Category Archives: Chess
Morocco: Tangier Open promoting chess dreams among the young – Africanews English
Chess strategists, novices and enthusiasts alike gathered in Tangier for the OPEN DE TANGER Chess Tournament.
The event brought together some 100 top players, all determined to win the top prize in a merciless competition.
"Today, over 100 players took part in our tournament. Tournaments are an opportunity for players to test and evaluate themselves. For me, this is essential," said Oubai Ziani, co-founder of On Chess Coaching.
For Mohamed Amin El Fezari, who has turned pro in the sport, the aim is to improve his international ranking and win several titles. "But unfortunately, in Morocco, we don't have any official tournaments," laments the young player.
Behind this celebration lies a complex reality. Tensions, organizational problems and a lack of support have all taken their toll on the sport.
Zoheir Slami, an international referee, admits "there's a lack of a federation run by competent people."
The organizers are striving to promote healthy competition in the chess world to enable young talent to shine on an international scale.
The OPEN DE TANGER Chess Tournament is crucial to promoting this discipline, which is still too neglected by public authorities and sponsors.
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Morocco: Tangier Open promoting chess dreams among the young - Africanews English
Bitcoin in danger as we are ‘one chess move away’ from ‘big problems’ – Finbold – Finance in Bold
When Satoshi Nakamoto designed Bitcoin (BTC), they based its security on a consensus mechanism called Proof-Of-Work (PoW). However, given its consensus decentralization current status, Bitcoins security might be in peril.
At least, this is what the crypto researcher Chris Blec thinks, according to a post on X on December 14:
This is not a good chart. 2 mining pools (both of them force all miners to KYC) comprise 55% of the Bitcoin hash rate. We could be one chess move away from some big problems for Bitcoin. But even worse is the fact that nobody really wants to talk about it. Wheres the urgency?
Notably, the mentioned chart shows Foundry USA and AntPool with 27.6% of Bitcoins global hashrate each. Both Bitcoin mining pools are Bitcoin mining companies cooperatives seeking to improve block discovery and, consequentially, their profits.
More than just pointing to the worrying dominance of two pools on Bitcoins consensus, Chris Blec also calls the community out on a lack of awareness about this problem. Interestingly, Finbold reported about it on September 23: This is how centralized Bitcoin mining has become over the years.
As it is today, Bitcoin mining pools work centralized in the pools coordinator. It is the coordinator who creates the block template (adding transactions from the mempool), filters unwanted transactions, discovers the next block using their miners hashrate, broadcasts the mined block to the network, collects the mining reward, and distributes it proportionally to the miners.
Therefore, it is this single entity that performs the relevant actions that directly impact Bitcoins security. Recently, we have seen mining pools arbitrarily deciding not to pay their miners on specific occasions. In particular, F2Pool and AntPool both with 8.8% and 27.6% of the global block discovery rate, respectively.
In yet another episode, a newly created Bitcoin mining pool was also accused of deliberately filtering privacy-related BTC transactions.
Essentially, these events evidence the importance of having a decentralized pool-based consensus. Moreover, a Bitcoin Core developer explained why BTC transactions should wait two hours to be considered safe. Also affected by the current state of low decentralization.
All things considered, Bitcoins value proposition is directly related to its security and decentralization. It is possible that the current state of the network could interfere with the markets perception of the value of the leading cryptocurrency.
Disclaimer: The content on this site should not be considered investment advice. Investing is speculative. When investing, your capital is at risk.
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Bitcoin in danger as we are 'one chess move away' from 'big problems' - Finbold - Finance in Bold
Johnson’s upcoming resignation will trigger political chess game – The Steubenville Herald-Star
YOUNGSTOWN U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson said he will resign his elected post in the first quarter of next year, before he is scheduled to take over on March 15 as president of Youngstown State University.
Johnson, R-Marietta, was hired for the new post Tuesday by an 8-1 vote of the universitys board of trustees.
