A Letter without an Address

THE NATIONAL LIBERATION COMMITTEE (CLN) HAS CONSTITUTED ITSELF TO UNITE PEOPLE AND MAKES AN APPEAL TO BROTHERS FOR A POPULAR FRONT Ugo Mattei, Generazioni Future, July 22, 2022 Friends, whom history has made brothers, a time has come, and it won’t be the last one, which puts us to the test. The violent and outlaw regime, that occupies the highest institutions, strikes while it is pretending to retreat. To dissolve Parliament on July 21, in order to impose sham elections in September, prevents participation by anyone who is not a member of their gang. We constituted ourselves as National Liberation Committee to unite people and kick the tyrant away, not to compete with our brothers. The time has come, for whoever believes in the Law, in Humanity, and even in the Miraculous, to recognise the opening glimmer: Sara, Francesco, Luca, Marco, Gianluigi, Pino, the National Liberation Committee intends to organise free elections in a liberated country; if you are to participate today, join a popular front, call upon those forces and numbers which exist deep within the country, and that can be awakened. It needs to be done in these hours, in this Now, so that each one may help the other, and everyone be welcome. Do it, and the people will recognise wisdom in you as opposed to violence. Do what is necessary in order to make the possible happen, so that one day we can tell our sons, our grandsons, our fathers and our grandparents, that the tyrant united us, and we have not allowed ourselves to be divided. Solidarity Ugo Mattei National Liberation Committee

Joseph Beuys, Hearts of the Revolutionaries: Passage of the Planets of the Future, 1955. Courtesy of WikiArt.

Well, Edna, it goes without saying that he must have felt like Jack when he tells Rose that winning the ticket for the Titanic was “the best thing that ever happened to me”

Artwork © Héctor Manuel Guerrero Herrera

In a Boat in the Middle of a Lake

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 7th Women’s World Chess Champion 谢军 (Xiè Jūn), and International Master 沈阳 (Shěn Yáng) were among the special guests invited to the celebration ceremony of the “7.20 World Chess Day” Chess Culture Festival and the 2022 China Chess Super League Rookies, which took place in 聊城 (Liáochéng), 山东省 (Shāndōng province), China on Friday, July 22, 2022. After the ceremony ended, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 沈阳 (Shěn Yáng), Olympic diver 王峰 (Wáng Fēng), and sports shooter 谭宗亮 (Tán Zōngliàng) took a boat cruise of 东昌湖 (Dōngchāng Lake) — and, for the sake of the other passengers, enjoyed a friendly mixed doubles match. Photos: 樊璐璐 (Fán Lùlù).

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It was a hot Saturday afternoon in Florence today, but not hot enough to dissuade the aficionados of Fischerandom chess from planting the flag of the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” on the summit of nowhere.

Yeah, Edna, they are doing their best to demonstrate that even an outlaw government can be a legitimate government provided it is democratically elected by a free electoral coup d’etat

Artwork © Karoll Daniella Sanchez (@karollpicasso)

Transcendence

A Day at the Museum

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) commenting on the games from the 2022 深圳南山 (Shēnzhèn Nánshān) Master Tournament held July 15–16 at 南山博物馆 (Nánshān Museum) in 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), China.

Another Autumn

Needless to say — but let’s say it anyway, Edna: no one can’t go wrong with you on his side

Artwork © Сонета Соиль (@lana_banana_m)

The Never King

How did 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) take the news that he might play the World Chess Championship match with Ian Alexandrovich Nepomniachtchi? Indeed, his opportunity almost exclusively depends upon the re-election of Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich as FIDE President, which is not granted at all. For if not — that is, if Andrey Vadimovich Baryshpolets and Peter Heine Nielsen will take FIDE under their control — Carlsen will very likely change his mind, eventually returning to the fold, like the prodigal son. In the meanwhile all that 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) can do is wait, and hope for Dvorkovich’s re-election. Quite curiously, he is still in Spain and is expected to return to China in early August. Speaking with the 新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency) correspondents, 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) said he first learned of Carlsen’s renunciation from the Internet: “Carlsen prefers to enjoy the leisure of chess rather than suffer the burden of being World Champion”. 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) also said that, in the second half of the year, he will play a series of tournaments in China just for training’s sake, without thinking too much about results. “I’m gonna take some risks and experiment new openings”. Nothing must be left to chance. “This may be the only opportunity in my life, and I will make the best of it”.

