Editor's note: This story first appeared in the February 2024 issue of Chess Life Magazine. Consider becoming a US Chess member for more content like this access to digital editions of both Chess Life and Chess Life Kids is a member benefit, and you can receive print editions of both magazines for a small add-on fee.
A brainchild of Chokri Saidi, a French-Tunisian entrepreneur, the Djerba Chess Festival aims to combine chess, friendship, culture and tourism on the beautiful island of Djerba, the largest island off the coast of North Africa which is also known as the ‘island of dreams’. Furthermore, Saidi has gone a step further in his chess organizing pursuits and, from this year, he is also organizing the prestigious Jeddah International Youth Chess Festival. Diana Mihajlova informs.
by Oliver Reeh All combinations The key phrase is "back rank"! Don't you sometimes feel a certain sense of triumph when you manage to plant a piece on your opponent's 1st (8th) rank? Preferably with checkmate, of course! In Salimova,N - Muzychuk,A White finished after 22.Rxd5! exd5 and . Magnus Carlsen, winner of the FIDE World Cup 2023, is a rare guest in my tactics section. About the White mate in Carlsen,M - Pantsulaia,L I almost wrote 'Truly world champion-like!' out of sheer habit. For some time now the correct phrase would have been 'Truly ex-world champion-like!', but that somehow sounds strange. In Zhang,J - Bivol,A the black knight paved the way for the queen, also in Lagarde,M - Praggnanandhaa R. In the second case, however, it'