His resignation will likely result in several Republican candidates seeking to succeed him in the 6th Congressional District seat. The 6th is considered a safe Republican district that takes in all or part of 11 counties including Jefferson, Harrison, Carroll, Belmont, Columbiana, Mahoning, Monroe, Noble, Washington, Stark and Tuscarawas counties. Mahoning is the districts most-populous county.
Dec. 20 is the election filing deadline for candidates wanting to run in the March 19 primary for the full two-year term.
With Johnsons resignation occurring after the Dec. 20 deadline, the state would likely be unable to schedule a special primary in March and then a special election in August for the seat.
A Republican and Democratic primary is first needed before a general election for the unexpired term.
That would mean the seat wouldnt be filled until next Novembers election.
It would leave the 6th Congressional District without a representative for most of 2024. And even if an August special general election were held, the district still would be without a representative for about six to seven months.
James A. Traficant Jr., who represented Mahoning and most of Trumbull counties in the U.S. House, was expelled July 24, 2002, after being convicted of 10 felonies, including bribery and racketeering. That left that district without a representative for five months.
State Sen. Michael Rulli, R-Salem, who has eyed higher office, said he is strongly considering attempting to succeed Johnson in the district. Rullis state Senate district includes all of Mahoning and Columbiana counties.
Rulli said he was planning to run last year for Congress if he were in a district that didnt include a Republican incumbent. But Johnson, who has represented Columbiana County since he was first elected in 2010, kept that county in his district.
We thought we were two or three years away from this decision, and now its only a couple of weeks, Rulli said. Im trying to work through things. Just that its an idea and a possibility is beautiful.
He plans to announce his decision shortly.
Other potential candidates are state Rep. Ron Ferguson, R-Wintersville; Christina Hagan of Marlboro, a former state House member who lost a congressional election in 2020 to Democrat Tim Ryan; and Madison Gesiotto Gilbert, who lost a congressional district race in 2022 and serves as a national spokeswoman at the Republican National Committee. Hagan and Gesiotto Gilbert live outside the 6th District, but a congressional candidate only needs to live in Ohio to run.
Sources say Christian Palich, who lives in the Columbus area and is vice president of public affairs for Taft Stettinius & Hollister, a law firm, was interested, but has since changed his mind. Palich is a former president of the Ohio Coal Association, worked in the Donald Trumps presidential administration at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as well as for Johnson.
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Johnson's upcoming resignation will trigger political chess game - The Steubenville Herald-Star
ASIC and RBA Acknowledge ASX’s CHESS Solution Design … – Reserve Bank of Australia
Today, ASIC and the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) (the Regulators) acknowledged ASXs announcementof a solution design to replace CHESS.
The product-based solution and vendor announced by ASX is a foundational step in getting the CHESSreplacement program back on track.
This follows advice provided by the ASX Cash Equities Clearing and Settlement Advisory Group (AdvisoryGroup), a small group of recognised industry leaders established to advise ASX Clear and ASX Settlementon strategic clearing and settlement issues led by independent chair Alan CameronAO.
ASIC Chair Joe Longo said, `This is an important decision by ASX, but there is still a long way to go todeliver a CHESS replacement. It will be critical for ASX to now focus on engaging with the market on thedetailed design of the CHESS Replacement program with a realistic and achievable timeline forimplementation.
The Advisory Group considered that a product-based solution, presented by ASX, and assessed by it, is anappropriate option to support a safe and timely replacement of CHESS. In addition, the Advisory Groupresponded with recommendations to ASX to provide clear statements on the industry impact, including thebenefits to the market of the selected solution and ASXs commitment to building a system that isinteroperable. The Advisory Group also noted the importance of the competition in clearing and settlementlegislation, and supporting ASIC rules to provide regulatory backing for interoperability.
I would like to thank Alan Cameron and the members of the Advisory Group for their work and advice.I look forward to the Advisory Groups ongoing role in providing input throughout the CHESSreplacement program, and on other strategic clearing and settlement issues, Mr Longo added.
