Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library

The chess artist, genius, obsession, and the world's oldest game, J.C. Hallman

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 333-334)

contains biographical information

illustrationsmaps

no index present

non fiction

The chess artist

bibliography

52216183

J.C. Hallman

genius, obsession, and the world's oldest game

In the tiny Russian province of Kalmykia, obsession with chess has reached new heights. Its leader, a charismatic and eccentric millionaire/ex-car salesman named Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, is a former chess prodigy and the most recent president of FIDE, the world's controlling chess body. Despite credible allegations of his involvement in drug running, embezzlement, and murder, the impoverished Kalmykian people have rallied around their leader's obsession -- chess is played on prime time television and is compulsory in Kalmykian schools. In addition, Kalmyk women have been known to alter their traditional costumes of pillbox hats and satin gowns to include chessboard-patterned sashes. The Chess Artist is both an intellectual journey and first-rate travel writing dedicated to the love of chess and all of its related oddities. Writer and chess enthusiast J.C. Hallman explores the obsessive hold chess exerts on its followers by examining the history and evolution of the game and the people who dedicate their lives to it. Together with his friend Glenn Umstead, and African-American chess master who is arguably as chess obsessed as Ilyumzhinov, Hallman Tours New York City's legendary chess district, crashes a Princeton Math Department game party, challenges a convicted murderer to a chess match in prison, and travels to Kalmykia, where they are confronted with members of the Russian intelligence service, beautiful translators who may be spies, seven-year-old chess prodigies, and the sad blight of the land struggling toward capitalism. - Jacket flapAn exploration of chess enthusiam throughout the world notes the contributions of Kalmykia dictator Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, New York's legendary chess district, and the Princeton Math Department

Prologue -- Developing your pieces -- Mutant message from forever -- Writing sonnets in public -- The theory of commodes -- Developing your pieces -- Epideixis -- Nothing can be lost in Elista -- Developing your pieces -- The chess district --?! -- The queen of Mongolia -- Developing your pieces -- Illuminating Ilyumzhinov -- Infinite variety -- Developing your pieces -- The road to Lagan -- The narrow way -- Developing your pieces -- Nothing new under the sun -- Salt in the coffee -- Re-entrance -- Check-O-rama -- The upside-down urinal -- Appendix -- Sources