Chess Olympus

Cover of the May, 1968 issue of Chess Review magazine, featuring Bent Larsen posing with a trophy next to a chess demonstration board. The board and the chess table in front of him bear name tags for Jesus Diez del Corral and Bent Larsen.

Bent Larsen, seen here collecting his trophy for winning the Palma de Majorca tournament, was born March 4, 1935.

A clipping from American Chess Bulletin featuring advertisements for Cafe Cosmopolitan ("The world's greatest players were here entertained at a reception before leaving for Cambridge Springs, Pa., to engage in the International Chess Congress."), Julius Herrick's Famous Cafe ("the rendezvous of all the leading chess experts when in the city."), and Cafe Boulevard (site of "The Dinner given in honor of the International Players by Prof. Isaac L. Rice, president of the Cambridge Springs Chess Congress").

New York's restaurants compete for the chess player trade in the pages of American Chess Bulletin, June 1904.

I think this exact image (with Bond in checkmate!) only appeared in promos for the movie. I went back and watched the scene on YouTube, and you never get this clear a view of the board.

In a promotional image from SPECTRE, Daniel Craig leans over a kitchen table where a chess position is set up. He sits directly behind the black king, which is in checkmate.

Happy birthday to Daniel Craig, who was too busy to join Mr. White for chess in SPECTRE (2015).

In a scene from The King's Thief, Ann Blyth and David Niven wear 17th century costumes and play chess at a carved wooden table.

David Niven, born March 1, 1910, romanced Ann Blyth over chess in The King's Thief (1955).

Close-up photo of the black pieces of a Frank Gehry-designed chess set, arranged in their starting positions on a black-and-white board. The pieces are angular and modern.

Like all architects, Frank Gehry (born February 28, 1929) couldn't resist the temptation to design a chess set. He produced this one for Tiffany & Co. in 2012.

In a scene from The Little Minister produced for The Ford Theatre Hour, Tom Drake and Ian Keith play chess in 18th-century costume. Two more actors watch from the background.

Ian Keith (playing black), born February 27, 1899, was both star and chess consultant on The Ford Theatre Hour's 1950 production of The Little Minister. From Chess Review, June 1950.

In a scene from a 1980 episode of Benson, nine-year-old Meeno Peluce plays chess against two adults at a chess table set up in a room of the Governor's mansion. In the background, Robert Guillaume and James Noble can be seen puzzling over a chess position at a different table.

Happy birthday to Meeno Peluce, who was nine years old when he appeared as a Russian chess prodigy in Benson.

In a photo by Walter Sanders, Reuben Fine and Jane Nigh lounge on a sandy beach in bathing suits and examine a position on a travel chess set. At Nigh's elbow is a copy of Fine's book Ideas Behind the Chess Openings.

Actress Jane Nigh, born February 25, 1925, got some opening tips straight from the source in this photo for LIFE magazine.

In a scene from Pathfinders, Dennis Waterman and Ray Brooks sit on opposite sides of a chess table. Brooks is wearing a bathrobe and dark glasses, and Waterman reaches across to help Brooks adjust his pieces.

Dennis Waterman, born February 24, 1948, played chess with a convalescing war hero in a 1973 episode of Pathfinders.

In a scene from The Young Victoria, Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend, both in elaborate 19th-century costumes, sit at an elegant table playing chess.

Happy birthday to Emily Blunt, chess-playing queen in The Young Victoria (2009).

In a scene from Twice Round the Daffodils, Kenneth Williams, wearing pajamas and a bathrobe, sits behind a chess set and looks straight at the camera with a shocked expression.

Kenneth Williams, the chess-obsessed convalescent in Twice Round the Daffodils (1962), was born February 22, 1926.

I don't see a link to the complaint in the story. @lawdorknews.bsky.social has taught me to expect it! www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/u...

In a scene from Frasier, Kelsey Grammer sits behind an elaborate gold and silver chess set with a disappointed look on his face.

Happy birthday to Kelsey Grammer, who has played chess on at least three TV shows over the years.