RBA Governor Michele Bullock said, Todays announcement sets a new direction for the CHESSReplacement program. The Advisory Group, under Independent Chair Alan Cameron, has played an importantrole in bringing the interests of the market as a whole into todays decision.
The Advisory Groups input will remain critical throughout the implementation phase of thereplacement solution. It will also be critical for ASX to address the findings from various externalaudits and reviews so that past issues with the program are not repeated.
In the coming weeks, the Regulators expect ASX to publish its special report covering the ASXLicensees current portfolio, program and project management frameworks, and an assessment of thoseframeworks against internationally recognised standards. In addition, ASX will publish the external auditof this report undertaken by Ernst & Young.
ASX will also need to ensure existing CHESS continues to be maintained to meet ongoing resilience,reliability, integrity, and security requirements. This will be a continued focus for ASIC and the RBA.
The replacement of CHESS is a complex and technical program of work. It is critically important thatrobust and transparent governance arrangements are put in place by ASX to manage the risks associatedwith such an implementation.
ASIC and the RBA are co-regulators of licensed clearing and settlement (CS) facilities.
The RBA and ASIC have separate but complementary supervisory responsibilities for the four CS facilitiesin the ASX Group: two central counterparties ASX Clear Pty Ltd and ASX Clear (Futures) Pty Ltd and two securities settlement facilities ASX Settlement Pty Ltd and Austraclear Limited.
The RBA has determined standards for the purposes of ensuring that CS facility licensees conduct theiraffairs in a way that promotes the overall stability of the Australian financial system. The RBA conductsannual assessments of how well the ASX CS facilities are complying with their statutory obligations tocomply with those standards and to do all other things necessary to reduce systemic risk.
ASIC has separate, but complementary, responsibilities for the licensing and supervision of CS facilitieslicensed under Part 7.3of the Act. ASIC is responsible for assessing whether a CS facilitysservices are provided in a fair and effective way. ASIC also has regulatory responsibilities foroperators of licensed markets, including the ASX market. In carrying out supervision and assessments ofCS facilities, the RBA and ASIC work closely as appropriate.
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ASIC and RBA Acknowledge ASX's CHESS Solution Design ... - Reserve Bank of Australia
Chruciki concerns and the next chess grandmaster – Polish American News
Got a question? Just ask!Q: Is chruciki better made with bleached or unbleached flour? Stella, CTA: Follow-up reply: I never use bleached flower for anything unless a recipe specifically calls for it. That being said,chruciki is plural, therefore, it should read Are chruciki Sorry, not being snarky, but as an editor I have to comment. Krysia, NY. My late wife Majka was the chruciki expert. During our two years in Bay City, MI, she and a lady friend from Poland set up a little local chruciki business. Once a week they would supply a dozen groceries and one ice-cream parlor with those pastries, and locals said they were the best they had ever tasted. That was probably because they were fried in pork lard. One week the two ladies couldnt get Michigans Robin Hood brand of enriched flour, so they used Gold Medal instead. The chruciki came out tough and brittle and customers complained. That is not to suggest that Gold Medal is bad, only that they had adjusted their recipe and procedures to a familiar brand. Robert Strybel, Warsaw Q: An Israeli Army spokesperson I understand has Polish heritage, is that correct? I heard him speak to a news anchor and he mentioned it. Frank, NY A: Good catch, Frank. Yes, Jonathan Conricus was a former Lieutenant Colonel with the Israeli Defense Forces and now serves as one of their spokespersons. His father is Swedish but his mother is Polish-Jewish. Q: I agree with your views about the ideological problem in the Middle East, but for the sake of life, Israel should stop and negotiate for the lives of the hostages. Life is supposed to be our main focus after all. Donna, NY A: Respectfully, Donna, I disagree. I do agree with life being the main focus, but where is the rationale in negotiating with a group of people who commit atrocious massacre, then strip a girl naked and parade her through the streets in the back of a pickup truck while apparently Gazans, including kids as seen in the video released by Hamas, spit at her, culminating in her being beheaded? Its interesting however, we see some networks magnifying coverage of the moans and groans and tears of the Gazans who have lost children and loved ones in the battle. Perhaps