Dominic Lawson
A Beautiful Waste
The ascendancy of machine over man
From An Art To A Science
Wilhelm Steinitz was the inventor of modern chess, yet died a pauper’s death
Tom and Jerry Tactics
The world’s youngest ever International Master is an Indian child prodigy with an appetite for cartoons
Vivat Rex!
A modest philanthropist, Rex Sinquefield, is behind the US’s triumph at the World Chess Olympiad
Les Pions de Résistance
François-André Danican Philidor, composer turned blindfold king of the chessboard
Korchnoi Plays His Last Move
Viktor Korchnoi, who has died at the age of 85, defeated nine world champions but never managed to claim the title for himself
When Players Become Pawns
Accusations of off-board skulduggery can be a powerful tool of psychological warfare
Prodigious Contest In Prospect
The two greatest chess prodigies of the age will soon face each other
Armenian Underdog
Tigran Petrosian’s prophylactic prowess
Mated By The Mufti?
The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia has declared chess haram — but he needs to remember that the game was born in the Muslim world
The Brexit crunch approaches
Thorny issues remain unresolved as the transition period comes to a close. Yet the hurdles to a deal are not insurmountable
Meritocracy makes a new ruling class
Innovation has often come from hard work by unlettered people. But young progressives now seem to treat education as a proxy for virtue
Some black lives matter more than others
Black Lives Matter misses the point—we should highlight the progress we have made, not split society and trap ourselves in victimhood