Ray Linville’s high point as a chess player occurred when he swiped the queen of GM Hikaru Nakamura in a 60-second bullet game in 2021. This game was reported in a “My Best Move” column of the Chess Life magazine, published by the U.S. Chess Federation.
At Chess.com, he has been an editor (part-time) since 2019 and has edited news articles and tournament reports—including those of the Candidates and World Championship Tournaments and other major events—by titled players and noted chess writers as well as Game of the Day annotations by leading grandmasters. He has also been a contributing writer of chess terms, e-books, and general interest articles for ChessKid.com.
He enjoys “top blogger” status at Chess.com. His blog has won the award for Best Chess Blog from the Chess Journalists of America for several years. In addition, he has also been the recipient of first-place CJA awards for feature article, humorous contribution, online review, and educational lesson as well as honorable mention in the categories of personal narrative and historical article.
Lady Gaga set the music world and chess community on fire with how she used a chessboard and its pieces to bring a dramatic musical performance to life at the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Lady Gaga and the white queen ponder ...
Last year was amazing for surprising chess events, but not all the drama happened over the board at a tournament. Fortunately, chess photographers were ready to record the action. Do you remember these dramatic chess scenes? Photo Index Guk...
Chess has again found its way into a TV game show. Recently a sequel to Jeopardy! selected chess as one of the six categories in its Double Jeopardy! round. The Show Jeopardy! Using Chess As A Clue On Celebrity Jeopardy! Easy Chess Clues On ...
Two teams face off in the Super Bowl. Will the winning team be the one that has better chess knowledge? Here’s why chess knowledge may give one team an edge: Control The Center In Chess and Super Bowl Intermezzo In Chess And Football T...
Were you shocked to see a prominent rapper and actor wearing a castle as his headpiece on the red carpet at the 2025 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday? Was this avant-garde headpiece inspired by the rook in the game of chess? Here’s wha...
Were you fascinated by The Queen’s Gambit, the 2020 miniseries by Netflix, and how chess is a unifying theme of the story about Beth Harmon’s life? Imagine a new novel that uses chess to connect storylines about a chess prodigy and his...
When you think about chess in 2024, who comes to mind? Several players were in chess news very prominently last year. This is a test to see how many you know by just looking at their photos. Who are these chess players? (Photo credits below.) ...
As the chess world celebrates the arrival of a new year, what will be the major events that will capture our attention in 2025? So that you can be prepared for all that will happen, here is what you can anticipate. Be ready for them: FIDE Will...
The chess world is celebrating the wedding of GM Magnus Carlsen and Ella Victoria Malone on January 4, 2025. We all know Carlsen, but we know little about his wife. Who is she? Does she play chess? Here’s what you need to know: Who Is El...
A chess opening being mentioned more recently because elite grandmasters have been playing it is the Norwegian Rat. Even with the catchy name, little is known about it. Here’s what you should know about this opening: What Is The Norwegia...
Several important chess personalities passed away in 2023. They include the oldest woman grandmaster, a renowned trainer for a world champion, a prominent chess author and teacher, an avid blitz player, and the oldest living grandmaster. Here are ...
When you have been following a team chess event, have you heard the term “Board One”? Can you explain the term to someone else who plays chess? Knowing what it means helps to understand how players of one team are competing against pla...
Gender inequity in chess has increasingly gained international attention, and several federations, clubs, and players are working to resolve this problem. Tackling gender bias in chess is an important goal for many but particularly for the author ...
Are college students working to change how the game of chess can be played… and make cheating easier? Move over cellphones. No need for vibrating beads. What about eyeglasses that analyze the board and quietly tell the best move to the wear...
At any prestigious tournament, we are all watching for blunders to be made, particularly by the most elite players. Is there something special about a pawn on the path to promotion that makes it vulnerable to a blunder? Do you remember seeing thes...
We know we can’t use an engine, computer, or other support when we play a game of chess. But can we benefit from advances in artificial intelligence to think about chess, introduce the game to new players, teach chess fundamentals, or even e...
The Paris 2024 Olympics are underway. Head to your favorite pub to watch the current action. Or even better, watch the broadcast of a chess tournament. Do you know that chess has been one of the featured sports on the big screens at Dave and Buste...
Update: Guinness World Records for most chess games played in 24 hours was set on July 20, 2024 when 7,284,970 chess games were played. Have you ever set a Guinness World Record or been part of a group that set a record? Here’s your chan...
Have you been observing the Norway Chess tournament and wondering what is a confessional booth? Do other tournaments have such a feature, and how did it become so prominent for this tournament? Initially known as the confession box, this anomaly...
Is tennis the next sport where leading stars want to showcase their chess skills? Perhaps it is if Carlos Alcaraz, the number-three tennis player in the world, is any indication. Similarities Of Chess And Tennis How Chess Helps Tennis Star Al...
Bob Dylan, born on this date (May 24) in 1941, is well known for his impact on pop culture. His music and lyrics have had profound political, social, philosophical, and literary influences during a career that has spanned more than 60 years. Often...
When chess takes centerstage in comics and cartoons, you know that the appeal of the game is broadly recognized and our favorite pastime has entered the main stage of just about everyone’s life. Comic Strips And Chess Just this week, the ...
Chess takes center stage in an initiative by a prominent police department in the state of Virginia to establish positive relationships with kids in their community. In fact, it is the heart of a new community liaison program. Blue Knights Chess...
Many chess players do not understand the unit of measure known as centipawn. For club players, understanding the term is not too important; however, understanding what it means may be helpful when reading game reports or reviewing game analyses. H...
A frequently asked question about chess and mental health is, Does playing chess reduce the risk of dementia? The now scientifically proven answer is yes. A new study recently announced by the Journal of the American Medical Association has this...
