Everything/Anything and…Chess…"Despite the documented evidence by chess historian HJR Murray, I've always thought that chess was invented by a goddess"–George Koltanowski: from the foreword to:"Women in chess, players of the Modern Age"
I enjoy true stories. I am not a really big fan of science fiction stories or movies. If you want to treat me, give me a good cowboy book or movie, a real life story or a true story. This movie is about a true story of a Chess Champion. African true stories, and from some other places in the world, are inspiring, as the struggle to reach for dreams is so much more intense due to so many problems and issues people from developing countries need to deal with on a daily basis -things people from developed countries take for granted. Today, some of those problems and issues are because of certain countries in the West who tried to gain, only for themselves and who put leaders in place just to shush their conscience. They think they get things right, but they are totally wrong. I’m glad that there is, once again, a movie about chess, to show the power of this game in real life and to highlight the struggles of some people in this world.
True Story of a Chess Champion Walt Disney Pictures has revealed the colourful first Queen of Katwe poster. The true story of an inspiring chess champion stars Golden Globe nominee David Oyelowo (Selma, Interstellar), Oscar winner and Tony Award nominee Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave, Star Wars: The Force Awakens) and newcomer Madina Nalwanga.
For 10-year-old Phiona Mutesi (Nalwanga) and her family, life in the impoverished slum of Katwe in Kampala, Uganda, is a constant struggle. Her mother, Harriet (Nyong’o), is fiercely determined to take care of her family and works tirelessly selling vegetables in the market to make sure her children are fed and have a roof over their heads. When Phiona meets Robert Katende (Oyelowo), a soccer player turned missionary who teaches local children chess, she is captivated. Chess requires a good deal of concentration, strategic thinking and risk taking, all skills which are applicable in everyday life, and Katende hopes to empower youth with the game. Phiona is impressed by the intelligence and wit the game requires and immediately shows potential. Recognizing Phiona’s natural aptitude for chess and the fighting spirit she’s inherited from her mother, Katende begins to mentor her, but Harriet is reluctant to provide any encouragement, not wanting to see her daughter disappointed. As Phiona begins to succeed in local chess competitions, Katende teaches her to read and write in order to pursue schooling. She quickly advances through the ranks in tournaments, but breaks away from her family to focus on her own life. Her mother eventually realizes that Phiona has a chance to excel and teams up with Katende to help her fulfill her extraordinary potential, escape a life of poverty and save her family.
Directed by Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding) from a screenplay by William Wheeler (The Hoax) based on the book by Tim Crothers, Queen of Katwe is produced by Lydia Dean Pilcher (The Darjeeling Limited) and John Carls (Where the Wild Things Are) with Will Weiske and Troy Buder serving as executive producers. Disney’s Queen of Katwe opened in U.S. theaters on September 23, 2016. Resource: commingsoon.net
The 42nd Baku Chess Olympiad starts today in Baku. Please click HERE for the official web link. Sadly, I won’t be able to follow the complete tournament this year!
Azerbaijan parks – photo credit: official site of Baku Chess Olympiad
Olympiad Schedule
Date
Time
Event
1 Sept
18:30/20:30
Opening, Captains meet
2 Sept
15:00
Round 1
3 Sept
15:00
Round 2
4 Sept
15:00
Round 3
5 Sept
15:00
Round 4
6 Sept
15:00/22:00
Round 5/Bermuda Party
7 Sept
–
Day Off
8 Sept
15:00
Round 6
9 Sept
15:00
Round 7
10 Sept
15:00
Round 8
11 Sept
15:00
Round 9
12 Sept
15:00
Round 10
13 Sept
11:00
19:30
Round 11
Closing Ceremony
14 Sept
All day
Departure day
The top seeds at the Olympiad
Russia Players: Vladimir Kramnik, Sergey Karjakin, Alexander Grischuk, Evgeny Tomashevsky, Ian Nepomniachtchi
USA Players: Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, Wesley So, Ray Robson, Sam Shankland
China Players: Wang Yue, Li Chao, Ding Liren, Yu Yangyi, Wei Yi
Ukraine Players: Pavel Eljanov, Ruslan Ponomariov, Yury Kryvoruchko, Anton Korobov, Andrei Volokitin
South African players in the Women’s team: Captain: Dalpat Winston WIM Frick Denise WIM Laubscher Anzel WIM February Jesse Nikki WCM Fisher Michelle M WFM Van Niekerk Lauren
Players in the Open section Captain: CM Bouah Lyndon 2115 GM Solomon Kenny 2380 IM Cawdery Daniel 2416 IM Kobese Watu 2350 IM Van den Heever Donovan 2247 FM Klaasen Calvin Jong 2177
Opening – photo: David Llada, the official photographer of the Olympiad.
Spoken by great men:"Give me 20 divisions of American soldiers and I will breach Europe. Give me 15 consisting of Englishmen and I will advance to the borders of Berlin. Give me two divisions of those marvellous fighting Boers and I will remove Germany from the face of the earth." - Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery, Commander of the Allied Forces during WW2.
"The Americans fight for a free world, the English mostly for honour, glory and medals, the French and Canadians decide too late that they have to participate. The Italians are too scared to fight, the Russians have no choice. The Germans for their Fatherland. The Boers? Those sons of Bitches fight for the hell of it." American General, George 'Guts and Glory' Patton.