Prison Chess in Spoleto, Italy

http://en.chessbase.com/post/the-power-of-chess

Kingdom Chess Association Schedules Two Tournaments in Danville--One FIDE Rated

Upcoming Tournaments in Danville from Kingdom Chess and Relyea Chess. The games will take place at the Danville Community Center in the heart of Danville, VT. 
August 26th--US Chess rated one day Quick Tournament 
Sept. 23rd & 24th-- Two day Swiss. Open Section FIDE rated. U1600 non-FIDE.
More information coming soon.

Iranian Woman Expelled From National Team for Non-Veiled Playing In Gibraltar

"The first step in dealing with them would be to deprive them from every game that is played in Iran and in the name of Iran, and they will not have the chance to be on the national team."--Mehrdad Pahlevanzadeh, head of the Iranian Chess Federation

"Them" includes her brother who also played in Gibraltar. Brother and sister both entered and played the tournament as individuals, on their own. 

http://www.women.ncr-iran.org/iran-women-news/3681-iran-young-woman-expelled-from-national-team-for-not-wearing-the-veil

Ian Dudley Ties for Second in Open Section in Cambridge, MA

Congratulations to our friend Ian Dudley who finished tied for second place in the open section of the Boyleston Chess Club's Tornado #127. Ian went 3-1 and raised his regular rating to 1947.

Onward now to 2000!

Fashion At the Women's World Championship In Tehran

It appears that some of the women in Tehran are pushing limits by not wearing their hijabs in the proper way. Also, a comment from Emil Sutovsky.

Correct

Pushing Back

And a comment from Emil Sutovsky:

"PLEASE, SHARE - IT IS IMPORTANT!
I got a number of complaints from the participants of the Women's World Championship in Iran - let alone they have to play with hijabs/scarves on, the playing venue is unbearably hot and stuffy. I call upon FIDE and the local organizers to take IMMEDIATE steps in order to improve the situation. There is no way pretending everything OK and everyone is happy. World strongest female players are to be respected, as well as chess itself!"

Lastly, our Glorious FIDE leader wearing his Trump tie.........

A happy Western camper??

The Hon.George N. Leighton, Pioneering Federal Judge and Chess Player From New England

Here's an interesting story about a US chess player who had a varied chess and professional career. The Hon. George N. Leighton is an African-American from New Bedford, MA and listed as an active US Chess member until 2011. He played his last tournament in 2002. Leighton was appointed to the Federal bench by Gerald Ford and is presently alive at age 104 living in a VA home in Boston.
Here's an interesting article about him. He presided over a terrorism trial involving Puerto Rican separatists who threatened to kill him, most likely while he was playing chess at the North Avenue Beach chess pavilion Chicago. 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-george-leighton-judge-civil-rights-met-20161022-story.html

One of his games can be found here:

http://chicagochess.blogspot.com/2010/07/honorable-george-neves-leighton.html

Dudley Set to Invade Spoleto

Our friend Ian Dudley is playing in the World Amateur Chess Championship in Spoleto, Italy April 1st through April 9th. This isn't an early April Fools joke. Ian will be flying over to Italy from Boston on March 30th. Good fortune to him!! I suggest that we have a bon voyage/buon viaggio party for him at our Tuesday evening regular meeting on March 28th. All in favor say, "Aye."
http://www.fideacademy.com/amateur/

Old and New Faces at Kingdom Chess in Danville Last Tuesday

A good time had on a chilly Winter night in Danville.  This coming Tuesday, 2/7, we'll have some wine and cheese as well as chess.

 From l. to r, Ian Dudley, Mike Chadburn, Ted Soares and Brian Kelly

Not pictured Bob Manning and Brian Lafferty