of the games of his career in Round 4 of the Prague Masters and was then lost against leader Vidit in 12 moves in Round 5! It's not easy being a prodigy :)

https://chess24.com/en/read/news/prague-masters-4-5-vidit-punishes-firouzja

World Junior Chess Champion Polina Shuvalova scored 3.5/4 in the #picf2020 Open tournament.

In her interview, she speaks about her expectations, participation at the European Women's Club Cup, impressions about Prague, her heroes... ⬇️

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB1yQAsAVao&t=143s

The Chess Player, 1876

@UnityChess

Henri Rinck passed away on 17 February 1952.
Henri Rinck ( 1870-1952) was one of the most prolific chess composers. His endgame studies were elegant, witty, entertaining, simple a beautiful. He began composing in 1902 and during the next half a century produced nearly 1670 studies, winning 58 first prizes in international competitions. In 1930, the French champion and endgame theoretician Andre Cheron paid a tribute to Rinck’s artistry, calling him “The Victor Hugo of Chess.”

Rinck’s ultimate collection 1414 fins de partie was published six days before he died. He asked his son to be buried with this massive 795-page book under his arm. Some 500 studies were composed without pawns. He was brilliant at using two Rooks and two of his creations are part of today’s column.

Published in La Strategie in 1917, the first study is a playful work, in which the white King walks like a drunk, but is able to help the two Rooks defeat the black Queen.

A nice study by Rinck is from 1903 (see diagram). The motive is 'X-ray chess'.
1.Ta8! Da2 (1 ..., Dxa8 2.Lf3 +) 2.Txa4 Dg8 (2 ..., Dxa4 3.Le8 +) 3.Ta8 Dh74.Lg6 Dxg6 5.Ta6 + and 6.Txg6 1-0

"It is not a move, even the best move, that you must seek, but a realisable plan."

🔸 Eugene Znosko-Borovsky

@UnityChess

Mikhail Botvinnik and Vassily Smyslov arriving in Moscow for the Russian leg of the 1948 world championship, when five world-class masters had to play to decide who was the world chess champion. https://bit.ly/37AjH8j

Move of the Day!

Daily #chesspuzzle
Tal - Rantanen, Tallinn 1979

https://chesspuzzle.net/Puzzle/81262

Golden Games! Lasker vs Thomas 1912

Aeroflot Open 2020: Top seed Vladislav Artemiev picked the white pawn during the drawing of lots

Starting list:http://chess-results.com/tnr508930.aspx?lan=1&art=0

Tournament page:

https://ruchess.ru/en/championship/detail/2020/aeroflot_open_2020/

Markus Ragger saves the game against Sam Shankland to conclude the all-draws round 6 of Prague Chess
Masters.
Vidit Santosh Gujrathi continues to comfortably lead the tournament with 4½/6, a point above the field.