If only life were a movie

The Candidate, 1972. A poster for the award-winning political satire. Photo: Pictorial Press/Alamy.

Oh, Edna, you are like Mona Lisa in van Gogh’s harvest landscapes

Photo © Ольга Лапушена (@lapushena_olga)

Mission: Impossible

Where are we?

Giorgio Agamben, Quodlibet, September 15, 2025

In hell. Any discourse that does not start from this awareness is simply groundless. The circles in which we find ourselves are not arrayed vertically, but scattered throughout the world. Wherever humans associate with each other, they produce hell. The circles and ditches are everywhere around us, and we recognise, as in Goya’s caprichos, the monsters and devils that govern them.
What can we do in this hell? Not so much, or not only, as Italo said, to take care of a parcel of good, what is not hell in hell. Because it too has been contaminated, in whole or in part — in any case no te escaparas. But rather let you stop, be silent, observe, and, at the right time, speak out, tear down the curtain of lies upon which hell lies. Because hell itself is a lie, the lie of lies that prevents the passage of non-hell, of what joyfully, simply, anarchically exists. Of the never been that every time hell covers with its being, as if there were no other possibility outside the ditches and circles in which inevitably you have been always already enrolled. Be you the point, the threshold in which the state exhausts itself, where the possible, the only true reality, springs up from the source. Thought does not consist in accomplishing the possible, as the demons invite you to do, but in making the real possible, in finding a way out of the ineluctability of facts that the dominant ideology seeks to impose in all spheres — and first and foremost in politics. While in the infernal hubbub around you, everyone attempts to diabolically, technically at any cost accomplish the possible, every state, every thing, every thread of grass, if you perceive them in their truth, become once again, silently, lucidly for you possible.

(English translation by I, Robot)

Sandro Botticelli, The Abyss of Hell, 1480. Courtesy of WikiArt.

She Said, She Said

The Spring Dance from the Lagoon

Singer, songwriter, and actress 9m88 dances on the red carpet for 女孩 (Nǚhái) (Girl) premiere screening at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in Venice, Italy, September 4, 2025. Photo: 罗鸿 (Laurent Hou)/Bánh Mì.

Now, Edna, of course, for a superficial eye, they may appear to be the most worthy of your disciples, but there is an abyss between you and them, into which such superficial eyes should not even dare glance

Artwork © Thayssa Telles Arts (@thayssatelles)

≒

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina and Divya Deshmukh, the only two women participating in the open FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament, both finished with 5/11 placing 77th and 79th, respectively, ahead of many higher rated participants.

You know, Edna, as Juvenal said, “The grape gains its purple tinge by looking at another grape”

Photo © Ольга Лапушена (@lapushena_olga)

A Way with a Will

Boris Abramovich Gelfand – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
4th FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament; Samarkand, September 13, 2025
Queen’s Gambit Declined D53

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 h6 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Qb3 c6 9. Nf3 Nd7 10. Bd3 0-0 11. 0-0 Re8 12. Rad1. The strategic alternative is 12. h3 Nf8 13. Qc2 Be7 14. Rab1 Bd6 15. Rfe1 Be6 16. b4 Rc8 17. Qa4 Qd7 18. Qd1 Bb8 19. Nd2 Re7 20. Nf1 Bf5 21. Bxf5 Qxf5 22. Qg4 Qxg4 23. hxg4 Nd7 24. f3 Nb6 25. Kf2 Nc4 26. a4 a5 27. bxa5 Bc7 28. a6 bxa6 29. Rb3 Ba5 30. Reb1 Kh7 31. Ne2 Rce8 32.Rb7 Bc7 33. R7b3 Bd6 34. Nc1 a5 35. Rb7 c5 36. Rxe7 Rxe7 37. Rb5 cxd4 38. exd4 Bb4 39. Nb3 Be1+ 40. Kg1 Ne3 41. g3 Nd1 42. Nxa5 Bf2+ 43. Kh1 Re1 44. Kg2 Re2 45. Kh1 Be1 46. Nc6 Nf2+ 47. Kg1 Nh3+ 48. Kh1 Nf2+ 49. Kg1 Nh3+ 50. Kh1 Nf2+ 51. Kg1 ½–½ Botvinnik – Levenfish, 3rd International Tournament, Moscow 1936.
12. ... Nf8 13. h3 Ne6 14. Bb1 Nc7 15. Rfe1 Rb8 16. e4 dxe4 17. Nxe4 Bf5 18. Nxf6+ Qxf6 19. Rxe8+ Nxe8 20. Ne5 Be6 21. Qd3 Rd8 22. Re1 Qf4 23. Qh7+ Kf8

