It’s got to be the most bizarre news story of the year: last week, no fewer than 50 Thai police officers burst into a bridge club in Pattaya — a city rife with crime and prostitution — and arrested 32 elderly players, many of them British ex-pats. Gambling is strictly forbidden in Thailand, and the
The world champion is back on form. After winning the overall laurels in last year’s Grand Tour, and taking first prizes on tie break at both London and Qatar in December, Carlsen secured a convincing and outright triumph at the Tata Steel elite tournament in Wijk aan Zee, Holland, last month. His margin of victory
In Competition No. 2934 you were invited to submit a poem suitable for inclusion in Now We are Rich. You weren’t obliged to write in the style of A.A. Milne, but most of you did. Long lines mean that there is space for only five winners this week; D.A. Prince, Warren Clements, Max Gutmann, Martin
The unclued lights (one of two words), individually or as three pairs, are of a kind. Across 9 Aussie’s error with fine paintbrush. Correct! (10, hyphened) 11 Ten-nil reverse. That’s rare (5) 12 Publicly accuse having arrived in Georgia, drunk (7) 14 Zest for two-thirds of the month before October 1st (5) 15
The unclued lights are DOGS from the classics, legend or of noted people. First prize David Maddison, London E1 Runners-up Richard Gray, Epping, Essex; Alice Woods, Whitchurch, Hants
White to play. This position is from Van Wely-Carlsen, Wijk aan Zee 2016. Carlsen had a lucky escape in this game as White could have forced this position. How can he now finish off? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 16 February or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk. There is a prize of £20
