Best Stories In Chess($18.18Value)

Description

Throughout the history of chess, certain players would shine, not just during their games but also in their lives. Best Stories in Chess is a collection of fantastic stories about these characters. Their duels, their quirks, their beliefs, their spouses, their shortcomings, and much more. Find out how Fischer was inspired by a fake table tennis champion to continue his match against Spassky, how Smyslov managed time pressure in his duels with Reshevsky, and how Pillsbury's amazing memory allowed him to play 20 blindfold chess and checkers games at the same time! Apart from the world champions, the stories cover contenders for the chess throne, as well as women who had to fight their way into the top of this male-dominated game. The stories are mostly bite-sized and tremendously funny, as we get to see how Lasker couldn't find his hotel room for days and how Alekhine brought a lady's dress by accident instead of the tuxedo he was asked for. Although the stories cover events all the way from 1027 AD to 2025, most of the stories take place in the 20th century, when chess players were the most documented. Finally, the author shares some of his personal stories from 9 years of playing North American and European tournaments, focusing on the wildest and strangest twists of fate that occurred on and off the board. Whether you'd like to be entertained by Kasparov's emotional outbursts, or learn from Panno's advice about rook power, you'll find what you're looking for! Lan Huang is the principal of the Canada Chess Youth Club and a chess parent who has organized dozens of chess tournaments, camps, and workshops for the Canadian community. Mike Ivanov is an international master from Canada, as well as a full-time chess coach. As head coach of Canada Chess Youth Club, he has trained dozens of provincial and national champions. He has also coached the Canadian Youth Chess Team. Personally, he was twice Toronto Champion, twice Ontario High School Champion, and won many international tournaments across Europe, such as the 2024 Olomouc International. Mike was coached by grandmaster Davorin Kuljasevic, himself a prolific author who also wrote the foreword to this book.