there is a silver lining to this tragedy of reportedly 10,000 civilians killed, in that hopefully now given all these Gazan deaths, life will mean something and cause Gazans to rise up and evict any group among them who does not value human life. Q: How do you tell the expiration date on a can of Polish beer? Mickey, NJ A: Thanks for your question Mickey. This dilemma has arisen in the past, especially during summer when ice cold Polish piwo hits the spot. It has become a bit difficult, especially attempting to decode a series of letters and numbers on the bottom of a can of beer. Unfortunately the internet does not always provide adequate instruction for foreign beers. I will reach out to my colleague Robert Strybel in Warsaw to see if he can contact a Polish brewery to get the definitive method. Q: I know you live in New York City and was wondering your take on the Thanksgiving Day Parades latest decision to represent transgender people which has caused an outcry with some traditionalists. How will this affect the Pulaski Day Parade too? Dorothy, NJA: The way things are trending Dorothy, the future may never see such parades any longer, or at least in their original form. I brought up a similar issue about the Fourth of July fireworks show, when it seemed like the fireworks took a back seat to the promotion of the latest craze in hip-hop and rap music. Whats happening here? Is it that our cultural infrastructure is being usurped by every kind of trendy movement? And if organizers dont yield to the trendies, they get sued for discrimination? In my view, every kind of stance and position, including transgender, hip-hop artists, etc., save for supremacy, vulgarity, and nudity, should be allowed to be represented at parades and shows, with the understanding that no group should dominate or be focused on more than any other. Unfortunately, too many of these groups want themselves in the spotlight which can cause parades to take on a whole new meaning. Q: My son is into chess and subscribed to a magazine which had a story about Grzegorz Gajewski. Any news about this sport would be a good booster for him. Thank you! Hank, NY A: Queen to D4, Bishop to C3? Great to hear, Hank. How many kids these days are into chess? The once heralded Gajewski, now at 38 years of age, may be fading into the sunset however. It looks like the new kid on the block is 25-year-old Jan-Krzysztof Duda, pictured. Ill yield to the sports desk for a possible future full story, but suffice it to say this youngster, who is Polands number one chess player, has been on fire for the last two years, either winning or finishing high in multiple global events. The Polish government even awarded him the Golden Cross of Merit. And get this, unlike most people his age, in his spare time this kid listens to Beethoven and Mozart.
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Chruciki concerns and the next chess grandmaster - Polish American News
Over 1000 players to take part in Alef Chess Olympiad 2023 in Sharjah – Gulf Today
Dr Sheikh Khalid Bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Issa Ataya and Abdullah Murad Al Mazmi during the press conference.
The Olympiad will be held at Al Mamsha from Nov.27 to Dec.18, 2023 with the participation of over 1,000 players from different countries. The details of the Alef International Chess Olympiad were disclosed in a press conference held at the Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club.
Dr Sheikh Khalid Bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club; Imran Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Vice Chairman of the Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club, and Issa Ataya, CEO of Alef Group, addressed the media.
Dr Sheikh Khalid hailed His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, for his unwavering support of the club and its players.
He also thanked Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammad Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and Sheikh Abdullah Bin Salem Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, for their support.
Dr Sheikh Khalid also thanked Eisa Hilal Al Hazami and the Sharjah Sports Council for their continued support.
He affirmed that the organization of this tournament aims to provide a significant opportunity and great benefit for the club's players and the players of the national team.
We are pleased to announce the organization of the Alef International Chess Olympiad 2023, sponsored by Alef Group.
We are particularly thankful to Issa (Ataya), the CEO of Alef Group, for his tireless efforts in making efforts in organizing this Olympics a huge success, as over a thousand athletes from across the world will gain from taking part in these events. This marks the fourth time Alef Group has been serving as a sponsor for the tournaments organized by Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club.
