Blog GilaChess

A 101th+ place finish at 9 years old in the 12th Malaysian Open doesn't necessarily scream "prodigy." It suggests early interest and participation, but not immediate dominance.Gradual Development: His initial progress might have been slower, indicating a strong foundation built through practice and learning. I am sure many who took part in the Malaysian Open and Selangor Open would be boasting about beating Gukesh...

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 One of the recent ad-hoc social media  questions asked of Praggnanandaa was which country which he liked to most to play in. I forgot which YouTube video that was but will link it if I find it again.Pragg just reinforces my previous post conclusion that high level chess players like Pragg and Gukesh don't really have time to enjoy the attractions of the many...

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 Chess by the Beach: Balancing Strategy and SerenityPicture this: a sun-kissed beach, azure waves lapping at the shore, and a chessboard set against the backdrop of paradise. Sounds idyllic, right? But for chess players competing in tournaments like those held in Menorca, Spain, from April 2 to 7, 2024, the reality is more complex than the glossy brochures suggest.The Chess Dilemma: Mind vs....

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 Aside from the lowest-level "FIDE Master" (FM), I think it's safe to say that I will never get any kind of "formal" FIDE title. I've been at ELO 1700 for most of my life. Today's new rating "adjustments," on the other hand, suddenly pushed me up to 1800 ELO. For an FM title, you need to have at least an ELO of 2300....

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