In a scene from season 5 of Mystery Science Theater 3000, Joel Hodgson looks over a black-and-white checkered board with bobble-heads for chess pieces. Crow T. Robot and Tom Servo stand to his right and left, respectively.

Happy birthday to Joel Hodgson, who introduced the world to Rat Pack Chess in 1993.

Dutch grandmaster Jan Timman, another #chess legend of my youth, has passed away. #RIP
nos.nl/artikel/2603096-nederla…
📷 IBM tournament Amsterdam 1978

Separate portraits of Aron Nimzovich, Alexander Alekhine, Frank Marshall, Rudolf Spielmann, Milan Vidmar, and Jose R. Capablanca are arrayed under the headline, "The Sextet of Grand Masters: New York International Chess Tournament, February 19 to March 19, 1927."

99 years ago today, the New York 1927 tournament kicked off. It was a prelude to the Capablanca-Alekhine championship match that took place that fall. From American Chess Bulletin, February 1927.

In a scene from Phenomenon, Robert Duvall and John Travolta sit at a table in a bar playing chess. Other bar patrons watch the game from the background. The image bears a watermark from Blu-Ray.com.

Happy birthday to John Travolta, who played chess with the recently departed Robert Duvall in Phenomenon (1996).

In an image from Ed Sheeran's Facebook page, Sheeran, photographed from above, looks up at the camera as he reaches to make a move on a chess set printed on the back of a hooded sweatshirt. Sheeran is playing the pink pieces on a pink-and-white plastic set, and his pieces are in their starting positions except for his b-pawn, which is on b4.

Happy birthday to Ed Sheeran, seen here showing off a chess-themed sweatshirt he sells on his website. I hope that isn't part of his usual opening repertoire!

Hugh Jackman as Wolverine walking coolly away from a fiery explosion.

In a Getty Images photo, Vera Menchik leans her chin on a hand as she concentrates over a chess position.

February 16 is Vera Menchik's birthday! Here she is competing in London in 1938.

In a scene from the Twilight Zone, Kevin McCarthy sits at a table smoking a pipe and playing chess. His opponent, Edgar Stehli, sits with his back to the camera.

Kevin McCarthy, born February 15, 1914, had plenty of time to study chess in a 1960 episode of The Twilight Zone.

In a scene from The Good Doctor, Freddie Highmore squats low to get his eyes level with a chess set on an office table. In the background, Richard Schiff watches from his desk.

Happy birthday to Freddie Highmore! I haven't seen The Good Doctor, but if he isn't pointing out the King on the D-file in this scene, he isn't the genius the show would have us believe.

In a scene from Axe Giant, Joe Estevez leans in close to a small wooden chess set on a rough table outside a log cabin. Estevez wears a plaid flannel shirt and jacket and has a wild look in his eyes.

Happy birthday to Joe Estevez, who played chess with intensity in Axe Giant: The Wrath of Paul Bunyan (2013).

A vintage box of pocket chess and checkers with an cartoon style drawing of a hand reaching out to the board whilst holding a playing piece with the words always handy and a boon when travelling

‘ALWAYS HANDY AND A BOON WHEN TRAVELLING’

#CharityShopFinds

In a scene from Man Hunt, Ludwig Stössel sits at a table behind a chess set and raises a glass of beer to his mouth. He wears a swastika pin on his lapel.

Ludwig Stössel, seen here struggling with the competing impulses to drink beer and play chess in Man Hunt (1941), was born February 12, 1883.

Through prior gift of Mrs. Gilbert W. Chapman

Pocket Chess Set https://www.artic.edu/artworks/210442/

In a scene from Wolf Hall, Damian Lewis wears a heavily embroidered and fur-lined robe while he sits on a throne and plays chess.

Happy birthday to Damian Lewis, who dressed up to play chess in Wolf Hall.

In a scene from It Takes a Thief, Robert Wagner, wearing a US Air Force dress uniform, sits in a throne-like chair. A chess set with oversized pieces dominates the foreground.

Happy birthday to Robert Wagner, who was caught up in an international nuclear chess game in a 1969 episode of It Takes a Thief.