Praising Alef Group, he stressed that the partnership with the Alfa Group reflects the keenness of both parties to support talents and develop strategic thinking among young people.
Nuaimi revealed that the Alef International Chess Olympiad includes four main tournaments: the Super Stars Championship, National Day, Open Stars, and Future Championship.
In the Super Stars Championship, four senior international masters, namely Yu Yangi from China (rating 2720), Sanan Gujjirov from Hungary (rating 2703), Nehal Sarin from India (rating 2692), and Salem Abdel Rahman from the UAE (rating 2635), will take part. Dhs55,000 is on offer at the championship.
The Stars Championship is open to players of all nationalities and is internationally classified; approximately 500 players will compete. The National Day Championship will see the participation of 80 Emirati players and coincide with the 52nd National Day of the UAE.
The Future Championship includes 400 players from the different schools in the country.
Ataya expressed his pride in the achievements of the Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club.
These achievements stand as a complement to the sporting journey and cultural renaissance in the UAE.
He commended the steadfast support provided by the wise leadership of the UAE across all sporting arenas. Ataya praised the support and attention given by Dr. Sheikh Sultan for the development of the sports sector and athletes.
"It is an honor for Alef Group to be a strategic partner and official sponsor for the Alef Chess Olympiad in Al Mamsha, Sharjah 2023, organized by the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club. The event coincides with the National Day of the UAE."
He emphasized Alef Group's commitment to supporting this tournament, highlighting its cultural and youth significance in promoting analytical and strategic thinking, talent development, and fostering a spirit of fair competition.
Alef Group sees this as a continuation of the journey initiated by national and private entities in supporting sports and athletes.
Ataya expressed his gratitude to all those who are contributing to the success of the Chess Olympiad.
He also thanked Dr. Sheikh Khalid, as well as club members and arbitration committees.
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Over 1000 players to take part in Alef Chess Olympiad 2023 in Sharjah - Gulf Today
Quizon aims for GM title in round-robin chess tournament – The Manila Times
International Master Daniel Quizon will compete against higher rated chess players in the Kamatyas Invitational GM Tournament 2023 to be held at the GM Eugene Torre Chess Museum in Pan de Amerikana, Concepcion Dos, Marikina City held from December 9 to 17, 2023.
Aside from topping the round-robin tournament, the pride of Dasmarias City also aims to become the country's 18th chess Grandmaster.
Quizon has actually earned the third and final GM norm following his golden performance in the open under-20 standard division of the 21st ASEAN+ Age-Group Chess Championships in Bangkok, Thailand last June.
However, Quizon still needs to compete in a round-robin tournament where at least half of the competitors are titled players and raise his current Elo rating of 2417 to 2500.
International Master Michael Concio Jr. (Elo 2403 ), who is also aiming to become a Grandmaster, is also taking a part in this weeklong FIDE-rated standard chess tournament hosted by International Master Roderick Nava and National Master David Almirol Jr. of Kamatyas Chess Club in cooperation with the National Chess Federation of the Philippines. Concio clinched his first of three GM norms plus an outright International Master title after winning the Eastern Asia Juniors Chess Championships held at the Lima Hotel in Tanauan, Batangas in 2019.
Quizon and Concio are members of the star-studded Dasmarias Chess Academy backed by Mayor Jenny Barzaga, Rep. Elpidio "Pidi" Barzaga Jr. and national coach FIDE Master Roel Abelgas
Also competing are Grandmaster Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia (2495), Grandmaster Tran Tuan Minh of Vietnam (2484), Grandmaster Wei Ming Kevin Goh (2471), Women International Master Miaoyi Lu of China (2281) and International Master Joel Banawa of USA (2414),
The other Filipino players invited to join the tournament are International Master Paulo Bersamina (2428), International Master Emmanuel Garcia (2403) and Grandmaster Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. (2386).
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Quizon aims for GM title in round-robin chess tournament - The Manila Times
Samarkand To Host World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships – Chess.com
FIDE has announced the venue for the 2023 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships.
