Luke McShane

Twelve questions for Christmas

issue 17 December 2022

1. Who tweeted, in answer to the question ‘Do you still play chess?’: ‘I did as a child, but found it to be too simple to be useful in real life: a mere 8 by 8 grid, no fog of war, no technology tree, no random map or spawn position, only 2 players, both sides exact same pieces, etc. Polytopia addresses these limitations.’

2. Who was handed a six-month ban by the Fide Ethics commission for his cheerleading of the invasion of Ukraine, ruling out his participation in this year’s Candidates tournament?

3. Who came second behind Ian Nepomniachtchi, and will challenge ‘Nepo’ for the world title in 2023, in light of Magnus Carlsen’s abdication?

4. White to play and mate in two moves (diagram above left). (Leon Fontaine, Schach-Echo, November 1969)

5. Members of the winning team at the Chennai Olympiad were each awarded $60,000 and a new car by their country’s president.

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