WIM Alexey Root, PhD

The Chess World of Ben Mezrich

Mezrich invented a world championship match and gave a well-known arbiter a new last name. His book is not an accurate portrayal of the chess world. But it is a rollicking read which is slated to become a Hollywood motion picture. More 🡢

Should Chess International Master Rose Atwell Attend College?

In an interview with National Master Ben Johnson on the Perpetual Chess Podcast, IM Rose Atwell said, “The way I think about college is like, what’s in it for me?” More 🡢

A Manly Move! Sexist Chess Annotations

In the June 2026 issue of Oklahoma Chess Magazine, editor Tom Braunlich annotated a game between Miles Melvin and FM Ryan Amburgy. About White’s fourth move, b4, National Master Braunlich wrote, “The rare Evans Gambit. A manly move!” More 🡢

Almost 50 years earlier, National Master Guthrie McClain wrote that then Women’s World Champion Maia Chiburdanidze played like a man. More 🡢

2026 Caveman Chess Festival: Guaranteed Prizes in Chicago

When chess players come back year after year to a chess festival, that’s a sign that something special is happening there. The Caveman Chess Festival features three US Chess national championships: The U.S. Junior Open, the U.S. Senior Open, and the U.S. Blind Open Championship. More 🡢

Overlooking Chess’s Past While Chronicling Its Present

Five of the first six chapters of INTERREGNUM: Inside the Grueling and Glamorous Battle to Become the Next King of Chess (Pegasus Books – April 21st, 2026) track players’ paths to, and results in, the 2024 Candidates Tournament in Toronto. Since author Jordan Himelfarb is a managing editor of the Toronto Star, one of North America’s largest newspapers, he is well positioned to report on that tournament. More 🡢

Chess in Georgia and Washington (May 2026)

In May of 2026 WIM Alexy Root will be in Georgia and in Washington, for book signings, talks, and simultaneous chess exhibitions. She will also be competing for the title of Southeastern Regional Women’s Champion. More 🡢

2026 President’s Cup and Women’s President’s Cup: College Chess Championships

University of Missouri, known as Mizzou, hosted the 2026 President’s Cup, the national championship of college chess. Competitors were the top four qualifying schools from the 2026 Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship. Mizzou also hosted a new event, the Women’s President’s Cup, for the top four qualifying schools from the 2025 U.S. National Collegiate Women’s Championship. More 🡢

Chess and Poker: Jennifer Shahade Returns to US Chess

WGM Jennifer Shahade is back to the US Chess fold – and she’s bringing pro poker skills with her. After resolving all matters with the federation, Shahade has been named its first-ever Official Ambassador. Her new book argues that thinking across both games can sharpen your edge. More 🡢