The world governing body of chess confirmed the traditional Christmas event will take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from December 26 to 30, with a $1 million prize fund.
It follows concern among players, reported in the Norwegian press this week, that the announcement had been left late.
GM Johan-Sebastian Christiansen had told NRK: "It is simply hopeless and amateurish. It's like this every year and I really don't understand why. It ruins it for so many players. Not too much time is wasted on preparation, but it will be much more difficult if it ends up in a country with visa requirements."
GM Aryan Tari added: "As usual, we still don't know which country will host, which is ridiculous. As players, we are used to it not being announced until a couple of weeks before the tournament. It happens every year and has become a tradition."
World number-one Magnus Carlsen is likely to be back to defend the two world championship titles he claimed in 2022, though the local contingent will be strong, with Uzbekistan the reigning Olympiad champions.
The World Rapid and Blitz is the latest high-level event to be awarded to the rising chess power of Uzbekistan. The city of Khiva, in the north west of Uzbekistan, recently hosted the "Russian" half of the 2022/23 Women's Candidates, with the ease of Russian players being able to obtain visas perhaps a factor in the choice of venue.
The 2026 Chess Olympiad will also take place in Uzbekistan and, in a press release issued on Wednesday, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said: "FIDE recognizes Uzbekistan's rich chess tradition and its recent emergence as a chess superpower. This dedication and investment in chess led us to entrust the hosting of this prestigious event to Uzbekistan.
"Uzbekistan will also host the 2026 Chess Olympiad - and hosting such a major event as World Rapid and Blitz will certainly give a boost to preparations."
The format of the events remains the same. The first three days of rapid chess see 13 rounds in the Open section (11 in the Womens) of chess with 15 minutes per player and a 10-second increment from move 1. Then the final two days of blitz are played over 21 rounds (17 rounds for the Womens) of 3+2 chess.
The top prize in each Open event is $60,000, with $40,000 for the Womens tournaments. In last years event in nearby Almaty, Kazakhstan, Carlsen ensured he wouldnt be without a world title in 2023 by clinching clear first in both the World Rapid and Blitz Championships, to grow his world championship haul to 15 titles: five Classical, six Blitz, and four Rapid.
He finished 0.5 points ahead of GMs Vincent Keymer and Fabiano Caruana in Rapid, and a full point ahead of GMs Hikaru Nakamura and Haik Martirosyan in Blitz. The Womens titles were taken in Rapid by GM Tan Zhongyi (in a playoff against IM Dinara Saduakassova) and in Blitz by IM Bibisara Assaubayeva, who took the title for a second year in a row, half a point ahead of Humpy Koneru.
Playing on home soil there will be intense focus on the 2022 Olympiad-winning Uzbekistan team, including 2021 World Rapid Champion GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and 17-year-old GM Javokhir Sindarov, who just crossed 2700 on the classical rating list.
Another storyline is that the World Rapid and Blitz Championships will be the last event to be rated for the 2023 FIDE Circuit that decides one spot in the FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament 2024.
Its relatively unlikely that the event will decide the spot, but if it did it would be a hugely dramatic finish to the year.
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Samarkand To Host World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships - Chess.com
Family says Jonesboro mayoral campaign manager was longtime chess buddies with his killer – WSB Atlanta
JONESBORO, Ga. The family of a disabled veteran says he was friends with his accused killer.
Coybern Jones Jr.s family tells Channel 2s Tom Jones that the victim and the man charged with his murder often played chess together.
The family says the murder caught them by surprise.
The family, his immediate children, they are all perplexed, wanting answers, Jones sister, Earva Jones Scott, said. He was not a stranger.
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They are stunned that the person arrested for killing her 67-year-old brother is someone they knew well.
What really bothers us is that, myself included, have all sat down with this man, Jones Scott said.
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Jonesboro police arrested 73-year-old Joe Link three days after they say he shot and killed Coybern Jones Jr. on Oct 30. Joness sister said the two were longtime friends.