Unbelieving Believers

In a timely chat with RIA Novosti, 12th World Chess Champion Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov commented on Magnus Carlsen’s decision to give up his World Championship title. “Is there any official document from Carlsen? I think he is a good pupil of [Bobby] Fischer. Such statements as those only serve to raise the stakes. I’m sure he has many good advisers. Since there is no official document that confirms his renunciation, I would not like to talk about the match between Nepomniachtchi and 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén)”, Karpov said.

Obviously, Edna, if you were a queen, your wishes would be law to them, so, before leaving for holidays, you’d better leave instructions for them to never acknowledge anyone else as their queen again

Credit: Voice Film

Hot Issues

Two women dip their heads into the fountain to cool off in Trafalgar Square on July 19 in London. The Met Office issued its first red extreme heat warning in England, from London and the south-east up to York and Manchester. Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images.

Farewell to Yesterday’s Tomorrow

Magnus Carlsen has finally decided not to defend his World Chess Championship title in 2023. He, like 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) in the other half of the sky, will content himself with proving to his fans and critics “to be the best in the world”. That means that Carlsen, unlike Morphy and Fischer, won’t retire from the stage, but rather will challenge and motivate his colleagues to join him in imagining new games. “I’ve spoken to people in my team, I’ve spoken to FIDE, I spoke to [Ian Alexandrovich Nepomniachtchi] as well”, Carlsen said. “And the conclusion is, it’s very simple, that I am not motivated to play another match”.

Yeah, Edna, they may pretend not to remember your birthday, but they will never forget how you made them feel

Artwork © HOOKEEAK (Kim Sun Young)

The One who Made the Difference

Come Again

Today, in the last of the Round of 16 matches at the 4th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship, four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) gave no chance to her younger opponent, 叶诗雯 (Carissa Yip), winning handily by a score of 21½ to 5½. In the quarterfinal, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) will face 12th Women’s World Chess Champion Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk.

She Gazed in Amazement

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 叶诗雯 (Carissa Yip)

4th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event; Round of 16 match game 7; time control: 5 minutes plus 1 second per move; chess.com, July 19, 2022

Sicilian Defence B70

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. g3 Bg7 7. Bg2 0-0 8. 0-0 a6 9. b3 Nc6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Bb2 Bg4 (11. ... Qa5 12. Na4 Bg4 13. Qe1 Qh5 14. f3 Bh3 15. g4 Qh6 16. Rd1⩲ Carlsen – Nakamura, 9th Masters Final, Bilbao 2016)

12. Qe1. After 12. Bf3? Nxe4 13. Bxg4 Nxc3 Black is up a Pawn for no compensation and went on to win on move 41: 14. Qf3 Nd5 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Bh3 Qc7 17. Rad1 Nf6 18. Bg2 Rac8 19. Rfe1 Rfe8 20. Qc3 e5 21. Qd3 d5 22. Qxa6 Ra8 23. Qd3 Rxa2 24. Qc3 Qb6 25. Ra1 Rxa1 26. Rxa1 e4 27. Bf1 e3 28. Ra6 exf2+ 29. Kg2 Qe3 30. Qxe3 Rxe3 31. Rxc6 Ne4 32. b4 Re1 33. b5 Rb1 34. b6 Nd2 35. b7 Nxf1 36. b8=Q Ne3+ 37. Kxf2 Ng4+ 38. Kf3 Nxh2+ 39. Kg2 Rxb8 40. Kxh2 d4 41. Kg2 Rd8 0 : 1 Biyiasas – Reshevsky, 72nd U.S. Open, Ventura 1971.
12. ... Qd7 13. Na4 Rab8 14. c4 Bh3 15. Rd1 Bxg2 16. Kxg2

16. ... c5?! Black sacrifices a Pawn in the hope of setting up a blockade. On the other hand, after 16. ... Nh5 17. c5 Bxb2 18. Nxb2 White enjoys the better game.
17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Nxc5 Qc6 19. Nd3 a5 20. Nf4 a4 21. Rd3 e6 22. Qe2 Be5 23. Qf3 Rb6 24. h4 Rfb8 25. h5

25. ... Bxf4? Indeed, Black does the worst she can do, with dramatic consequences. Instead 25. ... g5 26. Ne2 h6 is a tough nut to crack.
26. Qxf4 axb3 27. axb3 f5 28. Re1 Kg7 29. Qg5 R8b7 30. Rf3 Rf7 31. h6+ Kg8 32. Qd8+ Rf8 33. Qe7 1 : 0.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s eyes widen in amazement to see Black’s 16th move. Screenshot from the live stream.

