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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

NYC: Come To Our WNBA Comedy Show On May 16

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Live Event

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Ben Tippett

Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2021

Chess

Who Wants To Be World Chess Champion?

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Patrick Redford

Rey Enigma taking on legendary chess player Garry Kasparov

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Rays Week

Meet Rey Enigma, Anonymous Spanish Chess Wizard

Iranian-French chess grandmaster Alireza Firouzja looks on during the first day of the chess Candidates Tournament FIDE 2022, in Madrid on June 17, 2022. - Eight of the world's top chess players are in Madrid to decide who will challenge Norway's grandmaster Magnus Carlsen for the world title. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP) (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP via Getty Images)

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Prodigal Chess Teen Loses Crucial Match After Staying Up All Night Playing Online Chess

BERLIN, GERMANY - MARCH 10: Sergei Karjakin is seen playing the first round at the First Move Ceremony during the World Chess Tournament on March 10, 2018 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Sebastian Reuter/Getty Images for World Chess)

World Chess Tournament 2018 – First Move Ceremony

Chess Has A Russia Problem

David Aleksander Toska, the alleged leader of a group who allegedly carried out an April 5, 2004 raid in central Stavanger on a branch of Norway's central cash service from which they stole 58 million kroner (7.1 million euros, 9.1 million dollars), appears in court in Stavanger 04 September 2006.

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Norway’s Most Successful Bank Robber Now Also Norway’s Most Controversial Chess Analyst

Iranian chess prodigy Alireza Firouzja (L), 17-years-old, plays against Norwegian chess grandmaster who is the current World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen, 30-years-old, in the first round of the international chess tournament TataSteel Chess Tournament 2021 in Wijk aan Zee on January 16, 2021. (Photo by Remko de Waal / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT (Photo by REMKO DE WAAL/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)

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Magnus Carlsen Says He’ll Only Defend His Title Against Teenage Genius Alireza Firouzja

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Magnus Carlsen And Ian Nepomniachtchi Brought Classic Sports Drama To Chess

Russia's grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi and Norway's grandmaster Magnus Carlsen play game nice during the FIDE World Chess Championship Dubai 2021, at the Dubai Expo 2020 in the Gulf emirate, on December 7, 2021. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP) (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)

It’s All Gone To Hell For Ian Nepomniachtchi At The World Chess Championship

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The World Chess Championship Has Given Us The Best And Worst Of Classical Chess

Carlsen going through it as the game crosses over into history.

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Magnus Carlsen Wins Longest World Chess Championship Game Of All Time

Your Complete Guide To The 2021 World Chess Championship

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Let’s Unpack This Chess Streaming Drama And Also Watch A Sad Yard Fight

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Bird-Feed Seller’s Doomed Quest To Clear His Name Of Cheating Leads To Most-Watched Chess Stream Ever

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Chess Tournament Organizers Apologize For Table-Swapping Fiasco

BEVERWIJK, NETHERLANDS - JANUARY 21: Andrey Evgenyevich Esipenko of Russia competes against Fabiano Caruana of the United States of America during the 83rd Tata Steel Chess Tournament held in Dorpshuis De Moriaan on January 21, 2021 in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Teenage Grandmaster Pulls Off Stunning Upset Over Magnus Carlsen

Disgraced chess grandmaster Igors Rausis plays against an opponent.

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Chess Grandmaster Serving Ban For Toilet Cheating Caught Competing Under New Name

Petrosian, Tigran L. waits to compete wit Clarsen, Magnus on the Day 6 of the King Salman Rapid &amp; Blitz Chess Championships on December 30, 2017 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Championship is taking place in Saudi Arabia for the first time with participation of 236 players from 70 countries.

2017 King Salman World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships – Day 6

Let Me Explain This Amazingly Petulant Chess Drama To You