How (does) one do that to a friend who has sat in your home and played chess ... and eat your food and laugh and talk? she asked rhetorically.
Police say the two had gotten into an argument at a gas station Jones likes to hang out at
Jones was then found dead not far away near a cemetery on Woodland Drive. His family placed flowers and an American flag where he died.
He loved people and he wanted to help, his sister explained.
Jones worked on then-mayoral candidate Arlene Charles campaign, even though she never asked him to. He drove around with her signs asking people to support her.
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Scott says her brother was a disabled veteran who had PTSD. She says he was prone to sudden outbursts, but she says he was never violent.
He would not have hurt a flea, his sister said.
Scott says her family wants justice. She thanked the police for making a quick arrest.
It was a sense of relief, she said.
Link is being held without bond in the Clayton County Jail on murder charges. Police havent said what was at the root of the argument between the two.
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Berkeley to host first U.S. chess championship for women over 50 – Berkeleyside
The Berkeley Chess School holds regular tournaments for youth and adults. It will be the host of the first-ever U.S. Senior Womens Champion this weekend. Courtesy: Berkeley Chess School
Since its founding in 1982, the Berkeley Chess School has overseen several major milestones for women in chess. It hosted the first girls and womens California chess championships, as well as the first regional championships for women in western states.
U.S. Senior Womens Championship, Berkeley Chess School, 2622 San Pablo Ave., Friday-Sunday, Nov. 3-5
The school is poised to add a fourth landmark achievement to its list: It will host the inaugural U.S. Senior Womens Championship, which begins Friday evening and runs through Sunday.
Twelve of the countrys top women chess players over 50 will square off against each other over five intense rounds. The tournament, which will be played using the Swiss system (meaning no one gets eliminated), will be streamed online and can be viewed for free in person at 2622 San Pablo Ave. Spectators watching the tournament live will be asked to place their phones on a designated table in the tournament room as part of an anti-cheating protocol.
I am just so chuffed that I actually was chosen to do it, said Berkeley Chess School founder Elizabeth Shaughnessy, who has long worked to increase recognition of female chess players. Just 14% of the U.S. Chess Federations membership is female, according to the governing bodys website.
The lineup of participants includes the Ukraine-born Anjelina Belakovskaia, who holds the title of Woman Grandmaster and is a three-time U.S. Womens Chess Champion; Chilean-American Beatriz Marinello, who holds the title of Woman International Master and was vice president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) from 2010 to 2018; and Ukraine-born, Bay Area resident Natalya Tsodikova, who holds the title of Woman FIDE Master and won the California Womens Championship in 2019.
Alexey Root, who holds the title of Woman International Master and who has authored several books on chess strategy and womens chess history, will hold a book signing at 6:15 p.m. on Friday, 45 minutes before round 1 starts.
The senior womens championship cost around $20,000 to organize, with support from the Eades Foundation and U.S. Chess Federation. Prize money totaling $8,000 is split among the top five winners.
Shaughnessy said she embraced the opportunity to host the tournament in Berkeley because she knows firsthand the challenges older women face.
In 1970, she was named the Irish Womens Chess Champion; just three years later, following the birth of her eldest daughter, Orna, she went on hiatus. She returned to competition 25 years later, securing a spot on the 1998 Irish womens team and representing her home country in several Chess Olympiads. But she felt her skills never fully returned to where they were in her youth.
Shaughnessys story is not uncommon among competitive female chess players.
Even the legendary Hungarian chess grandmaster Judit Polgr, the only woman to have ever been a serious candidate for the World Chess Championship (open to both men and women), retired from competition to dedicate more time to her children.
If I can get older women who have raised their children now and are wondering what to do with themselves into playing chess, it would help them see its not just live a long life, but its live with your marbles in place, said Shaughnessy, who is 86 and credits chess for keeping her mind sharp (she still plays chess online daily). Thats the big deal.
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Berkeley to host first U.S. chess championship for women over 50 - Berkeleyside