Queen on Tuesday

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 叶诗雯 (Carissa Yip)

4th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event; Round of 16 match game 5; time control: 5 minutes plus 1 second per move; chess.com, July 19, 2022

Spanish Game C95

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 0-0 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. a4 Bg7 16. Bd3 c6 17. Be3. Likewise after 17. Bg5 h6 18. Be3 Qc7 19. Qd2 Kh7 20. b4 Rad8 21. Qa2 Re7 22. Rad1 White stands better, 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) – 叶诗雯 (Carissa Yip), 1st Julius Bär Challengers Chess Tour, 2nd stage, Gelfand Challenge, chess24.com, June 10, 2021 (time control: 10 minutes plus 5 seconds per move).
17. ... Qc7. The U.S. Women’s Chess Champion will have no better luck with 17. ... h6 18. Qd2 Kh7 19. Bc2 exd4 20. cxd4 c5 21. d5 Nb6 22. Bd3?! Nxa4 23. h4 h5 (⌓ 23. ... Ng4) 24. Bg5 Rc8? 25. Nxh5! Bh8 26. Qf4 Nxb2 27. Bc2 1 : 0 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 叶诗雯 (Carissa Yip), 4th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event, chess.com, July 19, 2022, Round of 16 match game 13 (time control: 3 minutes plus 1 second per move).
18. Qd2 Rad8 19. Bh6 Bh8

20. Bc2 (20. Bg5 Nf8 21. c4 Ne6 22. axb5 axb5 23. cxb5 exd4 24. bxc6 Bxc6 25. Bh4 Rb8 26. Rab1 Qb7 27. b4 Bb5 28. Bxf6 Bxf6 29. Ne2 Bxd3 30. Qxd3 Qb5 31. Red1 Qxd3 32. Rxd3 Nc5 33. Rdd1 d3 34. Nf4 Nxe4 35. Nd5 Bd8 36. Rxd3 Nf6 37. Nxf6+ Bxf6 38. Rxd6 Be7 39. Rd4 Rb5 40. Re1 Kf8 41. Ree4 f5 42. Re1 Rxb4 43. Rd7 Re4 44. Rxe4 fxe4 45. Nd2 Bg5 46. Nc4 Kg8 47. Ne3 Re5 48. Rd4 Kg7 49. Kf1 Bxe3 50. fxe3 Kf6 51. Kf2 h5 52. h4 Rf5+ 53. Kg3 Ke5 54. Ra4 Rf1 55. Ra8 Rh1 56. Ra6 Kf5 57. Rb6 Rg1 58. Rb5+ Kf6 59. Rd5 Rh1 60. Rg5 Rf1 61. Ra5 Rh1 62. Ra4 ½ : ½ Kryvoruchko – Kobo, 16th European Individual Chess Championship, Jerusalem 2015)
20. ... d5 21. exd5 Nxd5 22. Bg5

22. ... Bf6 (22. ... Rc8 23. Bb3!↑)
23. Bxf6 N5xf6 24. Qh6

24. ... c5? One move after another, Black runs into a mating attack. A better defensive idea is 24. ... Qd6 (so as to reply to 25. Ng5 with 25. ... Qf8), though after 25. Qg5 exd4 26. Nf5 Qc5 27. N3xd4 White maintains her strong initiative.
25. Ng5! exd4?

26. Nh5! 1 : 0.

Despite her long absence from the stage, four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) showed herself in her best colours. Screenshot from the live stream.

It’s okay, Edna. Finally, now everyone knows what you mean when you ask “what time is it?”

