David R. Sands

They grow up so fast these days. The world will soon have its first grandmaster born in the Obama administration’s second term, as talented Argentine prodigy Faustino Oro secured the third and final norm this month to qualify for the game’s most prestigious title.

As we marked Memorial Day this week, let us also remember the ways chess has done its part to cheer and console those who go to war.

The Hot Girl Summer of 2025 is giving way to the Sizzling Chess Summer of 2026, at least for fans of the Royal Game here in the DMV.

Next week, we’ll explore how great the chess dads are, but we thought we’d beat the pre-Father’s Day rush with a couple of superb recent performances from the ladies.

Like many of you, I suspect, I learned how to play chess as a young boy from my father.

It’s said you get only one chance to make a first impression, and two promising young American chess talents badly botched their audition.

We’ve had nearly 250 years of trying, but it’s still hard to pin down an identifiable “American” style of chess.

Let’s hope the World Cup finale comes close to matching the drama of the finale of the World Open.

Early reports say the District of Columbia’s tourism sector had a banner Fourth of July to mark the nation’s 250th birthday, and the world’s chess players certainly did their part.

It’s always nice to see chess have a moment in the larger culture, especially a moment not tied to the latest cheating scandal or geopolitical standoff.