24. Bg6 Qd2 25. Nf3 Qf4 26. Ne5 Qd2 27. Nf3 Qf4 28. Re3. In hindsight, it would have been wise to take a draw by repetition (28. Ne5).
28. ... Qf6 29. Bc2 g5 30. Qd3 Nd6

31. Ne5? Gelfand still seeks a combinative-tactical solution, but his calculations will prove erroneous. Instead, he ought to play 31. Qa3! Kg7 32. Qxa7 Nb5 33. Qxb7 Nxd4 34. Nxd4 Rxd4 35. Rf3 Qe5 36. Bb3 Rd7 37. Qxc6 Rc7 38. Re3 Bxb3 39. Rxe5 Rxc6 40. axb3 Rc1+ 41. Kh2 Rc2 with a draw coming soon.
31. ... Nb5! 32. Rf3 Qg7 33. Bb3 Nxd4 34. Bxe6 Qxe5 35. Re3 Qc5 36. Bd7 Rxd7 37. Qh7 Ne6! Sic et simpliciter. White could well resign here.
38. Rxe6 Rd1+ 39. Kh2 fxe6 40. Qxh6+ Ke7 41. Qg7+ Kd8 0–1.

Goryachkina scored her third win at the open FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament over Belarusian-Israeli Grandmaster and former World Championship challenger Gelfand. Photo: Vladimir Leonidovich Barsky.

Elementary, Edna; the longer the necklace, the more beads threaded onto it

Artwork © Los tropiezos de Karla (@lostropiezosdekarla)

Kino-Eye

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Daniil Aleksandrovich Yuffa
4th FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament; Samarkand, September 12, 2025
Bogo-Indian Defence E11

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 a5 5. a3 Bxd2+ 6. Qxd2 b6 7. Nc3 Bb7 8. e3 Ne4 9. Nxe4 Bxe4 10. Be2 a4 11. Qc3 Qf6 12. 0-0 d6 13. Nd2 Bb7 14. Bd3 Nd7 15. Qc2 Ra5 16. Ne4 Qh6 17. f4 0-0 18. Nc3 Rh5 19. h3 f5 20. d5 Nc5 21. Be2 Rh4 22. Nxa4 Ne4 23. Nc3 exd5 24. cxd5 Nxc3 25. Qxc3 Bxd5 26. Bc4 Bxc4 27. Qxc4+ Rf7 28. a4 g5 29. a5 bxa5 30. Rxa5 Qf6 31. fxg5 Rxc4 32. gxf6 Rxf6 33. Raxf5 Rxf5 34. Rxf5 Rb4 35. Rf2 Rb3 36. Re2 Kf7 37. Kf2 Ke6 38. Rc2 c5 39. g4 Rb5 40. Kf3 Ke5 41. h4 Rb4 42. Rh2 Rb8 43. g5

White is up a Pawn, but the Rook endgame is very drawish.
43. ... Rf8+? 43. ... d5 would have saved time and perhaps further mistakes.
44. Kg4! Ke4 45. Kh5 Kxe3 46. Kh6 Rf7 47. h5 d5 48. g6 hxg6 49. hxg6 Rf8 50. g7 Rb8 51. Kh7 c4 52. Rh3+ Ke4 53. Rh4+? By this unhappy check, White dramatically throws away the win. 53. Kg6 would have left Black without resource.
53. .. Kd3 54. Rh3+ Kc2 55. Rh2+ Kb3? Goryachkina is lucky enough to be given a second chance. Black ought to play 55. ... Kc1 (or also 55. Kb1) 56. Kg6 Rg8 57. Kf7 Rxg7+ 58. Kxg7 d4 with a draw.
56. Rd2 Ka2 57. b4+ Kb3 58. b5 c3 59. Rxd5 Kb4 60. Rg5 c2 61. Rg1 Rb7 62. Kh8 1–0.