Artwork © HOOKEEAK (Kim Sun Young)

The Clock and the Arrow

Another Star

The Stars Look Down

Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin – Alexander Sergeyevich Morozevich

Tournament of Stars; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Moscow, July 18, 2022

Modern Defence A40

1. Nf3 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. g3 c5 4. c3 Qa5 5. d5 d6 6. Bg2 Nf6 7. 0-0 0-0 8. Re1 b5 (9. ... Re8 9. Na3 Nbd7 10. h3 b5 11. e4 a6 12. Nc2 Bb7 13. Bf4 h6 14. h4 e5 15. Bd2 c4 16. b4 cxb3 17. axb3 Qc7 18. Nh2 Nc5 19. Rb1 a5 20. b4 axb4 21. cxb4 Ncxe4 22. Rxe4 Nxe4 23. Bxe4 f5 24. Bg2 Qf7 25. Bc1 e4 26. Bb2 Bxb2 27. Rxb2 Qxd5 28. Qxd5+ Bxd5 29. Nf1 h5 30. Nfe3 Bc4 31. Bf1 d5 32. Kg2 Reb8 33. Nd4 Rb6 34. Rd2 Kf7 35. Ndc2 Ra2 36. Bxc4 dxc4 37. Rd5 Rb2 38. Kf1 Ra6 39. Rxb5 Raa2 40. Rb7+ Kg8 41. Rc7 Rxc2 42. Nxc2 Rxc2 43. b5 Rb2 44. Rxc4 Rxb5 45. Rc8+ ½ : ½ Karpov – Topalov, 27th Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund 1999) 9. Nbd2 Bb7 10. e4 Nbd7 11. a4 a6 12. c4 (12. h3 Qc7 13. Bf1⩲ Loncar – Chatalbashev, 6th International Chess Festival, Salsomaggiore Terme 2000) 12. ... Ng4 13. Ra3 Qb6 14. Qc2 e6 15. dxe6 fxe6 16. cxb5 axb5 17. axb5 d5 18. Rxa8 Bxa8 19. exd5 Bxd5 20. Ne4 Qxb5

21. h3 Nh6. Better seems 21. ... Nge5 22. Nxe5 Nxe5! 23. Qxc5 Qb3 and Black’s two Bishops well compensate for White’s extra Pawn. 22. g4. And here 22. Nc3! would have won the Bishop pair. 22. ... Qc6 23. Qe2 c4 24. Bd2 Nf7 25. Bc3 Bxc3 26. bxc3

26. ... Nd6? This loses a Pawn at least. 26. ... Qc7! would have held the game. 27. Nd4 Qb6 28. Nxe6. 28. Ng5! Bxg2 29. Qxe6+ Nf7 30. Qxd7 Nxg5 31. Kxg2 is mutatis mutandis the same ending as that of the game, which can be assessed as almost won for White.

28. ... Re8? If nothing else, 28. .. Bxe6 29. Nxd6 Qxd6 30. Qxe6+ Qxe6 31. Rxe6 Nc5 32. Rc6 Nd3 33. Rxc4 Nxf2 34. Rd4! Nxh3+! 35. Bxh3 Rf3 36. Bg2 Rxc3 37. Kf2 would have presented White with many more technical difficulties than in the game. 29. Nxd6 (29. N4c5+−) 29. ... Qxd6 30. Qd2 (30. Rd1+−) 30. ... Nf6 31. Nd4. Karjakin plays it safe, and the final outcome will prove him right. 31. ... Rxe1+ 32. Qxe1 Bxg2 33. Kxg2 Kf7 34. Qe2 Qd5+ 35. f3 Nd7 36. Qe3 Ne5 37. Qf4+ Kg7 38. h4 Nf7 39. Qc7. With the obvious threat of Qc7-e7, but Black is strangely oblivious of it. 39. ... Kf8 was the only move to keep suffering for a little longer. 39. ... h6? 40. Qe7 Qd6 41. Ne6+ 1 : 0.

After the first two days, Karjakin is in the lead with 3 out of 4. Photo: Chess Federation of Russia.

Homing Pigeon

A crocheted handkerchief tissue paper pouch is the exclusive gift from Mado Flynn to her dear friend 林丽丽 (Lín Lìlì).

Well, Edna, you know that there’s no greater power than fulfilling your desires

Artwork © Kurt Deang (@kinneyboy)