Goryachkina scored her second win at the open FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament over Russian-Spanish Grandmaster Yuffa. Photo: Vladimir Leonidovich Barsky.

Cheer up, Edna! As Muhammad Ali used to say, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”

Artwork © Frank Light (@franklighto)

Breaking Into New Bollywood

Divya Deshmukh – Velimir Ivić
4th FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament; Samarkand, September 11, 2025
Sicilian Defence B40

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. b3 Nc6 4. Bb2 Qc7 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 a6 7. g3 Rb8 8. Bg2 b5 9. cxb5 axb5 10. 0-0 b4 11. Na4 e5? If Black intended to shore up the centre, he will fail.
12. Rc1 d6

13. d4! Nd7. After 13. ... cxd4 (idem to say 13. ... exd4 14. Nxd4! cxd4 15. e5) 14. Nxd4! exd4 15. e5 White regains her piece with interest.
14. dxc5?! 14. dxe5 dxe5 15. Bh3 would transpose to the game.
14. ... dxc5?! (⌓ 14. ... Nxc5 15. Qc2⩲)
15. Bh3 Nb6 16. Nxc5 Bxh3 17. Na6 Qb7 18. Nxb8 Nxb8 19. Re1 Be7. If 19. ... f6 then 20. Nxe5! fxe5 21. Qh5+ with overwhelming advantage.
20. Bxe5 Nc6 21. Bxg7. White has too much material for the two pieces.
21. ... Rg8 22. Ne5 Bd7 23. Nxc6 Bxc6 24. Qc2 Bb5 25. Bd4 Rg6 26. Red1 Bc6 27. Bc5 Bxe4 28. Qe2 Re6 29. Qb5+ Nd7 30. Qxb7 Bxb7 31. Bxe7 Kxe7 32. Re1 Bd5 33. Kf1 Be4 34. Re3 Nb6 35. Rd1 Bc6 36. Rd4 Nd5 37. Rxe6+ Kxe6 38. Ke1 Bb5 39. Kd2 h5 40. Rh4 f6 41. Rxh5 Nc3 42. a3 Nb1+ 43. Kc1 Nxa3 44. Rh4 Bc6 45. Rxb4 Nb5 46. h4 Nd6 47. Kd2 Bd5 48. Rb6 Kd7 49. Ke3 1–0.

Deshmukh scored her second win at the open FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament over Serbian Grandmaster Ivić. Photo: Aditya Sur Roy.

Bella and the Bird’s Nest

To be sure, Edna, she’s used to being inspired by your evocative creativity

Photo © Alison Barlow (@bellacrafterbjd)

Back Story

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (pictured standing with her back to the photographer) takes on many opponents simultaneously at the 6th Chess & Jazz Festival at Hermitage Garden in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, July 26, 2025. Photo: NDA.

In your case, Edna, you would have to say it in at least seven languages

Artwork © Taschentuch

Moments in a Blush 動心

9m88 is featured in the cover story of the September issue of MilkX. Photo: 王盛揚 (Troy Wang).

Nah & Gut

Today, the focus was on the ladies, who were performing their acrobatic feats in a magnificent hall on the first floor. Don’t believe that women chess players are more peacefully inclined than the gentlemen in the Winter Garden! On the contrary! But their male colleagues don’t come here to have a bit on the side. Nor do people come to see Miss Vera [Menchik] pluck her ninth victim like a poulterer his chickens. No, they come to spy on more risqué matters. Do you see Marquis Rosselli del Turco there, how he attends to signorina Benini? He doesn’t leave her side. And do you see the Swede over there, captain Ståhlberg, whose gaze caresses one of the Polish women players? People whisper about wedding plans. And there stands Sonja Graf with the latest masculine couture. Today she is unapproachable, and walks about with a warlike air. She’s bitter, because on Saturday afternoon Dr. Euwe danced the matinée with Miss Vera. Playing a game with her, „nah gut” (well, okay), but dancing!!! But what’s that? Are we in a sanatorium? There goes a lady with a sign on her back. What does it say? Please don’t touch my back. And in no less than three languages: Swedish, English, and German. It’s Mrs. O’Shannon, who has lumbago! De Telegraaf, Wednesday, August 11, 1937, p. 5.

You know, Edna, the law is equal for everyone, but not everyone is equal before the law

Artwork © Meridas_Angel

Trial of Bibi

A mural by elusive street artist Banksy of a judge in a traditional wig and black robe using a gavel to beat a helpless protester appeared on the walls of the Royal Courts of Justice in London before quickly being covered up by guards. Photo: Banksy/PA Wire.

Of course, Edna, the prizes awarded to you are the only awards that count

Photo: New R.G.I Toys (@r.g.i_toys)

Marco Polo would’ve wept if he saw but once

Singer, songwriter, and actress 9m88 wearing a breathtaking Chanel black satin slip with lace panels for the red carpet of 女孩 (Nǚhái) (Girl) at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in Venice, Italy, September 4, 2025. Photo: Ernesto Ruscio/Getty Images.

From Stonehenge to Samarkand

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Dmitrij Kollars
4th FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament; Samarkand, September 7, 2025
Sicilian Defence B30

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. 0-0 Nge7 5. Re1 Ng6 6. c3 Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8. cxd4 d5 9. exd5 exd5 10. Bg5 0-0. The alternative vintage theory is 10. ... f6 11. Bh4 Nxh4 12. Nxh4 0-0 13. Nc3 g5 14. Nf3 g4 15. Nd2 Nxd4 16. Nxd5 Bd6 17. Bc4 Kh8 18. Nb3 Nc6 19. Nd4 (perhaps here White should seek for improvement) 19. ... Be5 20. Nxc6 bxc6 21. Nc3 Bf5 with comfortable equality, Pfleger – R. E. Byrne, 47th Hastings Christmas Chess Festival, Hastings 1971.
11. Bxe7 Ngxe7 12. h3 Be6 13. Nc3 Qd6 14. Qd2 Rac8 15. Bxc6 Nxc6 16. Ne5 a6 17. Re3 f6 18. Nxc6 Rxc6 19. Rae1 Bf7 20. Re7 Rc7 21. Rxc7 Qxc7 22. Na4 Rc8 23. Qb4 Re8. Black simplifies the position by forcing the exchange of Rooks, apparently olivious to the strength and the potential of White’s battery of Queen and Knight. Much preferable is 23. ... b6! 24. Qxb6 Qxb6 25. Nxb6 Rc2 raising the chances for a draw.
24. Rxe8+ Bxe8 25. Nc5 Bc6 26. Ne6 Qf7 27. Qd6 Qe8 28. f4 g6?! 28. ... Kf7! 29. f5 Bd7 30. Nf4 Qc8 31. Qxd5+ Ke7 is as much sharp as it is sound.
29. Kh2 h5? This leads to a deadly weakening of the Kingside Pawn formation. Black was still in time for 29. ... Kf7 30. f5! gxf5 31. Nf4⩲ — after the exchange of Queens White will regain her Pawn with the better Pawn structure, but a breakthrough is not imminent.

30. f5! gxf5. If 30. ... g5 then 31. h4! dismantling Black’s pseudo-blockade.
31. Qg3+ Kf7 32. Nf4 Qe4. The ending ensuing from 32. ... Qg8 33. Qxg8+ Kxg8 34. Nxh5 is also completely lost for Black.
33. Qg6+ Ke7 34. Qg7+ Kd6 35. Qxf6+ Kc7 36. Nxh5 Kb6 37. Ng3 Qe3 38. Qe5 Qxe5 39. dxe5 d4 40. Nxf5 Kc5 41. Kg3 Bd5 42. h4 Be6 43. Nd6 Bxa2 44. Kf4 Bd5 45. h5 1–0.

Goryachkina is one of only two women playing in the open FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament, the other being Divya Deshmukh. They both won today’s game. Photo: Michał Walusza/FIDE.

Yes, Edna, tickets can be purchased on board, but you better have coins ready as drivers are not always able to change large notes

Artwork © Orri (@orr1n)